Kyoto’s Uji Tahara Tea Factory, founded in the first year of the Showa era, with a rich history, introduced a new genre of Japanese tea called “KUNtea” on December 15, 2023. This innovative tea combines traditional Japanese tea with the essence of smoked flavors, creating a unique concept and a variety of options.
Positioned as a soothing tea enveloped in the smoky essence, “KUNtea” blends the heritage of Japanese tea with the innovation of smoked flavors. The concept revolves around choosing tea based on daily scenes and moods, offering a distinct fusion of different types of Japanese tea and smoked elements.
“KUNtea” comes in four variations:
- SOU-KUN: Refreshing Smoke – Turnip Stem Tea with Sakura
- YU-KUN: Evening Smoke – Deep-steamed Green Tea with Beech
- YOI-KUN: Night Smoke – Young-steamed Green Tea with Whiskey Oak
- SHI-KUN: Enjoyable Smoke – Stem Hojicha with Hickory
Each tea is a blend of Japanese tea with unique characteristics and the perfect complementary smoked flavor. “KUNtea” introduces an entirely new category of “smoked tea,” distinct from alcohol or coffee, providing consumers with a fresh and intriguing choice.
Source;Kuntea website , PR times
Related Articles
Seaweed snack innovation from Calbee Noriyan , alternative seaweed.
On Wednesday, November 5th, Calbee will launch “Noriyan,” a new seaweed-alternative snack made from upcycled potato starch, exclusively at the Calbee+ Tokyo Station store.Available in two flavors — Dashi Soy Sauce and Wasabi Salt — the product will be sold in limited...
Water Innovation from Suntory : TOKUSUI
Tokusui — Suntory’s New Challenge to Turn Everyday Water into Functional Wellness 1. What Is “Tokusui”? “Tokusui” (literally “Special Water”) is a functional beverage launched nationwide in Japan by Suntory Foods International in October 2025. It represents the first...
“Black” series 4 items (released November 10th)
Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Noritaka Ando) will launch the following new products nationwide on Monday, November 10th: "Black Chicken Ramen," "Nissin's BLACK Donbei Black Kitsune Udon with Coarsely Ground Black Pepper and Rich Black Soy Sauce...


