THE LAB NAGOYA, a gateau chocolat specialty store that opened in SAKUMACHI Shopping Street on July 23, 2024, has been in business for a year and a half.
Growing Recognition as "A Texture Never Experienced Before"
THE chocola has gained recognition, with customers gradually coming from outside the prefecture and overseas to seek this Nagoya specialty gateau chocolat. The store consistently sells out by early afternoon.
What is THE chocola?
With the concept of "Overturning Your Expectations"...
The ultimate gateau chocolat, crafted entirely by the hands of a single artisan.
Rather than expanding the business, the shop aims to become a Nagoya specialty that can only be experienced here, within the artisan's reach.
Three Characteristics
Cloud-Like Chocolate Texture
By using proprietary ultra-fine meringue, it achieves an unprecedented fluffy texture like eating a chocolate cloud. The use of a custom-designed baking kiln creates a unique, one-of-a-kind mouthfeel that no other gateau chocolat can match.
Dedication to Cacao
The shop blends four rare cacao beans (from Mexico, Ghana, Ecuador, and Dominican Republic) in a proprietary balance. A rich yet floral fruity aroma spreads in your mouth. To make it enjoyable for children, the cacao beans are minimally roasted to maintain a strong fruity character.
Simple and Refined Ingredients
THE chocola consists only of high-quality cacao, eggs, cream, butter, beet sugar, and salt. It is gluten-free and made without any refined white sugar.
New Product Born from Customer Feedback
The previously sold "THE chocola" is a whole-size cake, suitable for 2 to 4 people - a bit too large for one person.
Sales of "THE chocola" began during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. At that time, with people spending time at home, the product was launched in a size that families could share at home. However, as the pandemic ended and opportunities to meet people increased, gift demand grew, and customers began asking, "Don't you have a smaller size?"
Initially, it seemed simple to just make it smaller, but no matter how many prototypes were made, the fluffy cloud-like texture of THE chocola could not be achieved. To maintain the taste of THE chocola, the batter ratio remained unchanged while repeatedly adjusting baking time and meringue consistency, gradually approaching the ideal. While discovering that meringue temperature was crucial, achieving the final touch was difficult. Then, using a certain baking mold solved the problem all at once (the mold details are a trade secret).
After more than 100 prototypes, a smaller size of THE chocola was born.
THE chocola Single ¥3,500
THE chocola Single Matcha ¥4,000
Sales Start February 6, 2026 at THE LAB NAGOYA
Single Size Expected to Increase Demand as a Classic Nagoya Souvenir
To coincide with Valentine's Day, the new THE chocola single will be sold from February 6 at the Nagoya store. Since manufacturing is handled solely by representative Sawada, sales will be limited in quantity.
Note: For two or more people, the larger size is recommended.
Store Information - THE LAB NAGOYA
- Address: 1-19-10 Osugi, Kita-ku, Nagoya City [Meitetsu Seto Line "Amagasaka Station"]
- Hours: From 11:00 AM
- Phone: 052-385-7215
*Closes when products sell out
(Advance reservations possible through THE LAB NAGOYA Instagram or by contacting the store) - Closed: Sundays
Representative Akio Sawada Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/a.sawada/
THE Official Website and SNS
- Online Shop: https://www.the-chocola.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_chocola_/
- Instagram (Nagoya Store): https://www.instagram.com/the_lab_nagoya_/
