5 days ago
Mint chocolate is trending in Tokyo right now
As the weather starts to warm up, Japan goes into a mint chocolate craze, where you'll find this seasonal flavour in everything from ice cream and chocolate to drinks and cookies.
Perhaps it's the feeling that mint is refreshing and can help cool you down from the heat. Whatever the reason, mint chocolate is a warm weather highlight in Tokyo that you can't miss. Here are some of the lip-smacking mint chocolate treats we've discovered at our local snack shops and convenience stores to get us through the season.
7-Eleven choco mint moko cream puff
This chocolate mint cream puff features chewy cocoa dough filled with refreshing mint cream dotted with chocolate flakes. The cream puff is surprisingly not too sweet, making it a nice treat to enjoy any time of the day. ¥216
7-Eleven choco mint premium waffle cone
This summer, 7-Eleven is launching a line-up of new chocolate mint ice cream treats, but we're hooked on this classic waffle cone. Packed with crunchy chocolate chips and a refreshing mint-chocolate balance, it's the perfect cool-down treat. ¥289
Choco Mint Gari Gari Kun
A classic Tokyo treat, Gari Gari Kun ice pops always have seasonal offerings, and we can't get enough of the mint chocolate version that's made a comeback to our konbini freezers. The phrase gari gari is actually an onomatopoeia for a hard, firm crunch. The centre of this popsicle is filled with small ice bits – kind of like the ice in a snow cone – laced with chocolate pieces. Expect a refreshing mouthfeel from the mint. You'll find this ice cream bar at convenience and grocery stores. ¥184
Choco Mint Pocky
Love Pocky snacks? You should grab this limited-edition, seasonal Pocky flavour. The chocolate mint version features fragrant cocoa pretzels wrapped in a green minty coating. Stock up while you can at your local konbini or grocery store. ¥222
Parlor Vinefru Ginza chocolate mint shaved ice
Ginza's popular kakigori joint Parlor Vinefru is now offering their famous kakigori on the fourth floor of Miyashita Park in Shibuya, where you can try a number of seasonal flavours including this tempting mint chocolate variety. The shaved ice is topped off with a healthy dollop of mint chocolate cream courtesy of Namakuri, a sweets brand renowned for their decadent fresh whipped cream served in clear cans. ¥1,200
Lindt cracking chocolate mint drink
The viral cracking chocolate drink from TikTok has finally landed in Tokyo, and you can try it at Lindt cafés with a new mint chocolate twist. The drink features a refreshing mint chocolate base and is topped with a piece of Lindt's new dark mint chocolate made with peppermint oil from Kitami in Hokkaido. The 'cracking' comes from a layer of dark chocolate lining the inside of the cup – give it a squeeze and the chocolate breaks into the drink, adding extra texture. ¥898
Chocolate Mint Baskin Robbins Chocolate
Chocolate mint is undoubtedly one of Baskin Robbin's most popular ice cream flavours and you can now have it in candy form with these new Baskin Robbins mint chocolate bites. The candies are filled with a minty cream with bits of crunchy chocolate and covered in a milk chocolate coating. The best way to eat them? Pop them in the fridge or freezer to make the filling even more refreshing when eaten. You can pick these chocolates up at convenience stores. ¥216
Papabubble chocolate mint series
Mint chocolate fiends will not want to miss Papabubble's chocolate mint series, which reappears every spring-summer. This year, you can enjoy a range of candies including a choco mint toothbrush candy (¥1,000), crunchy chocolate mint candies (¥780) and the ever-popular chocolate mint nuts (¥1,750) featuring almonds coated in two layers of chocolate and praline. You can pick these treats up at Papabubble stores across Japan as well as online.
Café de Crié mint chocolate Sorbege
Café de Crié's popular mint chocolate frappe is returning this summer. It's made with an original mint milk ice cream which took the café two years to develop. To jazz it up this season, the frappe is topped with two crunchy types of chocolate, allowing you to maximise the chocolatey flavour with every sip. From ¥690
Royce chocolates
Royce is known for its decadent nama raw chocolates which melt in your mouth and come in countless flavours. This summer, the brand is releasing a special chocolate mint version featuring a layer of refreshing mint stacked on top of some bittersweet cacao. A box of 20 pieces can be ordered online from June 4. ¥1,215
