Christmas for Two - December 2023
In Japan, Christmas is largely seen as a “couple's day” and is treated much like Valentine's Day is in other countries. One thing that is common all over the world is the joy of sharing! We designed this Holiday season snack box with this in mind. Enjoy hearty treats tasty alone but better together. Japan has some amazing flavors, and experiencing them with an important person makes it all the more fun to discover.
Menzukuri Seabura Shoyu from Toyo Suisan
Allergens: wheat, egg, dairy, sesame, soy, chicken, pork, gelatin Cooking time: 5 minutes Nothing beats a hearty bowl of noodles when it’s cold outside and with the weather getting chilly, we included a slightly larger bowl this time. The noodles are non fried for that authentic mouthfeel, but the real star of the show is the broth! The soy broth is based off chicken making it easy to eat, but makes up for the lightness with pork back fat to really round out this bowl of satisfaction. How to cook: 1. Remove half of the lid and take out two bags. 2, Open the seasoning bag over the noodles, pour boiling water up to the indicated line, and cover. 3, After 5 minutes, loosen the noodles well, add the liquid soup, stir well, and enjoy.
Mitsuya Chichukai Blood Orange from Asahi Inryo
Allergens: orange Like many of you dream of going to Japan, many Japanese people dream of traveling abroad to other countries. This bottle of blood orange cider is made with fruits from the Mediterranean Sea, promising a feeling of being abroad. Now you, as a person not in Japan, can find out if they made a drink that feels like you’re in Greece, or if it’s still distinctly Japanese. It’s got a distinct cloudy pinkish color as a result of the more red fruit it’s from. We at ZenPop find it wonderful and hope you’ll like it too!
Countrymaam Meister's Choco Brownie from Fujiya
Allergens: egg, dairy, wheat, soy Country Mam is notorious in Japan for that soft cookie mouthfeel in big bags to munch on with friends or on your own. This is a limited edition product brought back in a special pack as customers begged for its return, and we would not let the chance for you to have your piece go away! That’s why we’re including a full bag just for you. Let that melt on your tongue, juicy brownie cookies swell over you as the cocoa vibes take over. If you like chocolate and this doesn’t give you munchies, nothing will.
Strong Potato Gachi Noukou Pizza from Koikeya
Allergens: dairy, wheat, soy, pork Processed in a facility that also processes egg, shrimp, and crab Koikeya throws themselves into the fierce competition for Japan's best Pizza Potato Chips with their STRONG Very Rich Pizza flavor. IT differentiates itself from Calbee’s well known version in that it has a ridged texture to really soak up that pizza flavoring, along with the perfect shape to soak up dip, and give that extra STRONG crunch. A little secret? The chips are accented with chili sauce for extra zest. If you want to share these in the most Japanese way possible, eat them with chopsticks! It may sound silly, but never having greasy powder fingers again makes it hard to go back.
Arigatou Baum from Cera Rouge
Allergens: egg, wheat, soy, dairy *The honey is contained in this product, so do not give it to the child under 1 years old Finally, we were able to provide a fresh piece of Japanese Baumkuchen (German for Tree Cake) in this box! This particular cake is made with Kodawari eggs, recognized by their warm orange colored yolks. As usual, Japan's interpretation of the traditional German cake is very different from the source material, and therefore a joy to eat. The texture is soft, it melts in your mouth, and the kodawari egg taste really stands out. Japan largely connects Christmas with Germany, so you’ll often see “German” Christmas markets in the big cities in November/December. We rarely include freshly made goods in our boxes due to expiration dates and logistics, but thanks to the cooperation from Cera Rouge, a local Osaka company, we were able to add it this time around!
Roll Candy Strawberry flavor from Yaokin
Allergens: apple Ever wanted to eat the ribbon on a present? Well, now you can at least pretend to, with this 50cm long candy band with a juicy strawberry flavor. Enjoy the tanginess of the ribbon by yourself, or bring scissors and cut up pieces for your friends to enjoy with you! If you’re very creative, divide it in 24 pieces and eat a tiny slice every day till Christmas.
Peter-san chi no Belgium Waffle from Yaokin
Allergens: wheat, egg, dairy Processed in a facility that also processes banana, apple, orange, and soy Peter-san, another waffle please! Is Peter a normal name in Belgium, I wonder? Belgian waffles are a regular on the go treat in Japan, often found in convenience stores & in waffle shops like Manneken in train stations. As you’ll see again in this box, Japan loves to take inspiration from world cuisine and do their own little twist. I’m sure even Belgians receiving this soft & delicious waffle will get a surprise. Perhaps especially the Belgians will be surprised!
Heart Chiple from Yaokin
Allergens: wheat, dairy, soy, chicken, pork, apple, sesame Processed in a facility that also processes egg and shrimp As the name implies, these snacks are heart shaped and crunchy! With such a heartful pack, don’t hesitate in sharing the love for this smoky grilled meat and garlic flavor. The aroma goes really well with the texture, and you can even leave them in your mouth and feel as the snack crunchily dissolves into delicious flavor.
Dagashies Combo
Kajiriccho Mazemaze Drink Bar&Soda from Coris Allergens: gelatin When you were young, did you ever go nuts on a fast food drink bar by mixing various soda flavors? Are you perhaps a 30-year-old adult and STILL mix all the flavors? Well, we won’t judge, because here’s a candy that embodies this very feeling! It’s layered with a mix of Melon, Orange, Cola soda flavors. Now go to that drink dispenser and live your best life! Hello Kitty Ichigo Jelly Marshmallow from Eiwa Allergens: soy, apple, gelatin Processed in a facility that also processes wheat, egg, dairy A cute and swell strawberry marshmallow! Each pack comes with 4 pieces, so you can divide them with your besties. Hello Kitty is all about actions over words, and this snack delivers with a strawberry flavor that is more than just a pink fluff, but actual strawberry jelly on the inside of the cubes. Eating these, one can’t help but ponder, is this what Hello Kitty… Tastes like? Sour Cider Gummy from Yaokin Allergens: gelatin You may be familiar with cola shaped candies, but have you ever tried a ramune cider shaped gummy? The color is a mix of dark and teal, which looks exciting paired with the bubbling package design. It’s especially tasty thanks to the sour sugar-coating that’ll really underline the ramune flavor. Wan Nyan Jelly from Ace Allergens: apple Processed in a facility that also processes dairy, orange, and peach Adorable jelly cups with animal designs on the caps. There are a large variety of designs, but it’s more than just the packaging that varies, there’s also a variety of flavors like orange, grape, apple, peach and pineapple. We added two, so you can share with a friend!
Sour Cream Onion from Matsuyama Seika
Allergens: dairy, wheat, soy, pork Processed in a facility that also processes egg, shrimp, and crab This time, it’s Texas’s turn to be Japanified with the Texas Corny Sour cream onion flavored puffs! As the name implies, the puffs are made of corn and naturally this comes with a wonderful crunchy texture. The Sour cream and onion lends itself well with the corn, making us want to cook a mean corn, sour cream onion sauce!
Seven Stick Choco Cream from Yaokin
Allergens: wheat, soy, dairy Can you guess why it’s called “7 stick”? Come on, take a guess, don't be shy! Did you guess because there are 7 sticks of chocolate centered wafer sticks inside? Did you really think it’d be that clear-cut and simple? … Well, yes, that is the reason, actually.
Chocotto Muffin Kongari Choco flavor from Tanseidou
Allergens: dairy, soy Mini chocolate muffin that can be enjoyed even in warm places! Chocolate lovers' plight is the inability to enjoy their favorite treat in front of the fireplace or in the burning sun while skiing. Lucky for you, this tiny cup of choco won’t let you down no matter where you need an extra boost!
Garibori Ramen Pirikara Ninniku from Yaokin
Allergens: wheat, soy, pork Processed in a facility that also processes shrimp, egg, dairy, and chicken A spicy and really garlic flavored ramen noodle snack that delivers on crunch, spice and NICE! After a season of Halloween just past us, we’re sure you need some garlic flavored crunchiness to expel any lingering ghosts and ghouls lurking about.
Umaibou Yasai Salad flavor from Yaokin
Allergens: wheat, dairy, soy, chicken, pork, gelatin Processed in a facility that also processes egg and shrimp What’s this, a vegetable salad flavored umaibo? Are we trying to trick you into eating your veggies? We can assure you that the salad flavored umaibo is as powdery, crunchy and full of exciting aroma as all other flavors. In fact, the flavor is actually not replicating the salad, but the dressing of the salad! If anyone ever accuses you of only eating ZenPop snacks, you can now say that no, you do eat vegetable salad too!
Dagashies Combo 2
Chu Chu Gummy from Jack Allergens: gelatin A cute gummy that is fun to eat and even more fun to put on your lips! Don’t let the red color fool you, it’s actually grape flavored and has a good chewy texture that’s still sticky enough to put on top of your lips for a silly and pure experience. The name “chu chu” is Japanese onomatopoeia for kissing noises. Bears Gummy Peach from Tanseidou Allergens: gelatin, peach, soy A cute gummy bear with a heartful peach taste. It’s small, likable and a perfect snack to hide in your bag or pocket for when you need a little treat or cheer up someone who’s perhaps down on their luck that day. Sharing your Japanese candy will surely impress and delight your loved ones.
