If you have spent any time on Argentinian food TikTok, you have already seen the ritual. Someone opens a small tub, tips it upside down, and out fall a dozen little raspberry-shaped domes coated in glossy chocolate. That is Franui, and Argentina is genuinely obsessed with it.
Quick answer
Franui is a frozen Argentinian dessert made by Rapanui, a family confectioner based in Bariloche, Patagonia. Whole raspberries are dipped first in white chocolate, then again in either dark or milk chocolate, and served straight from the freezer. Each 150g tub holds roughly 25 to 30 pieces. Argentum stocks both the dark and milk versions in Sydney, delivered frozen alongside empanadas.
The short definition
Franui is a whole frozen raspberry double-coated in chocolate. First layer is white chocolate, which sets against the frozen berry and locks the fruit in. Second layer is either dark chocolate (55 percent cocoa) or milk chocolate, depending on which version you buy. The finished piece is about the size of a large marble and eaten cold, straight from the freezer.
The name is a slightly playful take on the Italian-sounding "frambuesa" (Spanish for raspberry). The brand behind it is Rapanui, a Patagonian chocolate maker that has been operating out of Bariloche and Buenos Aires since the 1990s.
Where it comes from
Bariloche sits in the Argentinian Lake District, in the northern edge of Patagonia. It is Argentina's chocolate capital, in the same way Belgium or Switzerland are in Europe. German and Swiss immigrants brought chocolate-making techniques with them in the early 20th century, and the town's cool climate made it a natural home for artisan confectioners.
Rapanui launched Franui in the mid-2000s. It started as a novelty in the Bariloche shopfront, then quietly became a national obsession over the next decade. By the time Argentinian food creators started posting it on Instagram and TikTok around 2020, it had already been in every self-respecting freezer in Buenos Aires for years.
What makes it different from a normal chocolate
Three things.
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The berry is frozen, whole, uncooked | You get the exact tartness of a fresh raspberry, not a jam or a compote. The freeze makes the fruit snap. |
| Two layers of chocolate | The white chocolate is soft and sweet against the cold fruit. The dark or milk shell is the crunch. Two textures per bite. |
| Served frozen | The chocolate shatters, the berry is icy, the flavour opens as it warms in your mouth. It is closer to a mini gelato than a chocolate bonbon. |
How it is made
Raspberries are harvested in Patagonia during the short southern summer (December to February), flash frozen at source, then trucked to the Rapanui factory. Each berry goes through two chocolate baths on a chilled conveyor, glazed one layer at a time so the coating stays glossy. The finished pieces are packed into small tubs and shipped frozen to distributors around the world.
Because everything happens below zero, the fruit never thaws. That is the whole point. If Franui ever fully defrosts and refreezes it loses the snap, so cold chain is everything.
The Instagram moment
Franui went from cult Argentinian product to global food-Instagram fixture around 2021. Food creators loved the visual: the little chocolate domes tumbling out of the tub, the shatter as you bit into one, the surprise raspberry inside. The Rapanui marketing team leaned in, and within two years Franui was on shelves in Spain, France, the UK, the US, and Australia.
Sydney caught the wave in 2024. By 2026 it is in Latin American delis across the city and in a handful of specialty retailers. Argentum was among the first Sydney food businesses to stock it directly alongside empanadas.
What Argentinians actually do with it
Franui is a dessert, but it is not usually served on a plate. In Buenos Aires it comes out of the freezer at the end of dinner, straight into a small glass bowl or wooden platter. People pick them up with their fingers. There is coffee on the side, or Malbec, or Fernet with coke if the night is going long.
Argentinians almost always finish an empanada dinner with Franui. The two things share the same freezer, the same after-work quick-dinner logic, and the same instinct that dessert should be small and shared, not big and plated.
Where to buy Franui in Sydney
Argentum stocks both versions in the online store, delivered frozen across Sydney metro alongside empanadas.
- Franui Dark. White chocolate under a dark chocolate shell. 150g tub, $12.
- Franui Milk. White chocolate under a milk chocolate shell. 150g tub, $12.
You can also find it at a small number of Latin American delis and specialty grocers in Sydney. If you want the reliable route: order it with empanadas, get everything delivered frozen, and skip the search. Argentum's minimum order is $48, and a Franui plus a 12-pack of empanadas already covers that.
What to drink with it
Three pairings that Argentinians reach for.
| Drink | Why |
|---|---|
| Malbec | The classic. Dark berry wine into dark berry chocolate. Slightly warm room, cold Franui, red wine already open on the table. |
| Espresso | After dinner. The espresso is hot, the Franui is frozen, the temperature swing is the whole point. |
| Fernet and coke | The Argentinian long-night drink. Herbal bitters plus cola plus frozen chocolate raspberry. Do not knock it until you have tried it. |
FAQ
Where does Franui come from?
Franui is made by Rapanui, a family-owned confectioner based in Bariloche in the Argentinian Patagonia. Rapanui has been making chocolate since the 1990s and launched Franui in the mid-2000s. All production still happens in Argentina.
Is Franui gluten-free?
Yes. Both the dark and milk versions of Franui are gluten-free. They are also suitable for vegetarians. The dark version is not vegan because the dark chocolate is layered over white chocolate, which contains dairy.
How do you eat Franui?
Straight from the freezer. Tip the tub into a small bowl and eat with your fingers. Do not defrost. If they sit at room temperature for more than about ten minutes the chocolate softens and the raspberry loses its snap.
How many pieces are in a tub?
Each 150g tub holds roughly 25 to 30 pieces, depending on the raspberry size. That is enough for four to six people as a shared after-dinner dessert.
What is the difference between Franui Dark and Franui Milk?
The white chocolate first layer is identical. The difference is the outer shell. Franui Dark uses a dark chocolate outer (around 55 percent cocoa), which balances the sweetness of the white chocolate and berry. Franui Milk uses a milk chocolate outer, which is softer, sweeter, and slightly more forgiving for kids and people who avoid dark chocolate.
Can I buy Franui in Sydney supermarkets?
Coverage in mainstream Australian supermarkets is limited and inconsistent. The reliable Sydney routes are online specialty retailers and Latin American delis. Argentum stocks both versions and delivers frozen across Sydney metro. Order with empanadas to hit the $48 minimum and get everything in one drop.
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