Japan's specialty chocolate store Minimal - Bean to Bar Chocolate - is releasing a renewed edition of "The Single Origin" bonbon chocolates on January 17th, 2026. The collection, which received widespread acclaim when first launched in 2025, features eight bonbon chocolates made from single-origin cacao from different countries around the world.
The Ultimate Single-Origin Cacao Tasting Experience
The "World's Most Distinguishable" Collection of Eight Bonbon Chocolates
Following the success of last year's debut, Minimal's bonbon chocolate collection "The Single Origin" returns as a series with further refinements. The brand has evolved the concept to create an even more sophisticated tasting experience.
Having visited cacao-producing regions since its founding and committed to high-quality cacao over the past decade, Minimal has worked with cacao beans from approximately 30 countries. From this extensive experience, the brand carefully selected eight countries with the most distinctive regional characteristics. Each bonbon chocolate recipe is meticulously crafted from bean to bar, aiming to create "the world's most distinguishable bonbon chocolates." The collection offers an extraordinary tasting experience where you can fully appreciate the surprising flavors and distinct personalities of different cacao beans.
This year's edition is also alcohol-free, making it accessible to a wider audience.
Bonbon Chocolates That Open the Door to a New World of Cacao
To bring out the unique characteristics of cacao beans from these eight countries, Minimal developed original recipes with carefully adjusted roasting levels and particle sizes. The combination of high-quality cacao beans and unique production methods creates remarkably diverse flavor profiles - from fruity notes reminiscent of blueberries and apples, to botanical herb-like qualities, spicy undertones, and caramel-like richness - all achieved without adding any fruits, herbs, or spices.
These unprecedented bonbon chocolates showcase cacao's possibilities through distinctly different flavors created solely by origin and production method variations.
Details of the Eight Origins and Their Flavor Profiles
- Ghana: Classic chocolate notes with a full body and a finish of sweet spice
- Haiti (Milk): Gentle sweetness like café au lait with toasted nut and roasted notes
- Malaysia (Blonde): Butterscotch and caramel-like flavors from concentrated milk
- Indonesia: Cashew nut-like qualities with soft sweetness, deep richness reminiscent of dates, and concentrated acidity
- Madagascar: Vibrant, crisp acidity reminiscent of red berries
- Peru: Deep acidity like dark fruits such as blueberries, with a finish of wildflower honey sweetness
- India: Refreshing citrus-like fruitiness with early-harvest mandarin-like green floral notes
- Colombia - Arhuaco: Grape jam-like fruitiness with refreshing yogurt-like dairy notes
Sales Information
Price: ¥3,980 (tax included)
Release Date: January 17th, 2026 (Saturday)
Sales Locations: Online store, Tomigaya Main Store, Yoyogi-Uehara Store, Soshigaya-Okura Store, Azabudai Hills Store
Limited Valentine's Season Tasting Workshop
Minimal will host a tasting workshop for "The Single Origin" led by representative and cacao buyer Yamashita.
This Valentine's season-limited workshop received excellent reviews last year. Participants will taste and compare the bonbon chocolates while learning about flavors, cacao origins, and development stories.
- Registration URL: https://coubic.com/minimal/4562418
- Date: February 7th, 2026 (Saturday)
- Sessions: 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM / 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM / 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
- Location: Minimal Workshop Headquarters
- Address: 1F Dia Color Building, 5-38-23 Kyodo, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
- Access: Approximately 10-minute walk from Kyodo Station or Chitose-Funabashi Station on the Odakyu Line
- Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vo74p56844bVzAmE8
- *Note: This is not a Minimal retail store location
- Participation Fee and Payment: ¥3,000 per person (tax included)
- *Payment is accepted in cash or PayPay on the event day
About Minimal - The Chocolatier and Patissier Team
Minimal visits cacao-producing regions worldwide and handcrafts chocolate from high-quality cacao beans through artisanal processes. Staying true to the fundamental principle of "carefully and simply bringing out the best in premium ingredients and maximizing their aroma," the team of pastry chefs, chocolatiers, and craftsmen who have honed their skills at Michelin-starred restaurants and top patisseries both domestically and internationally work together through teamwork to create Minimal's chocolates and sweets.
The brand conducts research and provides training on fermentation and drying processes at origin, working with cacao farmers to develop flavors suitable for high quality and fair pricing. Aiming for sustainable economic independence in the cacao industry, which still bears traces of plantation history, Minimal provides technical support and engages in fair and ethical trade. In 2019, the brand conducted cacao research in Nicaragua as part of a JICA ODA feasibility study project.
Through a "subtractive" philosophy that emphasizes ingredients and unique production methods, Minimal has received 103 awards over 10 consecutive years at international competitions. While staying faithful to fundamentals yet not bound by tradition or conventional methods, the brand aims to deliver "memorable chocolate" that adds color to daily life with free-thinking creativity - chocolate that makes you think "I want to eat this again!"
Minimal Store Information
All locations feature cafe spaces where you can enjoy coffee, chocolate, parfaits, and more.
Minimal Tomigaya Main Store
- Address: 1F, 2-1-9 Tomigaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Access: 6-minute walk from Yoyogi-Hachiman Station (Odakyu Line) or Yoyogi-Koen Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
- Hours: 11:30 AM to 7:00 PM (Last order 6:30 PM), Open daily
Minimal The Baking Yoyogi-Uehara
- Address: 1-34-5 Uehara, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Access: 2-minute walk from Yoyogi-Uehara Station
- Hours: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Open daily
Patisserie Minimal Soshigaya-Okura
- Address: 8-8-24 Kinuta, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
- Access: 3-minute walk from Soshigaya-Okura Station South Exit (Odakyu Line)
- Hours: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Irregular holidays (announced on official website and social media)
Minimal The Specialty Azabudai Hills
- Address: Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza A 2F, 5-8-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- Access: Direct connection to Kamiyacho Station Exit 5 (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
- Hours: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Open daily
Minimal - Bean to Bar Chocolate - Information
- Website/Online Store: https://mini-mal.tokyo
- LINE: https://page.line.me/yrn4346m?openQrModal=true
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minimal_beantobarchocolate
- X: https://twitter.com/Minimal_tokyo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minimalchocolate/?fref=ts
