Nama Chocolate - Balava Da Lat

1. What is Nama chocolate?

Nama chocolate is made with high-quality ingredients, ensuring you experience the fresh flavors of chocolate. In Japanese, "Nama" means "fresh." Unlike other chocolates, Nama chocolate is exceptionally soft and melts instantly in your mouth. It's a type of ganache, created from a mixture of melted cocoa and fresh cream. Because it contains no preservatives, Nama chocolate is considered a healthier choice. As the mixture solidifies, the block of chocolate is cut into pieces and sprinkled with cocoa powder on top.

Fresh chocolate with traditional cocoa flavor is the most popular type with a rich and sweet flavor. Besides, Nama chocolate is also mixed with different flavors such as matcha, coffee, fresh milk, black tea, Hennessy, cherry, strawberry,...

2. What is the origin of Nama chocolate?

Royce' shops in Singapore
 

Nama chocolate comes from Japan. It is believed to have been created by the renowned Japanese chocolatier, Junichi Mitsubori, founder of the Tokyo-based confectionery company, Royce' Chocolate. Mitsubori developed Nama chocolate as a way to showcase the pure and fresh flavors of chocolate by using high-quality ingredients and innovative production techniques. Royce began mass-producing nama chocolate in 1996, triggering a trend for food enthusiasts in Asia.

Since its inception, Nama chocolate has gained widespread popularity in Japan and beyond, becoming a beloved delicacy appreciated for its luxurious texture and rich taste.

3. What is the difference between chocolate and Nama chocolate? 

The main difference between chocolate and Nama chocolate is based on their texture, ingredients, and production process.

Texture: Regular chocolate typically has a solid and firm texture, while Nama chocolate is known for its exceptionally soft and melt-in-your-mouth consistency. Nama chocolate has a velvety smoothness that easily dissolves on the palate, providing a luxurious eating experience.

Ingredients: Traditional chocolate contains ingredients such as cocoa solids, cocoa butter, sugar, and sometimes milk solids. On the other hand, Nama chocolate typically consists of a harmonious blend of high-quality chocolate and fresh cream. This combination results in a creamier and richer flavor profile.

Production Process: The production process for Nama chocolate involves carefully melting cocoa and blending it with fresh cream to create a ganache-like mixture. This mixture is then allowed to set before being cut into individual pieces. In contrast, traditional chocolate undergoes processes such as roasting, grinding, refining, conching, and tempering to achieve its final form.

While both chocolate and Nama chocolate share similar basic ingredients, the specific ratios, textures, and production methods result in distinct differences in taste and mouthfeel. Nama chocolate offers a unique and indulgent alternative for chocolate lovers seeking a smoother and creamier confectionery experience.

4. Nama chocolate brands

- Royce' Chocolate: A Japanese chocolatier renowned for its premium Nama chocolate varieties, offering a wide range of flavors such as matcha, champagne, and bitter.

- Shiroi Koibito: A Hokkaido-based confectionery company" is a company that manufactures various confectionery products with its headquarters located in Hokkaido, a large island in northern Japan. A Hokkaido-based confectionery brand famous for its white chocolate Nama chocolate, which features a delicate balance of sweetness and creaminess.

- Meiji is one of the leading companies in Japan in the food and confectionery industry. The company is known for a range of products such as chocolate, milk, candy, biscuits, and various other food items. Meiji has been in the market for a long time and is well-known to consumers in Japan and around the world for its high quality and diverse range of products. Meiji offers Nama chocolate in various flavors, including classic milk chocolate and strawberry.

5. What is so special about Nama Balava chocolate?

Nama Balvava, Da Lat Viet Nam

"The Chocolate House Balava" is located in Da Lat, Central Highlands of Vietnam, where is considered to have a favorable climate for growing cocoa, so the ingredients to make chocolate are always fresh and delicious.

Currently, in Vietnam, there are also several brands making Nama chocolate. Nama Balava is a domestic chocolate brand that is so delicious it makes people's hearts flutter. Because the main ingredient is up to 70% pure chocolate, the fresh cream content is 30%. Raw materials are only produced according to orders, no inventory is kept, to ensure nama is always fresh every day. Chocolate flavors you can enjoy at Balava: Sweet, Cashew nuts, Coffee, Bailey's, Matcha, Bitter. The perfect recipe for fresh chocolate is to always keep the humidity at 17%, the optimal level to balance flavor and texture without becoming mushy. Just a 1% increase in humidity means chocolate cannot maintain its shape and cannot be stored for a long time.

To purchase Nama Chocolate Balava products, you can visit their store directly or order online at their website.

Homemade Chocolate at Balava

Chocolate workshop

If you have the chance to visit Da Lat, don't miss the opportunity to experience chocolate-making at Balava. Here, you will be provided with ingredients and tools to craft your own delightful chocolates. Book the service here