North Korea Promotes "Fava Bean" Chocolate as Breakthrough, But Is It Truly New?

North Korea has launched a major promotional campaign, claiming it has developed and patented a technology to produce chocolate using domestic "beans."

The Choson Sinbo, a newspaper affiliated with the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, reported today (June 22) that North Korea, facing difficulties in securing raw materials due to international sanctions, has developed a method to make chocolate using domestic "beans" as the main ingredient instead of traditional cocoa. The report claims the product is gaining popularity among residents.

The newspaper stated that faculty and researchers at Ryanggang University of Industry processed "bora-kong" (the North Korean term for fava beans) to replace cocoa powder, the basic ingredient of chocolate, and produced a chocolate that is "nutritionally no different" from the conventional product.

It further quoted reactions, stating, "Those who tasted this product unanimously said it was truly amazing."

The newspaper also reported that North Korea has registered this technology as a patent. However, it has been confirmed that technology for manufacturing "alternative chocolate" using fava beans is already being commercialized overseas.

In 2024, foreign media reported that a British startup had developed technology to make alternative chocolate using fava beans and was subsequently acquired by a German food company.

The newspaper also released photos of North Korean residents smiling while tasting the product, which appears to look like ordinary chocolate.

It is reported that North Korean authorities explained the development was driven by recent supply shortages of raw materials, such as the soaring price of cacao due to the effects of climate change.

Reported by Kim Ji-wook | Video by Ahn Jun-hyeok | Graphics by Lee Soo-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.