K.Minamoto x Tea Kitamura Collaboration Event in NYC: Lunar New Year & Valentine’s Day "Art × Wagashi Sweets × Tea Pairing"
We’re excited to share an upcoming in-store collaboration with K.Minamoto (NY 5th Avenue), where you can experience Japanese sweets and tea as a pairing—surrounded by an extraordinary seasonal exhibition celebrating Japanese craftsmanship and beauty.
Select Tea Kitamura products are also available for purchase at the K.Minamoto NY 5th Avenue store, so you can take your favorite teas home after tasting them.
Event Overview
K.Minamoto x Tea Kitamura Collaboration Lunar New Year & Valentine’s Day
Art × Japanese Sweets and Tea Pairing Event
Date and Time
Friday, January 30, 2026, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Saturday, January 31, 2026, 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location
K.Minamoto Store
604 5th Ave, New York, NY 10020
(5th Avenue between 48th and 49th Streets)
Event Perks
Pairing tasting of 2 Japanese sweets and 2 teas
Tasting Pairings
• CHOCOLATE MIKASA × Matcha Green Tea
• SAKURA FUKUSA × Hojicha
This pairing event is designed to highlight how wagashi and tea enhance each other—flavor, aroma, texture, and the quiet “pause” you feel when you take a thoughtful sip after a beautiful bite. Whether you’re new to matcha and hojicha or already a dedicated tea fan, this is a relaxed way to explore pairing in a setting that’s uniquely New York, and deeply Japanese in spirit.
Why Wagashi and Tea Pair So Well
Japanese sweets are often crafted with balance in mind—sweetness that doesn’t overwhelm, textures that shift delicately, and seasonal themes that invite you to slow down and notice details. Tea works as a partner, not just a beverage. Matcha can brighten and sharpen chocolate’s richness, while hojicha’s roasted warmth can soften sweetness and round out the finish.
At this event, you’ll taste two intentional pairings that connect confectionery artistry with tea’s natural character.
A Special Backdrop: Craft Confectionery Exhibition “Kabi Rei Chou”
This collaboration takes place during a special exhibition at the K.Minamoto NY 5th Avenue store featuring the craft confectionery work “Kabi Rei Chou,” known for its breathtaking theme and detail: a world of beauty woven by peacocks and peonies.
“Kabi Rei Chou” won the Honorary President’s Award in the artisan confectionery category at Japan’s National Confectionery Exposition (Kashi-Haku), an event held once every four years. It is a monumental work created by four artisans over more than half a year, built under the theme “Flowers Beautiful, Birds Lovely,” depicting a splendid scene of peonies and peacocks. The peacock’s tail alone is made from approximately 7,300 individual parts—assembled to form intricate curves with advanced technique and extraordinary patience.
This marks the work’s first overseas exhibition. The piece was disassembled in Japan, airfreighted to New York, and then restored and reassembled locally. The exhibition is scheduled to run through the end of January 2026, making this pairing event a meaningful moment to experience sweets, tea, and visual artistry together in one place.
Tea Kitamura at K.Minamoto
If you’ve visited the K.Minamoto store recently, you may have noticed that select Tea Kitamura products are also sold there. This collaboration grows from a shared belief: the best experiences are crafted, not rushed—whether it’s a confection shaped by hand or a tea chosen for its aroma, balance, and finish.
If you discover a tea you love during the tasting, you’ll be able to explore Tea Kitamura offerings at the store as well.
Plan Your Visit
If you’ll be in Midtown on Friday or Saturday afternoon, we’d love for you to stop by and enjoy a uniquely seasonal pairing experience that brings together Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day, Japanese sweets, Japanese tea, and the visual beauty of “Kabi Rei Chou.”
We look forward to seeing you at K.Minamoto NY 5th Avenue.