This is Japan’s No. 1 black tea brand “Kirin Afternoon Tea” (Kirin Gogo-no-Koucha). In 2026, this legendary series continues to dominate convenience stores and supermarkets. Whether you’re grabbing a 500 ml PET bottle or the classic 500 ml paper carton, you’re tasting over 35 years of Japanese tea history!
Popular in Japan and around the world: “Afternoon Tea”
Since its launch in 1986, “Kirin Afternoon Tea” has been the gold standard for bottled black tea in Japan. The series offers a diverse lineup including the core trio—Straight, Milk, and Lemon tea—as well as premium seasonal flavors that attract fans of all ages. Today, Kirin is a global brand, often found in major cities around the world, though the exclusive seasonal flavors remain a “must-try” when visiting Japan!
The “Rich Micro Leaf” & “Twin Brew” Methods
The secret to the 2026 Straight Tea is the enhanced “Rich Micro Leaf” technique. By grinding high-quality Dimbula leaves from Sri Lanka into a super-fine powder, Kirin extracts a deep, authentic aroma while maintaining a refreshing sweetness.
Sustainable and Stylish New Packaging
In 2026, you’ll notice the packaging looks sharper and more modern. Not only is it designed to evoke a relaxing “tea time” atmosphere, but Kirin has also moved toward 100% recycled PET bottles and FSC-certified paper for its cartons, making it a choice that feels as good as it tastes.
“Afternoon Tea” is THE beverage for your travel break
There are lots of other flavors in the “Afternoon Tea” series to enjoy in addition to the recently renewed “straight tea” (500 ml carton pack).
This is “Afternoon Tea’s” standard 500 ml pet bottle type. All of the teas including the Dimbula tea from Sri Lanka used in the refreshing straight tea, Candy tea with a smooth flavor used in the milk tea, and the aromatic Nuwara Eliya tea used in the pleasantly acidic lemon tea are imported directly before cutting so that they are freshly cut only after arriving in Japan.
For those who want something that isn’t too sweet, we recommend the delicious unsweetened “oishii mutou” (delicious unsweetened)! This is a tea featuring Darjeeling tea with an invigorating aroma processed in the fresh-cut method.
Here is the “espresso tea latte” which is made with tea and espresso extract creating a wonderful deep flavor. The espresso tea latte was produced to commemorate the 30th anniversary of “Afternoon Tea.” While maintaining the refreshing taste of black tea, this drink also allows you to enjoy the luxurious flavor of espresso. There are a wide variety of limited seasonal flavors to enjoy in addition to the classic teas in the “Afternoon Tea” series, so by all means go ahead and pick one out to try for yourself.
