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Just in Time for Valentine's Day: Japanese Sweets and Chocolates
This is a great time of year. Not only do we have Valentine's Day in February, but strawberry-flavored treats also starting to appear on the shelves of convenience stores and super markets. From the simply to delicious to the slightly strange, be on the look out for these items when you go shopping!
This indulgent treat has a crisp baked crust and a melt-in-your-mouth creamy center. The contrast between these textures is one reason why this sweet is a popular choice in Japan. It's only available during the winter, so be sure to pick some up soon!
You can see the difference in color between the baked crust and the rich center.
Those familiar with Japanese snacks might know the popular Kinoko No Yama (lit. mushroom mountain). These are little "mushrooms" made with a cookie stalk and a chocolate cap. These ichigo or strawberry-flavored ones are a little different from the regular kind. First, they're much bigger. Second, they're completely covered (marugoto tsutsunda) with strawberry-flavored chocolate. These are only available when strawberries are in season.
As you can see, these cute little mushrooms still have a crispy cookie stalk.
Tirol Choco is well-known in Japan for producing bite-sized chocolates in a variety of unique flavors. For example, here's one flavored like sakura mochi, one of Japan's famous traditional sweets.
True to its name, you can taste sweet anko (red bean paste) and salt-pickled sakura leaf in this chocolate just like you would when eating a real sakura mochi!
In Japan, there is a very popular chain of stores specializing in choux cremes or cream puffs. Tirol Choco decided to partner with this popular brand and turn its much-loved pastries into tiny chocolates.
The result is like an inside-out cream puff. The outside tastes like custard filling, and the inside has a cookie with a texture similar to the crust of the cream puff.
Produced by Meiji, this "bean to bar" chocolate uses carefully selected cocoa beans that undergo a unique manufacturing process. They have a variety of sophisticated flavors including the Gianduja pictured here which has a hazelnut-chocolate filling.
The aroma of hazelnuts is immediately present from the moment you open the package. The flavor is mild yet rich and is best for savoring slowly a little at a time.
From Lotte's Ghana chocolate line, we have this nama chocolate. These sweet treats are filled with nama chocolate, a common name for chocolate ganache in Japanese. These are also only available during the winter.
Cutting the chocolate in half, you can see that it's mostly made out of ganache. These little morsels are guaranteed to melt in your mouth the moment you break through the thin chocolate shell.
To end this article, here's a type of chocolate that you've probably never seen before. Here we have instant yakisoba (fried noodles). But replacing the usual savory yakisoba sauce, we have-- you guessed it-- chocolate sauce. And that's not all. To top things off, there are crotons and powdered dried strawberry.
You prepare these instant yakisoba noodles like you would any other kind; fill the container with hot water, drain the water once the required amount of time has passed, and then add the sauce and toppings.
You can see what it looks like done below. Think you want to try?
While it may be customary to give chocolate on Valentine's Day, there's no reason you can't treat yourself any day of the year. Because most of the products in this article are available for a limited period of time, you'll have to move fast to get some for yourself! But don't worry-- Japan is always coming out with new and delicious (and sometimes a little weird) treats to try!
*Please note that products for this article were purchased on February 3, 2017. Items are only available while supplies last at participating retail locations. Seasonal items are only available for a limited period of time.
Chocolaty Treats
Bake Premium Creamy Chocolat
This indulgent treat has a crisp baked crust and a melt-in-your-mouth creamy center. The contrast between these textures is one reason why this sweet is a popular choice in Japan. It's only available during the winter, so be sure to pick some up soon!
You can see the difference in color between the baked crust and the rich center.
Marugoto Ichigo Tsutsunda Ootsubu Kinoko No Yama
Those familiar with Japanese snacks might know the popular Kinoko No Yama (lit. mushroom mountain). These are little "mushrooms" made with a cookie stalk and a chocolate cap. These ichigo or strawberry-flavored ones are a little different from the regular kind. First, they're much bigger. Second, they're completely covered (marugoto tsutsunda) with strawberry-flavored chocolate. These are only available when strawberries are in season.
As you can see, these cute little mushrooms still have a crispy cookie stalk.
Uniquely-Flavored Chocolates
Tirol Choco Sakura Mochi
Tirol Choco is well-known in Japan for producing bite-sized chocolates in a variety of unique flavors. For example, here's one flavored like sakura mochi, one of Japan's famous traditional sweets.
True to its name, you can taste sweet anko (red bean paste) and salt-pickled sakura leaf in this chocolate just like you would when eating a real sakura mochi!
Tirol Choco Beard Papa's Choux Creme
In Japan, there is a very popular chain of stores specializing in choux cremes or cream puffs. Tirol Choco decided to partner with this popular brand and turn its much-loved pastries into tiny chocolates.
The result is like an inside-out cream puff. The outside tastes like custard filling, and the inside has a cookie with a texture similar to the crust of the cream puff.
Simple Yet Satisfying Chocolate
meiji THE Chocolate Gianduja
Produced by Meiji, this "bean to bar" chocolate uses carefully selected cocoa beans that undergo a unique manufacturing process. They have a variety of sophisticated flavors including the Gianduja pictured here which has a hazelnut-chocolate filling.
The aroma of hazelnuts is immediately present from the moment you open the package. The flavor is mild yet rich and is best for savoring slowly a little at a time.
Ghana Nama Chocolate (Milk Chocolate)
From Lotte's Ghana chocolate line, we have this nama chocolate. These sweet treats are filled with nama chocolate, a common name for chocolate ganache in Japanese. These are also only available during the winter.
Cutting the chocolate in half, you can see that it's mostly made out of ganache. These little morsels are guaranteed to melt in your mouth the moment you break through the thin chocolate shell.
How about Chocolate... Noodles?
Peyoung Chocolate Yakisoba
To end this article, here's a type of chocolate that you've probably never seen before. Here we have instant yakisoba (fried noodles). But replacing the usual savory yakisoba sauce, we have-- you guessed it-- chocolate sauce. And that's not all. To top things off, there are crotons and powdered dried strawberry.
You prepare these instant yakisoba noodles like you would any other kind; fill the container with hot water, drain the water once the required amount of time has passed, and then add the sauce and toppings.
You can see what it looks like done below. Think you want to try?
Indulge Your Sweet Tooth
While it may be customary to give chocolate on Valentine's Day, there's no reason you can't treat yourself any day of the year. Because most of the products in this article are available for a limited period of time, you'll have to move fast to get some for yourself! But don't worry-- Japan is always coming out with new and delicious (and sometimes a little weird) treats to try!
*Please note that products for this article were purchased on February 3, 2017. Items are only available while supplies last at participating retail locations. Seasonal items are only available for a limited period of time.
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THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM 02 14,2017 Author：Rachael Ragalye
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