One of the popular souvenirs from Hakata is Hakata Fuwari, a soufflé made by Chocolate Shop, a well-known confectionery shop in the city. Its texture is so light and soft that it seems to melt like a cloud. It comes in two flavors: cheese and milk cocoa, the latter featuring a rich chocolate aroma.
The cheese version is made with a generous amount of cream cheese from France. It is baked slowly at a low temperature, taking time to achieve its exceptionally soft and fluffy texture. The milk cocoa version, meanwhile, makes luxurious use of Belgian chocolate, giving it a rich chocolate flavor.
Chocolate Shop is often described as one of the origins of Hakata’s chocolate-making tradition. When the shop was founded in 1942, chocolate was considered a luxury and was not something ordinary people could easily afford. In its early days, unsold chocolate reportedly appeared on the staff’s dining tables day after day, before the shop eventually became popular.
Throughout its history, the shop has remained committed to its principles of safety, reliability, and making each item by hand. This long-established confectioner has continued to uphold those values as it approached its 70th anniversary. Hakata Fuwari reflects this dedication to carefully crafted sweets and makes a memorable gift for visitors to Fukuoka.