Chocolate-Covered Shiranuhi Citrus Slices
Our unique technology (Japan Patent Office Utility Model Patent) yields unparalleled freshness and richness
We use top-quality regional fruits from Japan and proprietary technology to create chocolate-covered dried fruit with a fresher texture than traditional dried or freeze-dried fruit.
As a Japan Brand that is unaffiliated with a specific local government or region, we can deliver products made from the finest fruits from all across Japan to the rest of the world. The Hitokuchi Chocolate brand offers a wide variety of popular fruit products, including Hitokuchi Chocolate-Covered Shiranuhi Citrus Slices, which is ranked No. 1 in Japan (on Amazon and Rakuten). Shiranuhi, also known as dekopon, is a sweet citrus and a specialty of Kumamoto Prefecture. It is larger and fresher than mandarin oranges, and it must meet strict standards of sugar content and acidity to be labeled as shiranuhi citrus.
Dried fruits are fruits in which the water content is reduced to increase the sugar content in the fruit. They are often made using the hot-air drying method, in which the fruit is dried through exposure to air at high temperatures, or by freeze-drying, in which the fruits are flash frozen at low temperatures to remove the water content all at once.
Most dried fruits are coated in chocolate processed using vegetable fats, which prevent melting but reduce palatability and increase risk of heart disease. We have created a new flavor profile and mouthfeel by combining the delicious aroma and qualities of 60 percent cacao chocolate made without vegetable fats.
As a Japanese start-up and Japan Brand, we believe that Hitokuchi Chocolate’s mission is to build up an international fanbase for Japan and Japanese goods, and to support the promotion and economic growth of local regions by delivering the highest quality fruit products from all forty-seven prefectures of Japan to a global audience.
Try our chocolate-covered fruit with tea or white wine
A Combination of Fresh Semi-Dried Fruit and Chocolate Like No Other
We use our proprietary technology* with the finest fruits from all over Japan to create chocolate-covered semi-dried fruit with a fresh texture not found in conventional dried fruit or freeze-dried products.
We use 100 percent fully ripened Japanese Shiranuhi from Kumamoto Prefecture, which are known for their larger pulp compared to mikan (mandarin oranges). We process them into semi-dried fruit, leaving the thin skin intact to preserve the natural flavor and deliciousness of the fruit.
Dried fruit is usually made by using the hot-air drying method, which uses hot air at a high temperature of 80 degrees Celsius to dry the fruit, or the freeze-drying method, where the fruit is first frozen at a low temperature of -30 degrees Celsius before the water is removed all at once. As a result, both methods result in fruit which becomes hard and dry because too much water has been removed, and the juicy freshness and soft texture of the fruit pulp is lost.
On the other hand, Hitokuchi Chocolate's Chocolate-Covered Shiranuhi Citrus Slices are soaked in a special honey, then slowly dried at a low temperature of 35 degrees Celsius for two weeks, resulting in a moisture content far greater than that of regular dried fruit. A new dried fruit experience where you can savor the freshness of the Shiranuhi fruit.
*Utility Model Registration No. 3239316
100% Kumamoto Shiranuhi citrus slices
Our Healthy Chocolate Is 60 Percent Cacao
Chocolate-Covered Shiranuhi Citrus Slices is made from 60 percent cacao chocolate. The chocolate we use contains no vegetable fat. The chocolate's delicious aroma creates a harmonious marriage of chocolate with the acidity, richness, sweetness, and bitterness of the dried Shiranuhi fruit.
Commercial chocolate often contains vegetable fats to prevent melting. However, their use also increases the risk of heart disease.* Chocolate-Covered Shiranuhi Citrus Slices are prepared with an intricate artisanal technique that preserves the consistency of the chocolate without the use of harmful vegetable fats. Our chocolate also contains no added artificial flavoring, bleaching agents, preservatives, or sweeteners.
The thin peels of citrus fruits contain dietary fibers and polyphenols, a plant compound with antioxidant properties, making Chocolate-Covered Shiranuhi Citrus Slices a healthy option for chocolate-covered fruit.
*Reference: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, "Trans Fatty Acids in a Nutshell" (in Japanese).
Finest fruit from Japan's forty-seven prefectures (map of Kyushu)
Great Souvenirs from Different Regions of Japan
Hitokuchi Chocolate has gained popularity for using the finest specialty fruits from each of Japan's forty-seven prefectures. In addition to Hitokuchi Chocolate-Covered Shiranuhi Citrus Slices, we have several other chocolate-covered fruit products, like Hitokuchi Chocolate-Covered Violette de Sollies Figs from Saga Prefecture, Hitokuchi Chocolate-Covered Hyuganatsu Citrus Peels from Miyazaki Prefecture, and Hitokuchi Chocolate-Covered Anzu no Sato Apricots from Nagano Prefecture.
Hitokuchi Chocolate-Covered Shiranuhi Citrus Slices are made from Shiranuhi citrus grown in Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Japan. The packaging features Kumamon, the beloved mascot of Kumamoto that's well-known both in Japan and internationally.
Moreover, the packaging protects the chocolate from sunlight and preserves its aroma, ensuring that the bite-sized pieces are still bursting with flavor upon delivery to their final destination. These delicious bite-sized chocolates make the perfect Japanese souvenir!