A Must-Visit in Niseko! Niseko Takahashi Farm

One spot you can't miss when sightseeing in Niseko is Niseko Takahashi Farm.
It's a must-visit destination in Niseko, featuring a workshop that processes fresh milk straight from the farm, a cafe where you can enjoy freshly made sweets and ice cream, and restaurants serving delicious fresh cheese and vegetables.

Photo courtesy of Niseko Takahashi Farm

Niseko Takahashi Farm attracted as many as 300,000 visitors a year (before the COVID-19 pandemic). The initial catalyst for becoming such a popular destination was, surprisingly, a crisis at the farm.
"We were in a situation where production adjustments led to a surplus of milk that we had to discard. But we couldn't bear to throw away the milk from the cows we had so carefully raised. With a strong desire to deliver it to our customers, we started processing the milk into dairy products." They began with ice cream and soft serve, then produced drinkable yogurt that could be taken home. Later, they gradually expanded their product line to please customers, adding items like cakes, cream puffs, and Baumkuchen, which has a longer shelf life and is suitable for souvenirs.

The freshly made 'Cream Puff' is a must-try when visiting Niseko Takahashi Farm.

Driven by the desire for visitors to enjoy Niseko's culinary delights, they opened PRATIVO, a restaurant where you can enjoy a buffet of local vegetables while gazing at the magnificent view of Mt. Yotei, and MANDRIANO, a restaurant where you can savor freshly made cheese from Niseko Takahashi Farm in pizzas and salads. These restaurants are highly recommended as they also allow you to enjoy the great nature of Niseko.

Restaurant PRATIVO, where you can enjoy plenty of local vegetables. Photo courtesy of PRATIVO.

The latest venture from Niseko Takahashi Farm is CACAO CROWN, a chocolate brand perfect for gifting to someone special.

What is CACAO CROWN, the Farm's Bean to Bar Chocolate Brand?

CACAO CROWN is a chocolate brand launched in 2021 by Niseko Takahashi Farm, a place that continuously explores the potential of milk and dairy products.
The name CACAO CROWN was inspired by the crown-like shape that forms on the surface when a cacao bean drops into milk! The cow in the shop's logo is also very charming.

While there are many types of chocolate, CACAO CROWN is a brand that makes "Bean to Bar" chocolate, handling the entire process from cacao bean to chocolate bar in-house.
They carefully combine the high-quality milk from Niseko Takahashi Farm with premium cacao from around the world to create flavorful and delicious milk chocolate and sweets that highlight the natural taste of the ingredients.

The packaging features a stylish and luxurious design, making it a perfect gift for a loved one or a special treat for yourself!

CACAO CROWN's Special Chocolate Made with Prized Milk and Select Cacao Beans

Let's delve into what makes CACAO CROWN so special.
First, their commitment to milk. The milk from Niseko Takahashi Farm is characterized by its sweet, creamy, yet clean taste.

Photo courtesy of CACAO CROWN

"The taste of our milk is really reflected in Milk Kobo's soft serve ice cream; it's light, easy to drink, and you never get tired of it," says Mr. Takai.
This rich sweetness and mellowness of fresh milk are utilized in their chocolate making.
Next is their commitment to cacao beans. CACAO CROWN sources carefully selected cacao beans from around the world through direct trade.
By sourcing from trusted farmers, they can pay a fair price for high-quality cacao beans and provide feedback to the farmers, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship that allows both sides to grow.

Photo courtesy of CACAO CROWN

CACAO CROWN employs a 'Bean to Bar' manufacturing style, where they handle the entire process of creating their special chocolate in their workshop—from combining Niseko Takahashi Farm's prized milk with high-quality cacao beans sourced from around the world.

This is a chocolate crafted with meticulous attention to detail, using Hokkaido-produced beet sugar and Ezo spruce craft paper, made from thinned wood of local spruce trees, for its packaging.

Photo courtesy of CACAO CROWN

The Story Behind CACAO CROWN's Creation

So, how did CACAO CROWN come to be?
Mr. Takai says he always had the desire to make chocolate using Takahashi Farm's milk. The inspiration came from being deeply impressed by the deliciousness of Swiss milk chocolate.
"When making sweets, I often ordered chocolates from all over the world. I found that Swiss milk chocolate was exceptionally delicious. When I asked a wholesaler why, they told me, as if it were obvious, 'Because Swiss milk is delicious.' That's when the idea of making milk chocolate in Hokkaido was born. I always thought it would be interesting if delicious craft milk chocolate came from Hokkaido."

Photo courtesy of CACAO CROWN

He also wanted to create a product that people would want to buy as a souvenir for their loved ones. His passion for creating milk chocolate that is easy to carry at room temperature, not bulky, and perfect for gifting grew stronger.
This dream became a reality through his encounter with Mr. Matsumuro, the chocolatier of "Magie du Chocolat," a chocolate specialty shop in Tokyo that is particular about its cacao beans.

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Mr. Matsumuro is a chocolatier with a strong commitment to cacao beans, not only sourcing them through direct trade from around the world but also growing them himself on a farm in the Philippines. It was a time when he was also looking to explore other ingredients beyond cacao beans.
"We wanted the technology, knowledge, and ingredients related to chocolate and cacao beans. Mr. Matsumuro wanted to focus on milk. It was a relationship where we could offer each other our strengths, so we said, 'Let's do it together!' and finally got started."

This collaboration between Magie du Chocolat in Tokyo, which is committed to making chocolate that brings smiles to everyone involved with cacao, and Niseko Takahashi Farm in Hokkaido, which prioritizes the health of its cows and carefully produces milk, also led to the creation of a product called Chocolate Milk Jam.

CACAO CROWN's products are perfect for Valentine's Day.
They are currently available at pop-up events at Sapporo Daimaru and Sapporo Marui Mitsukoshi, so be sure to check them out!

A Gift for 5 Lucky Winners! A Delicious Assortment from CACAO CROWN

In this giveaway campaign, we have a luxurious assortment set featuring special products from CACAO CROWN and Milk Kobo!
Five lucky winners will be chosen by lottery to receive this gift.

Let's take a look at each product!

How to Enter

／
フォロー&RTで#ニセコ町 のおいしい焼き菓子セットが当たる🎁
＼#ニセコ髙橋牧場 が2021年に始めたチョコレートブランド #CACAOCROWN の焼き菓子セットを #プレゼント ✨

▼応募方法
① @cfm_domingo をフォロー
②この投稿をRT or 引用RT

▼〆切
2/14(月)

▼詳細はhttps://t.co/q2PaM35v83

— Domingo(公式) | 市町村公認！北海道の情報メディア (@cfm_domingo) February 7, 2022