A Tea Brand And Hello Kitty Have Created A Nostalgic And Sustainable Experience

Tea Drops, a organic whole leaf tea shaped into fun drops, collaborated with Japanese juggernaut Sanrio for a Hello Kitty-themed tea line. This is the tea company’s first majorly branded partnership since its launch six years ago.

The Hello Kitty collection introduces three new flavors for the brand, which are inspired by the franchise: Apple Pie A La Mode to commemorate Hello Kitty’s favorite dessert, English Breakfast to honor traditional tea time and the character birthplace of London and Strawberry Matcha Green Tea, which celebrates Hello Kitty’s Japanese roots.

Pressed into the shape of the feline star’s face, the drop varieties are available in individual packs of 10 or together in a bundled set. Fans can also grab a bubble tea set, which includes the English Breakfast tea, tapioca pearls and a metal reusable straw. The Obsessed Set bundles the entire line with four enamel Hello Kitty pins for $79.

Chandran—a Sanrio fan herself— wanted to create a product that appealed to old and new fans of the Hello Kitty universe by including elements of the familiar iconography in both the packaging and the drops themselves.

“Our team grew up in that era of that nostalgic ’90s excitement of going to the mall and going to [the Sanrio store],” she says “That’s why this is the perfect marriage and collaboration for us.”

Sanrio expressed similar excitement towards the new deal by echoing Chandron’s sentiments on how tea encourages a sense of community.

“Hello Kitty represents friendship and the importance of connection, so this partnership with Tea Drops is the perfect blend of Hello Kitty’s love for tea and spending time with loved ones,” said Susan Tran, director of brand marketing at Sanrio, Inc., in a statement. “We’re thrilled to share these super cute Tea Drops designs so Hello Kitty fans everywhere can make special new memories over tea time.”