Nama Chocolate

     In this article, I would like to talk about something very unique---the nama chocolate.
     When you first hear about this term, you probably wonder what it is. In fact, "nama" is not an English word. It came from a Japanese word, which means "fresh". Nama chocolate is said to  originate from Japan. About twenty years ago, there was a Japanese royal wedding that prince Naruhito and princess Masako got married. After the wedding ceremony, the couple gave nama chocolate to guests as wedding candies. Then,  nama chocolate has become more and more popular ever since.
     The procedure of making nama chocolate is different from normal European-style chocolate. It is much easier to make because it skip the step named  "coating", which is the most difficult part in making common chocolate. "Ganache", a kind of chocolate that has been softened by adding dairy products, is coated in cocoa powder and then made into nama chocolate.

     Nama chocolate is my favorite kind of chocolate. It has smooth and soft texture. When I put it in my mouth, I can feel it slowly melts in my mouth and leaves a rich but a little bitter taste for quite a while. It is totally different from any other kinds of chocolate I have ever tasted before! There are many shops that sell nama chocolate in Taiwan, but I especially love Feeling eighteen~ Their products are really exquisite as well as delicious. Try the 85% one! I'm sure that you'll fall in love with it immediately.

   

Elate Pudding & Flan

     In my second post, I would like to talk about a special dessert brand. Speaking of elaborate desserts, we usually think about stores that located in booming area. However, Elate is a pudding store that goes beyond your imagination for that it was originated in Tainan. Besides, it has an interesting start. The founder's daughter was preparing for the college entrance exam and therefore under a lot of pressure. The founder, a caring father, perceived her tense emotion and decided to do something for his beloved daughter. Then, the tasty home-made milk pudding was created. This is how the whole story started.

     I got to know Elate and had the chance to taste its products when I was in junior high school. I was strongly curious about how they taste after I saw the slogan, "Not adding even one drop of water, we use milk to make our products instead." Needless to say, the puddings and flans were all amazing! Their soft texture and rich flavor were incredible. After I swallowed them, the wonderful taste was still left in my mouth for quite a while. It was indeed an unforgettable experience to me.

     There are four flavors in its classic series---milk, cocoa, mango and almond. It's difficult to say which is my favorite...because each has its unique characteristic and I love them all! In addition, new products come out once in a while. Of course, I'll continue to follow Elate's new desserts for a very long time. 

My 18th Birthday Cake

        

         Since I'm a passionate dessert lover, I've tasted various kinds of desserts in my life. Here, for my first post on this blog, I'd like to talk about this special made-to-order cake in celebration of my 18th birthday a few months ago.

        My birthday was on June 27th, just a few days before July 1st (when the College Entrance Exam taken place), so I was actually a little bit nervous about the coming-soon exam. My mom also knew about this, and she wanted to do something for me that both to congratulate my becoming an adult and to release my anxiety about the big exam. As a result, she went to a bakery nearby and ordered this special birthday cake for me.

        It was a HUGE SURPRISE when I opened the paper box and saw the cake. I was like, "OMG what's this in front of my eyes!!!" It was so beautiful and creative, like a work of art. 

        As you see in the picture, there was a slogan made of dark and white chocolate to cheer me up in both on the exam and in my future life.

        There were also something amazing on the top of the cake---two puffs shaped like swans! It was so elegant and exquisite that I fell in love with them at the first sight : ) My mom told me that these two swans symbolized a big change in my life---to become a grown-up! Just like the stage when the ugly duckling turned into a beautiful swan~

        When removing all the decorations on the cake, I found another surprise. There were various kinds of sliced fruits on the top, including strawberries, kiwis, peaches and pineapples! It was colorful, creating a joyful atmosphere of celebration. 

        I was really touched when receiving this precious birthday gift from my dear mom. She racked her brain for the cake merely to give me a special present on my 18th birthday. Needless to say, the cake tasted wonderful. It was indeed the most unique as well as unforgettable birthday cake I've ever had.