Cacao Kyo Senbei is a popular product that has sold more than 2,500 boxes at directly managed stores in the seven months since its launch in October 2022. The crispy and fragrant Kyo Senbei, kneaded with crunchy cacao husks and rich cacao powder, is filled with the sweet aroma of cacao when the seal is opened. The Cacao Kyo Senbei Matcha Cream Sandwich, which is now available as a limited edition product on the Omiyage Kaido, is a cacao-scented Kyo Senbei with a fluffy matcha cream sandwiched between the two, giving it a deep taste with the perfect combination of bitter green tea and the savory flavor of cacao.

Upcycling is the process of upgrading waste or unused products that would otherwise be thrown away into new products. Cacao Kyo Senbei uses cacao husks, which are not originally used in the process of making chocolate from cacao beans, at RAU, an original sweets brand located in the GOOD NATURE STATION. The brand finds value in the cacao husk, which makes up 30% of the cacao bean, and offers a souvenir that is both delicious and contributes to the reduction of waste.

［The GOOD CACAO series developed by GOOD NATURE MARKET is based on the concept of "Enjoying the entirety of cacao. The company's GOOD CACAO series is based on the concept of "tasting the whole cacao" and offers a variety of products that bring out the best of cacao. Retort curry, coffee, tea, and other products are all enhanced by the richness and aroma of cacao. Cacao Kyo Senbei and Cacao Kyo Senbei Green Tea Cream Sandwich were developed as the first souvenirs in the series. This is a new challenge, considering not only the appeal of cacao, but also Kyoto's unique flavor, longevity, and the ability to be dispersed.
Cacao, a cacao fairy born in Central and South America, appears on the packaging of all products. The design was created by Daisuke Hiratsuka of Arnico Design, who is involved in tool design, art direction, and illustration for numerous stores. The mysterious "Cacao-kun" has an underlying story: "He is solitary and blunt, but when he sees someone who is tired, he heals them with his fragrance. The playful design further enhances the appeal of the GOOD CACAO series.

Yoshikazu Yoshimura, the eighth generation owner of Kameya Ryouchou, a famous confectionery store in Kyoto with a history of over 200 years, and his wife, Yoriko, supervised the recipe for the Cacao Kyo Senbei series. The two have launched a new brand, Yoshimura Wagashiten, with the concept of "Kyoto sweets that are gentle on the soul," and have been creating new wagashi using natural sweeteners and ingredients derived from nature.
The Cacao Kyo Senbei series dares not to use eggs, so that the deliciousness of the ingredients stands out even more. Particular attention was paid to the ratio of matcha (powdered green tea) kneaded into the cream. After repeated trials, the savory aroma of cacao and the bitterness of matcha are both enjoyed.

The flour used for senbei is unbred ancient wheat, the original variety of common wheat. It has a unique savory flavor and is high in minerals and other nutrients. The matcha (powdered green tea) kneaded into the cream is authentic Kyoto-grown powdered green tea, which is used to make tea, giving it a rich and elegant taste. Organic shortening is used to make the cream fluffy and smooth. Each rice cracker is carefully baked by hand by artisans to create a crispy, crunchy, authentic taste. The Kakao Kyo Senbei Green Tea Cream Sandwich is a delicious and healthy cream sandwich.

The most common packaging for souvenir confections is a white box wrapped in wrapping paper, but Kakao Kyo Senbei Matcha Kurimu Sando has eco-friendly specifications. The box is made of warm cardboard, with the package printed directly on it, so there is no waste. The box can also be used as a pen case or accessory case after eating. The upcycling of cacao husks, which are an unused resource that would normally be thrown away, and the fact that these sweets are earth-friendly and generate as little waste as possible, make them a new souvenir from Kyoto, a city with a "spirit of pine trees.