Koeda 55th Anniversary: Elegant Tea Aroma and Crispy Texture 'Koeda <Royal Milk Tea>' New Release on April 21 (Tuesday) ~ 'Sakutto Yasumi with Koeda' Campaign to be Held ~

Morinaga & Co., Ltd. (Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and COO Shinya Mori) will launch "Koeda <Royal Milk Tea>", a limited-time product from the long-selling chocolate "Koeda," which celebrates its 55th anniversary, offering an elegant aroma of tea, starting April 21 (Tuesday). Milky white chocolate is kneaded with tea powder, realizing a royal milk tea aroma that gently spreads with each bite. Furthermore, the combination of two types of ingredients, puff and biscuit, allows you to enjoy a light, crispy texture and a harmony of chocolate. To commemorate the launch, a "Sakutto Yasumi with Koeda" campaign will be held, where purchasers of Koeda will be entered into a lottery to win prizes such as a "Big Koeda Relaxation Cushion" (1 winner) and 500 yen worth of selectable digital points "Digico" (70 winners). Through the launch of "Koeda <Royal Milk Tea>", which is perfect for a spring tea time with its gentle spread of milky chocolate and tea aroma, and the accompanying campaign, we aim to bring smiles to our customers. Koeda <Royal Milk Tea> - Chocolate with an elegant royal milk tea flavor, made by kneading tea powder into milky white chocolate, with a gentle tea aroma. - Achieves a light, crispy texture by using puff and biscuit as ingredients. - Bite-sized, twig-shaped, designed for easy eating during tea time or as a snack. About the "Sakutto Yasumi with Koeda" Campaign A campaign will be held where purchasers of eligible Koeda products can win luxurious prizes by lottery. ■ How to Apply Please take a photo of your receipt for purchasing 2 or more eligible products and upload it from the special website to apply. Make sure to include at least one "Koeda <Milk>" product among the eligible items. (Note: The 44-stick or tea time pack of <Milk> is acceptable.) Winners will be selected by lottery from those who apply, A Course: Big Koeda Relaxation Cushion (1 winner), B Course: 500 yen worth of selectable digital points "Digico" (70 winners). ■ Eligible Products 44 sticks Koeda <Milk> 101g Koeda <Milk> Tea Time Pack 44 sticks Koeda <Royal Milk Tea> 100g Koeda <Royal Milk Tea> Tea Time Pack ■ Application Period Tuesday, April 21, 2026 - Monday, June 22, 2026, 23:59 ■ Receipt Valid Period Purchases made from Tuesday, April 21, 2026, to Monday, June 22, 2026 ■ Campaign Special Website URL: https://www.morinaga.co.jp/koeda/spring-cp2026 "Koeda" 55th Anniversary (Birth in 1971 and Present) Reason for the Japanese name "Koeda", brush-stroke logo, and red package The product name was derived from the fact that the confection resembled a twig. At that time, Western styles were considered cool, and using alphabet characters was seen as "cool," while even including Japanese for necessary information was sometimes felt as "uncool." In such an era, deliberately choosing the Japanese name "Koeda" was a big challenge. For the design, extensive effort was put into creating a package that felt light, cute, and novel. After much deliberation, they conceived of using a brush-stroke for "Koeda" to emphasize its Japanese name and aim for an impactful contrast with Western confectionery. The brush-stroke was done by the designer's mother (a calligrapher) at the time, and it was rewritten numerous times to achieve an impressive and unique lettering. The Big Wish Entrusted to Small Twigs Launched with the slogan "Cherish the Twigs of the Highlands" in an era of environmental destruction alongside high economic growth, with the wish for people to turn their attention to nature. Although there were differing opinions within the company about releasing a chocolate with a Japanese name and a seemingly moralistic message, it ultimately resonated with many. While it originally used cashew nuts at the time of launch, it now uses almonds, sometimes candied or roasted, and the type of puff and the amount of ingredients have been varied. Without resting on its laurels as a long-selling product, the company has pursued the exquisite balance between ingredients and chocolate for over 50 years. In 2026, it celebrates its 55th anniversary. In late March, "Koeda <Milk>" was renewed in quality, further enhancing Koeda's signature crispiness and updating the flavor profile to have a more pronounced cocoa taste.