Starbucks Japan unveils Mitsuimo Milk, a new drink that celebrates the taste of autumn

Limited-edition beverage introduces us to the magic that happens when you roast a Japanese sweet potato.

In Japan, the arrival of autumn brings with it a bounty of seasonal produce, and one of the harvest stars is sweet potato. It’s a vegetable so popular it’s become one of the season’s signature flavours, and Starbucks is celebrating its sweetness in a simple yet stunning new special release.

Called Mitsuimo Milk, this beverage is made with beni haruka, one of the most popular varieties of sweet potato in Japan, beloved for its well-rounded sweetness. Mitsuimo (literally “honey potato”), is the term used to describe sweet potatoes that are so sweet the natural sugars become densely concentrated, oozing out a honey-like syrup when baked – a quality that beni haruka is renowned for.

For locals, the word “mitsuimo” is enough to make them salivate, and Starbucks has already witnessed its powers of seduction firsthand, through the popularity of the Melty Mitsuimo Frappuccino and Melty Mitsuimo Mousse Tea Latte released earlier this month.

Whereas those two drinks (pictured above) were filled with richness and multiple layers of flavour, this new release strips away the trimmings, offering a simpler, more pared-back take on the sweet potato to showcase the depths of its honey-like sweetness.

By blending baked sweet potato paste with smooth milk, customers will be able to enjoy a deliciously creamy texture that mimics the mouthfeel of a sweet potato. The simplicity of the ingredients helps to showcase the delicate, nuanced flavours that are naturally inherent in the vegetable and unlocked through the baking process, when it sings with syrupy sweetness.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to drink a sweet potato unfettered by other seasonal ingredients, then the Mitsuimo Milk will open the door to a new realm of deliciousness. Priced at 618 yen (US$4.10) for takeout or 630 yen for dine-in, the new drink will be available at Starbucks stores around Japan from 18 September.

Source, images: Press release
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