The temperature can go a long way to determining what captures our attention at the konbini. Currently, it feels like the middle of summer in the Kanto region, with temperatures creeping towards 90 degrees Fahrenheit before even factoring in the dampness that humidity brings. It's only going to get worse in the months ahead...so might as well start enjoying frosty treats now.

Family Mart's frappe line of drinks is an unheralded highlight of the modern convenience store landscape. Long a staple of the chain's frozen aisle, the drink requires customers to put it into a machine in the same coffee corner to create, which could feel a little intimidating at first. Yet the resulting drink is a nice, cold refresher coming in a variety of flavors, running from sugary sweet to fruity. In the middle of the hotter months, it's a nice indulgence.

Given the current temperatures, it's a perfect time to blend up Family Mart's latest variation on the frappe, a "cookie vanilla" offering that is equivalent to the classic cookies and cream. The sweetness comes through easily, but the real highlight here is the textural balancing act between the smoother vanilla and the chunkier chocolate bits mixed throughout. It's a nice contrast throughout, and adds a little more to a dessert perfect for the warmer days ahead.