This is the Sakata Beika PARIPARI×SAKUSAKU La France, a snack featuring rice puffs soaked in white chocolate infused with La France pear from Yamagata Prefecture.
Each piece measured approximately 2.2 cm in length and 1.2 cm in diameter, with a uniform off-white hue and a mellow, sweet La France pear aroma.
The flavour began with the initial sweetness of the white chocolate, accompanied by a mellow pear essence. Biting into the rice puff revealed a light yet substantial crunch, enhanced by the chocolate, which prevented it from feeling overly airy. The gentle notes of the puffed rice quickly balanced the sweetness, while the melting chocolate released a juicier pear flavour with hints of fruity acidity. The return of the pear flavour created a melt-in-the-mouth sensation, as though La France purée had been blended into the chocolate. The creamy texture contrasted beautifully with the crunch of the rice puff. The purée-like quality added subtle fruity acidity before the aromatic La France pear notes lingered in the aftertaste. Overall, these bite-sized chocolate snacks offered a delightful combination of texture and flavour, capturing the essence of Yamagata’s La France pears.
This Sakata Beika PARIPARI×SAKUSAKU La France contained 35 g. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Yamagata, Japan in 2024.