This is the Lotte Co-Trip Choco Pie Yamagata Shiroi Kumo Cherry Shortcake, a mini chocolate pie based on the “Cherry Shortcake” from Shiroi Kumo, a Western-style confectionery shop located in Nanyō City and Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. Shiroi Kumo’s Cherry Shortcake is an adaptation of the Black Forest cake, featuring locally grown cherries.
Each package contained eight individually sealed mini chocolate pies.
The mini cake presented with a circular shape, measuring 4.0 cm in diameter and 1.5 cm thick, coated on all sides with a smooth, glossy deep brown dark chocolate shell. Aroma opened with medium-intensity notes of rich, fruity dark chocolate.
Initial contact delivered a softly crisp dark chocolate shell that yielded to the light, aerated chocolate sponge before reaching the soft cream filling, with the bite breaking away cleanly. Through the mid-palate, the dark chocolate coating melted to a rich cocoa sweetness, while the sponge reinforced this profile with a contrasting soft, airy texture that remained restrained in sweetness to maintain balance. The cream filling provided a warm, velvety softness that contrasted with the initially cool dark chocolate coating. As it melted, it gradually released a mellow cherry profile, subtle yet clearly defined, lending a natural fruit character without becoming artificial or confectionery-like. The restrained sweetness of the cherries harmonised with the depth of the dark chocolate, successfully capturing the classic combination of chocolate, cherry and cream associated with a Black Forest cake. As the chocolate and cream continued to melt, they provided ample moisture for a melt-in-the-mouth finish, with a lingering fruity cocoa profile in the aftertaste. A gooey centre of cherry compote would have elevated the mini cake further by providing greater fruit intensity and textural contrast.
Overall, a chocolate snack cake with a converging dark chocolate and cherry flavour progression and well-integrated textural development, resulting in a balanced interpretation of a Black Forest cake in miniature form.
This Lotte Co-Trip Choco Pie Yamagata Shiroi Kumo Cherry Shortcake contained 115 g (14.3 g x 8 pieces). It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2026.