Choco pies were either a Korean or Japanese invention in my mind, so I was surprised to discover that the concept originated in the United States as the Moon Pie in the early 20th century. As it turns out, choco pies only became popular in Japan after American soldiers introduced it after World War II.
This Lotte Choco Pie Pablo Premium Cheesecake is a collaboration between Lotte, a large confectionary manufacturer, and Pablo, the cult cheese tart chain, and one of four flavours in the series. This one is inspired by their Premium Cheese Tart with its caramelised sugar crust.
It looks like a standard choco pie from the outside: two small round layers of cake sandwiching a cheesecake filling and enrobed in chocolate. The filling contained 1.9% cheese and caramel flavouring.
Despite the cheesecake centre, the choco pie does not smell cheesy at all, unlike the strong aroma that pervades these cheesecake stores. Instead, the aroma recalled tiramisu with its notes of rich chocolate and cream. On biting into the choco pie, the crisp chocolate gave way to cake layers that are unsweetened with a medium crumb and a firm and dry texture – but not so dry as to be a cookie. The dry cake layers contrast well with the soft centre, which is rich and creamy yet light and fluffy with pleasant caramel undertones. Indeed, it tastes like a good creme brulee flavoured choco pie: rich and creamy without overpowering dairy notes.
This Lotte Choco Pie Pablo Premium Cheesecake contained 38 g. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Ōsaka, Japan in 2018.