New Green Tea "Kirin Nama-cha Jukusei" Goes on Sale Nationwide in Japan on October 13 Alongside Two Other Nama-cha Drinks

Kirin Nama-cha Jukusei (キリン 生茶 熟成), a new bottled green tea from the Kirin Nama-cha (生茶) brand, goes on sale nationwide in Japan on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. On the same day, Kirin Nama-cha Hoji Sencha (キリン 生茶 ほうじ煎茶) is being relaunched with a renewed recipe, and the new Kirin Nama-cha Caffeine Free (キリン 生茶 カフェインフリー) is released. The drinks are made by Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd. (キリンビバレッジ株式会社).

Kirin Nama-cha Caffeine Free is counted as 0 g of caffeine, as less than 0.001 g per 100 ml is treated as 0 g.

Background of the Nama-cha Brand

Since its launch in 2000, the Nama-cha brand has proposed a new way to enjoy tea as "delicious tea that fits the lives of today's customers." In March 2026, it relaunched "Kirin Nama-cha," strengthening its value proposition of a "refreshing, pleasant feeling" in tea.

In the beverage market, rising prices have led consumers to place more importance on value as well as price. In the unsweetened tea market, subcategories featuring a "sense of health" or "taste and aroma," in addition to being "easy to drink," have been growing (based on Intage SRI+ estimated sales volume by category under Kirin's definition, January 2024 to December 2025). What customers look for in unsweetened tea is becoming more varied.

To respond to these changes, the Nama-cha brand has focused on expectations for "taste and aroma," which existing green teas have not fully met, in addition to the "easy to drink" appeal of Kirin Nama-cha.

Kirin Nama-cha Jukusei

The new Kirin Nama-cha Jukusei uses "Nekase Shikomi tea leaves" (寝かせ仕込み茶葉), which are tea leaves stored at low temperature for six months to two years (used in part). It offers a new kind of green tea deliciousness built on a "rich aroma" and "deep umami and body."

Renewed Hoji Sencha and New Caffeine Free

Kirin Nama-cha Hoji Sencha, which responds to expectations for "taste and aroma," has been renewed to further strengthen a flavor that combines rich taste and aroma with easy drinkability.

Kirin Nama-cha Caffeine Free is aimed at the caffeine-less market, which has been growing as more people try to cut back on caffeine (based on Intage SRI+ trends in the caffeine-zero and caffeine-less beverage market under Kirin's definition). Using Kirin's own patented "Caffeine Clear process," it delivers 0 g of caffeine while keeping the tea delicious. Its contents, package and container have all been renewed, and it goes on sale as a new product.

The Nama-cha Lineup

The Nama-cha brand positions its four products around different expectations.

• Kirin Nama-cha: meets the expectation of "easy to drink"
• Kirin Nama-cha Jukusei and Kirin Nama-cha Hoji Sencha: meet the expectation of "taste and aroma"
• Kirin Nama-cha Caffeine Free: proposes a new sense of health

Through these products, the brand aims to offer new value to the unsweetened tea market for bottled drinks and to make the category more active and appealing. By continuing to innovate in what tea can be, the Nama-cha brand aims to enrich the daily lives of people living today.

Message From the Person in Charge

Yuri Saito (齊藤 裕吏), Marketing Department, in charge of the "Nama-cha" brand, Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd.

Profile

Saito joined Kirin Holdings Company, Limited in 2022. After gaining sales experience at Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd., Saito moved to the company's Marketing Department in 2024 and has been in charge of the Nama-cha brand ever since.

Message

"I want to spread more ways of enjoying the green tea we drink every day without thinking, so that people feel, 'Oh, this is something new! It's delicious!' That wish led to the development of Kirin Nama-cha Jukusei.

Through the Nama-cha brand, we believe we can offer 'delicious tea that fits the lives of today's customers' and make their everyday lives richer.

For Nama-cha Jukusei, we brought out a rich aroma and deep umami and body by using Nekase Shikomi tea leaves, newly adopted exclusively for this product (used in part), and by sparing no effort in the flavor-making. It has a full-bodied taste, yet it is easy to drink in any everyday situation.

We hope it will be enjoyed not only by green tea lovers but also by people who don't usually drink much green tea. It is the new deliciousness of authentic green tea that we have arrived at."

Product Information

• Release date: Tuesday, October 13, 2026
• Sales area: Nationwide in Japan
• Prices are manufacturer's suggested retail prices, excluding consumption tax.