By now you should know how fond of Zenpop I am, their treats are simply delicious and I don't have anthing but praises for them! Even more so now that they've introduced a new Japanese Snack Box!
Not only it contains more snacks than before, but also a unique Japanese drink and a mouthwatering cup of ramen. They kindly *sponsored* this blog post and sent me a free Japanese Snack Box to review, I can't wait!Each Snack Box includes:
- New and trendy snacks from Japanese supermarkets and convenience stores
- Popular instant noodles and beverages
- Candy and gummies unique to Japan
- Indulgent sweets like chocolates, cookies, or wagashi
- A variety of salty and savory snacks to delight and surprise you
- At least a dozen or more new things to try in every box!
The theme for the February 2023 box is Osaka Treats and, as explained in their booklet (which can be downloaded from a QR code), Here it is: our brand new Japanese Snack Box! To showcase the beauty of our city, we went for all kinds of awesome treats from Osaka. We hope you like it and are ready for all what’s inside, including a unique ramen, tasty drinks, and more than 18 delicious sweet & savory local snacks!
I'm super excited to savour all the fabulous treats in this new and improved snack box, so let's get right to it! *The following are in order as they appeared in the booklet.
Nissin no Donbe Kitsune Udon Kimetsu no Yaiba Package from Nissin Shokuhin
To start 2023, we’re riding the Kimetsu no Yaiba (้ฌผๆป
ใฎๅ) wave and still enjoying this already cult anime. With this unique collaboration, Nissin delivered something new and exciting for one of their classic recipes. W-dashi (two kinds of bonito) soup stock is used to give the soup a rich and deep flavor. With this, the kitsune udon noodles (ใใคใญใใฉใ) feature 100% whole soybean flakes made using the same process as that used by tofu makers. It’s a quite unique combination with lovely flavors and aromas. This cup is perfect for you to start the year with a healthy and heartwarming cup of noodles!
This was a really good ramen! The kitsune udon noodle were very soft, and the broth gave this a rather delicious taste. My only downside was the fried tofu slice, unfortunately. Having soaked the broth juices, it had a sponge-y texture which was quite uncomfortable for me to eat, so I didn't like it. But apart from that, I enjoyed this a lot and ended up slurping all the broth. Yum!
Mikkuchu Juichu from Sangaria
It’s sometimes hard to keep the appropriate vitamin intake during the winter month, but there are solutions! Sangaria Mikkuchu Juchi (ใฟใฃใใกใ
ใใ
ใผใกใ
) is one of them! This typical drink from Osaka contains 500ml of mixed fruit juice. It’s made with 20% fruit juice from a blend of five typical fruits (orange, apple, pineapple, peach, and banana) traditionally found at mixed juice shops around the city. One of them is Sennariya Coffee, a local coffee shop that is credited with having invented this perfect balance of mixed juice back in 1948!
I was very excited to try this juice, I'm normally not into mixed fruit beverages, but this was tasty, and I think it would make the perfect drink for a hot summer, so people can quench their thirst. I wish I could have tasted the other flavours, though, because the banana was very overpowering and it was basically all I could taste (except for the faint flavour of pineapple).
Takoshin from Idea Package
Osaka is famous for takoyaki! More than famous actually, as the city is associated with this traditional street food, often found in the streets along the Dotonbori river. Unfortunately, you can't bring takoyaki back home as souvenirs from Japan, which is precisely where this snack comes in! After a lot of trial and error, Idea Package (ใขใคใใขใใใฑใผใธ) have created an ultra-realistic "Pachimon Takoyaki"! It looks exactly like a small takoyaki. The moist texture of the takoyaki soaked in sauce is just like the outer layer of a takoyaki without the inner batter. Relive your traditional street food experience at home, or discover something new to prepare your next trip to Osaka!
This one sadly was a complete miss for me. It's quite a shame because I was very excited to try it (I've been wanting to try Takoyaki since I found out about it in the Ryu Ga Gotoku video games), but the texture and the taste didn't do it for me.
Fuwatto Katsuodashi Aji from Iwatsuka Seika
Fuwatto (ใตใใฃใจ, fluffy) is a rice flour snack with a soft and fluffy texture, and is flavored with the rich aroma and taste of dried bonito dashi (katsuodashi), using dried bonito flakes from "Ninben," a specialty store of dried bonito flakes. Now, Ninben is one of those producers that you have to check out. The founder of the company, Ihee Takatsu, was born in Yokkaichi, Sesyuu (in present day Mie Prefecture) in 1679. Do you realize what that means? Over 300 years of craftsmanship have gone into making the Katsuodashi flavor (ๅใใ ใๅณ) of that snack! The packaging is designed so that you can write a little message on the back! Perfect if you want to add it a little gift or New Year’s note!
This snack immediately reminded me of the Dragon Clouds crisps they serve when ordering Chinese food here in Italy. It's not as fluffy as those clouds, but the taste is definitely there and it was an enjoyable experience!
Giant Pocky from Glico
Sharing is caring, so start the year with a giant size Pocky. Glico (ใฐใชใณ) is a company based in Osaka, and you may have heard of the famous Glico Running Man signboard facing the Dotonbori river. As each box contains 2 giant pocky, those delicious chocolate-covered biscuits are perfect to share with friends and family at a party, on a roadtrip, or for a picnic!
Well, nobody can say no to Pocky, let alone Giant Pocky!! The only difference with a regular Pocky is that the giant version has a much softer texture, so it's kinda like eating a soft biscuit. Glad there were two inside this box, but they're gone already!
Glico from Glico
Glico is famous for many things, the running man that was mentioned earlier, and you can now see on this snack’s packaging, its Pocky and Pretz snacks, but also for this awesome series! Did you know that the name comes from the word Glycogen? The founder of the company wanted to add some nutrients to the snacks to make sure children would get their dose of glycogen, together with Vitanim B2, D and Calcium! Inside, you’ll find tasty heart-shaped caramel candies (ใญใฃใฉใกใซใญใฃใณใใฃใผ) and a unique game for children to learn about animals while playing! Scan the QR code at the back to download the app and import all the animals for your children to play and learn!
What a fun snack! I love the fact they included something for children to have fun with (and learn at the same time). The caramel candy was so yummy, and doesn't the heart shape look so cute??
Mugi Choco Super Mario from Furuta
Here we have a tasty barley snack covered in chocolate (ใใใใงใณ) from Furuta, one of the best snack manufacturers from Osaka. The packaging comes with a limited-edition Super Mario (ในใผใใผใใชใช) design, just like the awesome Nintendo section at Universal Studio Japan in Osaka! On your next trip to Japan, make sure you stop by the unique USJ theme park in Osaka and enjoy the recent addition of a Nintendo section!
It's easy to get addicted to this Mugi Choco, even more so if it has Super Mario on the packaging (I got Mario)! I've never had barley as a snack, and I think it balanced well with the chocolate flavour. I would definitely love to try this again!
Dodeka Bar Choco from Furuta
Furuta is excellent at giving all their snacks a lovely texture, and this corn puff is no different. This Dodeka bar (ใฉใงใใฐใผ) is also covered in a delicious layer of chocolate, and perfect to enjoy on the go!
If I had to pick a favourite snack among the sweet ones, this would probably be it. I would have loved to show you how giant this chocolate bar was, but it kinda crumbled so I decided to show you what it looked like inside. I like corn puff snacks, and the mixture of sweet and salty was a big hit for me!
Pine Ame Gummy from Pine
Pine candy-flavored gummies (ใใคใณใขใกใฐใ) are finished in a ring shape that is characteristic of this pine candy. There are four types of packaging with cute pineapple characters available. This candy is well-loved in Osaka, and the first pine candy was released in 1951!
The pinapple flavour of this gummy was quite soft (which I appreciated), and my favourite part of this snack was the fact that it's so good that it almost melts in your mouth. What a tasty snack!
Un Choco from Chirin Seika
This one’s an original kind of chocolate. The concept is… unique. Open the box at the animal’s butt… and squeeze out the chocolate like…poop. This is guaranteed to get some children giggling! Here’s what it should look like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgKHDUWwoj4
Honestly, this made me giggle, too! Although I tasted more the outer coating rather than chocolate, but I enjoyed it! I'd say it gets a high place on my list of favourite just for the concept. And the great thing is that you can keep the cardboard animal as a decoration for your room. That's what I'm going to do!
Texas Corn Okonomiyaki from Matsuyama Seika
Classic Okonomiyaki (ใๅฅฝใฟ็ผใ) snacks as they are so loved here in Osaka. Okonomiyaki basically means "fry what you like". Together with a serving of yakisoba, this makes for an awesome dinner! Matsuyama Seika (ๆพๅฑฑ่ฃฝ่) is one of the best cracker producer in the country, and this retro packaging was too cute for us to pass on!
Zenpop definitely couldn't go wrong with this snack, the Okonomiyaki flavour was really interesting, and the corn puff texture was great, so definitely a hit with this tasty treat!
Okusuri ya san Cupsule Ramune from Orion
Okusuri ya (ใใใใใ), the pharmacy, is a Ramune series from Orion, and for this new edition, they’ve added a unique grape flavor. You’ll notice original packaging that mimics all the traditional Japanese medicine packaging. When you come to Japan on your next trip, try to figure out which candy matches which medicine at the drug store!
First of all, the packaging of this snack looks amazing, and I'll definitely treasure it in my memory box! The taste was just okay for me because I am not very fond of grape flavour (as you guys have seen from previous box reviews), but I'll definitely keep Zenpop's advice in mind and will have fun guessing matches which medicine when I go to Japan!
Chobo Chobo from Osaka Maeda
Chobo-chobo is a simple, melt-in-your-mouth baked confectionery of the old days. Osaka Maeda Chobo-chobo (ๅคง้ชๅ็ฐใกใใผใกใใผ) is, as the name says, from Osaka and one of our beloved little snacks: it's perfect for parties, birthdays, or to have a relaxing moment.
Awww,,, what a lovely, delicious snack! It definitely melts in your mouth, and the crunchy-on-the-outside-but-soft-on-the-inside texture makes it another favourite treat! With its small size, I can certainly understand why it's perfect for gatherings!
Sorbet Pero Cider from Pine
Another yummy surprise from our local manufacturer in Osaka: Sorbet Pero Cider (ใทใฃใผใใใใใญใตใคใใผ) are candies loved by many children in Japan. In addition to the fun of candy sticks, when you dip them in the powder and put them in your mouth, they turn into very juicy candies
Another fun snack! I enjoy candy sticks, and it was quite entertaining to dip it in the powder. The interesting thing is that although it was cider-flavoured, the powder kinda tasted like cola. Definitely enjoyed this snack!
Fuku Fuku Candy from Kikko Seika
Kikko Seika, an Osaka-based company, made those omikuji (ใใฟใใ) with grape flavor that changes to red (great fortune), orange (medium fortune), and green (last fortune). Omikuji are random fortunes written on strips of paper at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan.
Hopefully this is a sign that things will go well for me in 2023 since my candy was red. Although, to be honest, mine tasted like orange, not grape, which made this candy very yummy!
Kogumi from Mikakutou
Kogumi (ใณใฐใ) are small gummies known for their awesome fruit flavors made by UHA Mikakutou, another company founded in Osaka. With 100% fruit juice, this series is a renewal of a classic Japanese gummy. The juice concentrate is so dense that you can really enjoy the flavors despite the size! It’s got what the Japanese call a punipuni (ใทใซใทใซ) texture: soft, tender and squishy. You’ll find an assortment of muscat, orange, apple and grape flavors.
Small gummies like that make the perfect treat for when one is in need of a quick, temporary craving, and I like that there are different flavours. 100% super squishy. Be careful, though, because this is the kind of snack that leads you to keep saying "just one more", and you'll end up eating them all in no time!
Bonchi Age from Bonchi
Bonchi-age (ใผใใกๆ) is now available in six-packs of bite-size pieces. You can enjoy the freshly fried flavor anytime you want. Slim type for convenient display. You may know another snack with a similar name: Kabuki-age (ๆญ่ไผๆใ). They are both similar, but here in Osaka, Bonchi-age is the favorite.
Another one high on my favourites list! The senbei-like texture makes this bite-size pieces quite crunchy, and the flavour is just so delectable! Well, knowing that they're sold in multi-packs, I'll definitely get a bunch of these for when I'm craving a salty treat!
Goen ga Aruyo from Tirol
Eating money? Not a good idea. But what if it’s made of chocolate? Then… it’s hard to say no! Those Goen (ใใใ, 5 yen) chocolate coins are cute, yummy, and guaranteed to get kids excited! Did you know that the main mint in Japan is in Osaka? It’s actually really close to our office and has a museum. It’s a beautiful area to walk around in spring when the Sakura are blooming.
Everyone loves chocolate money, even as adults, and I can guarantee you having this snack made me excited as if I was a kid. I enjoyed these even more because they were made with dark chocolate, and I love how delicate their taste was. They're also perfect to go as a little chocolate with coffee, or tea.
Pokรฉmon Gummy from Coris
A total of 5 types of 10-yen gum that allow you to enjoy various poses of Pikachu! If you want to experience even more Pokรฉmon, visit us in Osaka where we have an awesome Pokรฉmon cafรฉ!
I haven't had a gum in such a long time, and then comes Zenpop with this Pokรฉmon-themed one and I just couldn't resist! It has a faint cola flavour, which I liked, and a very soft texture. I'll absolutely stock on these when I go to Japan!
๐๐๐
Zenpop never fails to deliver the tastier snacks, and with their new, Japanese snack box, I can eat up even more mouth-watering treats! Also, the price for this box hasn't changed at all! You can nibble on some delicious goodies for the same price as before!
Get $5 off your first box by using the code MOCHI5 at checkout!
Have you been to Osaka? Let me know in the comments if you've seen (and hopefully tasted) any of these snacks!
ๆฌกๅใพใง。♥
4 comments
I thought of the Dragon Clouds crisps immediately, too! In all honesty, it does look like you received a SUPER delicious box ๐ I confess I would gladly try everything you shared, I couldn't even tell you my favourite because I want them all ๐ So, really, thank you for another delightful post full of ใใใใ photos and special treats!!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Silvia! It was a super delicious box indeed! And thank you for the compliment on the photos, I thought the little bunny was appropriate since we're in the Year of the Rabbit! ๐
DeleteOoh yes another box. LOVE these. I like that it's an Osaka showcase as well. That first ramen sounds delicious- I'd be all for the broth even if the tofu was a little spongey, which I can totally see. It's making me hungry just looking at it. :)
ReplyDeleteThe juice drink sounds intriguing too as I've been drinking a lot of juice lately. I love pineapple. I want so many of these. Those pine gummies also. :)
It really was, Greg! And yes, I totally loved the fact that, besides the amazing snacks, they shared facts about Osaka, which make me want to go visit even more!
Delete