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Spring has sprung at the Japanese fast food chain, with cherry blossom hot pies, sweet drinks and a delectable-looking pink burger.

As we head out of winter and move towards the warmer months of the year, fast food chains around the country shake off their warming winter menus and swap them for lighter, pink-hued collections that resemble the sakura cherry blossoms of spring.

Lotteria is one of the first to show off their new range, and this year, there’s a lot to love about the pink-coloured collection. First up there are a variety of drinks that take inspiration form the colour of the cherry blossoms, including a Milk Pudding Strawberry Shake, which is set to retail for 360 yen (US$3.21).

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Two other beverages use Tochigi Prefecture’s famous Tochi Otome variety of strawberries as their star ingredient: the Tochiotome Iced Latte (left, 280 yen) and the carbonated Strawberry Soda (right, 280 yen).

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▼ Rounding off the drink collection is a hot strawberry-flacoured Tochiotome Latte.

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And for those bitterly disappointed with the fact that these drinks look sakura-like but taste nothing like a blossom, Lotteria throws in something to sweeten the deal: the Sakura Mochi Mochi An Pie (180 yen). Filled with a sweet red bean paste using beans sourced from Hokkaido Prefecture, the pie packs a punch with an aromatic and flavoursome chewy crust made from cherry blossoms.

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And for a main meal option, Lotteria is offering up the Sakura Ebi Tartar Prawn Burger for 380 yen. Sakura Ebi are tiny shrimp that take on a pink colour when dried, and here they’re used as the star ingredient in a thick and creamy tartar sauce. Underneath the sauce is a delicious fried prawn patty covered with plenty of good-quality panko breadcrumbs. The burger is finished off with two plump buns, which have been blended with cherry blossom extract to provide the delicious taste and look of spring.

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The new spring items go on sale at Lotteria outlets around the country from 15 February. While the drinks and sweets will be on sale until 10 April, the burger will only be on sale until 15 March so be sure to stop by soon for a taste of spring!

Source: Lotteria Japan (1, 2)
Featured image: Lotteria Japan
Insert images: Lotteria Japan (1, 2)