Kakigori Ramune Candy

We've had our fill of popsicle candy in this TokyoTreat, and now it's time for another cooling summer treat in the form of shaved ice! This is always that thing that you find on a super hot festival day and then it becomes the most appealing thing in the world... and it's fairly hot now, so I come to this snack with the same request. It seems that it has a cooling sensation much like the popsicle kit, and I'm certainly ready to be cooled. Hopefully everything will gel with the strawberry and ramune flavors a little better this time.

The candy, as depicted on the package, comes in these tiny tablets, which is good because, while tiny, it ensures I'll think twice before eating them all at once. Or maybe not if they're amazing. Both have a sweet vibrant smell with their respective flavors shining through and have a chalky texture, as some of it rubs off on my paws.

I pop the strawberry one in my mouth and it has a very satisfying pop as I bite through it, and I get the cooling sensation that was promised to me. It's a bit different from a purely strawberry candy, the flavor definitely seems more like the strawberry syrup that comes out of those shaved ice machines, which means it's quite accurate, and the sweetness and cooling sensation skew it away from a purely strawberry flavor. This is not a bad thing, actually it's a pretty refreshing difference, and the cooling sensation is used very well here, not being overbearing or obscuring the flavor. I already feel a little more cooled down, as I start to pant less. The ramune flavor also provides some nice refreshment. It has the rare distinction from other ramune snacks of actually feeling like it quenches my thirst, in part because of the wonderful cooling feeling. This takes everything the popsicle snack tried to do and does it right, managing to capture all the sensations of shaved ice in one convenient candy. I should keep more of these around for the summer!

Rating: 9 - Arooooo!

Koikeya Scone Rich Corn Flavor

Normally this type of snack I'd pass over as disinteresting, but two aspects of this make me think otherwise. The first is that it's corn flavored, and while Japan is not known for corn they do great justice to corn in the snacks from them that I've had, whether it be the puffed corn umaibos or the Dos Tacos corn chips with a surprisingly rich corn flavor. Also the previous "scones" I had actually had the appearance of french fries but delivered a very nice flavor experience, so maybe the same will be true for this.

While not the most appetizing looking snacks, these scones like the last have a very appetizing corn flavor to them. The corn flavor is ever apparent, like the smell of freshly grilled corn, and it certainly makes my mouth water. I have never been a corn pup, always favoring rice or bread, but the true essence of it is brought out from this aroma.

Tasting it, I get even more of that. The flavor of the corn is accentuated so well by the nice helping of butter and salt here, I feel like I'm eating some of the best quality corn fresh from the fields, even though I'm from NorCal and not the midwest. The crunch alongside it is spectacular too, being so satisfying but not inhibiting any of the wonderful corn flavor. Definitely something I can't stop eating, and it's a shame because while they include so many in the bag, they're dwindling fast! But I just can't get enough of this, it tastes so fresh despite being a packaged snack. Whatever Japan found in making the perfect corn flavor, Mexico's got something to learn.

Rating: 9 - Arooooo!

Kit Kats - Wasabi, Sakura Nihonshu, Sakura and Roasted Soybean

Ever since I got my box of Kit Kats I've been fearing this day and alas it's finally here... the day I'm going to try the wasabi Kit Kat. I can stand some spicy foods, but the instant slap to your tastebuds that wasabi delivers can be a bit too much. I hope Kit Kat has realized this and dulls it down a bit, or maybe they'll go for the hyperrealism approach. If the worst-case scnario happens though, at least I'll get to cool down with some nice sakura flavors afterwards.

The wasabi Kit Kat seems benign from the outside, with its lovely light green color and creamy smell. But I'm not going to be deceived by that, no way. Wasabi itself has this same inviting color. I take a deep breath, and see if it's going to sting me the same way...

And surprisingly it doesn't burn at all. In fact the first thing I get is the creamy taste, which leaves me wondering if this is even the right Kit Kat. But then I get the taste. The familiar pungent taste that accompanied the quick fire that wasabi produces, but without any of the fire. How they did this I don't know, but it's a miracle and it's pretty wonderful. It's pleasant to eat and hides a complex flavor underneath it's simple creamy exterior. The Kit Kat creators must have been wizards to come up with this.

Rating: 9 - Arooooo!

Sriracha Rice Chips

 

Hmm, another box, another spicy snack. I do like sriracha, but in very small doses, as it packs nice flavor but also a ton of spiciness. Hopefully this one can do the same! The other ingredients listed on the package all sound like the components of a very nice rice bowl, although I had to look up what okara is (it's a type of flour). Sesame and soy beans and the pictured garlic and brown rice should also add a number of nice complementary flavors to this.

All looks good so far when I open the package. The crackers have both a nice appearance and smell. They're quite solid and have a varied texture, lots of little air bubbles, but can definitely see that they're baked perfectly and have lots of little sesame seeds in them, and a nice sriracha dusting. The smell brings to mind a lot of crispy rice snacks, with the nice accents of both sesame and spicy tomato-ey sriracha. Now I just have to hope it isn't too spicy!

The spiciness is definitely there but manageable, I'm certainly not rushing to lap up water. The first thing I notice though is the nice crunch as I break through the crispy rice layer. It's neither burdensome nor unsatisfying, and then my mouth is introduced to a wave of flavors straight out of a rice bowl. It almost feels like I'm eating just that, it's incredible just how realistic this is, and the nice aftertaste of that bowl lingers for a while. Even though I'm spice adverse, the spice here doesn't feel cheap either, it's a long lasting heat that adds to the flavor and doesn't cover it up. It also seems to taste a little nutty, and maybe that comes from the soybean flavor. All in all a really nice treat that's really representative of Asian cuisine!

Rating:  9 - Arooooo!

Senzu Bean Edamame Snack

 

Edamame is always a fun little Japanese snack. So much flavor from such a tiny bean, and it seems to come from the saltiness of the pod itself. It's quite a unique thing and I'm surprised it's not in more cuisines. I'm skeptical of this snack like I am many other salty snacks, but I hope this one manages to get the flavor just right. And then hopefully I'll be popping them in my mouth nonstop like edamame.

The snacks seem to be shaped to resemble an edamame pod, and they get the color right, although the shape could definitely be a little less rigid. They have a very salty smell as well, almost a little too salty, and then a smell that does resemble edamame but it's a little off. I can't tell what it is, it seems to lack depth.

One of the major differences from edamame right off the bat is the crunch. It certainly makes the whole snack taste a lot different from how I'm used to it. While the smell fell a little flat, the taste certainly has more depth. It's quite rich, earthy sweetness accented by a lot of saltiness but not drowned out by it, and I'm certainly popping quite a few in my mouth as I go. It actually manages to capture the feel of edamame well despite being a completely different texture. They did a great job here, and though it took some adjusting at first I'm impressed at the depth of flavor in this unassuming snack.

Rating: 9 - Arooooo!

Lotte Petit Choco Pie

Everything about these little pies looks so good! From the drizzling chocolate image, to the velvety cream within, to the scrumptious fluffy chocolate, there's a lot of excitement to be had. And as a party pack, there's 8 of them! Hopefully choco pies are every bit of the greatness that are pictured on their packaging.

The pies unfortunately are a bit smaller than I'd expect (they are "petit" after all), it still looks quite delicious, and very close to what it does on the cover. From one sniff I get both the chocolate which balances out sweet and chocolatey nicely, and the cream within, which doesn't always happen with filled snacks.

The textures are a mix of velvety softness. There's the outside with slightly more bite, then the inside chocolate which is softer and gets close to melting in your mouth, and then the cream filling which does melt in your mouth, drawing everything together with cream. It's basically reminiscent of a moon pie, which are also wonderful, and this doesn't fail to be the same. Everything is well done between the chocolate flavor and the cream, even the balance of flavors pans out where I don't get too much cream or too much chocolate. My biggest complaint is that these are way too small! I believe Lotte does make a larger version. As it is this one makes it so I'm going to go through the 8 included pies very quickly seeking even more chocolatey, creamy goodness.

Rating: 9 - Arooooo!

Tohato Shin-Chan Chocobi Almond Tofu Corn Puff

Haven't seen any Tohato products in a while! This one going along with the anime theme is from Shin Chan, which I've seen a lot of snacks from but never quite figured out what it was. But this snarling dino on the front might make me want to watch it??? I can't figure out if he's supposed to be cute or angry. Flavor wise I am confused at these being tofu flavored, but I guess almond tofu is quite a popular dessert in Japan, hopefully it's rich, crunchy, and nutty.

As a nice bonus, this comes with a sticker! Rather odd outfit, but nevertheless fun. The puffs are a white color which is a bit surprising, but they have a nice smell. I definitely get the almonds, and then the tofu seems to give it a light and creamy smell, like almond milk.

Tasting it, the puffed corn flavor which doesn't usually appear in the smell goes along quite well with the other flavors, giving substance to an otherwise exceptionally light combination. Everything blends together quite perfectly, and not one thing is overdone. I get plenty of almond, plenty of rich creamy tofu, and it's all great. Sweet but not too sweet. Definitely reminds me of a soft silky dessert, an incredibly comforting finish after lots of hard chomping work. So much so that I can't stop eating it, and then it becomes the main attraction! Too bad there's only so much of it.

Rating: 9 - Arooooo!

PeiTien Pumpkin Energy 99 Sticks

I'm really not sure what to expect from this one. In some places it's advertised as a pumpkin rice roll, in some as an "energy 99 stick". What could be hiding within? From what I can read, there's pumpkin, brown rice, corn, oatmeal, buckwheat, and mung beans, so this is truly a compilation of a ton of snack materials all into one healthy and energy-giving bar. All with the wonderful taste of pumpkin! Hopefully it'll give me enough energy to run around in the forests all day long and smile doing it with the great aftertaste of pumpkin.

I was initially expecting this to take on a granola bar-like appearance with all the grains featured on the package, but it seems instead everything is ground and blended together. Could be interesting, reminds me of an umaibo right of the bat but the smell is quite different. It has quite a granola bar-type smell, along with the expected pumpkin accent, and what reminds me of coffee? I expect no artificial flavors here with everything smelling very authentic. There's also a filling in the middle, which could be the pumpkin, especially with this advertised as a roll.

It's quite a mix of flavors. At first when I bite through the snack I get the crunch aand the puffed corn taste of an umaibo, but then in the middle comes the creamy texture of pumpkin. It reminds me a lot of the canned pumpkin, and absolutely not in a bad way. It's not overwhelming, but not lost either, it strikes a nice subtle balance. There is also more sweetness in the puffed corn part than I have come to expect which is nice. It's almost gone too quickly, I wanted more of it! It has a really nice light consistency with lots of nice flavors and a comforting feeling going for it. And tastes entirely natural so it's sure to be good for me too. I'm glad I jump on pumpkin things so quickly, as this proved to be quite rewarding!

Rating: 9 - Arooooo!

Afternoon Tea White Chocolate Milk Tea

I looooove milk tea. So when I saw a milk tea featured in this month's TokyoTreat I was definitely wagging my tail and running around in circles! And now it's time to try it. This is also white chocolate, which is a flavor I don't believe I've had with milk tea before, but it seems like it should blend perfectly, considering white chocolate in Japanese snacks is usually used to create a milky taste.

Unfortunately the bottle is a little smaller than some past drinks considering this little glass is the entirety of the drink! But no reason to fret over that, there's always more milk tea. It's surprisingly a brownish color despite being white chocolate milk tea, but in this case that's probably the color of the tea taking over. I'm not actually sure what kind of tea this is, maybe jasmine or black tea? Regardless it has a nice sweet, milky, earthy, and chocolate-y smell and I'm looking forward to trying it.

It's pretty satisfying to drink as I'd expect. I get milk as expected, then the robustness of the tea, which comes out very strong. The chocolate isn't the strongest flavor in the mix, which I actually quite like, as if it took over everything it would taste more like chocolate milk. In addition because it's white chocolate it blends more with the milk than clashing with it, while the tea flavor still gives it a little of the earthiness that the white chocolate needs. It's also surprisingly on the lighter side of sweetness, which is good considering it's meant to be afternoon tea, so not overbearing. I think it could stand to be a little more flavorful and maybe a thicker texture would do it wonders, but it's a very nice drink! I wouldn't mind more of these and less fizzy drinks in the boxes.

Rating: 9 - Arooooo!

Don Tacos Grilled Corn Flavor

What's this Mexican snack doing in my Japanese snack box??? Just kidding, the text confirms it's fully Japanese, but the title makes it sound like something else. I actually love Mexican food as well, might as well call me a Mexican wolf, but Japan definitely has the more inventive snacks. So much so that it seems they're doing it for the Mexicans now. No matter what the concept for this is or the culture I'm excited as grilled corn sounds like a great taste to make a savory snack from.

Of course the snack inside seems to be a direct copy of a Mexican snack too, the tortilla chip! I should've figured as a corn snack it might be this. The flavor, however, is different. I get a much sweeter smell from the box than your typical tortilla chip, it smells very buttery, just like the corn slathered with butter on the package. So this may be a different approach to the tortilla chip.

And as expected, the taste is sweeter too but it also tastes much more... authentic than your typical tortilla chip? Maybe this is because it's actually trying to capture the flavor of grilled corn. If not for the texture I'd think I was having corn nachos topped with butter and some cotija cheese. It's a nice blend of sweet and salty and buttery and well... corny... and there does seem to be a bit of a cheesy taste in there but I'm not quite sure. I quite like it, it has more flavor than your average tortilla chip. The original may blend better with salsa and queso, but this stands out very well on its own. But it certainly makes me worried for the future of Mexican cuisine... if Japanese snack makers are producing chips like these, will they eventually take over the entirety of Mexican cuisine? Not that I'd mind ramen burritos.

Rating: 9 - Arooooo!

Baby Bear Gummies

Gummy bears finally make their way into my grasp! For a while I'd think these aren't a thing in Japan, but they copy American snacks like the best of them. I do remember Haribo being mentioned in a manga, so clearly they have a presence in Japan. The question is whether they've elevated these to a whole level of flavor... they've at least elevated the cuteness level, that baby bear is so adorable!

There aren't many in here unfortunately (this is the whole package), but what's in here smells quite delightful. The sweetness makes its way all the way over to my nose from the package, and I can make out the individual flavors of strawberry, lemon, and orange quite clearly.

They're very chewy which is surprising, although actually a little less chewy than those. Nevertheless, the flavor lasts a long time and it's quite wonderful! The strawberry pops with so much vibrance and sweetness. It's really powerful for a tiny little gummy. The orange is very sweet and tangy and actually pretty natural tasting. And lastly, the lemon is a little sour and has a really nice, albeit artificial flavor. Why did this snack have to be the one with only 5 gummies, they're so good! I'll see if I can find a big bag of these, but for now these are bear-ly enough. Heh heh...

Rating: 9 - Arooooo!

Hokkaido Matcha Milk Candy

Multiple things about this candy seem pleasant to me. The pleasant pictures on the packaging of the farm and the high detail pic of matcha suggest a down-to-earth candy straight from the farm with no other complications. I even looked to see if Hokkaido was a farming region after I remember having other snacks with this mentioned, but nope, it's an island. Maybe an island with pretty good farms.

As expected, the candies come individually wrapped. The matcha candies are circular and have a nice varied texture and deep (but not too deep) green color. I can't get much of a smell from it but I also have a bit of a cold, so that could be inhibiting things.

Good thing cold doesn't inhibit taste, because I get the most wonderful matcha flavor putting this in my mouth. I think if this were just matcha it would be a little bit grating, but the milk component thankfully adds the needed base. I've tried putting matcha powder in milk before and had great results from it, but this basically simplifies the whole process of mixing them together and puts the two flavors together perfectly in one great candy. It's basically all I was looking for in this and a bit more, because it also lasts quite a long time! I feel like I'm in a matcha wonderland, laying and sniffing the matcha grass while watching the milk clouds go by. Mmm. Perfectly relaxing and chill, and as the farm packaging suggests, the core ingredients straight from the farm, and nothing more.

Rating: 9 - Arooooo!

Sankaku Crackers

Not exactly sure what these are, but at a price of 30 cents I couldn't go that wrong right? Okay so they're not a staple Japanese snack or anything, but Sankaku means triangle, so these are going to be triangle shaped, and have a vegetable flavor consisting of broccoli, tomato, and carrot if the package is any indication.

Already I'm liking the packaging of these crackers. They're in a plastic tray so there's no mess in my den and even quite neatly arranged for being jostled around in shipping. They also look quite delectable. Each one has horizontal marks as if they were cooked on a grill, and there is a nice brown on all the edges. I don't see too much of a trace of vegetables, but I do smell them. They're faint but I can pick out hints of each of them in the scent. Does that mean my sniffer is getting better, or that these are well made?

As it turns out they're quite well made. The texture is almost exactly like Ritz crackers - buttery and a crispy outer edge that then breaks away into flaky goodness as it dissolves. You don't taste the veggies at first, but then as the cracker goes down you can get all their flavors. It's subtle but a perfect match for all the other flavors, brings to mind a stir fry where they're covered in a buttery sauce. Really, I can't stop eating these, they have all the addictiveness of some of the best American crackers! While they don't need it, I can imagine putting them in some sort of dipping sauce to up the flavor and texture component even more. But I'm not sure what would be best... ranch? Tonkatsu? Who knows. But these are a steal and quite the surprise at only 30 cents!

Rating: 9 - Arooooo!

Lotte Barbapapa Custard Cake

You know me and pudding snacks. Just the sight of a picture of pudding, with the delicious eggy base and caramel coating gets my tail going and my maw drooling. And if you put this in a cake!? Well, this reminds me of a bread from Yakitate!! Japan which was a pudding-filled kouign amann, and I really wanted to bake it myself, but I couldn't find any recipe... maybe one day. But now I have this as a possible substitute! The cake could allow just the starchy base needed to complete the amazingness that is Japanese pudding.

One little unexpected touch with this box is there's a craft hidden inside! On the bottom you can cut out the pink blob-looking character and glue on some arms to have him hug whichever lucky pudding cake deserves his warmth. Of course all of them do because this stuff is bound to be really delicious, though I suppose he can hug all of them before they are ravenously consumed by me. Of course not the first one, because I'll end up flooding the den with drool if I have to wait that long.

Sakura Marshmallows

Haven't had marshmallows in a while! As some of you may know Japan has instilled a love for marshmallows in me I never knew I had, and while these ones aren't filled with anything the sight of marshmallows again is still enough to make my tail go whap-whap-whap. It's also the first time I've had something sakura flavored I believe, I believe I'm familiar with the cherry blossom smell but in food? Should be an experience.

 I love the shape of these! They seem to take on a sakura blossom shape of sorts which drives home the whole theme of the cherry blossoms blooming. It would be amazing to see that in person. The bag also definitely gives off the sakura smell, I'd describe it as a rose smell but less pungent and more sweet, and with a cherry accent. I'm not sure how it'll play out with marshmallows, but very excited to try them!

The sakura flavor in the marshmallows is quite subtle but it plays off the marshmallow taste and accents it in such a harmonious way. The little bit of flavor that regular marshmallows are lacking, these have. The marshmallows themselves are the perfect texture too! Really soft, but just enough bite to give them substance before they dissolve into a pool of cherry blossom ambrosia.

Tasting them makes me feel like I'm there, curled up under a sakura tree and petals fall onto my nose-ACHOO! Okay so maybe not all of it would be as pleasant as this marshmallow depicts. But there couldn't have been a more appropriate treat in this box - this is a great way to embrace the blossoming of all flowers, and they can even go well in hot chocolate, for when it's not quite warm enough yet for those spring months.

Rating: 9 - Arooooo!

Ginger Tea Hard Candy

This is the kinosei snack in this month's TokyoTreat and it unfortunately came a little late for me, as it's suppose to sooth throats, and I had a cold last weekend... But regardless, my throat could always use a little soothing. The flavor for this one worries me just a bit because ginger in the past has been a bit too strong for me at times, but maybe this candy will strike a nice balance.

Unexpectedly, the candy came invidually wrapped in these foil wrappers, which made it a bit difficult to open, but that also should be good since it helps them maintain their freshness. The candy itself looks really pretty. It's this slightly clear amber color and the most aesthetic rounding that a rectangle could have. No noticeable smell though, but that has been the case with hard candies before and hasn't affected the flavor.

The flavor thankfully isn't overbearing. It's actually quite pleasant - slightly sweet, it's almost like a warm ginger tea hug right by the fire.Everything about this flavor feels nice and gentle with a little bit of spice that only serves to emphasize the warmth and caring it seems to give. As time goes on that hug only seems to be warmer as more of the flavors release. And it really does feel soothing to the throat - as those flavors slide down, my throat gets clearer, as if the spicy was attacking all the gunk in it, and replacing it with the earthy taste of the tea.

The flavor doesn't ever really evolve into anything else, or have any change of texture, but it's nice and solidly comforting, and really doesn't need to be any thing else. While I doubt it would ever be a substitute for cough drops, this is a really nice way to soothe a throat that has taken a beating, and even without that this flavor is sweet, earthy, pleasant, a little spicy... All like a nice warm hug.

Rating: 9 - Arooooo!

Nyusankin Yogurt Strawberry Hard Candy

This was another bonus item provided by the wonderful folks at asianfoodgrocer.com, and look how cute it is! I hope I have that boy's face after I taste this. This seems to be quite a unique combination, as we have strawberry yogurt, but in hard candy form. I wonder how they'll make this work? It is also said to contain probiotic ingredients to help digestion, and I could definitely use that after today's feast...

The candies have a really nice color to them. It's like a pink pearl kind of color, nice circle shape with wider edges, looks very pretty and quaint. There's no smell to be found, but this tends to be the case with hard candies as all the flavor is contained within.

Kit Kats - Uji Matcha and Otono-no-Amasa

Technically both of these two are labeled Otono-no-Amasa (chocolate for adults), and so were the three I reviewed before, but the last one... doesn't seem to have any other label as far as I can tell. What I can assume is that it's some sort of upgraded kit kat for the more refined consumer, in this case tasting it with my unrefined puppy tastebuds should make it an extra good treat! Also in there is the Uji Matcha, in hindsight I should've tasted it alongside the normal matcha to compare but this is what we got now... if it's really different it should stand out on its own.

The coloring of this one looks mostly the same, maybe a little bit lighter than the other matcha, and gone are the speckles that were on the other one. I looked it up and Uji refers to a type of matcha that comes from a specific region. Maybe better quality? Who knows. As for the smell, it's a matcha smell alright, about as good as they come, not too overpowering.

Tasting this, I can definitely tell it's less bitter than the other one, which definitely makes this more mainstream-accessible, and I like it better too. As good as matcha is, to put it raw in this normally sweet wafer treat makes it out of place, so they got it right here. The matcha itself doesn't come out as strong, and I would like to taste it just a bit more, the sweetness masks it a little bit. But otherwise, comes closer to striking a nice balance, sweet but with that matcha taste I know and love.

Rating: 8 - Rowf!

Tirol Gelato Pack

I already know Tirol churns out some great concoctions, and who doesn't love gelato? A bunch of other Japanese snacks have done a great job replicating ice cream flavors so far, but gelato is a new avenue, as are some of these flavors. The three here are pistachio, milk, and mixed berry, all of which are very exciting flavors. But I got my nose on that pistachio.

Pistachio is up first, and it has a super interesting appearance and smell. Both are true to the nut: the chocolate is green with brown flaky bits mixed in, which creates a fine nutty texture. The smell is equally nutty, and actually quite strong!

The taste displays a little more depth, as it's very creamy, I guess to stay true to the gelato theme, and that balances out the nuttiness very well. No special filling on the inside, but it really doesn't need it, the combination of the nutty flavor and creaminess and crispy rice gives it everything it needs. It really is a great treat that manages to evolve the pistachio flavor into something more. I wish I had more of these, aruff!

Rating: 9 - Arooooo!

Kracie Popin Cookin Takoyaki

One of the Popin Cookin kits more focused on Japanese food, this one makes takoyaki, which are fried octopus balls. And it uses the microwave! Judging by how simple this one looks compared to the others, I think they will be going for accurate flavor recreation here, but I could always be wrong. Also like the ramen kit, it comes in a bag, not a box, so no serving mat, but not a problem because the circular mold can almost serve as that.

One thing that I haven't shown so far is the molds after I cut them, and I happened to cut them first this time, so here they are. It's cool that Kracie puts perforations in the molds to do this, stops everything from accidentally mixing together. Also only 4 packets this time, and one utensil, as well as the toothpick for eating.