ROYCE' Nama Chocolate

Nama chocolate (生チョコレート) is a Japanese chocolate.

It is a silky smooth, soft confection made with fresh cream, chocolate, and cocoa powder.

If you don't know what it tastes like, look at the cover photo and imagine this:

You pick up the nama chocolate with a cold fork.
The mild smell of the cocoa reaches you first.
Then the smooth, soft chocolate.
You curiously take a bite, close your eyes, and wait.
The chocolate just melts in your mouth.
Then all at once, a thousand tiny violins start playing in your head.

That is honestly the best description I can write. I sometimes wonder if I missed my calling as a copywriter.

The next time you visit Japan

It has been two weeks since Japan reopened its borders to international tourists and I felt it would be great to showcase a few delicacies that you can buy only at international airports or in specific areas of Japan.

If that doesn't make sense: many Japanese delicacies have an intriguing business model. You can buy them in the region they are made in, or you can buy them at an airport. That's it—no other ways of getting your hands on these products.

While this can be frustrating, it also makes it so much more special when you get one as a gift or are able to travel and buy some.

Back to Nama Chocolate

I totally made the stats up, but if you asked any stranger on the street in Japan to name a brand of nama chocolate, 9 in 10 would instantly reply with "Royce".

ROYCE' was founded in 1983 in Hokkaido, the northernmost and largest prefecture of Japan.

Ever since, they have created high quality and novel products, like the ROYCE' nama chocolate and ROYCE' Potatochip Chocolate (potato chips coated on one side with high-quality chocolate—sounds crazy, but try it before you form an opinion).

Japan being Japan, the Chocolate and Cocoa Association of Japan defines what can be called nama chocolate: at least 40% chocolate, at least 10% cream, and at least 10% moisture.

The moisture is apparently the secret behind a rich nama chocolate. And here, ROYCE's chocolates clock in at 17%!

These chocolates come in a variety of tastes, with a helpful chart to figure out what you might like.

They are available at 1) ROYCE' stores in Hokkaido, 2) Japanese airports, and 3) their online store (Japan, USA, Singapore). They also have stores in the USA and Singapore, so I highly recommend you go take a look if these are accessible to you. That said, their Japanese stores often have a lot more variety than the international ones, so don't miss them when you visit Japan!

All this chocolate talk has left me craving, and I have none, so I will hit the Publish button and go dream of nama chocolate. I hope you do too.