This is the Kirin Gogo no Kōcha Japan Blend & Craft Grape Tea. This release combined black tea leaves from Kagoshima Prefecture (comprising 15% of the total tea leaves used) with juice from Nagano Purple grapes (0.1%), a variety known for its fragrant, juicy sweetness. Kirin’s specialty pasteurisation method was employed to preserve the richness of the tea, while a subtle addition of Japanese sanshō pepper contributed to a clean, refreshing finish.
The tea had a clear orange-tan hue and a mellow grape aroma layered over a soft black tea base. Consumed chilled, it opened with smooth, full-bodied black tea notes—fruity in character, yet free from astringency or bitterness. By mid-sip, the flavour developed into the distinctively musky, sweet-tart character of Nagano Purple grapes, reminiscent of labrusca varietals, delivering a juicy richness without tipping into artificiality. The fruitiness remained well-integrated with the tea rather than overwhelming it.
In the finish, the inclusion of sanshō was perceptible only in effect: it lifted the aftertaste with a subtle freshness rather than introducing spice or heat, allowing the clarity and smoothness of the black tea to persist. The overall mouthfeel was rounded and clean, with a measured sweetness that made it well-suited to repeat consumption.
Overall, a smooth and well-balanced fusion of fragrant black tea and juicy grape, elevated by a refined clean finish. Subtle, elegant, and worth repurchasing.
This Kirin Gogo no Kōcha Japan Blend & Craft Grape Tea contained 500 mL. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2025.