A Message from the Founder – A 13-Year Journey

Some things aren't great from the start.
It's just that because of a passion, you keep walking, and eventually, it becomes a journey.

Yikou Nama Chocolate didn't start in Shanghai,
nor did it begin with a single store,
but in 2012, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Back then, there was no brand, no factory,
and no grand ambitions.
It was simply a pure love for chocolate,
a desire to create a taste that would move people the moment it melted in their mouths.

We spent a long time
focusing on something that seemed very simple:
the balance of sweetness, silkiness, melting speed, and flavor.
This fine-tuning took thirteen years.

Some people asked why we took so long.
But I knew—
if it wasn't just right, it wouldn't move others, and it wouldn't be worth remembering.

Slowly, our flavors began to be noticed by more people.
From Bentong Ginger Dark Chocolate to Kumquat Sour Plum, Lychee Rose, Black Sesame—
these flavors carrying Eastern memories.
I didn't deliberately cater to the world;
I simply refined the flavors I was familiar with to perfection.

From 2019 to 2021,
we consecutively won awards at the International Chocolate Awards.
Judges from all over the world
began to remember these Eastern flavors.

When the pandemic hit, everything became uncertain.
But it was during that time
that we delivered Nama Chocolate, box by box, to more people—
over 500,000 boxes.
Each box was a trust placed in us.

In 2024, we made a decision:
to leave our familiar surroundings and start anew.
We chose Shanghai and officially named our brand "Yikou Nama Chocolate."

In 2025,
we won another award at the International Chocolate Awards with our "Ginger Red Date Vegan Dark Chocolate."
This time, it wasn't just an affirmation of our technique,
but also a moment when Eastern flavors were once again recognized by the world.

That winter, after a full year of preparation,
we launched the first batch of "Yikou Nama Chocolate" in Shanghai.
There was no widespread promotion, just limited production, made slowly.
What moved us most was that
many people would return after trying it once.
Over 40% repurchase rate
isn't just a number;
it means someone truly remembered that single bite.

From a home kitchen,
to a city,
and then starting anew in another place.
There were no shortcuts, no overnight successes.
There's only one thing that has never changed for us:
to make every bite perfect.

And now, we bring this perfect bite to Hong Kong.
This city moves very fast,
so fast that we often forget to pause for ourselves.

What we make is never just chocolate.
We want to be there for everyone who is still persevering—
you don't need to be perfect,
you just need to be treated gently.

If you're striving in an unfamiliar place,
if you're slowly building something of your own—
perhaps you'll understand:
some persistence isn't immediately seen.
But as long as it's genuine,
someday, someone will stop for it.

Yikou Nama Chocolate
is a journey of thirteen years.
Thank you for stopping to savor this bite.