Ruby chocolate is a variety of chocolate that was introduced in 2017 as the 4th main type of chocolate alongside milk, white and dark. It didn’t hit Japan until October 2018, but since then, the luxury pink delight has been getting much love with the release of many new products. The ruby colour of the cocoa beans is completely natural.
I attended a product conference held by Barry Callebaut, the Belgian-Swiss chocolate company which introduced ruby chocolate to the world. I got to try out various confections made using this chocolate.
When talking about ruby chocolate, you’re inclined to highlight its striking pink colour. But the looks are just part of the story. Compared to dark, white and milk chocolate, ruby chocolate is said to have the strongest cacao fruit flavour. Though it’s chocolate, it has a sour, fruity kind of taste.
Until last year, I was more about the eye-catching pink colour of the chocolate, so I ended up overlooking that ruby chocolate is often paired with berry-type fruits when it comes to confections. I get it nowーso it has a sour taste? Well then, this year I really want to go all out and appreciate the unique flavour of this ruby chocolate.
Today, I’m going to showcase six new products made with Callebaut® Ruby Chocolate. I’ve tried them all, so I can properly break down the flavours and how delicious they are for you!
Ruby Chocolate Otabe – ¥660 (Before Tax)
This Japanese confection is a combination of ruby chocolate and “Otabe,” which is a confection known as “yatsuhashi,” a popular souvenir sweet from Kyoto. Much time is put into making the ganache to ensure the fruitiness of the ruby chocolate remains intact. The ganache is wrapped in chewy yatsuhashi which is made with domestic koshihikari, which is a type of rice, and carefully selected water. There’s no way this could be anything short of delicious!
At the taste-testing session, I got to see the ruby chocolate Otabe being made right in front of me. It was done by a kimono-clad Nara who normally makes confections in the factory.
The rich and sour ganache combined with the chewy yatsuhashi is a match made in heaven! The pink colour really is cute after all, isn’t it? By wrapping the fruity chocolate in mochi, it creates even deeper flavours in your mouth.
This product will be sold at Kyoto Station and various tourist sites around Kyoto, so if you ever visit the city, make sure you’re on the lookout.
Ruby Chocolate Otabe
Running: October 11, 2019 – Early May 2020
Available: At Kyoto Station and tourist spots around Kyoto
Official Website: http://www.otabe.kyoto.jp/
Ruby Mille-feuille – ¥600 (Before Tax)
From Juchheim comes these ruby chocolate-coated mille-feuille fingers, laced with butter from Hokkaido and strawberry and raspberry mixed cream layered into a crunchy sandwich.
The puff pastry is of course tasty, and the sour flavour of the ruby chocolate mixed with the sourness of the berry cream packs a seriously fruity punch. It’s an overall crunchy and rich dessert, but it also has a refreshing taste to it, so one person is sure to be tempted by more than one.
Ruby Mille-feuille
Released: October 1, 2019 (Online orders from October 8, 2019 )
Available: At all 272 branches of Juchheim in Japan / Juchheim Premium Online Shop
Online Shop: https://e-shop.juchheim.co.jp/
Pretzel Cookie – ¥480 Each (Before Tax)
Food company Rosenheim have taken their crunchy butter pretzel cookies and coated them in various chocolate flavours, including ruby, sweet, milk, and white.
The ruby pretzels have that distinct vivid pink colour and of course taste fruity. There’s six in a pack, so you can share them with friends.
Pretzel Cookie
Released: September 20, 2019
Available: At mass retailers across Japan
Christmas Wreath Ruby Framboise – ¥5,000 (Before Tax)
Callebaut’s new ruby chocolate iced cake will be released from Maison Givrée. It’s topped with a ruby chocolate and raspberry ice cream and is adorned with cool and refreshing lychee sorbet.
The best way to eat this cake is when the ice cream has melted a little bit. You can enjoy the sweet fragrance of the ruby chocolate and the marriage between its sour flavour and the raspberry. Try savouring the melted sorbet and ruby chocolate ice cream by leaving it in your mouth.
Christmas Wreath Ruby Framboise
Running: October 11, 2019 – December 13, 2019
Delivery Window: December 20, 2019 – December 25, 2019 (subject to change)
Stock: 50
Available: At Maison Givrée and its online store
Official Website: https://givreetokyo.shop-pro.jp/
Ruby Chocolate Corn Puffs – One Box ¥1,450 (Tax Included)
You can pick up a box of these ruby chocolate corn puffs at Pierre Gagnaire Pains et Gateaux on the 2nd floor of InterContinental ANA Hotel Tokyo. They have a shiny pink pearl-like appearance. The crunchy corn puffs are thick-cut which goes well with that fruity ruby chocolate taste.
Ruby Chocolate Pear Tart – ¥650 (Tax Included)
These cocoa-laced and ruby chocolate powdered baked tarts are also sold at Pierre Gagnaire Pains et Gateaux. They’re topped with almond cream and a pear compote. They’re also topped with a ganache made from ruby chocolate and a redcurrant puree. Their design is made so that it looks like a flower, crowned with extra redcurrants.
Ruby Chocolate Corn Puffs
Running: All year round
Ruby Chocolate Pear Tart
Running: October 1, 2019 – January 14, 2020
Available: Pierre Gagnaire Pains et Gateaux (InterContinental ANA Hotel Tokyo – Floor 2F)
Hotel Official Website: https://anaintercontinental-tokyo.jp/en/
I’m all about ruby chocolate’s deep flavour now. If you’ve yet to try it then you’ve got to get your hands on some, to enjoy both its striking pink appearance and that sour cacao fruit flavour.
Writer: Sayuri Mizuno (MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON)
Translator: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga
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Two chocolate shops themed on American cartoonist Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts character Snoopy are set to open simultaneously in Arashiyama and Kiyomizu-zaka in Kyoto on October 9, 2019.
Tablet Chocolat - From ¥1,200
Named SNOOPY Chocolat, the shops have many delicious treats lined up for fans of Snoopy, including these tablet-shaped chocolates. There are 8 in total, each telling a story of love, friendship and family that serve to give you courage.Tablet Chocolat Japan - From ¥500
These cute heart-shaped tablet chocolates are made with Japanese ingredients like wasabi, yuzu, shiso, sesame, matcha, adzuki, shichimi, houjicha and more.BonBon Chocolat - From ¥800
Made with rich, fragrant cocoa and Japanese flavours like yuzu, wasabi, roasted soy flour, matcha, houjicha and Japanese sake, these luxurious chocolates are like little pieces of art featuring Snoopy in his many different looks.Both shops will feature an interior design reminiscent of Japanese-style houses. The Kiyomizu-zaka branch will have a luxury white chocolate colour tone while the Arashiyama branch will have a brown-coloured milk chocolate tone. Tablet Chocolat (Arashiyama Exclusive)
Tablet Chocolat (Kiyomizu-zaka Exclusive)
Both shops will also have their own individual exclusive items too like the ones above, all original to SNOOPY Chocolat.There will of course be plenty of original merchandise to get your paws on too, like plush toys, takeout cups, mugs, tote bags, freezer bags, and more, all perfect for use at home or as gifts to a friend. Information
SNOOPY Chocolat (Kiyomizu-zaka Branch)
Address: 2-252 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
Business Hours: 9:30-18:30 (Open from 10:00 on October 9 only)
No Fixed Holidays
Access: 20-minutes on foot from Kiyomizu-Gojō Station via Keihan Electric Railway
SNOOPY Chocolat (Arashiyama Branch)
Address: 22 Sagatenryūji Susukinobabachō, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
Business Hours: 10:00-18:00
No Fixed Holidays
Access: 5-minutes on foot from Arashiyama Station via Keihan Electric Railway / 15-minutes on foot from Saga-Arashiyama Station via JR Line / 20-minutes on foot from Arashiyama Station via Hankyu
SNOOPY Chocolat Official Website: http://www.snoopy-chocolat.jp
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Hello everyone! This is Midori from MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON. Candy apples are the staple food of summer festivals. A crunchy candy coating and a sweet, fruity apple is such a divine combination. It can be quite difficult to find candy apples outside of festivals. That's where Candy Apple steps in. This is a brand new shop on the block that specialises in candy apples! This is located just a five-minute walk from Shibuya Station's west exit. If you check out their saved Instagram story, you probably won't get lost. During the weekdays and on Saturdays, this is an Italian restaurant called Buonappetito. On Sundays, when the restaurant is closed, it transforms into a candy apple shop. The shop interior is gorgeous.
Plain: ¥600
I ordered the plain apple without wasting any time. This is much larger than what you would usually get at a festival. Although these are usually eaten by immediately sinking your teeth in and biting out a big chunk, you can cut your apple here and enjoy it at your own pace.After taking your first bite, you will realise just how different this is to your normal candy apple. The apple is coated in a thin layer of candy, creating a delicious crunch. The apple is fresh, juicy and sweet. Some candy apples are made with mushy apples that are not fresh, however these apples are extremely fresh and delicious right to the last bite. These candy apples are full of a variety of flavours. Cinnamon Sugar: ¥600
The apple with the dusting of beige-coloured powder is cinnamon-flavoured. The sweet cinnamon scent spreads everywhere as soon as you set it on the table. The sweet flavour of the apple and the fragrant cinnamon is a match made in heaven.Cocoa: ¥600
The apple covered in the brown powder is cocoa-flavoured. The slightly bitter flavour of the chocolate is a perfect match for the sweet apple. The colour contrast between the brown chocolate and white apple is also beautiful. ♪Matcha: ¥600
The apple with the green powder is matcha as you may have already guessed! The flavouring of the Uji matcha used for this apple was carefully balanced to maximise the flavour when combined with the apple. After you take your first bite, you just won't be able to stop.Blueberry Yoghurt: ¥600
The bright white dusting on this blueberry yoghurt-flavoured apple is beautiful. The blueberry scent is mild and is perfect with the yoghurt.Black Cocoa: ¥600
The pitch black colour of the Black Cocoa Candy Apple is very appetizing. The black cocoa is even more bitter than the cocoa apple, which really brings out the flavour of the sweet apple even more.You can even get chocolate fondue for your candy apple (¥400). By adding the fairly bitter chocolate to your candy apple, you can enjoy three different kinds of sweetness when it mixes with the chocolate, candy and the apple. You can even order your candy apple to go, making it the perfect summer souvenir. Taking it home to enjoy is also another wonderful way to make the most of your experience. This candy apple shop is only open on Sundays, but you can order to take away on other days. This is a flavour that a festival candy apple will never be capable of offering. You can tuck into your apple inside the beautiful shop, or take it home to enjoy at home at your own pace. Information
Candy Apple
Address: Nomura Building 1st floor, 7-12, Sakuragaocho, Shibuya, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 11:00-20:00 (Open every week on Sundays only)
*Only the Italian restaurant Buonappetito is open on weekdays.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candy_apple_369/
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With just a small bit of ingenuity, turn everyday food into something cute using Kaori’s easy recipe! With a few simple ideas, an ordinary recipe magically transforms into a cute dish.
In this recipe, we'll learn how to make a recipe from the book Disney Tsum Tsum Sweets Recipes pictured above. As well as the characters pictured on the front cover, others include Winnie the Pooh, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck. We'll make the ears from marble chocolate than our usual chocolate plastic. The middle is like a sandwiched cookie, so you get a deliciously crunchy texture♡ 1. Ingredients Silicone cupcake case (my cupcake sections are 6cm) White chocolate Matcha chocolate Marble chocolate Chocolate plastic (also called "modelling chocolate") Chocolate pen Oreo cookies Pink, yellow, blue and green food colouring 2. Melt the chocolates separately over a bain marie and pour them into separate sections of the cupcake case, about halfway in each. 3. Place Oreo cookies into each like so. 4. Cover the cookies with the remaining chocolate and chill in the refrigerator until set. 5. Once fully set, the final step is to decorate with our chocolate plastic, marble chocolate and chocolate pen. Sully's purple ears are made with chocolate plastic. Pooh's ears are made from marble chocolate. To see how I fully decorated my cookies check out the video I made below! [video width="480" height="640" mp4="https://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/579953007.642500.mp4"][/video] Lining them up like Disney Tsum Tsum toys makes them look really cute! All of the recipes I used this time are from the Japanese recipe book Disney Tsum Tsum Sweets Recipes (Japanese Title: ディズニーツムツムのスイーツレシピ). It shows how to create lots of different characters! Kaori invites you into her world of character-themed food dishes in her recipe series. Be sure to check out her Instagram where she has uploaded many pictures of her character dishes! Kaori Kubota (@kaopan27) I live in Hokkaido and I love to make character themed foods, desserts and pastries♡ I want to see my family smile, so I enjoy putting in a bit of effort to make character foods and changing food into something cute♡ You can see more of my character foods and character bento boxes on my Instagram page→@kaopan27©Disney
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Kobe is filled with famous sightseeing spots like the nostalgic Ijinkan neighborhood and port. The city is packed with fashionable shops and restaurants and is highly regarded for its selection of tasty sweets!The port city, with over 150 years of history, has fostered a unique and diverse culinary culture. Recently, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu began starring in a series of promotional videos for the Gastropolis Kobe project. The artist traveled to the city to partake in plenty of delicious treats, and MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON went along for the ride! Here are some of the singer's favorite spots around town.
Kobe, known as a city where East meets West, is lined with sweets shops that are unique to the area. The tea salon TOOTH TOOTH Dekoboko Sabo opened in 2019 in the Kobe City Museum and offers a menu that mixes Western food and sweets with tea and ingredients from traditional Japanese cuisine. Kyary ordered the Dekoboko Sabo Afternoon Tea Set, a collection of western sweets blended with the essence of traditional Japanese flavors. Guests are invited to enjoy their tea and sweets in a one-of-a-kind space filled with Meiji period flare and retro Western furniture. Those interested will need to make a reservation, so be sure to remember the next time you’re in Kobe. TOOTH TOOTH Decoboco SaboAddress: 24 Kyomachi, Chuo Ward, Kobe (Inside the Kobe City Museum)Hours: 9:30-17:30 (Last Order at 16:30) Closed MondaysOfficial Site: https://toothtooth.com/restaurant/decoboco-sabo The next stop was Kobe Nankin-machi, one of the three major Chinatowns in Japan. Kobe MILK is known nationwide for its Apricot Pudding, which is made with local ingredients. The raw apricot pudding is mixed with milk brought from the foot of Mt. Rokko and other ingredients from Hyogo Prefecture. Of course, Kyary ordered some, and was amazed by its fluffy texture. You can only enjoy it in Kobe–also, the shop sells other puddings mixed with seasonal fruits, so don’t miss those either! Kobe MILKAddress: Shin-Motomachi Building 1F (1 Motomachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe)Hours: Weekdays 9:30-19:00 / Weekends 9:30-19:30Official Site: https://kobe-milk.com For Kyary’s final stop, the singer visited the Moore House, a cafe located in a building with over 100 years of history. Guests are surrounded by greenery, and the Western-style building is incredibly elegant. The Strawberry Mille-feuille Kyary ordered was created by an expert patissier and based on the strawberry mille-feuille recipe from the legendary French restaurant Maxim’s de Paris in Ginza. A generous amount of custard cream complements the crispy pie crust and enhances the sweetness of the fresh strawberries. We’d recommend it with a glass of champagne–if you’re of age. Kitano Ijin-kan Moore HouseAddress: 2-9-3 Kitanocho, Chuo-ku, KobeHours: 11:00-17:00Closed TuesdaysOfficial Site: https://www.kitanomoore.com/cafe/ The streets of Kobe are packed with sweets that you can only enjoy if you visit. Why not come experience these incredible spots like Kyary did? Kobe Sweets Trailer: https://youtu.be/Sx9B1ZdAvlI -
Orders are now open for some tasty chocolates inspired by the many handsome characters from Touken Ranbu ONLINE! These sweets come in decorative tins, and while they can be ordered now from Premium Bandai, they will also be available in supermarkets and other shops starting December 26, 2022.
Chocolate Tins / Touken Ranbu ONLINE
These tins feature many popular characters, and customers can choose from Yamanbagiri Chogi, Nankaitarou Chouson & Hizen Tadahiro, Suishinshi Masahide & Minamoto Kiyomaro, Kokindenjunotachi & Jizou Yukihira, or Ichimonji Norimune. These gorgeous tins contain three types of chocolate: rolled chocolate, fan-shaped chocolate printed with the swordsman’s crest and motif, and cherry-blossomed-shaped strawberry chocolate.Assorted Chocolate Tin / Touken Ranbu ONLINE
These assorted chocolate tins are available in four designs. The first depicts Mikazuki Munechika, Kogitsunemaru, Ishikirimaru, Iwatooshi, and Imanotsurugi. The second features Kashuu Kiyomitsu and Yamatonokami Yasusada, while the third depicts Taikogane Sadamune, Shokudaikiri Mitsutada, Ookurikara, and Kuninaga Tsurumaru. The fourth shows Higekiri and Hizamaru. The chocolates in each tin are inspired by these characters, and these would make perfect gifts for fans of the mobile and online game.Variety Chocolate Tin / Touken Ranbu ONLINE
Those who can’t choose a favorite character will want to snag one of these assorted tins, filled with familiar faces from the series. Grabbing all three will net you all 101 swordsmen!(C)2015 EXNOA LLC/NITRO PLUS Information
Chocolate Tins / Touken Ranbu ONLINE
Price: ¥972 each (Tax Included, Shipping and Handling Not Included)
5 varieties total
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ANNA’S by Landtmann, a cafe located inside +Q Beauty on the 6th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square, has begun selling two Halloween cakes! These spooky sweets will be available until October 31, 2022. Halloween Mont Blanc
Halloween Poison Apple Guests will be able to snag the Halloween Mont Blanc and Halloween Poison Apple cakes, available for ¥580 each including tax. The Mont Blanc is filled with pumpkin custard and Chantilly cream. The Poison Apple is a sweet and sour cake featuring a blend of chocolate mousse covered in red glaze and applesauce with apple pulp. Which of these two adorable cakes would you like to enjoy this autumn? Information
ANNA’S by Landtmann Halloween Cakes
Available: October 4 – October 31, 2022
Official Site: https://www.giraud.co.jp/annas/
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Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo will hold a special Christmas-themed Sylvanian Families buffet starting November 1, 2022. This is the second Sylvanian Families event following the previous Halloween-themed buffet, which became extremely popular. Some guests even bring their own Sylvanian Families dolls! Starting in November, visitors can enjoy a full lineup of 20 scrumptious dishes inspired by the cake shop found in Sylvania Village. Some sweets are also inspired by the many beloved characters found in the series, and anyone wanting to get into the Christmas spirit won’t want to miss this exclusive event. For those without a sweet tooth, some light lunches will also be available. The restaurant will also erect a decorative display of Sylvanian Families enjoying a Christmas party and a sweet diorama made exclusively of desserts by the pasty chef. Guests can enjoy tea time while getting lost in this magical world, so get excited about the Christmas season! 1. Sweets Inspired by the World of Sylvanian Families
2. Become Enthralled by a Wonderful Winter World of Sweets 3. Exclusive! Sweets Diorama and Sylvanian Families Photo Spot 4. Light Meals Perfect for Winter and Burgers Featuring Original Illustrations 5. A Special Plan to Enjoy the Buffet with Sylvanian Families Babies Information
Sweets Collection with Sylvanian Families
Running: November 1 – December 31, 2022
Venue: Keio Plaza Hotel’s Jurin Restaurant
Price: ¥5,500 (Adults) / ¥3,000 (Children 4-12) *Children under 3 free
Details/Reservations: https://www.keioplaza.co.jp/event/autumn-sweets/#event02
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From October 21 until November 30, 2022, Hilton Tokyo Odaiba will hold the Touken Ranbu ONLINE Special Buffet ~Black & White~ event! This second collaboration with the popular series will be held Grillogy Bar and Grill on the second floor. Dessert Menu
Drink Menu Drink Order Bonus: Original Coaster (8 varieties) At the buffet, guests can enjoy luxurious dishes inspired by characters from the sword-centered game and anime series. The desserts blend Japanese and Western cuisine, and special cocktails will be available during the first phase, each coming with a special coaster as a bonus! In addition, original goods will be on sale at the venue, so don't miss it! Information
Touken Ranbu ONLINE Special Buffet ~Black & White~
Running: October 21 – November 30, 2022
Reservation Start Dates and Times:
Lottery Opens: September 16, 12:00~
General Reservations Open: October 6, 12:00~
*Lottery reservations and general reservations will be open
for the first and second runs.*Please see the official website for the full reservation schedule.
Venue: Hilton Tokyo Odaiba 2F Restaurant, Grillogy Bar and Grill
*Reservations required
Tickets/Details: https://odaiba.site/
Online Shop: https://touken-yorozuya.com/
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From October 1 until October 31, Yokohama Royal Park Hotel will hold a special Halloween Fair at its delicatessen and lounge Coffret. In addition to six playful sweets from the Halloween Frankenstein to the Halloween Mummy, two types of autumn bread featuring pumpkin and purple sweet potato will be available, allowing guests to enjoy the taste of the season!
Halloween Frankenstein Halloween Cat
Halloween Mont Blanc
Halloween Mummy
Halloween Pudding
Halloween Pound Cake
Pumpkin Cream Fondue / Halloween Anpan
Come enjoy this Halloween with some cute and silly sweets!Information
Halloween Fair
Running: October 1 – October 31, 2022
Venue: Coffret Delicatessen and Lounge, 1F
Hours: Lounge 10:00-20:00 (*Cakes served starting at 11:00) /
Delicatessen 11:00-20:00
Reservations: 045-221-1111 (Representatives available 11:00-20:00)