Chocolatte is a chocolate-flavored Castella cake created by Shooken, a long-established confectionery shop in Nagasaki with a history of more than 300 years. It is a distinctive variation on one of Nagasaki’s most famous traditional sweets.
Castella was introduced to Nagasaki by the Portuguese and gradually developed into the Japanese-style sponge cake known today. Shooken was founded in Nagasaki in 1681, during the Edo period, and has continued its confectionery-making tradition for more than three centuries.
Chocolatte was created in the Meiji period by the shop’s eighth-generation owner, who wanted to bring a new flavor to traditional Castella. After considerable effort, he developed a chocolate-flavored version that combined the familiar texture of Castella with the richness of chocolate.
Rather than using ordinary chocolate powder, Shooken makes Chocolatte with chocolate bars. The chocolate is carefully incorporated into the cake, producing a moist texture and a rich, full-bodied flavor.
Chocolatte is a fine example of how Nagasaki’s traditional confectionery makers have continued to develop new tastes while preserving the techniques passed down through generations.