Japanese convenience stores, affectionately known as “kombini,” are offering yet another special sweet experience. Natural Lawson, a Japanese convenience store known for its health-conscious product lineup, will begin selling the “Cacao Baum,” an original Baumkuchen from the Yokohama-based craft chocolate specialty shop VANILLABEANS, starting Tuesday, December 2, 2025. This is a rare opportunity to easily enjoy the authentic taste of a specialty shop at your local convenience store.
The “Cacao Baum”: Crafted with the Dedication of a Specialty Shop
The “Cacao Baum” being released is a baked confection lavishly made with special chocolate, a product in which VANILLABEANS has absolute confidence in its quality. Baumkuchen is a baked cake originating from Germany, characterized by its resemblance to the rings of a tree. In Japan, it is also extremely popular as a celebratory gift.
For this product, VANILLABEANS has chosen a chocolate made from a unique blend of cacao beans from Ghana and Ecuador. This chocolate is generously kneaded into the batter and baked layer by layer with great care. It is finished with a topping of house-roasted cacao nibs. Cacao nibs are roasted and crushed cacao beans, known for their nut-like texture and the inherently bittersweet flavor of cacao. This allows you to simultaneously enjoy the deep richness of the chocolate and the accent of a fragrant texture.
The “Cacao Baum” is priced at 1,728 yen (tax included). A small amount of liquor is used for aroma, and it also contains honey, so care should be taken not to give it to infants under one year of age.
It will be sold at Natural Lawson stores in the Tokyo metropolitan area and will be available in limited quantities. This Baumkuchen is already a popular item at the VANILLABEANS flagship store in Minato Mirai, so if you see it, be sure to pick one up.
A Special Flavor Born from the Quest for Quality Ingredients
Behind this special flavor lies the VANILLABEANS “Bean to Bar” philosophy. This is a style where the company handles every step of the process in-house, from selecting and roasting the cacao beans to processing them into chocolate and, finally, creating the sweets.
After sourcing beans from cacao farms around the world and going through countless trials, they arrived at an original blend of aromatic Ecuadorian cacao and rich Ghanaian cacao. This exquisite balance gives the “Cacao Baum” a pleasant flavor and deep taste unlike any other.
Natural Lawson: The Convenience Store That’s Kind to Mind and Body
Natural Lawson, the chosen venue for this sale, is a store with a slightly special concept developed by the major Japanese convenience store chain “Lawson.” Since opening its first store in Jiyugaoka, Tokyo, in 2001, it has continued to offer products that support both the mind and body of its customers under the theme of “beauty and health.”
Inside the stores, you’ll find bento boxes and onigiri (rice balls) made with health in mind, as well as desserts made from carefully selected ingredients. This product lineup, which sets it apart from typical convenience stores, has garnered strong support from people who are particular about their health and lifestyle. Its development of environmentally friendly products is also a key feature, and this collaboration with VANILLABEANS can be said to be an initiative that truly symbolizes the Natural Lawson concept.
From Yokohama to the World: Sustainable Chocolate Making
VANILLABEANS is a craft chocolate specialty shop from Yokohama that started as an online shop in 2000. Today, it operates multiple physical stores with attached cafes, primarily in the Minato Mirai area of Yokohama.
This brand values more than just deliciousness. It is also known for its long-standing commitment to sustainable initiatives. It has obtained international Fair Trade certification and introduced a system to support the livelihoods of its producers. Furthermore, in Ecuador, it is advancing the “Project to Grow a Cacao Forest Together,” carrying out cacao tree planting and cultivation support. These activities have been recognized, leading to a courtesy visit to the Embassy of Ecuador in Japan.
A culture of valuing the stories behind a cup of coffee or a piece of chocolate is gradually taking root in Japan. This “Cacao Baum” is a special sweet that allows you to savor the passion of its creators along with its taste. We hope you’ll experience this small luxury that can be found in a Japanese convenience store.
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