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UCC's Edible Coffee 'YOINED' Comes to an End for This Season

In a recent announcement, UCC Ueshima Coffee Co., based in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, revealed the end of sales for its innovative edible coffee, YOINED, as of March 2026. Launched in November 2023, YOINED is Japan's first edible coffee, born from a unique production method developed over more than 20 years. The idea behind YOINED stemmed from a desire among researchers to savor every nuance of coffee bean aroma, leading to the creation of a self-contained coffee product that promises a flavor experience unlike traditional coffee.

YOINED allows consumers to enjoy the rich aroma and taste of coffee beans—sweetness, acidity, and bitterness—differently than by drinking coffee. The distinctive eating experience enhances the direct appreciation of coffee's aromatic qualities, allowing consumers to revel fully in the lingering finish characteristic of great coffee.

For the 2025 season, UCC introduced two new varieties of coffee for YOINED: a fermented Colombian bean and a Guatemalan bean from a renowned farm. The roasting methods have been refined to accentuate the fruity acidity inherent in both types of coffee, leading to an enhanced taste profile that has garnered attention since its pre-launch period. Amazingly, even after increasing initial stock by more than 120% compared to the previous year, YOINED sold out within two days after its online debut, with preorders surpassing 160% of the previous year's figures.

As Valentine's Day approached, YOINED captured attention once again as a new gift option that avoids the high cacao prices impacting the chocolate market. It was featured prominently at the special Valentine's Chocolate Collection 2026 event at Abeno Harukas Kintetsu Main Store. While visually resembling chocolate, YOINED contains no cacao, earning media coverage as a unique Valentine's treat. Consequently, early sales exceeded expectations once more, leading to another sell-out ahead of the official end of the sales period.

Moreover, YOINED's edible coffee format has inspired collaborations with alcoholic beverages, offering a new coffee culture experience. This year's edition highlighted the remarkable pairing of YOINED with sake, resulting in a partnership with SAKE HUNDRED, an acclaimed sake brand with multiple awards in the world sake competition. A special course featuring YOINED and sake pairings was made available at the sake specialty bar, Sake Lab Tokyo, starting February 11, 2026.

In an unprecedented collaboration with The Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho, UCC offered a cocktail pairing set featuring YOINED cocktails like the 'Truffevardier Pairing with YOINED (Guatemala)' and 'ORIGIN Pairing with YOINED (Colombia)' from January 15 to February 14. This collaboration showcased how YOINED's flavor could be maximized through innovative pairings designed to create a luxurious aftertaste experience.

Looking to the future, UCC aims to develop YOINED's next iteration for fall 2026, promising evolving flavors and new experiences for coffee enthusiasts. With each passing year, YOINED sets a new standard in the edible coffee market, continually challenging the conventional coffee experience.

UCC Ueshima Coffee Co. emphasizes its mission to