Minimal - Bean to Bar Chocolate, a Japanese specialty chocolate brand, is launching its "Chocolate Ice Shaved Ice" (チョコレート氷のかき氷) this summer at three Tokyo stores — Yoyogi-Uehara, Azabudai Hills, and Sengawa — starting July 1, 2026. The dessert, which proved popular when it debuted at the Azabudai Hills store last summer, has been refined and expanded into a two-layer format for 2026.
The Ice Itself Is Made of Chocolate
What sets this shaved ice apart from conventional versions is that the ice is made from chocolate itself — not ice topped with chocolate syrup. The chocolate flavor is locked into every block that is shaved, so each spoonful carries the same rich cacao aroma and taste from the first bite to the last. Even as the ice slowly melts, the flavor does not dilute — an effect that the store describes as the hallmark of this "shaved ice for adults."
Two Layers, Two Flavors — A Changing Taste as You Eat
The 2026 version introduces a two-layer structure using two distinct chocolate ice varieties:
- Upper layer: A bitter chocolate ice made with 80% cacao from Ghana, expressing a bold, deep cacao flavor
- Lower layer: A blended chocolate ice made from three cacao varieties — Trinidad, Brazil, and Ghana — chosen for their contrasting flavor profiles
Trinidad cacao brings herbal and complex notes, Brazil cacao adds complementary depth, and Ghana cacao contributes warm, sweet-spice hints. As the dessert is eaten from top to bottom, the flavor shifts — starting with the concentrated intensity of the Ghana 80% layer and gradually opening into the more layered, herbaceous nuances of the blended layer. The two-layer design was developed so that the taste and aroma continue to evolve with every bite.
Condensed Milk Adds Creamy Richness
The shaved ice is finished with a drizzle of condensed milk. As it melts into the chocolate ice, the milky sweetness deepens, complementing the cacao's complex aroma and making each layer even more expressive.
Pricing and Availability
Sengawa Store: ¥890 (takeout only)
Azabudai Hills Store: ¥1,200 (takeout) / ¥1,300 (eat-in)
Yoyogi-Uehara Store: ¥1,650 (includes a drink, eat-in only)
All prices include tax. Volume and serving style vary by location.
Available: July 1, 2026 to September 30, 2026
Locations: Yoyogi-Uehara Store, Azabudai Hills Store, Sengawa Store
The Tomigaya flagship store and Soshigaya-Okura store are offering a different variation — a chocolate shaved ice with a scoop of ice cream inside — for those who want to explore Minimal's other summer sweets.
