Japanese Garlic Chocolates An Instant Valentine's Day Hit?

Recipients on Valentine's Day may worry about how their breath will smell after eating the garlic chocolates, but the company doesn't seem worried - "If both people eat them, there'll be no problem!"

A company in the Aomori prefecture town of Takko, one of Japan's top garlic producing regions, is testing the limits of good taste ahead of Valentine's Day with an unusual product -- black garlic chocolate.


The product, called "black garlic chocolate" contains locally-produced fermented black garlic, covered with chocolate and sprinkled with cocoa powder.

Local company Takko Shoji had been developing the product from the end of last year, saying it wanted people to become more relaxed about eating garlic. After many trials, it was finally able to match black garlic, which has a sweet-and-sour taste resembling prunes, with the bittersweet taste of chocolate.

Boxes containing three of the chocolates are being sold for 600 yen apiece. The chocolates can also be bought over the Internet.

Recipients on Valentine's Day may worry about how their breath will smell after eating the chocolates, but company officials don't seem worried.

"If both people eat them, there'll be no problem," a representative of the business said.

Source: Mainichi
Takko Shoji Homepage: Takko-Shoji.Jp