Tokyo chocolate maker that stood up to Godiva teams up with McDonald’s for Black Thunder McFlurry

Defender of Japan’s “obligation chocolate” culture tempts us with another cheap yet awesome dessert.

Last February, Belgian confectioner Godiva’s Japanese division took out a full-page ad in Japan’s most prestigious newspaper to ask the country to stop its long-standing tradition of “obligation chocolate,” in which Japanese women give gifts of chocolate to male acquaintances on Valentine’s Day as an all-purpose thanks for favors and kindness during the past year. Godiva was polite but firm in its condemnation of the practice (which also carried the subtle implication that shoppers should instead be concentrating their expenditures on premium-priced chocolates for people they have a more intimate relationship with).

This prompted Tokyo-based Yuraku Confectionery to fire back its own cordial yet assertive rebuttal. Yuraku is the maker of Black Thunder, an inexpensive but much-loved bite-sized morsel of chocolate-covered cocoa cookie bits. Black Thunder has long marketed itself as the perfect obligation chocolate, since it’s budget-friendly yet always appreciated, and Yuraku’s message boiled down to gently telling Godiva to get off the backs of those Japanese women who genuinely want to say thank-you to male friends and coworkers with some tasty snacks.

This month, Black Thunder continues its role as a delicious yet unassuming treat by partnering with McDonald’s with the Black Thunder McFlurry.

▼ Part of what makes Black Thunder so good is its perfectly balanced texture, which is crisp yet never unpleasantly hard, and this should also make it an outstanding ice cream mix-in.

This is actually a repeat appearance for the Black Thunder McFlurry, which was also offered in 2017. The dessert item made its triumphant return to McDonald’s menus on August 1, and will only be around for a limited time. How limited? Well, that depends on how many people eat it, since McDonald’s says it will be serving a total of eight million Black Thunder McFlurries.

That might sound like a lot, but that works out to less than one McFLurry for each person living in Tokyo, so you’ll want to act fast if you want the Black Thunder McFlurry to strike your taste buds with its special sweetness. Thankfully, at just 290 yen (US$2.60), the Black Thunder McFlurry continues the affordability of its inspiration, so there’s no need to hesitate for financial reasons.

Source: McDonald’s (1, 2)
Top image: McDonald’s
Insert images: McDonald’s

Credit: