Ghibli Nostalgia - March 2023
Get ready to snuggle up with some hot cocoa and your favorite Ghibli films, because winter is officially movie time! And let's be real, there's nothing quite like a heartwarming anime flick from the masters at Studio Ghibli. To make the experience even more magical, we've curated a fantastic selection of snacks straight from the movies themselves! So go ahead, grab a treat and pay close attention - you just might spot the snack you're munching on in the film!
Chicken Ramen Donburi from Nissin
Allergens: wheat, egg, dairy, chicken, soy, sesame Cooking time: 3 minutes Let’s start this wonderful Ghibli Nostalgia Snack box with a classic Chicken Ramen (チキンラーメン) from Nissin. Why? Because when we saw Ponyo on TV the other day, we couldn’t help but crave those after seeing that scene where she gulps up an entire bowl! The main ingredient for this bowl is usually "Katama" (かきたま), which for a twit of originality has become "Torofuwa Tamago" (とろふわたまご). It’s fluffy and thick, filled with smooth oysters and a lovely egg flavor. We recommend you to add a few extra toppings to your ramen such as green onions, a little ham, and a boiled egg. With those, you’ll really get the Ghibli feeling at home. While you’re letting the boiled water cook your dish, we invite you to dive deeper into this awesome selection of snacks we prepared for you! Keep scrolling.
Lemon Squash from Fujiya
Fujiya Lemon Squash is a limited edition drink that is only available this month in Japan, and we made sure you could try it at your home too! It’s made with lemon juice, lemon purée, and lemon paste for the most refreshing drink. Just like the pilots in the Ghibli film Porco Rosso, who all need an energizing refreshment after a thrilling workout!
Kit Kat Mini Matcha Latte from Nestle
Allergens: wheat, dairy, soy Processed in a facility that also processes egg, almond, and sesame Ready for your dose of original Kit Kat flavors? Classic Mini Matcha for a uniquely Japanese experience. Prepare your cup of tea, set yourself up nicely by the window, soak in some lovely sunlight and enjoy every bite! Did you know that in Spirited Away, there is a scene where Chihiro can be seen snack on Kit Kat as well?
Onigiri Senbei Gin Shari from Masuya
Allergens: soy Processed in a facility that also processes wheat, egg, and dairy And those little treats are one of Chihiro’s favorite as well! Onigiri (おにぎり) and Senbei (せんべい) are both classic Japanese foods. Combined, they are a real treat for your senses. Masuya added grains of salt (銀しゃり) of different sizes are added to the surface to bring out the umami of the rice. It’s simple with very rich flavors!
Choco A~nnpan from Bourbon
Allergens: dairy, egg, wheat, soy *Small amounts of alcohol have been used in the bread's production process to make it softer and easier to preserve. People in Japan looove bread. Of course, they also have very sweet taste buds, and those bite-sized cute bread baked with a unique method and filled with soft chocolate (チョコあ～んぱん) were made to satisfy those. Bourbon (ブルボン) is a classic manufacturer of sweets & treats, and has a reputation for quality. Those fluffy breads are a yummy snack for in between 2 meals! They are also sold by Kiki in the 1989 Ghibli movie Kiki’s Delivery Service! Look at the display counter, she’s bent over on the Japanese movie cover poster: a freshly baked tray of Choco Anpan! Bonus Tip: gently warm it up for a few seconds in the microwave for an even better experience.
Milk Charamel from Morinaga
Allergens: wheat, dairy, soy Processed in a facility that also processes peanuts Morinaga (森永) never disappoints with their snack selections. This caramel (キャラメル) is easy to eat and share, with just the right amount of sweetness and richness of milk (ミルク) that gently fills your heart. In the movie My Neighbor Totoro, Satsuki gifted this very caramel to Mei-chan and her dad. And now it’s our turn to gift it to you know who!
Tongari Gashi from Saka Seika
Allergens: wheat, gelatin Processed in a facility that also processes dairy, peanuts, and apple Tongari Gashi (トンガリ菓子) are nostalgic little snacks that all the kids in Japan have eaten at least once! Enjoy that feeling of traveling back in time and discover the flavors that children in Japan grew up with in the 80s.
Yawaraka Kajitsu Jelly from Nobel
Allergens: apple, peach Processed in a facility that also processes dairy products We’ve gotten you this awesome assorted fruit jelly (果実ゼリー) famous for its soft texture and rich taste! It’s perfect in its simplicity. If the texture is a little too soft and chewy for you, try cooling it down in the fridge for a while before eating!
Sankaku Milk from Sakuma
Allergens: dairy, soy Sakuma's milk series (strawberry, lemon, grape, mandarin orange) are triangle-shaped little milk-candies from Sakuma (サクマ). We wrote 1 article about milk candies from Japan and why they are so good: it’s because of the quality of the milk used to produce them. To learn more about it, head over to our blog, where we have everything you need about Hokkaido Dairy Production and the Best Japanese Milk Candies!
Kani Bis from Sanritsu Seika
Allergens: wheat, sesame Processed in a facility that also processes egg and dairy Delicious crab-shaped biscuits from Sanritsu Seika. You can see them in the movie The Borrower Arrietty! It’s a lesser known Ghibli movie, but just as much a pleasure to watch as are Ponyo or Spirited Away. Those snacks are cute, crunchy, and a lovely little treat!
Tongari Corn Yaki Toumorokoshi from House Shokuhin
Allergens: dairy, wheat, soy, chicken, pork If there’s one Ghibli character that for sure loves corn, it’s Mei from My Neighbor Totoro, and as it happens, we’ve got this delicious Tongari Corn Yaki (とんがりコーン 焼), fried corn puffs. They are made of 50% whole soybean soy sauce, which is characterized by its mellow flavor and finished with a fragrant and delicious taste that you will never get tired of.
Baum Roll from Bourbon
Allergens: dairy, egg, wheat, soy Baumkuchen was first introduced to Japan by, well, a German baker named Karl Juchheim nearly a century ago. It got so popular that you can see them at the banquet of the 2002 movie The Cat Returns! Nowadays, Bourbon makes this rolled version of the cake called BaumRoll (バームロール). It’s a mini roll cake wrapped in mild white cream. It has a soft texture and the harmony of milk flavor.
Calpis Mashmallow from Eiwa
Allergens: dairy, soy, apple, gelatin Processed in a facility that also processes egg Calpis is one of Japan’s most famous drinks, also known as Calpico overseas! But that’s not all, they also make those fluffy marshmallows as seen in the tragic Ghibli movie Grave of the fireflies. If you’re looking for an emotional movie night, you gotta get your marshmallows ready, pillows, and a stash of tissues before you start this one!
Shoyu Nakamaru from Kawashima ya
Allergens: soy, wheat Processed in a facility that also processes dairy, sesame, gelatin, and pork Those delicious Nakamaru (中丸) can often be found as a welcome gift in traditional Japanese hotels, Ryokans (旅館). They are very crunchy, soy-sauce flavored rice crackers, usually enjoyed with a fresh cup of Japanese tea, or like Mei in the movie Totoro!
Umaibo Teriyaki Burger from Yaokin
Allergens: wheat, egg, dairy, soy, chicken, apple Processed in a facility that also processes shrimp If you’ve watched Pom Poko, you know that the badges loooove snacking! No surprise, they also like the all-time classic Umaibo (うまい棒), translatable as tasty stick. It’s puffy, it’s crunchy, and comes with this original Teriyaki Burger flavor (テリヤキバーガー) which is perfect to get you hungry before dinner!
Grape Marble Gum from Marukawa Seika
This very retro packaging is nostalgic for many. Marukawa Seika (丸川製菓) is a company from Nagoya, in central Japan, that has been around since 1888. Can you imagine? The gum is very simple, however, it’s all in the flavor. This Grape Marble Gum (グレープマーブルガム) is actually, and has been since its release, an iconic candy in Japan and delivers very refreshing flavors!
Fruits Candy from Kikko Seika
Allergens: apple The Kikko Confectionery (キッコー製菓) created those yummy and fresh fruit-flavored candies for the pleasure of our tastebuds. They are gently coated in granulated sugar, which adds a lovely amount of texture! Did you know that they can be found in the Ghibli movie Castle in the Sky? Time to turn on the TV and find the scene (while eating them is even better)!
Wit Number Choco from Chirin Seika
Allergens: dairy, soy Do you remember Smarties from when you were growing up? Those little treats are the Japanese version: small, colorful chocolate candies. The packaging is shaped as a number, as this was initially a candy designed and packaged for children. Numbers are going from 0 to 9 and are commonly used to teach children how to count while enjoying a little chocolate! For the young parents among you, this is the perfect bribe to get your kid to study!
Ao Ringo Gum from Marukawa Seika
Did you know that Green Apples are blue in Japan? It’s not a joke! In Japan, Green Apples are called “Ao Ringo” (青りんご), which literally translates as Blue Apple. Of course, they are also green, just like the Green traffic light (also blue in Japan)! Confusing, right? In any case, this gum (ガム) is chewy, tasty, and comes with a punch of Green apple flavors!
