Japanese convenience stores, commonly known as “Konbini,” are renowned worldwide for their top-tier quality. Among their offerings, the chilled cup beverage section—featuring drinks with straws in refrigerated shelves—is particularly competitive. On January 20, 2026, a noteworthy new product enters this battleground.FamilyMart, a major convenience store chain with approximately 16,400 stores nationwide, has collaborated with the popular tea brand Afternoon Tea to create the “Chai Tea Latte.” This series is a huge hit, having sold over 370 million bottles cumulatively, and this time, “Chai” joins the lineup for the first time. Let’s explore the appeal of this new product, symbolizing the high level of Japanese convenience store culture.
Café-Quality Luxury for Under 200 Yen
The biggest surprise of this new “Chai Tea Latte” is its incredible value. Priced at just 213 yen (about $1.40) including tax, it offers a genuinely authentic experience comparable to café-served drinks. Japanese convenience store products are expected to balance convenience and high quality, and this item is a prime example.
Particularly noteworthy is the use of “Fresh Milk” comprising 50% of the base milk. While processed milk is often used in typical convenience store beverages, using half fresh milk is an exceptionally luxurious formulation. The rich, creamy milk flavor truly embodies the spirit of Japanese “omotenashi” (hospitality).The packaging also features an elegant design that evokes the warmth of spices, giving it a special presence even when simply displayed on the shelf.
Authentic Flavor Woven from 5 Spices
The key to this product’s flavor lies in its blend of five spices. Ginger, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg—essential spices for authentic chai—are combined in a perfect balance.It’s not just about the scent of cinnamon; the refreshing notes of cardamom and the sharp kick of ginger intertwine to create a complex, deep flavor. With one sip, the vibrant aroma of spices and the rich, creamy depth of 50% fresh milk fill your mouth.
The Commitment of the Famous Cafe Brand “Afternoon Tea”
Afternoon Tea, which supervised this product, is an extremely popular lifestyle brand in Japan, and its tearooms are beloved by many tea enthusiasts. The chai served in their shops has been a long-standing, popular menu item, and this product was developed aiming to recreate that “shop taste” at convenience stores. The development team reportedly focused intensely on the balance of tea and milk, as well as the spice blend, undergoing numerous trials.
This collaboration has been ongoing since 2019 and has established itself as a “formula for success” in Japan’s convenience store tea market. While “Tea Latte” and “No Added Sugar” types were released in the past, this long-awaited “Chai” represents the culmination of the series, boasting a level of perfection.Japanese winters can be bitterly cold, but this warm, spiced flavor (though it’s a chilled product, not hot, evoking the image of warming spices) will deeply soothe your chilled body.The release date is Tuesday, January 20th. Since new Japanese convenience store products often launch on Tuesdays, many fans will head to FamilyMart stores that day. When visiting Japan, be sure to try the latest addition to this “300 million bottles sold series” at your nearest FamilyMart.
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