Travelers often rave about the creative seasonal Frappuccinos available exclusively at Starbucks Japan, it becomes easy to overlook the nostalgic charm of traditional old-fashioned Japanese cafes. Fortunately coffee lovers in Japan can soon enjoy the best of both worlds as Starbucks Japan is turning back the clock and transforming their stores and menu to celebrate retro coffee house culture for a limited time.

Starbucks Japan says the limited edition event is a celebration of the past in the wake of Japan transitioning into a new era, and is particularly shining a light on the nostalgic sweets and coffee served up at traditional Japanese coffee houses. While this obviously means new menu items, Starbucks around Japan will be displaying retro-style coffee house signs. While coffee is typically written in katakana as コーヒー, participating Starbucks will be displaying the word in kanj (珈琲), which is often reserved for Japanese-style coffee houses.

Coffee and treats will take inspiration from favorites at Japanese coffee houses, including coffee jelly cakes, toasted ham and egg sandwiches, cold brew coffee, and Vienna coffee. However, the clear star attraction of the menu turns a classic Japanese coffee house dessert into a Frap with the Pudding a la mode Frappucino.

The new Frappucino takes Japanese-style pudding (often compared to Flan or creme caramel, made from whole egg yolks and with a thick, but creamy custard taste). and drizzles it in a bittersweet caramel sauce. A layer of mixed fruit jelly consisting of mango, apple and strawberry is then topped off with a dollop of whipped cream and syrupy cherries to recreate the nostalgic dessert in Frappucino form.

The new retro Japanese coffee house Starbucks promotion and menu will run from May 15th to June 18th at Starbucks throughout Japan. The traditional coffee house signs will only be installed at 20 locations, however.


By - Big Neko.