JR Omiya Station's 'ecute Omiya / Omiya North' to Hold Largest-Ever Chocolate Mint Fair, 'Chokotto Tabete Minto,' Featuring 42 Products Including Exclusives

JR East Cross Station Co., Ltd.'s Development Company will host the third 'Chokotto Tabete Minto' (A Little Bite of Mint) fair at the 'ecute Omiya / Omiya North' commercial facilities inside JR Omiya Station from Monday, June 29 to Monday, July 20 (a national holiday).

Now in its third year, the highly popular annual 'Chocolate Mint Fair' has evolved further. Aiming to become the 'holy land of chocolate mint,' the event has been scaled up to its largest size ever, featuring a record total of 42 products, including 15 items exclusive to ecute Omiya and Omiya North. This year's highlights are 'taste comparisons' that allow you to enjoy different mint strengths and stimulating 'strong mint' products that will thrill mint-chocolate fans. New must-try items include the Omiya-exclusive 'Hikawa no Mori YAKUMO' cookie tin and 'Saitama Konamonya Tsumugiya' financier set, which let you compare three different levels of mint intensity. Additionally, 'PAOPAO' will offer its popular 'Chocomint Bun,' which sold up to 50 units a day last year, now powered up with about 2.5 times the mint cream for an unprecedented level of refreshment. Also noteworthy are 'Japanese-style chocolate mint' items, featuring innovative combinations with traditional ingredients like a Japanese pudding with red bean paste and chocolate mint.

Furthermore, a digital stamp rally will be held again this year, where you can get exclusive 'not-for-sale chocolate mint sweets' available only here! Two types of limited-edition sweets will be given as gifts depending on the number of stamps collected (10 or 26). Why not enjoy a special 'chocolate mint tour' with the 'Chocolate Mint Map' distributed in the facility during the period?

**Topic 1: New Releases! Cookies and Financiers for Comparing 3 Mint Strengths!**

* **Hikawa Mint Cookie Tin** (¥2,500 / Hikawa no Mori YAKUMO, ecute Omiya Exclusive): A new cookie tin featuring three types of mint cookies shaped like the torii gate of Omiya's Hikawa Shrine. The center cookie uses peppermint oil and mint flavoring for a vivid color and overwhelming refreshment, while the others are milder, allowing you to enjoy a gradient of mint strength.
* **'Ko, Financé' Choco, Mint 8-piece set** (¥1,512 / Saitama Konamonya Tsumugiya, ecute Omiya Exclusive): A limited-edition financier based on the popular 'Ko, Financé' chocolate flavor, combining rare domestic black peppermint tea leaves and natural mint oil. The set includes three mint strengths: 'tea leaves only,' 'classic,' and 'double,' offering a journey of flavor in one box.
* **Crème Fromage Chocomint** (¥864 / Noix/Aoyama Fromage, ecute Omiya North Exclusive): A new-sensation sweet where crème fromage is mixed with mint sauce and chocolate chips, then topped with more mint sauce. The more you mix, the stronger the chocolate mint flavor becomes.
* **'Drown in Cream' Crunchy Chocomint Fresh Cream** (¥777~ / Sandwich Cafe Oishii Märchen, ecute Omiya Exclusive): Last year's sell-out sandwich has been upgraded with about twice the mint cream and 1.5 times the chocolate. An indulgent treat with overflowing cream and a crunchy texture.
* **Chocomint Bun** (¥313 / PAOPAO, ecute Omiya Exclusive): This popular Chinese-style bun from last year returns with about 2.5 times more mint cream kneaded into the dough, enhancing the cool sensation and complementing the sweetness of the chocolate.

**Topic 2: A Must-See for Mint-Choco Fans! A Rare 'Japanese' Twist on Mint**

* **Wa-Gelato Chocomint** (¥810~ / Akasaka Ogino Wakan, ecute Omiya): A refreshing gelato made by infusing milk with plenty of mint aroma, accented with the crisp texture of shattered chocolate. A new Japanese-style gelato with a clean aftertaste.
* **Chocomint Pudding** (¥540 / Yamadaya Manju, ecute Omiya): A Japanese pudding that harmonizes smooth koshian (sweet red bean paste) from Hokkaido beans with a rich, soy milk-based chocolate mint flavor.