Opinion
The Swiss chocolate I always have to bring home with me
by Anika Schulz
Tokyo-style chocolate: Matcha doesn't make everything better
20.4.2026
Translation: machine translated
Sometimes one look is enough to know what you like. With the new Lindt chocolate, not even one bite is enough. It leaves me confused.
I admit it, I'm a fashion victim who has fallen for the matcha latte hype. The drink tastes good and wakes me up. What more could I want? There's just one problem: since the food industry discovered the trend in this country, the green tea powder has been added to everything that can be sold. It may look nice, but it doesn't make the food any tastier.
I am therefore not surprised that Lindt, after the Dubai-style chocolate, is venturing further east and coming around the corner with Tokyo-style chocolate. Although the Strawberry Matcha latte was created in San Francisco, Tokyo-style probably sounds a little more exciting than «USA-style».
Maybe the green chocolate will win me over and I'm wrong in my preconceptions. That's why, despite my scepticism, I'm daring to do the taste test.
White chocolate under a green cloak
I like the colour and the cream inside is visually reminiscent of Dubai-style chocolate. As does the consistency: soft filling with crunchy pieces, covered in a slightly crunchy shell.
On the palate, however, it goes in a completely different direction. Anyone expecting the grassy flavour that matcha is said to have will be disappointed. Even after several bites, I hardly notice it. This is probably because the green tea powder only makes up two per cent of the bar - which actually seems to be a high proportion in ready-made products. A slightly bitter note only remains on the finish - like tea that has been steeped for too long.
The strawberry flavour combined with the white chocolate dominates, reminding me of the strawberry Lindor balls. I like them, but others on the editorial team are bothered by the synthetic fruit flavour. The crunchy pieces in the soft filling are also delicious. They consist of almond slivers and genmai. The latter is a roasted rice that gives the Japanese green tea Genmaicha a roasted flavour like popcorn.
Sorry Matcha Strawberry Chocolate, our story ends here
Until the end, I can't decide whether I like the Tokyo-style chocolate. I like individual bites, but then it «gnüegeled» quickly. The literally bitter aftertaste didn't particularly appeal to me either and I made a rule for myself: If I'm going to eat something sweet, then it has to taste right. That's the end of this trend experiment for me.
In a nutshell
Little matcha, lots of marketing
Lindt promises a Tokyo feeling, but mainly delivers artificial strawberry, as matcha makes up just two per cent of the bar. The green tea only comes to the fore in the bitter finish. The almond and genmai pieces in the crunchy filling are delicious, but still don't make the green bar a high-flyer.
Pro
- Good, but synthetic fruit flavour
- Delicious crispy pieces
Contra
- Bitter aftertaste
Header image: Stefanie Lechthaler
Painting the walls just before handing over the flat? Making your own kimchi? Soldering a broken raclette oven? There's nothing you can't do yourself. Well, perhaps sometimes, but I'll definitely give it a try.
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