Jun 17, 2025 22:00:00

Topvalu 'Chocolate?', which reproduces chocolate with sunflower seeds without using cocoa beans, tried to see if it really tastes like chocolate

Chocolate has become an indispensable part of people's lives, but in recent years,

the price of cocoa beans, the raw material for chocolate, has been rising sharply due to the effects of climate change and disease. Meanwhile, a confectionery called ' Chocolate? WITH BISCUIT ,' which uses a chocolate substitute made from sunflower seeds instead of cocoa beans, was released at Aeon and other stores nationwide on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. I was curious about what the confectionery, which is said to have reproduced the taste of chocolate using sunflower seeds, tasted like it, so I actually got one and tried it.

A new type of candy made from sunflower seeds! Is it chocolate? - Aeon's private brand TOPVALU
https://www.topvalu.net/tv-chococa/

'Chocolate? WITH BISCUIT' is a long, horizontal package.

'Chocolate? WITH BISCUIT' uses ChoViva, an alternative chocolate developed by

Planet A Foods in Germany. ChoViva uses sunflower seeds as a substitute for cocoa beans, and by going through the same fermentation and roasting process as cocoa beans, it has achieved the aroma, taste, and melting sensation of chocolate.

Looking at the ingredients, it is true that cocoa beans are not used, but instead 'sunflower seed powder' and 'grape seed powder' are used.

The calorie content is 60 kcal per piece (11.9 g). One bag contains about 12 pieces.

When I opened the package, I found that the sheets were stacked three on top of each other in a long, horizontal package.

I put it on a plate.

It looks like a normal biscuit with chocolate on one side.

When I hold it in my hand and smell it, there is nothing particularly strange about it.

When I tried it, I found that although the flavor of cacao was weak, it had a sweetness and melting texture that was typical of chocolate, and if I was told 'It's a chocolate biscuit' without being told anything, I would believe it. The biscuit dough made with whole wheat flour has a crispy texture and a fragrant grain taste, and it is simply delicious as a chocolate biscuit. The editorial staff who tasted it said, 'It tastes like chocolate, but it doesn't smell like cacao,' 'It doesn't have the sweetness or aftertaste that lingers in your mouth or throat like chocolate,' 'I think this is what milk chocolate is like,' 'It may be unsatisfying if you eat it because you want chocolate, but it's fine for chocolate biscuits,' 'I learned that chocolate doesn't necessarily need cacao,' 'If you eat it carefully after knowing the ingredients, you can taste the flavor of sunflower seeds.' We received various opinions.

'Chocolate? WITH BISCUIT' will be available for purchase at approximately 2,200 Aeon, Aeon Style, MaxValu and other stores nationwide from Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The base price is 429.84 yen (tax included, rounded down to the nearest whole number).