Pizza Hut Japan and Gion Tsujiri launch a matcha dessert Handy Melt for tsukimi season

A dessert pizza made for moon viewing season

Pizza Hut Japan has taken a classic snack from Kyoto tea culture and wrapped it in a format built for convenience. The chain’s new Handy Melts Matcha Shiratama Kuromitsu is a compact dessert pizza that folds matcha, mochi, and cheese into a crisp green crust, then invites you to finish it with a pour of brown sugar syrup. It is a limited time item through October 26, or while supplies last, and it arrives right on cue for tsukimi, Japan’s autumn moon viewing period. The collaboration taps Uji matcha from Gion Tsujiri, a Kyoto tea house founded in 1860, and presents a sweet and salty combination that is both familiar to local palates and intriguing to visitors. The white shiratama dumplings resemble little full moons, the matcha filling brings gentle bitterness, and the drizzle of kuromitsu adds deep caramel-like sweetness. The only catch is the mess factor. One handed eating sits at the heart of the Handy Melts concept, yet the syrup packet can make things sticky fast. Flavor and texture win the day, though, with many tasters calling it a fun hot mess that they would happily eat again.

What exactly is a Handy Melt

Handy Melts are triangular folded slices made from Pizza Hut dough, crisp at the edges and designed to be eaten with one hand. They typically feature savory fillings, like cheese and meats, and are popular as an on-the-go snack. This dessert version keeps the fold-and-go idea, but swaps out sauce and toppings for Japanese sweets. The green dough is kneaded with matcha, then folded around a layer of matcha sweet bean paste, chewy shiratama mochi, and a blend of mozzarella and cream cheese. A packet of kuromitsu brown sugar syrup comes on the side to pour over the top right before eating.

Why matcha, why now

Matcha is ingrained in Japanese food culture, and Uji, just south of Kyoto, is a byword for premium leaves and careful grinding. The flavor profile is a draw, with bitterness, aroma, and a clean finish that pairs well with dairy and sugar. The global boom in matcha drinks and desserts has also nudged fast food brands to experiment. Japanese chains are leaning into that momentum by offering products that communicate authenticity and novelty at the same time. A collaboration with Gion Tsujiri, known for high grade Uji matcha, signals quality while keeping the price accessible.

Inside the matcha Handy Melt: flavor, texture, and that kuromitsu drizzle

The filling reads like a tour of classic Japanese sweets, then adds cheese for richness. Matcha sweet bean paste offers gentle earthy bitterness and a smooth texture. Shiratama mochi dumplings bring that satisfying chew associated with traditional wagashi. The cheese does more than melt. Mozzarella gives stretch and a light saltiness, while cream cheese contributes tang and body. Together, they round off the sweetness and help the matcha shine.

The dough is where the green tea makes a visible entrance. Kneaded with Uji matcha, the crust bakes up crisp with a deep green hue. That color is more than visual flair. It adds a light tea fragrance that persists underneath the syrup. Then comes the kuromitsu. This dark brown sugar syrup tastes like molasses crossed with caramel. A modest drizzle pulls the flavors together and delivers a glossy finish, though it also defeats the one handed plan if you pour with abandon. A napkin or a small plate goes a long way here.

Texturally, it is a ride: crisp crust, stretchy cheese, soft paste, and bouncy mochi. The taste swings from bitter to sweet to salty and back again. Fans of matcha parfaits and anmitsu will recognize the profile. Those new to kuromitsu might be surprised by how mellow it is compared to maple syrup. It plays well with dairy and does not overpower the tea. If you prefer more tea bite, go light on the drizzle and let the matcha lead.

How to order and pricing across Japan

The Handy Melts Matcha Shiratama Kuromitsu is available at participating Pizza Hut locations in Japan through October 26, 2025, or while supplies last. Price varies by order method. Takeout is set at 550 yen. Delivery is listed at 790 yen. The item also appears in seasonal value promotions. Customers who order the Autumn Tsukimi Pizza Set can add the matcha Handy Melt as an extra for 395 yen. That tsukimi set is built around a half and half Pork Tsukimi and Mayo Chicken Tsukimi pizza, a nod to moon viewing traditions that often inspire limited menu runs each fall.

Availability can differ from store to store since quantities are limited. If you are set on trying it, consider checking early in the day or calling your local branch before you make a trip. The item is sized as a single serving, so it works well as a snack or as dessert to split after a savory pizza.

There is also a short social media campaign that ties the collaboration back to tea culture. By following Pizza Hut Japan’s official accounts on X or Instagram and liking or reposting the campaign message during the early September window, participants have a chance at one of 30 tea bag assortments from Gion Tsujiri. Fifteen winners are selected per platform. It is a small giveaway, yet it adds a touch of Kyoto to the rollout and signals confidence in the tea itself.

Matcha crash course: Uji tea, kuromitsu syrup, and shiratama dango

Uji matcha sits at the center of the dessert. Matcha is powdered green tea made by grinding shade grown leaves on stones. Shade growing boosts amino acids that give a deep, savory sweetness known as umami. High quality matcha is vibrant green, aromatic, and slightly bitter in a way that cleans the palate. Uji, near Kyoto, has produced prized tea for centuries and remains a benchmark for premium leaves. Gion Tsujiri, founded in 1860, is closely associated with that region and is known for carefully milled powders used in sweets and drinks.

Kuromitsu is the syrup you pour over the Handy Melt. The name means black honey, though it does not contain honey. It is made by dissolving unrefined brown sugar in water and reducing it into a pourable syrup. The flavor has notes of toffee and molasses, and it behaves more gently than maple, which often dominates. It is a standard topping for Japanese desserts like warabi mochi and anmitsu, and it plays in the same sandbox as caramel when paired with dairy.

Shiratama dango are small dumplings made from glutinous rice flour. They are boiled until they rise, then chilled for a chewy, springy bite. In seasonal desserts, these pale spheres can be arranged to resemble the full moon. That visual cue makes them a natural fit for tsukimi menus. Inside the Handy Melt, they add resistance that contrasts against the melty cheese and smooth bean paste, a key part of the fun.

A track record of bold pizza ideas in Japan

Pizza menus in Japan have long mixed local tastes with global formats. Dessert pizzas pop up frequently and often sell for a short window tied to a theme. Earlier this year Pizza Hut Japan used the Handy Melts format for a chocolate focused Kit Kat dessert slice, wrapping wafers and cheese in warm dough for a playful finish to a meal. A few seasons before that, the chain put maple syrup and vanilla ice cream on a hot cheese base, asking customers to assemble the toppings at the table so the ice cream would not melt in transit.

Japan’s pizza scene thrives on novelty. A coffee and sausage pizza from Pizza Hut, with whipped cream added at the end, gained surprising fans and saw its run extended. Aoki’s Pizza, a regional chain in Nagoya, has even served an ice cream fondue pizza, complete with a raised center to hold a scoop for dipping. On the tea side, Kyoto’s Itohkyuemon introduced a matcha Margherita with a mascarpone matcha sauce, showing how chefs are weaving green tea into savory formats too. The matcha Handy Melt fits right into this landscape, combining high quality tea with a fast food crust in a way that feels both unexpected and very Japanese.

There is also a marketing rhythm around autumn. Tsukimi regularly inspires seasonal burgers, sweets, and pizzas. Egg yolks, round dumplings, and glossy syrups stand in for the full moon, and brands look for ingredients that telegraph harvest time. Matcha is not seasonal in the same way as chestnut or sweet potato, yet it signals craftsmanship and pairs well with richer toppings that people crave as the weather cools.

Taste test takeaways: who will love it and who might not

This Handy Melt is built for people who enjoy traditional Japanese sweets and do not mind a bit of savory. The cheese softens the sweetness and amplifies the matcha aroma. The mochi adds a satisfying chew that lingers between bites. If you prefer very sweet desserts, you can pour the entire syrup packet. If you like a stronger tea finish, drizzle lightly and let the bitter notes stand up to the dairy.

Those who dislike sticky fingers should plan ahead. The fold makes it portable, but the syrup makes it messy. A small plate, a napkin, and a slow pour help a lot. Consider eating immediately while the crust is still crisp and the cheese is warm. The textures are at their best right out of the box.

Tips for the best bite

These simple moves make the experience smoother.

• Open the syrup packet over a plate to avoid spills, then add a light first drizzle and taste before adding more.
• Eat it fresh. The contrast of crisp crust and melty filling fades as it cools.
• Pair with hot tea or black coffee. The bitterness balances the kuromitsu and cheese.
• Share if you want a few bites of dessert after a savory pizza. One Handy Melt is sized for a single snack.
• If you are sensitive to allergens, note that it contains wheat and dairy, and the dumplings are made from glutinous rice flour.

What to Know

• Item name: Handy Melts Matcha Shiratama Kuromitsu, a folded dessert pizza with Uji matcha dough.
• Core ingredients: matcha bean paste, shiratama mochi, mozzarella, cream cheese, kuromitsu syrup.
• Collaboration partner: Gion Tsujiri of Kyoto, founded in 1860 and associated with premium Uji matcha.
• Availability window: through October 26, 2025, or while supplies last, at participating Pizza Hut Japan locations.
• Price: 550 yen for takeout, 790 yen for delivery, or 395 yen as an add-on with the Autumn Tsukimi Pizza Set.
• Seasonal tie-in: designed for tsukimi, with white dumplings that echo the full moon.
• Experience notes: great flavor balance of bitter, sweet, and salty, though the syrup can make one handed eating sticky.
• Best approach: drizzle lightly at first, eat while hot, and pair with tea or coffee.