LeTAO is a patisserie famous for its confections made with ingredients from Hokkaido, including its renowned take-home cheesecake, the Double Fromage. We spoke with a public relations representative about the story of how LeTAO became such a popular patisserie, the secret history behind the development of the Double Fromage, and their top recommended sweets that you absolutely have to try.

While LeTAO is strongly associated with its rich and milky Double Fromage cheesecake, the company actually started as a chocolate factory. Later, in 1998, the LeTAO Main Store opened in Otaru City. Although they were confident in the taste of their products, a lack of brand recognition meant that sales were slow. This led them to start their unique "super tasting" service, a generous sampling style that continues to this day.

To ensure customers can make a purchase they won't regret, sales staff explain the value of each product while offering samples. This sales style allows customers to be fully convinced before buying. True to the "super" in its name, the store generously offers samples of many different kinds of cake.

The LeTAO Main Store, which opened in 1998 at the Marchen Crossroads in Sakaimachi, Otaru.

Still, sales struggled to stabilize. To gain recognition not just from tourists but also from locals, they started a free cake delivery service within Otaru City. "Otaru has many hills, and in winter, snow and ice can make it difficult for the elderly or those with mobility issues to go out. So, we decided to offer free delivery, even for a single 120-yen cream puff, and our customers were delighted," explained the PR representative. From an unknown patisserie, LeTAO gradually built its reputation, growing to the point where people would say, "When you think of Otaru, you think of LeTAO."

It's well-known that the name LeTAO is "Otaru" spelled backward, but there's more to it than that. It's also an acronym for the French phrase "La Tour Amitié Otaru," meaning "The Amiable Tower of Otaru." "We named it 'LeTAO' with the intention of becoming a beloved symbol of Otaru, cherished by the local people and everyone else."

With the motto "Create Passionate Fans," LeTAO has undertaken various initiatives, from its generous tastings to free delivery, all based on the principle of "if it makes our customers happy." The same philosophy applies to their confectionery. To win over as many fans as possible, they are constantly thinking, "How can we make it even more delicious tomorrow than it is today?" They never compromise, continuously pursuing better taste even for their hit products.

The café area on the second floor of the LeTAO Main Store.

Chocolate, cheese, fruits, nuts... Their search for the best ingredients starts in Hokkaido and extends across Japan and around the world. Their pastry chefs are so dedicated that they travel to the sources themselves, creating recipes while listening to the producers' stories.

"Is there a better ingredient? Is there a way to maximize the potential of the ingredients we have? Is the mixing method, baking process, and balance just right? It's not just the pastry chefs and factory managers who ask these questions—even our first-year staff are encouraged to think from a management perspective." This, she told us, is the LeTAO way.

Double Fromage: 2,376 yen

LeTAO's signature sweet is the Double Fromage, a dessert born from the encounter between LeTAO's original fresh cream, made from Hokkaido milk, and cheeses from around the world.

Initially, it was just one of the fresh cakes sold only at the Otaru store. However, a flood of requests from customers wanting to "take it home as a souvenir" or "have it shipped to my home" prompted the development of a freezing technology.

It was commonly believed that freezing cakes would ruin their flavor. LeTAO spent about five years developing its own unique freezing technology, revising freezing methods and ingredient formulas. By making it possible to ship the cake frozen, they were able to deliver it to many more people.

It's best to thaw it in the refrigerator for 5-8 hours. Eating it partially frozen is also recommended.

The key to the Double Fromage's deliciousness is said to be LeTAO's original fresh cream, made from fresh Hokkaido milk. They spent a long time finding the perfect balance: the natural flavor of Hokkaido milk, the pasteurization temperature to bring out its richness, and the ideal milk fat percentage to complement them. This journey led them to the fresh cream that defines the cake's taste.

Enhancing the flavor of the fresh cream are two types of cheese: Italian mascarpone and Australian cream cheese. The rich, high-fat mascarpone is used for the melt-in-your-mouth no-bake cheesecake layer, while the smooth cream cheese is used for the rich and moist baked cheesecake layer. The exquisite balance of these two cheesecake layers, combined with the fresh cream made from Hokkaido milk, creates a distinct milky flavor and a simple, timeless deliciousness.

At LeTAO stores in Hokkaido that handle fresh cakes, you can buy a non-frozen version of the Double Fromage. This fresh version is topped with individually piped fresh cream and enveloped in fluffy sponge crumbs, offering an even smoother, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Also, be sure to check out the seasonal flavors like Fraise Double, Melon Double, and Niagara Double when they appear.

The spring-exclusive "Fraise Double": 2,376 yen

Chocolat Double: 2,484 yen

For repeat fans of the Double Fromage and chocolate lovers, the Chocolat Double is a must-try. This two-layered cake features a rich baked chocolate cheesecake, which combines aromatic chocolate with cream cheese to enhance its flavor, topped with a milky mascarpone mousse.

It's an exquisite dessert where the deep, bittersweet notes of cacao harmonize with the mellow flavor of cheese.

Royale Montagne: From 1,188 yen

As mentioned earlier, LeTAO started as a chocolate factory and continues to focus on its chocolate sweets. Among them, the Royale Montagne is one of LeTAO's signature chocolates.

It melts smoothly at 21.9°C, releasing the fragrant aroma of Darjeeling tea throughout your mouth. The cacao beans are custom-blended to complement the Darjeeling. As it melts, its smooth, clinging texture allows you to fully experience the gorgeous fragrance of the tea.

Niagara Rare Chocolate: 1,188 yen

The "Niagara Rare Chocolate," a fresh chocolate made with LeTAO's special fresh cream, is another popular item. This treat combines chocolate with Niagara wine, a varietal with a robust flavor well-known in Hokkaido. It fills your mouth with a refreshing juiciness, as if you were biting into a real grape. You're sure to be surprised by the burst of fruitiness from a chocolate.

In Otaru and at New Chitose Airport, you can find "Nouvelle Vague LeTAO Chocolatier," LeTAO's specialty chocolate shop that offers their classic chocolates, limited-edition items, and take-out sweets. It might be fun to visit both the main store and the chocolatier.

Nouvelle Vague LeTAO Chocolatier Main Store in Otaru

※The information provided is current as of the article's publication date.
※Please check the official website for the latest information, as details may change.