Ancient Maya-Inspired Chocolate: Tunmel – The Fusion of Tradition and Modern Craftsmanship.
Ezaki Glico has introduced a new chocolate brand, “Tunmel”, crafted with only cacao nibs and minimal sugar to deliver a simple yet premium chocolate experience. This brand incorporates the innovative Cold Extraction method developed by Switzerland’s Oro de Cacao, a process protected by international patents.
The name combines “Tun,” a Mayan term for precious stone and time unit, and “Melt,” symbolizing the chocolate’s delicate texture. Tunmel represents a fusion of ancient tradition and modern technology, delivering jewel-like chocolates that melt in your mouth.
The Cold Extraction technique draws inspiration from the ancient Maya beverage “xocolatl.” Unlike traditional methods, it skips the roasting process, instead soaking raw cacao beans in water and grinding them at low temperatures. This preserves the natural richness of cacao while minimizing bitterness and acidity, allowing the unique characteristics of each cacao origin to shine through.
The Tunmel lineup features three single-origin options: “Peru 81%”, “Dominica 82%”, and “Ghana 83%” (each priced at ¥2,052, including tax). Additionally, an assorted box, the “Cacao Selection” (¥4,104, including tax), includes four pieces of each variety. These chocolates are available online and at limited-time pop-up shops: Hankyu Umeda Main Store (January 15–19) and Isetan Shinjuku (February 8–14), with plans for further sales at pop-up and permanent locations.
Tomoko Tsuchida, Project Manager for New Chocolate Product Development at Ezaki Glico, emphasized the brand’s vision: “We aim to popularize a culture of enjoying cacao-centric chocolates in Japan, akin to the rich chocolate traditions of Europe. By offering chocolates that are both delicious and health-conscious, we hope to create a positive indulgence for consumers.”
Looking ahead, the brand plans to explore products featuring cacao from other regions, as well as new varieties such as milk chocolate, white chocolate, and baked goods using chocolate.
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