Packaging

Choco & Coffee has very elegant packaging, with a salmon and burgundy gradient and English script. The kanji is in small gold letters and offsets the colors of the pretty tarts pictured on the bag. Being able to see the product in one way or another is good, and Choco & Coffee tops that with not only displaying pictures of their product, but showcasing the product itself to boot. The elegance is marred, however by two incongruities: A yellow barn and silo sketched in as background plus a tacked on green wheat stamp in the lower corner. That’s just weak. Ignoring the barn is easy, but there’s no getting around that stylized green blob. Score: B+

Appearance

The tarts/cookies are dually wrapped. Each packet contains two thin, wafers filled with either chocolate or coffee flavored cream. The tarts are rather thin, but look good enough to serve at a tea party, fanned out on a pretty silver tray. Score: A

Texture

Choco & Coffee has good texture. A nice crispness of the wafer is followed by a smooth creaminess of the filling. The balance of mouthfeel is good. Score: A

Flavor

The first bite is a tad unexpected: The cookie is lightly sweetened and the coffee variety is slightly bitter, making for an un-cookie like experience. Although it’s light on the sugar, the cookie has a hint of butter. The chocolate and coffee fillings are creamy and are also very lightly sweetened. The coffee flavor, however, is robust and the chocolate is rich, but the minimal sweetness makes this treat a bit lacking.

After partaking of each cookie separately, I ate a coffee and a choco together, the way they’re packaged. The effect is tasty, but still not a full throttle dessert. Although the little “tarts” look like dessert waiting to happen, the experience doesn’t impart much of that feeling. Choco & Coffee doesn’t satisfy a sugar yen yet has a sophistication which I imagine speaks to mature Japanese. I don’t think these lil’ tarts would be a good accompaniment to bitter tea or coffee. Score: B-

Verdict

Choco & Coffee aren’t my idea of a cookie. They make an elegant dessert-esque display, while they have chocolate and coffee included in the ingredients, they just don’t fill that sugar craving. However, they do have a mature taste which may suit those pallets which prefer lightly sweetened treats. For me though, I’ll pass on these next time and reach for the Apollo instead.

There’s this weird phenomena in Japan that, for whatever reason, men can’t be seen eating unsanctioned “female” candy. They can’t grab a box of Milk Pocky or Strawberry YamYam and still be thought manly and mature. This is at least the impression I get from candy makers whenever I see “Men’s Pocky” or “Men’s Bitter Chocolate”. What the heck? Can’t men in Japan get their sugar on? Apparently, Japanese men can only eat candy that’s not too sweet nor too girlish. And the packaging must be manly and mature. Once again, this is my impression, but when I asked a male Japanese friend if my impression was correct, he said, “Usually.”

Another friend went back to Japan and brought me back this Kizami Cacao, by Morinaga. I like Morinaga. They’re not terribly inventive, but they do chocolate fairly well. So I wasn’t unhappy with my pal’s choice of native candy, he was after all, male, and men must buy candy approved by the Manly Board of Japan…

Packaging

The packaging is elegant, masculine even. The black and brown gradient background is set off by the minimal kanji and Engrish: “KIZAMI-CACAO is a real and rich taste bitter chocolate.” The product is prominently displayed life-sized in a corner. It’s a very attractive box, but the spiffy packaging doesn’t stop there. The inside is set up so the individually-wrapped chocalate wafers are handily displayed. Niiiiccce. Score: A+

Appearance

The chocolates are about an inch and a half long by one inch wide. Some manner of topping is sprinkled just below the surface of the chocolate. It’s an elegant touch. Score: A

Texture

These chocolates are super smooth without a lot of greasy mouth feel some chocolates have. The sprinkled bits are hard to identify at first but I discover they’re bits of even darker chocolate embedded within. They give Kizami some added crispness. The chocolates are already a tad crisp due to their wafer-thinness. Score: A

Flavor

Rich, but not cloying is the first impression I get from Kizami Cacao, then I’m socked with bitterness. They weren’t kidding when they labeled this stuff bitter chocolate. 63% cocoa equals really dark chocolate. Dark chocolate must have at least 35% cocoa solids to be dark and Kizami’s got almost double that. The touch of sweetness that makes this stuff “candy” finally makes an appearance and shows the bitterness to the door. My poor tongue is still numb from the first bitter chocolate I’ve eaten as I unwrap a second piece. As a dark chocolate, this is a decent candy, but it’s almost too bitter to be enjoyable. Remember, if you’re a man, you can’t enjoy your chocolate! Score: B

Verdict

Kizami Cacao is definitely a chocolate marketed towards men, but there’s no reason anyone can’t savor the bitter taste of quality chocolate. If they like really, bitter, tongue numbing chocolate, that is.

Pizza Beans seem like a bad idea. A dichotomy exists between beans (healthy and nutritious) and pizza (delicious and lard-inducing) which seems too insurmountable to overcome. Kasugai already has snacks similar to this, though.

Kasugai Pizza Beans!

Wasabi peas, fried broad beans, and coated peanuts are among Kasugais savory offerings. All three have a tasty, crisp coating which is flavored or plain. Never before, however, was pizza used as a flavor in the coating.

Not only has Kasugai created a new taste sensation, they’ve attempted to merge two opposites together! How has Kasugai done this? What diabolical deliciousness (or not) awaits me in this bag? Let’s get this Pizza Bean party underway!

Packaging

Mega points on the packaging. First off, there’s a giant slice of meaty, greasy pizza, oozing with cheese right at the top of the bag. The flavor within must be hardcore pizza for the company to boldly slap a photo of it on their packaging. The picture dissolves into a darker gradient emblazoned with kanji. Immediately below the writing is a green banner declaring “Pizza Beans With Beer or Wine“. Thanks Kasugai.

Now I know what to munch on when I’m throwing back a few bottles of merlot ^_^. I’m also informed of these beanies’ pizza bend by “Pizza taste of rich flavor“. Seriously though, the design is colorful, artfully arranged and highly informative. I know exactly what I’m getting and how it’s supposed to taste. Even if the beans taste like crap, the packaging did its job; I bought ‘em cause the bag was so attractive. Score: A+

Appearance

Far from looking like beans, Pizza Beans look like flat pebbles covered in cheese. It’s an interesting effect. Score: A

Taste the pizza flavor!

Texture

These beans have a helluva crunch. The outer coating smacks the mouth around first, followed by the satisfying crunch of the “roasted” (read as “fried”) beans. It’s the perfect amount of texture with zero greasy feel. Unlike other fried, flavored snack foods, these lil’ treats don’t leave much on the hands in the way of powder and oil. Very satisfying. Score: A+

Flavor

I expected to be greeted with the smell of pizza after opening the bag, but there’s nothing but a slight scent of old socks and seaweed. The taste however is actually kinda pizza-y. Pizza Beans have a subtle, mature flavor which hints at pizza. The first flavor to hit is the tang of cheddar cheese, followed by a hint of sugar and herbs/spices, then finishes off with some heat and pepper. The coating adds a bit of a wheat note, giving the vague impression of pizza crust. It’s not bad, not exactly pizza, but a fair attempt thereof.

I wouldn’t immediately say these beans taste like “PIZZA”, but they do taste cheesy, tangy, and wheat-y, all of which are characteristic of pizza. If anything, Pizza Beans taste a lot like cheddar Combos with some zest. Not a bad thing, and slightly healthier than the Combos.  Score: A

The Verdict

I highly recommend trying these beans. You’ll never know they’re beans and you’ll get taste and texture which beats any Western junk food, hands down.

Arare (hail stones) are made with glutinous rice (mochi kome). They can be either fried or baked, and have a crunchier texture than senbei. I like arare since they’re smaller than senbei and seem to come in more flavors as well. This particular snack, Tsuna Age Arare, is tare, “dressing” flavor.

Bon Chi Corporation is the manufacturer of today’s snack and they make all manner of senbei and arare.

Packaging

Great packaging for this snack. The green is appealing as is the bold kanji and equally bold romanji. The contrast in colors and reflective textures made this bag eye-catching in a sea of other Asian snacks. The actual arare are proudly displayed on the front and the back gives a brief description of the contents: “Japanese crispy snack. Dressing and salty taste. Good quality.” I like it when I’m informed how a particular food will taste. Score: A+

Appearance

Tsuna means “rope” and Age means “fried” in Japanese, it’s a fitting description for a snack that looks like twisted bits of deep-fried rope. The matte texture is a departure from the shiny sugar and shoyu glaze many rice crakers sport. Score: B

Texture

Tsuna age arare has a truly gratifying crunch. However, the crunch quickly melts way and becomes a greasy paste. These arare are definitely different than other rice crackers; they’re really greasy and oily. The oil sticks to the back of the throat and is too cloying. It’s actually disgusting how oily these crackers are.

One of the main reasons I like Japanese snacks is because the majority of them have a light taste and texture, even in the instances they’re fried. The grease in these rice crackers is a major turn off. I keep having to clear my throat or drink hot tea to get the oil out. My hands are also greasy. Gross. This is an unexpected find in a Japanese snack and very, very unwelcome. Score: F

Flavor

Dressing? Tare? These are supposed to taste like dressing? I wasn’t expecting a Catalina salad dressing flavor, but I was expecting some sort of vinegary tang. I’ve made many tare (dressings) and they utilize vinegars, miso, sesame, ginger and shoyu. Tuna age doesn’t even come close to any of those. One of the ingredients is vinegar powder, but it’s the seventh one listed. Vegetable oil is number two on the ingredient list. Oil wins over vinegar in this round.

These lil’ nasties remind me strongly of the American snack, Bugles. They taste like greasy, deep fried corn snacks, but there’s no corn in tsuna age. So there’s vinegar, but I can’t taste it, and there’s no corn and yet I taste corn…Score: F

Verdict

I’m very unhappy with this Japanese snack. It’s disgusting and nasty. This Japanese cracker is just like many American junk foods, right down to the grease and lack of sophisticated flavor. Even prior arare, which have let me down in the flavor department are way, way better than this. I’d rather eat shoyu and sugar then these icky deep fried concoctions.

I’ve wanted to try the pumpkin Pocky ever since I discovered it on the Pocky Gallery two years ago. I silently craved to try this Pocky, only voicing my desire twice. But apparently, someone was listening, and that someone was David. He found “Lovely Halloween” at our local Chinese grocery, of all places. The expiration date isn’t for another year, so I’m not minding this late Halloween treat!

Those unfamiliar with Pocky need only know this: Pocky are cracker sticks dipped in a wide variety of sweet flavorings. These coatings range from authentic Japanese flavors such as kinako, to “odd” flavors such as honeydew, to international ones such as chocolate mousse.

There’s nothing exceptionally spectacular about Pocky besides the interesting variety it comes in. The Decorer varieties are a real treat, however, as this line of Pocky is loaded with thick layers of creamy goodness, and look like cupcakes on sticks.

Trying each variety to taste how well Glico captured the essence of the flavor is the real reason I eat Pocky. Plus the crunch from the cookie/ cracker gives me my texture fix.

Packaging

What clever marketing! Glico took flavors already in their Pocky lineup, and with some creative packaging, transformed them into seasonal sellers! “Lovely Halloween” is what this variety pack was dubbed. The graphics are attractive and beautifully rendered with appealing shades. The strawberry Pocky sports an ichigo jack o’ lantern wearing a witch’s hat, the milk Pocky has a weird marshmallow-o’-lantern-ghost thing, and the pumpkin displays a standard American jack o’ lantern.

Pumpkins, stars, and bats adorn the box on all sides. On the back, there’s even an instant costume in the way of an ichigo o’ lantern mask for kids. Kawaii! Score: A

Appearance

Most Pocky look underwhelming; they resemble edible sparklers or incense. The Decorer (which this particular line-up isn’t) are impressive looking things.

Lovely Halloween is made up of pale orange, white covered, and pink coated cracker sticks. Whoop-de doo. Score: B+

Texture

Pocky has a satisfying crunch tempered by a sweet, creamy coating. They’re fun to eat on the go and are a real pleaser in the texture department. Score: A

Flavor

Pumpkin: What a gyp! Here I was all set to experience pumpkin goodness, but all I got was caramel! Not even kabocha, caramel. Weak. I keep waiting for some hint of pumpkin, or even pumpkin pie spice, but all that’s coming through is caramel. It’s not an unpleasant flavor, but it sure as hell isn’t pumpkin.

Why advertise this as pumpkin then??! There’s a frick’n jack o’ lantern on the box with the word “pumpkin” over it. Am I wrong to expect pumpkin? Maybe the makers of pumpkin Pocky believe American pumpkins (especially Halloween pumpkins) taste like caramel. I can’t think of a better reason for why I was so painfully cheated outta actual pumpkin flavor!!!

However, as a flavor in itself, the caramel for “pumpkin” is smooth without a bite and is not overly sweet. It’s actually tasty, but the bitterness of my pumpkin let-down makes the caramel taste like ashes in my mouth. Score: B

Milk: “Milk” reminds me of “Werther’s” toffee for some reason. It’s good and has a rich creamy taste. Score: A

Strawberry: Strawberry has a full, creamy taste and tastes like a strawberry milkshake. Strawberry milkshakes on sticks; the way of the future? Score: A

Verdict

The packaging for this variety pack makes this a visually appealing product, and at $3.60 for four packs of Pocky, this is a steal. But, don’t expect to be wowed by the flavors, all of which are available as individual flavors year round. If anything, buy “Lovely Halloween” for its aesthetics and the free strawberry witch jack o’ lantern mask.

Mitsuya Cider promises that it’ll taste like cider, at least, that’s what I got from the packaging. “Cider” is not a flavor I see often in hard candy, and Japanese hard candy hasn’t been as disappointing as Western hard candy-at least the Japanese candy I’ve tried so far.

The people who make Mitsuya Cider, Asahi, are part of the same giant mega-corp who manufacture alcoholic beverages, pharmaceuticals, and soft drinks. It would make sense for a huge beverage company to make candy modeled after their own drinks. Mitsuya Cider is an Asahi beverage, which is said to taste like “Sprite”. Mitsuya Cider is also available in white peach, grape, lemon and mikan (orange).

Packaging

The bag has bold fonts, which make it easy to read the giant English words on the front. Good use of colors and transparent materials add interest to the packaging. The apple on the front is further proof the candy is of the apple cider variety. Three balls on the packaging display the candies inside, which are individually packaged.

Each candy is individually wrapped and labeled according to flavor. Interestingly, there are two “cider” flavors, making a total of four flavors, despite the packaging on the front. Bonus flavor? One packet is green and simply says “Mitsuya Cider” and the other is yellow, sports an apple and also reads “Mitsuya Cider”. So which one is cider? And why bother calling both cider, since cider is made from apples and only one packet has an apple? I’ll bet the one with the apple is the apple cider…
Score: A

Appearance

Hard candy only works for me if it’s in ball form. Mitsuya Cider are nickel-sized balls with a satiny sheen. The pastel colors of pink, white, buttercup and peach are attractive matches for the satin glossiness.
Score: A

Texture

Mitsuya Cider takes a page from its beverage pedigree and fizzes in a subtle manner as it dissolves. The effervescence isn’t a violent action, but a steady, pleasant tingling that accompanies the flavor. It’s definitely carbonated in texture (if carbonated can even be described as texture) and is enjoyable. Crunching down on the candy is like crunching on any other hard candy except with a bit more fizz and a quicker dissolve of the candy.
Score: A+

Flavor

Cider rocks. I love apple cider, but I can’t really say that the cider (sans apple) variety of this candy actually tastes like apple cider. “Cider”, without the apple, tastes more like “Sprite”, which is what the beverage the candy is based off is supposed to taste like.

If the candy was to taste like the beverage; mission accomplished. However, if “cider” was supposed to taste like apple cider; fail. “Cider” is still an excellent flavor, as it’s lively, bright and all together refreshing. But, no dice on the apple cider flavor.
Score: A

The cider flavor with the apple on the packaging gets close to tasting like apple cider, but not close enough for me. This cider’s flavor is a light apple, which doesn’t equate with cider. Cider has a deeper and duskier apple flavor. This flavor is more like sparkling apple juice instead of apple cider. Good flavor, but it’s not apple cider.
Score: A-

The peach is another bright flavor and has a crisp taste. It’s very full and reminds me of a warm summer breeze. Americans don’t have any famous, mainstream peach flavored soda to equate the flavor to, but this candy is very tasty and light.
Score: A+

“Grape” is like sipping grape soda. It has that fake grape soda tang which harkens back to my youth, when we kids would pop open a can of Vess grape soda while on picnics. Grape is intense and it really tastes just like grape soda. Mmmm, fake grape…
Score: A

The Verdict

Mitsuya Cider is the tastiest hard candy I’ve tried in a long time. The flavors are all delicious and the fizziness makes them a joy to eat. I highly recommend this candy. At $2.99, you get all the flavor of four tasty sodas without all the sugar.

Meiji is one of the big Japanese candy companies; up there with Glico, Kasugai, and Morinaga. They’re the creators of such famous candies as “Poifull” jelly beans and “Black” chocolate. Meiji is also the maker of the adorable, chocolate-topped, mushroom-shaped crackers, “Kinoko Chocolate”.

Today’s offerings are:

• Apollo Chocolate
• Choco Baby
• Coffee Beat
• Hi-Lemon Candy Tablet
• Yogurt Candy Tablet
• Marble: Chocolate
• Marble: Strawberry
• Poifull

Since there’s a lot to review, let’s get down to it!

Apollo Chocolate

Meiji has always had good design sense in regards to how their products look and these candies are no exception. Every one of these samples is a mini version of their originals and sport the same colors and designs on the packaging. Each box has a cutesy animal mascot pimping the product.

Packaging:
Apollo Chocolate has a smiling strawberry bunny with choco-dipped ears on the front, offering the consumer a strawberry. Good colors and design usage. Way to go Apollo bunny!
Score: A+

Appearance:
These lil’ candies are miniature versions of the original Apollo Chocolates-so named for their resemblance to the spacecraft of yore. They also look like candy versions of the famous Rocket Pops, also of yore. As minis, Apollo Chocolates are adorable and easy to eat by the handful.
Score: A+

Texture:
Apollo Chocolate, Apollo for short, has great texture. The ridged exterior gives the candy an extra “oomph” in the crunch department.
Score: A+

Flavor:
The chocolate itself is smooth and has a rich chocolate/ strawberry flavor. These guys are excellent!
Score: A+

Apollo Chocolate: A+

choco baby

Packaging:
The colors are compelling and the bear is sorta cute. But maybe it wasn’t such a keen design choice to put a picture of the product on the packaging; especially since the product looks like a cross between goat turds and feed pellets. At least the bear seems excited about the way they look.
Score: B-

Appearance:
Choco Babies don’t look appealing at all, since they resemble something I would avoid stepping in.
Score: B-

Texture:
The size of the candy is perfect to give added texture to what would be a block of chocolate. They have a crunch, because of their design, which adds interest to the candy.
Score: A

Flavor:
Rich and smooth are what I would say about the chocolate. Choco Baby has an almost nutty flavor, but not quite.
Score: A+

Choco Baby: B+

Coffee Beat

Packaging:
Sepia and warm brown tones make the packaging for Coffee Beat a winner. Coffee bean stencils inform the consumer Meiji means business about the coffee flavor. The blue mouse dancing on the front looks like he drank one cup of java too many…
Score: A

Appearance:
Damned if these don’t look exactly like chocolate covered espresso beans. Meiji really means business about the coffee flavor!
Score: A+

Texture:
If I didn’t know these weren’t chocolate covered espresso beans, I would swear by their crunchy texture they were. Coffee Beat has a layer of medium-hard chocolate candy-coating surrounding slightly softer chocolate.
Score: A+

Flavor:
These beans have an unbeatable combination of chocolate and coffee. The coffee flavor is strong and authentic mixed with the rich chocolate. Coffee Beat tastes exactly like- you guessed it-chocolate covered espresso beans!
Score: A+

Coffee Beat: A+

Hi-Lemon and Yogurt Candy Tablet

Packaging:
The packaging for both seems looks like it came from the 1950s era by the colors and style. The lemons and bowl of yogurt(?) in the corner tell the buyer that this product uses lemons and a bowl of white stuff in some fashion. Each box features a strange, little lemon/ yogurt alien mascot thing. Hi-Lemon’s alien is holding a deformed lemon as a sign it comes in peace, while Yogurt- who looks like it partied way too hard the night before- is holding a jug of yogurt.
Score: B

Appearance:
Hi-Lemon is pale buttercup yellow and Yogurt is a shiny white. They look like any other shiny, candy-coated, round tablet candy and aren’t remarkable.
Score: B

Texture:
Both candies’ outer candy shell is almost too hard. After biting into one, I thought I made a mistake in thinking the candy was chewable. Hi-Lemon isn’t a hard candy, but I initially thought it was. Inside the tough exterior is a mealy bit of powdery candy which dissolves on the tongue.
Score: C+

Flavor:
Hi-Lemon’s strong lemon flavor, which instantly dissipates, reminds me of candy-coated SmartiesTM. It’s not a bad flavor but the texture is off-putting.
Score: B+

Yogurt has an interesting, tart flavor which doesn’t taste remotely like yogurt, until it dissipates. Then, the tang on the back of the tongue says “Hey, this kinda tastes like yogurt, FYI.” Yogurt is a good flavor, but not one that makes me think of actual yogurt.
Score: B

Hi-Lemon and Yogurt Candy Tablet: B

Marble: Chocolate and Strawberry

Packaging:
Both varieties of Meiji’s candy-coated chocolates are packaged similarly with minor differences. The font is well done in a rainbow gradient which adds to the visual appeal. I’m confused as to why there’s English on these boxes. A parade of critters celebrate Marble-written in English- by playing instruments.
Score: A+

Appearance:
There’s nothing special about round, candy-coated chocolate. In fact, they look just like M&M’s, but without the “m”. Marble does contain interesting colors and the Chocolate colors differ slightly from the Strawberry ones.
Score: B+

Texture:
Marble has a good amount of crunch due to the candy-coating, more so than the M&M’s™ they resemble. The chocolate is dense but smooth in the center, adding further texture.
Score: B+

Flavor:
The chocolate flavor is good but not as good as Choco Baby. The strawberry has a strong strawberry flavor, which dissipates quickly.
Score: B

Marble: A-

poifull

Packaging:
Happy, happy, happy!! Is the message I’m getting from these cheery colors. The product is once again featured on the packaging-good job- and various fruits declare this to be a fruity candy. A guilty looking beaver on the packaging seems to be hiding something. Did that beaver eat all my Poifull?!
Score: A+

Appearance:
Poifull look like translucent, elongated jelly beans. All the beans are soft pastel hues representing the flavors: yuzu (which tastes like grapefruit), muscat (grape), apple, and green grape.
Score: A

Texture:
This candy is much chewier than American jelly beans, with a slightly harder exterior.
Score: A

Flavor:
Poifull have a very strong flavor. They taste almost as if they’ve been flavored with fruit liquors. Each fruity flavor tastes exactly like it should, unlike their Western counterparts.
Score: A+

Poifull: A+

The Verdict

Out of eight different candies, only three made it onto my “will-buy-again” list: Apollo Chocolate, Coffee Beat, and Poifull. The other five aren’t horrible, but if I was going to spend $1.50 on Japanese candy, it would be on any of the former three.

There are several varieties of Japanese rice crackers, which have have been explained before, but the main differences I’ve found in these crackers are in appearance and texture, not flavor. Sad but true.

On a very subtle level, there are different flavors, such as nori, cheese, “spicy”, wasabi, soy sauce; and even sweetened crackers. But these are very subtle and a clean palate is a must in discerning some of the flavors.

Since I’ve set myself on a quest for the most awe-inspiring sembei two years ago, I’ve been repeatedly let down. Nothing really stands out and says “OMG! Aren’t these just the best damn sembei EVA?!!”

The packaging for today’s sembei seems somehow more inviting and “mature” than other sembei bags. It seems to say, “Gimme a try; I’m different!” Rigghhht. Well, fine, since you’re only $1.99, Nagisa Age, you can come home with me, but you better live up to being a sembei apart!

While I’m not sure what Nagisa, Japanese for “beach”, has to do with crackers (perhaps an allusion due to its rippled appearance?) I do know from my culinary adventures that Age means fried. Hmmm, fried crackers…sounds promising.

The crackers look dark and crunchy; the soy sauce glaze is quite apparent. Still, even though soy as a sembei flavor has been used to death, they are fried, and since I rarely eat fried foods, this will surely be a treat, right?

Ho-hum these crackers aren’t so different as their brethren after all. The nagisa age are very crunchy- a plus- but very salty-a negative.

They’re not, bad but they’re still underwhelming. I must say, I love the texture, which is harder (however, they’re not like stale sembei, which are hard and nasty) and crisper than other crackers. The lumpy, nagisa-esque exterior adds to the pleasant texture. The soy flavor, though, is absolutely boring.

The flavor is that of any other senbei or arare, but with a much stronger emphasis on the soy and hella salty. No hint of sweet like okaki; the salt kills any other actual flavor. A picture on the back packaging suggests using these on top of noodles; seems a much better idea than eating these straight from the bag.

If I were a bar tender, I’d make sure I had a ton of these to offer customers. Cause after eating just a handful, I’m so thirsty, I’d drink just about anything to quench the parchness. Oh well, tried yet another rice cracker and wasn’t impressed. Maybe they do all taste alike.

TEXTURE: FLAVOR: APPEARANCE: PACKAGING:

Giving Nagisa Age an average of:

Delivered to your mouth in Takuma Shokuhin’s uninspiring but promissory packaging, Kozakanani will party on your taste buds all. Night. Long!

Ok, not really. But I was looking for the thrill of a near death experience when I brought yet another Shokuhin product into my home.

I love fish and oceania critters in their many, varied and sometimes frightening forms. Kozakanani had not one sea treat, but three. That’s a bargain to me!

Sardines, flatfish and shrimp compose the mixture offered up in this snack. Dried whole and then, no doubt, boiled in sugar, salt, seaweed, red pepper and MSG. The ingredient list states that sesame seed is the fourth additive but I see only one lonely sesame seed at the bottom of the bag. What a rip.

These guys are sad on the plate. Once again I must turn away as their lifeless, dried eyes beg for an answer as to why they were given such an ignominious fate. Hey, don’t look at me fishies, blame Shokuhin; they happen to like drying up and sweetening your ilk.

Picking up a scant handful, I’m reminded of another snack: Maze Maze Ichiban. Maze Maze Ichiban is a cracker nut mix with the same sugared flatfish included in Kozakanani. It’s de-lish-us.

Moment of truth! Do or die! No pain no gain! And so forth and so on. It’s after the first bite and I’m not dead! Nah, these aren’t so bad. The initial impression is SUGAR followed by, crunchy, then, fish? and ending with bitter!

Taking a sample of each individual critter yields that the sardines are the culprit for the bitter aftertaste, although they don’t deliver a strong fish impression. The dried shrimp are very fishy and have a strong flavor. The flatfish are milder than the shrimp but stronger in flavor than the sardines.

I’m not too terribly impressed with kozakanani, nor am I disappointed. It’s a snack that would do well as an additive in something like okonomiyaki, yaki soba, or a dull cracker mix. I could also see myself resignedly and mindlessly chowing down on these if there wasn’t anything left to snack on the house. It feels like one of those snacks.

There are other, more flavorful and imaginative sugared fish snack mixes out there (Tom Yum Goon mix) but this is a good sampling of what dried fishies taste like when they’re relatively unseasoned.

This snack is an improvement over Shokuhin’s previous snacks I’ve reviewed. However, Shokuhin still hasn’t redeemed itself enough that I don’t scoff at the notion that everything they make isn’t all suck.

Texture:Flavor:Appearance:Packaging:

Giving Kozakanani an overall:

Wagashi, as denoted by the wa-, are the traditional sweets of Japan which are painstakingly handcrafted with the finest ingredients. They include daifuku, dango, and botamochi/ ohagi. Many wagshi are incredibly sweet and are used as accompaniments to the Japanese tea ceremony. The sugary sweetness offsets the bitterness of the green tea, creating a perfect balance of the two.

Placed slightly below wagashi- though some may argue that they should be level with wagashi- are yōgashi. Yōgashi are sweets and treats of Japan that have been strongly influenced by the West. Nama (raw) cheesecake and an doughnuts (soooo good) are great examples of how the West has influenced Japanese treats. Yōgashi tend to be lighter and less sugary than their Western counterparts.

At the bottom of the Okashi Hierarchy are those snacks known as dagashi. Dagashi have an analog in American penny candy. While Western penny candy (Bull’s Eyes, root beer barrels, Now or Laters TM, etc.) are candy in the strictest sense of the word, dagashi can be both candy and baked/ fried treats. And just like our rapidly dwindling soda fountains and dedicated candy stores, dagashi stores are going the way of the dodo.

Dagashi are still available today, however, but the environments, candy stores called Dagashiya , that spawned these candies are no longer as prevalent as they used to be. Dagashi are still sold in Dagashiya, but they’re also sold in super markets, convenience stores, and kiosks.

Another fun fact about dagashi is the way they’re packaged. Sometimes they come with toys or puzzles, sometimes it’s a surprise as to what you’ll get, and sometimes they’re sold in variety packs. The one thing all dagashi have in common is their price point (cheap) and quality (not so high).

Maruisuzuki is a small company who makes dagashi. Besides the big names of Morinaga, Glico, and Meiji, there are smaller folks who manufacture okashi. Many local, independent shops and companies like Maruisuzuki, create their own non-mainstream treats. Pansy is a dagshi I discovered at the L.A. Mitsuwa.

I’ve found one other snack with properties similar to Pansy: Umai Bo. Pansy, however, isn’t a giant stick and is covered in sugar, unlike Umai Bo.

Sanshikisumire is the Japanese word for pansy, but sanshikisumire isn’t anywhere on the packaging. Perhaps this treat was named after the flower because of its tricolor palette: san= three, shiki= color, sumire= voilet.

The packaging is apropos for Pansy since it showcases the glittering puffs nicely. The large black kanji complement the pink, yellow and green of the dagashi.

Biting into one of the these colorful puffs is akin to biting into a sugar coated foam packing peanut, except not as dense. The internal structure of these heavy looking sugar bombs is filled with air pockets. The air pockets would give the snack a lighter feel if the dough itself wasn’t so chewy. Pansy are lighter than styrofoam but not by much.

The flavor is all about the sugar at first; it almost made me gag, it was so sweet. Actually, there’s a bit of salt in that sweet, which comes as a surprise. Then as I worked it down, there was a strange, buttery after-taste. Looking at the ingredients, I don’t find butter, but I do find corn. Corn and rice and corn syrup.

After eating a handful of Pansy, I find that there’s something very familiar about this snack. Trying to figure why this Japanese snacks is giving me savory déjà vu vu, I eat another two. Then I figure out what’ s causing the sensation: Pansy reminds me of a cross between cheese puffs and Fruit LoopsTM but without the cheese or the fruit!

They also make me think that this is a snack much like our American circus peanuts. Just like that sickening sweet candy treat of yore, eating three Pansy is satisfying, five or more is sickening, and ten on up is cause for emergency dental work and a stomach pump.

After splitting the rest of the bag between friends, all that’s left is a pile of salty sugar and a stomach ache. I don’t have any regrets eating Pansy, and I, in fact, enjoyed ‘em. However, the next time I purchase a bag of Pansy won’t be for a long time and I’ll make sure I have helpers on hand to assist in its “disposal”.

I recommend Pansy for people who like karinto or people who like Fruit LoopsTM and CheetosTM. This is good stuff and a great example of dagashi!

TEXTURE: FLAVOR: APPEARANCE: PACKAGING:

Pansy gets a overall.