Sticks & Tricks - November 2022
Halloween is near. Are you ready? We’ve got you lots of tasty Japanese snacks to eat while watching your favorite spooky movie. Pocky, Toppo or Pretz, which sticks will save you from tricks? Together with some heart-warming noodles, you’re in for a perfect evening!
Super THE Noukou Seabura Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen from Acecook
Allergens: wheat, egg, dairy, sesame, soy, chicken, pork, gelatin Cooking time: 3 minutes* Super Cup is a brand of Acecook (エースコック) that has played an important role as a driving force for large cup noodles since its launch on July 25, 1988. Hiroshi Muraoka, the company's second generation manager, said that 1.5 times the amount of noodles compared to conventional products was the “appropriate amount”. I think we can all agree with that: more noodles, more pleasure. The noodles have an attractive texture with some density, perfect for the shoyu ramen broth. The latter comes with its distinctive richness are soy sauce and garlic. The sauce’s flavor isn’t too sharp, nor is the garlic, leaving a pleasant taste in a bigger format! *Add the bag with liquid 3 minutes after pouring the water.
Tategata Tomato Cheese Ramen from Marutai
Allergens: wheat, egg, dairy, soy, chicken, pork Cooking time: 2 minutes and 30 seconds A vertical-type cup, popular for its light taste. It’s filled with thin noodles that have a good level of crispness, which is everything we like in our noodles. The Western-style soup comes with the flavor and sourness of tomatoes, the umami of cheese and savory chicken extract. It’s kind of a light chicken tomato soup, Japanese-style with Western influence, or the other way around? It’s topped with minced meat, scrambled eggs, and green onions. But for extra flavors, sprinkle a little cheese on top, any cheese will do. It will just make it more creamy, more savory, and elevate the whole experience!
Tsubutsubu Ichigo Pocky from Glico
Allergens: dairy, wheat, soy Processed in a facility that also processes egg and peanuts Pocky (ポッキー): you know them, you love them, we ship them. Discover this tasty whole wheat cocoa pretzel with Strawberry Cream (つぶつぶいちご)! They are topped with plenty of fresh strawberries that are bright red inside and hand-picked on farms that don’t use any chemical fertilizers. They are full of vitamin C and some dietary fiber. You’ll be surprised by the sweet and sour aroma of the strawberries pieces that are a great match for the strawberry chocolate-coated pretzel. It’s crunchy and tasty! Please have a bite and see for yourself! (We recommend chilling them a little in the fridge before using them).
Toppo the Chocolat from LOTTE
Allergens: dairy, wheat, soy Processed in a facility that also processes egg You may think those Toppo are the same as Pocky, but they are not, far from it, except maybe for the shape. Toppo's new standard, The Chocolat (ザ・ショコラ; mix of English and French pronunciation with a Japanese touch), is finally available. While Pocky has all the fun flavors on the coating, Toppo fills it all into its biscuit stick. It’s a whole different chocolaty experience rom start to finish! This one’s bitter-sweet, but not too much of either for a smooth tasting experience.
Kappa Ebisen Ninniku Shoyu Flavor from Calbee
Allergens: wheat, shrimp, soy Processed in a facility that also processes egg, dairy, and crab You’re holding a piece of history in your hands right there: Kappa Ebisen (かっぱえびせん) is one of Japan’s most iconic snacks, and it’s got a pretty interesting origin story to it. One day, Takashi, who took over his parent’s company Calbee (カルビー), passed by small shrimps caught in the Seto Inland Sea drying on the beach and had a flash of inspiration. He was called a "master shrimp catcher. As a child, Takashi was so good at catching shrimps that he was called a "Shrimp Catching Expert," and he also loved them. His mother would tempura the whole prawns she caught in the nearby river, and that was his favorite treat. This is why Takashi intuitively thought, "Why don't I put my favorite shrimp into wheat arare?”. After a long and arduous process of trial and error, he finally introduced a new product, "Kappa Ebisen," in 1964. Today, they are available in many flavors. This one’s got a lovely taste of dark soy sauce produced in Chiba, which is familiar in eastern Japan, and the scent of garlic from Aomori that spreads slowly are perfect for Kappa Ebisen (かっぱえびせんにんにく醤油味).
Yamitsuki Karitto Fried Potato Shoga Shoyu or Baisen Miso Flavor from Yoshiyama Shoten
Allergens: dairy, wheat, soy, chicken, pork, sesame, gelatin Processed in a facility that also processes egg, squid, beaf, mackerel, and seafoods It’s a classic, and it’s a tasty one: Fried potatoes from Yoshiyama Shoten (吉山商店). It’s a simple snack, and that’s what makes it so special. Those potato snacks are made with 100% Kitaakari from Hokkaido (北海道産キタアカリ). I can see your puzzled face: what is Kitaakari? It’s a variety of rice grown in Hokkaido, what makes it even more unique. For your box, we prepared 2 distinct flavors: Shoga Shoyu (生姜醤油) or Baisen Miso (焙煎味噌).
Chou Karikari PRETZ Wafuu Dashi Kaoru Hotate Shoyu Aji from Glico
Allergens: wheat, squid, soy, gelatin Processed in a facility that also processes egg, and dairy If it says “wafu” (和風), then you can be certain that it’s a unique Japanese flavor. The umami of the ingredients pops crispy It is a box format is slim and convenient to carry, because everyone, everyone once in a while, needs a pick me up snack on the go. The crunchy texture is addictive thanks to the thinner than usual Pretz, making them even more crispy (カリカリ). It comes with a "rakutabe pocket" that allows you to eat at your own time, and it is crispy and delicious.
Tokimeki Cafe Purin ha nomimono from Nippon Luna
Allergens: dairy Drinkable pudding (プリンは飲みモノ)? Yes, it exists, and if not in your country, then you’re about to experience something brand new! Nippon Luna is popular for making those convenient drinks, perfect to store in your office fridge, a quick refreshment at home, or carry on the go. Shake it well before plunging the straw into the cup!
BONUS GIFT: Konpeito Snack
Konpeitō (金平糖, こんぺいとう), is a type of Japanese sugar candy. It takes the form of a small sphere with a bumpy surface, and comes in a variety of colors and flavors. They are traditional candies in Japan, but funnily the name actually comes from the Portuguese word confeito, which means confetti. It was first introduced in Japan to Oda Nobunaga by a Portuguese missionary in 1569. Today, it’s often used for celebrations and gifted for special occasions. We hope that you’ll enjoy this little gift and that you’ll be able to celebrate another beautiful day!
