While much of the Starbucks world is going all in on peppermint this holiday season, Japan is taking a different route to festive. On November 2, Starbucks Japan launches a Christmas menu built around tea, under the playful theme “Let’s Par-TEA!” The three new drinks put strawberry, royal milk tea and Earl Grey chocolate in the spotlight, and each one has its own personality, so regulars can pick the guest they most want at the party.
The drinks are all Tall size only and on the menu for a limited time, with no end date announced yet. That makes the November 2 start date worth marking, especially for anyone planning a trip to Japan soon.
Three Drinks, Three Personalities
The elegant guest is the Joyful Medley Strawberry Creamy Tea Latte, at 638 yen for takeout and 650 yen to drink in. It starts with Starbucks Japan’s Joyful Medley blend, a mix of black tea, oolong tea and jasmine tea with a subtle hint of apricot. Sweetened fresh cream smooths it out, and a topping of strawberry flavoured mousse and freeze-dried strawberries gives it a festive pink finish. The flavour is creamy without feeling heavy, and the finish stays refreshing.
The playful one is the Earl Grey Chocolate Frappuccino, at 678 yen for takeout and 690 yen to drink in. Aromatic Earl Grey meets rich chocolate sauce and crunchy chocolate chips, and the gentle fragrance of bergamot runs through every sip. It is a blended drink for people who want the holiday feeling without a coffee base, and the chocolate chips keep the texture interesting right to the last sip.
The classic is the Royal Milk Tea, at 609 yen for takeout and 620 yen to drink in. It is a rich, blended milk tea made with an original blend of three teas: Darjeeling, Assam and Ceylon. The full bodied tea flavour harmonises with the mellow creaminess of the milk, which is exactly what a cold afternoon in Japan calls for.
A Tiny Surprise on Top
For extra festivity, Starbucks Japan is adding the Be a Santa Cookie Topping, at 69 yen for takeout and 70 yen to drink in. The buttery, crisp shortbread cookie can be added to any iced beverage topped with whipped cream or mousse foam, and it comes in three designs: a present, a Christmas tree and a Santa hat. Which one you get is random, so the barista hands over a small surprise along with your drink. The topping runs from November 2 to November 19, while stocks last, so it is the shortest lived part of the menu.
Tea inspired desserts join the drinks too, including an Earl Grey Strawberry Chiffon Cake, an Earl Grey Strawberry Scone and a Royal Milk Tea Doughnut. They keep the same flavour threads running from cup to plate, which is a nice touch for an afternoon tea break that happens to be at Starbucks.
It is easy to love a holiday menu that does not try to outdo every other country. Japan is not chasing peppermint or piling on the coffee. It is leaning into what its tea drinkers already love, dressing it up for Christmas and adding one very small surprise on top. If you are in Japan from November 2, order the one that matches your mood. If you are not, it is still a good reminder that the same holiday can taste completely different from one country to the next.
Sources
JW WEB MAGAZINE: Starbucks Japan Christmas 2026: New Frappuccino, Festive Drinks and Holiday Goods
