Aomori is the first place that comes to mind when I think of apples, but while exploring souvenir shops I also frequently encounter products made with apples from Shinshu.
Japan harvested 735,200 metric tons of apples in 2017, and Aomori accounted for 415,900 tons—more than half of the national total.
That confirms Aomori’s dominant image, but Nagano Prefecture ranked second with 149,100 tons.
The gap is considerable, yet these two prefectures are unquestionably Japan’s leading apple-producing regions.
Many souvenirs use Nagano-grown apples, and I was curious to see how they compared with Aomori products. I therefore bought a sweet with the classically romantic name “Shinshu Specialty Ringo no Hatsukoi Apple Chocolate Pie,” meaning “Apple’s First Love.”
I did not buy it in Nagano, but at Michi-no-Eki Showa in Saitama Prefecture.
Ringo no Hatsukoi Apple Chocolate Pie by Toyogami Bakery
A box contains twelve pieces and costs ¥594.
Apples are illustrated in gentle pastel colors, perhaps to evoke the feeling of first love.
The words “Apple Chocolate Pie” appear discreetly in English, but otherwise the package reveals remarkably little about what is inside. In its own way, that is a bold design choice.
The box is fairly large, making ¥594 feel exceptionally inexpensive.
The best-before date is printed on the side. The box I bought was good for about three months.
Removing the wrapping paper reveals a plain white box.
Each individual wrapper carries the same illustration as the outer wrapping.
The white and pink chocolate coating looks beautiful.
The back of the pie looks like this and is not coated with chocolate.
Now, let us taste it.
The pastry is exceptionally light and crisp.
The chocolate coating tastes mellow, while a fresh apple fragrance gently spreads across the palate.
The chocolate layer also has a satisfying thickness and tastes delicious.
Because it melts easily, I tried chilling the pies in the refrigerator. The chocolate became crisp and snappy, making them even better.
The texture is so light, however, that one piece does not feel quite sufficient.
A hand inevitably reaches for a second, and in our house the entire box disappeared before we realized it.
The apple appears mainly as a fragrance rather than a substantial fruit filling, so the character of real apple is subtle. Even so, this is unquestionably a tasty pie, and the price is extremely reasonable.
I would buy it again. Thank you for the treat.
For more souvenir information from Nagano Prefecture, see the page below.
Ringo no Hatsukoi Apple Chocolate Pie Product Info, Expiration Date, Manufacturer
| Product Name | Ringo no Hatsukoi Apple Chocolate Pie |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer / Seller | Toyogami Bakery Co., Ltd. |
| Address | 748-2 Hoya, Ueda, Nagano Prefecture, Japan |
| Expiration Date | Approximately 3 months |
| Place of Purchase | Michi-no-Eki Showa |
| Price | ¥594 |
