While wandering through a Japanese department store, I found a charming café and household-goods store called ‘Afternoon Tea’. It had a shelf devoted to a limited-edition line of Tarot-themed flavoured teas.

The base is black tea, flavoured with fruit, however, the real draw is the packaging. So far, the series uses only four Major Arcana cards: The Wheel of Fortune, The Star, The Moon, and The Sun. It’s fascinating that they chose to link Tarot cards to their teas. Perhaps it’s because, like Tarot, the relaxing, uplifting ritual of having an afternoon cuppa invites us to pause and reflect on life.

I like how the four flavours align with their respective cards. The Sun is linked to Orange & Apricot, creating a blend that is bright, warm, and optimistic—a perfect flavour to express this card’s joy and vitality. The Star, the card of hope and serenity, is captured in the gentle, calming pairing of Apple & White Peach. The more complex cards also match up beautifully: The Wheel of Fortune, which symbolises cycles and destiny, features Mango & Peach, a dynamic, upbeat blend that could suggest a sudden, sweet turn of good fortune. Finally, The Moon, the card of intuition, dreams, and mystery, is represented by Lemon & Grapefruit. Perhaps this flavour was chosen because this slightly bitter citrus profile helps to awaken us to hidden truths.

While the artwork is clearly inspired by the classic Rider–Waite–Smith deck, it has been infused with the whimsical twist of bunnies and kittens among the traditional symbols. Even though I am not a tea drinker, I was tempted to purchase all four just for the packaging alone!