American Chocolate vs. Japanese Chocolate
Chocolate offerings from the U.S. and Japan are very different. Don’t expect one to taste, feel, or even smell the same as the other. Whether you’re used to American chocolate or Japanese chocolate, it’s always a good idea to explore treats from a new region. We’re about to help you maximize your experience by comparing the distinct features of top chocolate brands from both countries, including Hershey’s and Meiji.
The Basics of American Chocolate
Contrary to what many believe, having a plant in the U.S. does not make a chocolate brand American. What makes it American is having a manufacturer with roots in the U.S. that focuses on creating chocolate products for the domestic market. They may serve overseas regions as well, but their main product lines maintain the distinct ingredients and taste of U.S. chocolate.
The best example of an American food company with a notable reputation in the chocolate industry is Hershey’s. We’ll reveal extensive details of why this is the case later in this post. For now, we must mention other brands that mainly serve the American market. They include Cadbury, Ghirardelli, Twix, Reese's, Heath, and Butterfinger.
Characteristics of American Chocolates
American chocolates are notorious for their acidic or slightly sour taste. This taste is the result of the presence of butyric acid, which comes from broken-down milk. American chocolates also tend to be less creamy than those from other countries, and they have a long shelf life.
Hershey’s: The Quintessential American Chocolate
Hershey’s is the most famous U.S. chocolate brand. Besides the fact that they manufacture their own brand of chocolate products under the name “Hershey’s,” they also have the license to distribute many other famous brands in North America, such as Reese's, Almond Joy, Cadbury, Lily’s, KitKat, Rollo, and Heath.
The Hershey Company was founded in 1984 and it began creating its own American milk chocolate bar in 1900. The company became famous for its use of farm-fresh milk, a distinction that still works in their favor today. Throughout the 20th century, Hershey’s struck a number of mergers, licensing agreements, and regional distribution deals with household names like Reese's, M&M's, Cadbury, and Twizzlers. Hence, the company became synonymous with American chocolate.
Although Hershey’s products are available worldwide, its main markets are in the United States and Canada. The company crossed $1 billion in sales by 1979 and $5 billion by 2008. If you would like to learn more about this famous company, take a look at our recent blog post on Hershey’s.
The Artistry and Innovation of Japanese Chocolate
Japanese chocolates are mostly made by domestic brands or family-owned businesses using recipes suited to the palates of consumers in Japan and some parts of Asia. There is a big emphasis on craftsmanship and innovation. Hence, manufacturers often use meticulous techniques to produce hand-made, high-quality products. The most popular Japanese chocolate brands are Meiji, Fujiya, Lotte, Yuraku Seika, Morinaga, Furuta, Ishiya, Kracie, and Glico. Meiji is undoubtedly the most famous manufacturer among them due to a number of factors, which we’ll get into soon.
Characteristics of Japanese Chocolates
Chocolate from Japan tends to be extremely creamy and milky. They are also infused with a wide variety of unconventional flavors, including green tea powder (matcha), sweet potato, wasabi, and cherry blossom (sakura).
Exploring Brands Like Meiji
In this section, we’ll focus on top Japanese chocolate brands and what sets them apart. Check them out below.
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Meiji: This is arguably the most popular chocolate brand in Japan. Founded in 1916, the company has created a global reputation for offering chocolate products with smooth textures and flavors ranging from milk to strawberry and matcha.
Bokksu is not responsible for the accuracy of the products’ nutritional or allergen information. Warning: California’s Proposition 65 may be in effect. For more information,visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. Some Bokksu Market products are produced overseas and may have a Production Date printed on the packaging, rather than a Best Buy Date as is standard in North America. If your product appears expired, do not be alarmed! This is most likely the Production Date. All items have been double checked to ensure they are not expired and safe to eat.
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Lotte: Although Lotte is a South Korean corporation, it was founded in Tokyo, Japan. The brand is famous for offering delicious and affordable products like Ghana Chocolate, which uses high-quality cacao beans from West Africa.
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Morinaga: This is one of Japan’s oldest chocolate brands. They offer various chocolate-based snack items, including bars, truffles, and wafers. Morinaga’s Hi-Chew candy is one of the most popular treats in the country.
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Fujiya: Known for the creamy and sweet tastes of their milk chocolate bars, Fujiya is a major player in the domestic chocolate industry.
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Japanese KitKat: Although the KitKat brand is owned by Swiss multinational food company Nestle, it has a Japanese branch. Nestle Japan produces various unique flavors that are exclusive to Japan, such as matcha, sakura, and wasabi.
Taste and Texture Comparison
We’ve had our team taste a wide variety of both American and Japanese chocolates in a bid to compare and contrast their taste, texture, and flavor complexity. From our findings, it’s clear that American chocolates are sweeter and lighter than most Japanese chocolates, but with small hints of sourness because of the use of butyric acid. However, Japanese chocolates have a creamier and smoother texture, thanks to their milky nature. Japanese chocolates also have more flavor complexity and tend to use more unconventional ingredients.
From Bean to Bar: Sourcing and Quality
Chocolate brands in the U.S. get cocoa from a wider range of sources, including West Africa, South America, and Central America. The brands in Japan import most of their cocoa from West Africa. Common cocoa bean sources for both sets of manufacturers are Ghana and the Dominican Republic.
While manufacturers in both countries prefer to source their milk from domestic farms, those in the U.S. are not too particular about where they get their dairy. Japanese manufacturers, on the other hand, often seek Hokkaido milk. This extremely creamy milk is responsible for the delicious taste of chocolates made in Japan. It also improves the quality of the final products.
Chocolate in Cultural Celebrations
The perception of chocolates in the U.S. is more casual and commercial than cultural. However, they play a huge role in certain cultural celebrations, including trick-or-treating on Halloween and candy festivities during Easter. Lovers, friends, and family also exchange chocolates as gifts on Valentine’s Day. The chocolates offered in these celebrations are often cheap and non-sentimental, except on Valentine’s Day.
In Japan, the perception of chocolate is much broader and complex. The Japanese Valentine’s Day chocolate is unique because of how it differentiates the different kinds of chocolates people give, such as “giri-choco” (given to friends, family, and colleagues) and “honmei-choco” (given to romantic partners). The country also has other celebrations and unofficial holidays in which chocolate is the center of attention, such as White Day on March 14 and Pocky Day on November 11. High-end chocolates are also an important part of Japanese food and gift culture, even though they are sold well above the regular price. Hence, luxury chocolate shops in the country tend to thrive.
Leading Trends in Chocolate Creation
Manufacturers in the U.S. are using healthier alternatives to key ingredients in their candy bars. The latest focus appears to be on finding vegan, gluten-free, and plant-based milk from coconut, almonds, and oats. Also, as the market gets more diverse in the U.S., brands are creating more artisan blends to match the different palates in the country. The chocolate scene in Japan appears to be focused on improving sustainability and flavor innovations. Products like matcha-infused chocolates and others with seasonal flavors have become widespread as makers get more creative.
Where to Buy American and Japanese Chocolates
Getting domestic chocolates is as easy as walking to the nearest supermarket, convenience store, or candy shop. However, if you’re in the U.S., finding delectable Japanese chocolates becomes a little more tricky. You can visit an Asian supermarket or specialty store. However, the most reliable way to find chocolate from Japan is to shop at an online platform like Bokksu Market. We offer products from top brands like Kit Kat, Glico, Meiji, Fujiya, Lotte, and Meito.
Which Chocolate Reigns Supreme?
From our point of view, there is no reason why you shouldn’t explore and taste chocolates from both America and Japan. Both versions have unique qualities that might appeal to different palates. Any sweet toothed chocolate lover will enjoy U.S. chocolate, while the flavor depth and smoothness of Japanese chocolate are perfect for those who prefer complexity in taste and want to discover fun flavors.
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