When choosing souvenirs to hand out at work, boxed sweets are usually the safest choice, especially when every piece is individually wrapped. If the wrapper also carries the product design, people can immediately tell what has been left on their desk, which is another nice touch.
A product connected to a famous local specialty also checks one of the basic boxes for a good souvenir.
Another feature worth looking for is whether the maker is actually based in the region. This is surprisingly important. Those are the points I usually check when searching for a classic, reliable souvenir, and this time I found an exceptionally straightforward product that satisfies them well.
Its name is simply “Peanut Chocolate”—a perfectly direct name for an unmistakably Chiba-style souvenir. 🙂 I bought it at Kamagaya Fusa no Eki.
Peanut Chocolate (Yamasu)
Is it “peanut” or “peanuts” in Japanese pronunciation?
The question suddenly occurred to me, so I looked it up, and apparently both Japanese forms are acceptable because it is simply a matter of pronunciation. (Laughs)
“Rakkasei” and “peanut,” on the other hand, are said to refer to slightly different things in Japanese: rakkasei means the nut while it is still enclosed in the shell, whereas peanut refers to the edible kernels inside.
A box of ten cost 540 yen.
The blue box is decorated with bright yellow peanut illustrations, giving the package a cheerful, cute pop-art look.
The best-before date is printed on the back. From the date of purchase, it had about four months remaining.
There are ten pieces inside.
They come in two wrapper colors. I wondered whether the colors indicated different flavors, but both were the same.
Even the inside of the box has a stylish design, and the individual wrapping makes these very easy to share.
Each piece is packed with plenty of large, whole peanuts. 🙂
How Does Yamasu Peanut Chocolate Taste, and Is It Satisfying?
The chocolate is smooth and mellow, and the finely crushed crunch pieces blend into it beautifully. Delicious!
The crisp bite of the peanuts and the crunchy texture of the chocolate crisp make an especially enjoyable combination.
In summer, these are also delicious served properly chilled from the refrigerator.
Every piece contains a generous amount of peanuts, so one is surprisingly satisfying. They are perfect both as a snack for children and alongside coffee for adults.
The reasonable price—540 yen for ten pieces—is another welcome point.
With peanuts used so generously, this Peanut Chocolate feels thoroughly appropriate as a Chiba souvenir. How about taking a box home? 🙂
If you would prefer something with a more distinctive character, it is less substantial but you might also want to see “Chiba-kun Peanut Chocolate Crunch.”
And if you would like to explore a wider range of Chiba souvenirs, please take a look at our “Recommended Chiba Souvenirs Roundup.”
Thank you for the treat!
