Meltykiss (メルティーキッス)
If you have a sweet tooth, you have to try Meltykiss (and yes, I know the name sounds a bit awkward). It is one of my favorite chocolates found in grocery stores, drugstores, or convenience stores. You will love its rich taste, smooth-melting texture, and great cacao aroma. While each piece is quite small, its “truffle” feel is always satisfying. I love enjoying them with a cup of black coffee.
You will find several flavors: Premium Chocolate, Strawberry, and Matcha. My favorite is strawberry. Also, limited-time flavors are often available.
The chocolates are individually wrapped, making them perfect for sharing. The bag in the photo contains a mix of all three flavors, and the package says it typically contains 30 pieces. The strawberry box I got contained 13 pieces.
For many Japanese people, the Meltykiss TV commercial signals the start of winter. This chocolate is seasonal: you’ll generally only find it from late October through March. Because the chocolate is designed to melt at a lower temperature to create that signature "snow-like" texture, it disappears from shelves once the weather warms up. In fact, the package warns to keep them at 23°C (73°F) or below.
How much do they cost?
A box costs around 350 yen, and a bag is approximately 550 yen, depending on where you get it.
Where can you find them?
They are widely available at various places, including drugstores (Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Sugi Pharmacy, Welcia, etc.), convenience stores (Seven-Eleven, Lawson, Family Mart, etc.), grocery stores (Seiyu, Maruetsu, Ito-Yokado, etc.), and more. If you are looking for the bags, check the grocery stores and drugstores.