Koikeya Savory Salt Potato Chips

At first glance these just look like plain potato chips, granted with 100% on the bag twice for whatever reason. However, these chips have their own Japanese touch to them in the form of an umami flavor consisting of bonito flakes, anchovies, and konbu (kelp). So basically land meets see, potatoes with a touch of the ocean's offerings. Guess I'll find out if that's a pleasant marriage.

Konnyaku Jelly Stick

When I saw this I was thinking "oh no just a jelly stick?" After all, I already tried those and this one doesn't even appear to have a flavor. Or does it? This one is unique in that it is not made with gelatin, but instead konnyaku, which is a gelatin-like substance made from the konjac plant, which is... a potato? This is weird. How does potato become jelly? I guess we'll find out.

I can already praise this jelly stick over the other ones because I was able to open it without getting my paws sticky! The strip was in a reasonable place this time, so good job. The sniff test results in a slight lime flavor, which makes sense because konnyaku is mixed with lime water in the process. But what is the flavor of this alone? Who knows. It does have zero calories, so maybe even nothing. I'm getting kind of a mint smell too, which worries me, because this pup does not like mint. Easiest way to have me tuck my tail in.

Already I can see this is different. It didn't spill anywhere because it is more solid than gelatin based jelly, I had to bit off a chunk instead of squeezing the whole thing into my mouth. But despite the smell, this really doesn't have a flavor. Or any sweetness. Why did someone make this again? I might as well be drinking water, or breathing. The texture isn't even that exciting. I have no idea why any person would ever buy this or enjoy this. It's not a terrible taste, it's just... nothing. I kept biting off jelly bits in hopes of having some flavor, but I really never got anything. Just a slight hint of the minty and lime-y smell. I'm utterly baffled. Konnyaku could have it's purpose as a flavor sponge, but by itself it's entirely a waste of your time. Silly humans, when we go on the hunt we never come back with flavorless food.

Rating: 1 - Awwwrrrr...

Black Thunder Kinako

Two Black Thunders in a row? Guess Japan Crate isn't too good at mixing up their candy month to month. Regardless I loved my first Black Thunder bar, and this one has an extra touch to it of kinako, which is a soybean flour. What would that make it taste like? No idea. But Japanese folks certainly know what to do with soybeans from my experience. Many times have I glazed a catch with miso. Mmm.

Appearance wise, it's the same. Smell wise there's definitely something different. A bit more of an earthy flavor I think? Not sure.

Tasting it I can see that the extra chocolate was instead subbed out for the soybean flour. It's a bit of a different taste than the other one. I like the original Black Thunder better because chocolate chocolate is always a pleasing combination and I don't get quite enough chocolate from this one, but it's still very good. The crunch is the best I've had of any chocolate bar and the added soybean flavor is interesting, but there's ultimately not enough of it in here to make up for the loss of extra chocolate.

Rating: 6 - Aruff!

Chocolate Banana

And here we have the simply named Chocolate Banana. I tried to find a brand name for this or something, but nothing. So I guess it'll be a mystery, and really sad if I end up liking it because I don't know where to order more. But here it is, the taste of this will certainly be an enigma because I don't think I've ever had a chocolate with a banana flavor.

You can see it here on the other side, they didn't quite go for the chocolate covered banana approach but instead chocolate slathered on one side, and with part of the peel included. So not very realistic, but it at least looks pretty. After opening it up, I can definitely smell the chocolate the most but there is definitely a hint of banana flavor here.

I take a bite of the exposed banana side first and it's quite good! I have ragged on artificial banana flavor before but it tastes alright with the chocolate, and there seem to be equal parts of both. The banana flavor provides sort of the creamy addition to the chocolate that has worked time and time again. Also the peel side doesn't taste any different, it's the same banana flavor, I mean good thing, who wants to bite into a banana peel? But overall the flavor combination works, I'm not sure it's special enough to seek out exclusively but it's a fun combination of candy flavors that ends up working quite well for a nice bit of sweetness.

Rating: 6 - Aruff!

Cabbage Taro, Okonomiyaki Sauce Flavor

Now not many people know this since I only blog about snacks, but I love Japanese food of all kinds, and have many an occasion snuck my way into Japanese restaurants to try some of their cooking. In particular the one thing that always made my mouth water was okonomiyaki. Cabbage on its own doesn't sound exciting, but when baked into a pancake it suddenly becomes the most delicious thing ever. Throw some meat on that and you got yourself a meal. I even managed to cook some of my own once for an alpha wolf and he loved it. What does that have to do with this snack? This is a puffed snack that is apparently flavored like cabbage, but doesn't actually have any cabbage in it, instead the rich flavors of okonomiyaki. If it's anything like the real deal, you can bet my tail will be wagging as I chow down on these.

January 2018 Japan Crate

New year, but more importantly, new month and new Japan Crate! This one is themed on Attack on Titan, and I have minimal knowledge on this manga so you'll won't hear any references from me. Besides based on the images, it looks really scary, doesn't it? But nevertheless, I am excited about a good few of the treats lying within. Here's what we have (in reading order from the left corners of the items):

• Potato Chips Salt and Hokkaido Konbu
• Uma Salt Potato Chips
• Bottle Sour, Cider Flavor
• Attack on Titan Collectible Download Card (not a candy but still there...)
• Chocolate Banana
• Maken Gummy Cola
• Big Bar Z Milk
• Onigiri Senbei
• Henshin! Transform Glasses
• Lemon Flavor Pocky Colorful Shower
• Konnyaku Jelly Stick
• Cabbage Taro
• Black Thunder Kinako
• Odangoyasan DIY Kit
• Gabunomi White Cola

While I'm a little disappointed that there's a card instead of more candy, that may be my stomach talking. I'm particularly excited about the DIY kit from this month, because it looks like there's a variety of fun things to make there, as well as the cabbage taro. Not sure what to expect from the Bottle Sour or the glasses, and there are some variations on things I have had before like the jelly stick and the Big Bar Z. Should be an interesting batch!

Tirol Choco Pack

I return! After enjoying the holidays with my pack, it's time to get to trying some candy again, and this time I've got a few things to try. I've heard of these Tirol chocolates for a while now but haven't gotten the chance to try them. Finally a pack appeared at my local Japanese market and I pounced on the opportunity. I love the square wrappers, when you put them together it looks like tiles! Not sure how to describe it, almost like a retro vibe. And I'm certainly excited to try the cookies & cream flavor, I love that Hershey's cookies and cream bar!