This is the Sakata Beika PARIPARI×SAKUSAKU Sakuranbo, a snack featuring rice puffs coated in white chocolate infused with cherries from Yamagata Prefecture.

Each piece measured approximately 2.2 cm in length and 1.2 cm in diameter, with a soft pink hue and a mild, sweet cherry aroma.

The flavour began with the sweetness of the white chocolate before biting into the rice puff revealed a light yet satisfying crunch. The chocolate coating prevented the texture from feeling too airy while complementing the gentle notes of the puffed rice, which helped balance the sweetness. As the chocolate melted, the cherry flavour emerged with an initial mellow sweetness, followed by a subtle freshness and a hint of tart acidity that lingered in the finish. The overall profile captured the lighter sweet-tart notes characteristic of Yamagata’s red-blushed cherries. The contrast between the creamy chocolate and the crisp rice puff was enjoyable, though the cherry flavour was notably milder compared to the more aromatic La France pear version.

Overall, while these bite-sized chocolate snacks offered a pleasant combination of texture and flavour, the pear variety stood out as a more distinctive souvenir.

This Sakata Beika PARIPARI×SAKUSAKU Sakuranbo contained 35 g. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2024.