Kusmi Tea, the French organic tea maison with more than 150 years of history, is joining forces with Chinese restaurant Karin at ANA InterContinental Tokyo for their first collaboration afternoon tea. "Medicinal Afternoon Tea with Kusmi Tea" (薬膳アフタヌーンティー with KUSMI TEA) runs from September 11 (Friday) to December 30 (Wednesday), 2026, closed on Tuesdays.
The collaboration draws on the Chinese culinary principle that food and medicine share the same origin. Rather than serving Kusmi Tea purely as a drink, its tea leaves are worked directly into the dishes and sweets themselves. Spices, herbs, and fruits from Kusmi Tea's blends meet Chinese cooking techniques across a course of 20 dishes and desserts, offering a new way to experience Kusmi Tea's range of flavors through the lens of medicinal cuisine.
Kusmi Tea Leaves as a New Accent in the Kitchen
Kusmi Tea leaves appear in five of the dishes and sweets, worked in after repeated testing — kneaded into bun fillings, infused into oils, and more.
The starter, "Cheese Dish Scented with Aqua Rosa," sets Kusmi Tea's Aqua Rosa blend — with its notes of rose, hibiscus, and berry — into a jelly paired with cheese. "Scallop and Taro with Chinese Green Tea Oil" infuses the refreshing aroma of green tea into an oil that highlights the delicate richness of scallop and taro.
A playful tiger-face shrimp bun, "Tiger-Face Shrimp Bun Scented with Chai of the Tiger," kneads a blend of ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and pepper into the filling, layering spiced chai notes over the savory sweetness of shrimp and pork.
For dessert, "Aqua Frutti Konjac Tapioca" draws on the bright acidity of hibiscus and berry, among other items that put Kusmi Tea's colors, aromas, and flavors on full display.
20 Dishes and Sweets, Paired With Six Teas
The full course brings together 11 savory dishes and 9 sweets — 20 items in total — combining authentic Chinese cooking built on ingredients like shrimp, beef, ginger, pine nuts, and goji berries with Kusmi Tea's sensibility. Everything is served in steamer baskets carrying Kusmi Tea's original design.
On the drinks side, guests can enjoy a free-flow of six teas selected to pair with the food: three Kusmi Tea blends and three Chinese teas.
Kusmi Tea: Happy Mind / White Bellini / Only Spice
Chinese tea: Medicinal Oolong Tea / Keemun Black Tea / Jasmine Tea
A plan that adds Kusmi Tea's tea mocktail "Soleil Blanc" is also available.
Event Details
| Event | Medicinal Afternoon Tea with Kusmi Tea |
| Period | September 11 (Friday) to December 30 (Wednesday), 2026, closed Tuesdays |
| Hours | Seating 1: 11:30 AM / Seating 2: 2:00 PM / Seating 3: 5:30 PM (2-hour seating) |
| Reservations | Fully reservation-based; book by 3:00 PM the previous business day. Limited to 10 groups per seating. |
| Venue | Chinese Restaurant Karin, ANA InterContinental Tokyo (3F) |
| Price | ¥8,900 per person (tax and service included) / With tea mocktail "Soleil Blanc": ¥10,700 per person |
| Menu | 20 dishes and sweets, plus free-flow of 6 drinks (3 Kusmi Tea blends, 3 Chinese teas) |
| Contact | ANA InterContinental Tokyo, TEL 03-3505-1111 |
| Address | 1-12-33 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 |
| Access | 5-minute walk from Tameike-Sanno Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza and Namboku lines) |
Tea Seminar
During the run, a member of Kusmi Tea's brand team is also hosting a tea seminar alongside the afternoon tea, covering the brand's 150-plus-year history, its philosophy, the character of its tea leaves, and brewing tips.
- Dates: September 12 (Saturday), October 10 (Saturday), and November 14 (Saturday), 2026, 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
- Price: Same as the afternoon tea
- Capacity: Limited to 10 guests per session
