“The world is watching!?” A young chef from Kyoto, the ancient capital, launches a chocolate brand—We went behind the scenes at the new product tasting event!—

Hello. I’m Ogawa from PR Division Headquarters, Department 2!

I have quite the sweet tooth, but the other day I had the pleasure of attending a tasting event for new products from a chocolate brand I simply cannot stop thinking about.

The chocolate brand I visited this time has the concept of “expressing scenery through form.” Its name is “RAU.”

What is RAU?

Launched in Kyoto in December 2019, “RAU” is a patisserie brand built around the concept “Scenery, in form.” With exceptional craftsmanship, it expresses in sweets the vivid, painting-like scenes that come to mind, the evocative memories stirred by fragrance, and the emotions once woven into waka by poets of old.

The brand name is said to come from the archaic Japanese word “rauraushi,” meaning noble and beautiful. According to Chef Patissier Yusuke Matsushita, they “chose a word that feels Kyoto-like even to people overseas, yet doesn’t look too overtly ‘Kyoto.’” Everything about it—from the sound to the origin—is wonderful…!

At this tasting event, Valentine’s new products from another brand launched last year, “Sachi Takagi,” were also unveiled. “Sachi Takagi” is a plant-based sweets brand that expresses the lifestyle and philosophy of RAU’s chef chocolatier, Sachiyo Takagi, through the power of plants. Rather than saying “plants can’t do it,” the brand aims to realize “because they are plants, they can,” creating new value from plants.

Incidentally, Yusuke Matsushita and Sachiyo Takagi have been selected as a duo for the chairperson’s panel of judges at the world chocolate competition “World Chocolate Masters ’22,” to be held in Paris at the end of October—two people currently drawing attention both in Japan and abroad!

Now, I would like to report on the tasting event!

The moment you step into the venue, you are greeted by countless creations beautifully arranged in a pure white space. It feels as though you have come to an art exhibition.

“Sachi Takagi”

This is “Sachi Takagi” fresh chocolate.

It is a fresh, plant-based chocolate that overturns conventional notions of chocolate. The design is said to be inspired by the natural world that envelops plants—flower petals, trees swaying in the wind, the blue of the sky, drifting clouds, and rays of light filtering through!

By the way, “RAU/Sachi Takagi” chocolates are reportedly “Bean to Bar” chocolates—a term you often hear in the chocolate world these days.

Bean to Bar refers to producing chocolate consistently from cacao beans all the way to the finished bar. After various tests, both brands use only cacao from Costa Rica, which they felt pairs best with Japanese culture. It is wonderful to see such dedication to chocolate…!

I tried the new Marron, and it felt as though I were eating chestnuts just as they are. You can truly taste the chestnut, and the stylish appearance makes it perfect as a Valentine’s gift.

RAU “Nami-Nami”

Next is this.

A Valentine’s limited edition has been released from RAU’s popular product “Nami-Nami.”

Nami-Nami is said to have been created based on the image of tiled rooftops the RAU patissier saw in France and Kyoto. Between crisp layers of pastry, the cream is layered with coffee cream, bean-to-bar chocolate, citrus cream, and more. The citrus cream contains yuzu peel, offering a refreshing citrus note amid the sweetness.

With its delightfully crisp texture, this product has an approachable flavor that will be appreciated by a wide range of generations.

(The three on the left are the new coffee × citrus flavor.)

RAU “iro”

And here is “iro,” a bonbon chocolate that turns landscapes inspired by colors into flavors.

In addition to the 11 existing color flavors, two new colors—“Lilac” and “Turquoise”—have been introduced, inspired by the scenery and experiences the chef encountered in France, where the atelier is based.

“Lilac” is a lavender × rosé wine bonbon chocolate inspired by dusk in the South of France, expressing the scene of the sun setting over lavender fields.

When you place it in your mouth, close your eyes, and let your imagination expand, a scene unfolds in your mind as if you were drinking rosé wine in a lavender field…! It is a refined, grown-up bonbon chocolate.

“Turquoise” is a basil × orange bonbon chocolate inspired by the turquoise-blue sea of the Côte d’Azur. It is said to recreate the blue and yellow hues blending into the sunlight streaming onto the shore!

It was my first time trying basil-flavored chocolate, and at first I hesitated because I could not imagine the taste—but once I tried it, the basil and orange combination was remarkably fresh and intriguing, and it pairs perfectly with the less-sweet chocolate. You can truly savor a sophisticated flavor!

(The photo shows iro beautifully arranged in a diamond pattern at the tasting event. It was almost too stylish…)

Artistic desserts and gelato, too…!

At this tasting event, not only the new Valentine’s products but also RAU desserts and items that can be purchased online even from Tokyo were brought over from Kyoto.

The desserts lined up neatly in a single row have an artistic look reminiscent of ceramic works. The delicate details inside are something to look forward to after you take a bite…!

The dessert on the right in the photo is “Bin.” It is said to be an elegant dessert inspired by the image of a refined woman spending a graceful moment drinking tea in a meadow. It is a delicate item made with ingredients such as wild strawberry and Earl Grey mousse.

Desserts are apparently available only at the RAU café on the 3rd floor of GOOD NATURE STATION in Kyoto, so if you plan to visit Kyoto, why not stop by?

In addition, there are also the gelato “Gelato Koki,” available for purchase online, and the grown-up gateau chocolate “Tablet Gateau.”

The gelato on the left in the photo is crafted to stimulate the senses through its “aroma,” not only its taste and appearance, by expanding the imagination based on events and memories the chef has experienced so far, as well as the excitement of unknown experiences and imagination. It is recommended to enjoy it together with the included caramel sand cookie!

The gateau chocolate on the right is a cake created with the desire to make it easier to enjoy the flavors of bean-to-bar chocolate. It is said that you can savor a rich taste woven from layers of flavors, along with a ganache on top modeled after a tablet chocolate (the bar chocolate in RAU’s lineup that lets you experience the bean-to-bar character most directly)…!

Both can be purchased online, so they seem ideal as a small gift or a seasonal present…!

Now then, perhaps by this point you, too, are fully immersed in the world of RAU and have started searching for “RAU” on your phone.

You can purchase online here, so even if you do not buy anything, please do experience RAU’s worldview…!

We will certainly be keeping our eyes on RAU’s new products going forward. For Valentine’s Day in 2023, why not try RAU chocolates and experience familiar scenes, colors, and aromas you may have seen before…!