With Valentine's Day fast approaching, we're entering a season of chocolate temptations. For those who crave chocolate but are concerned about consuming too many calories and sugar, we introduce some cutting-edge healthy chocolates discovered at the Salon du Chocolat, currently being held at Isetan Shinjuku.

Chocolate's raw ingredient, cacao, contains over 300 nutrients, primarily polyphenols, which suppress the activity of active oxygen. During the Mayan civilization, it was cherished as a precious ingredient and known as the "food of the gods." It's also rich in anandamide, known as the "happiness substance," and phenylethylamine, a substance released when one falls in love. It's said to be beneficial not only to the body but also to the mind.

Fascinated by cacao, Sumire Matsuda opened Japan's first raw chocolate specialty store, "Cacao Magic," in front of Ginkakuji Temple in Kyoto. Her raw chocolate, created by never heating it above 48°C, preserves the enzymes and nutrients inherent in food, similar to the raw food diet, which maximizes its effectiveness. Cacao Magic's raw chocolate is made using only organic raw cacao and natural sweeteners. The cacao beans are not roasted, and they are made using a unique method without dairy products, preservatives, or emulsifiers. "When I first tried raw cacao, I was blown away by how delicious it was. I opened a raw chocolate specialty store with the desire to share the true flavor of cacao with others. Cacao not only contains healthy nutrients, but also has a mood-boosting effect. I recommend chocolate when you're feeling down. While incorporating raw food into your diet can be difficult, I hope people will enjoy raw chocolate as a nutritious snack," says Matsuda. At the shop, you can experience each individual, handcrafted pure chocolate, including chocolate made with the trending ingredient maca and cacao, and "Dark Cacao Nibs," which contain crushed cacao nibs. Popular pastry chef Hironobu Tsujiguchi also offers a new chocolate supplement. This is a new chocolate concept that combines the power of cacao with theanine, a component found in tea. H. Chocolat Supplement, a new brand jointly developed by Chef Tsujiguchi and Juntendo University School of Medicine Professor Kobayashi Hiroyuki, debuted at the Salon du Chocolat in Paris in 2013. This event will be its first appearance in Japan. Theanine is an amino acid found in tea, and has been attracting attention in recent years as a relaxing ingredient. The chocolate supplement comes in four flavors: "Matcha," "Yuzu," "Milk," and "Dark," which has a moderate bitterness. Each chocolate contains approximately 500mg of theanine, the amount found in about 15 cups of gyokuro tea.

In addition, Chef Saegusa Shunsuke's Chocolatier Palet d'Or will be introducing "Chocolate that's Too Delicious for Your Body" (12 pieces, 2,100 yen), which is made from 100% cacao chocolate with swallow's nest and lactic acid bacteria added, and finished with healthy ingredients such as honey, soy milk, and sesame oil. The event will also feature cutting-edge healthy chocolates from around the world, including the French brand Jean-Michel Molterot, which uses no food additives and is committed to using only organic ingredients.