Brand Profile · Japan · Est. 1907
Kirin
A 100-year-old Japanese beverage conglomerate with a deep tea portfolio.
The story
Kirin started as a brewery in Yokohama in 1907 and today is one of Japan's largest beverage companies. Their Afternoon Tea line — black tea, milk tea, lemon tea — is ubiquitous in Japanese convenience stores and has been exported to the US through Asian grocery channels.
Kirin's tea portfolio is less 'pure tea' than Ito En — they lean into flavored and milk teas — but they're a dependable everyday brand with aggressive pricing and wide distribution. Their bottled line is where most Americans first encounter Japanese tea culture.
Known for
- Afternoon Tea (black, milk, lemon)
- Nama-cha (straight green tea)
- Gogo-no-Kocha black tea line
