Riska Takoyaki Corn Snacks: I loved sampling the different Umaibo flavors available from the local Japanese supermarket when I was living in Berkeley, CA, but I actually had no purchased any Umaibo since living in Japan. However, when I saw this Takoyai flavor, one I had never come across, I knew I had to try it. The snack consists of ring-shaped corn snacks (this one actually included some octopus-shaped pieces too). They're coated in a robust seasoning flavored like takoyaki sauce, which is sweet and a little bit ... (read more) 3.0/5.0
japanese lawson riska takoyaki corn snacks 3.0
Tohato Tsumamel Deep Cheese Puffs: Tohato caramel corn (and it's other sweet seasonal flavors) always stand out on the shelves with their cute packaging. I've tried a few flavors both in the states and in Japan, but I recently learned there's a savory line of flavors called Tsumamel, which includes flavors like corn potage, fried chicken, and this deep cheese flavor. The curled corn puffs are like miniature Jaxx cheese snacks you can get in America, but this cheese powder is a combination of both cheddar and Camembert. You c... (read more) 3.0/5.0
japanese aeon tohato tsumamel deep cheese puffs 3.0
Lotte Gateau Fromage Petite Choco Pies: I was amused by the "coffee & something" tagline of Morihico, the coffee chain whose "gateau fromage" (cheesecake) is the featured flavor of this limited edition Choco Pie. The petite Choco Pies are pocket-sized and good for snacking, but I typically eat two which may defeat the purpose. Each individually-wrapped pie consists of two layers of cake with a cream filling the color of egg custard, all covered with a thin layer of milk chocolate. The cheesecake filling tasted like it was seasone... (read more) 3.0/5.0
japanese aeon cake lotte gateau fromage petite choco pies 3.0
Fanta Premier Peach Soda: Fanta has all sorts of flavors in Japan that you can't get in the US, including melon, pineapple, and now peach. It's made with 13% actual juice (Minute Maid branded) to give you a sense of a potential gap between packaging / marketing and actual contents. The soda has a champagne gold color and tastes very much like peach-flavored candies. In particular, I used to love eating Kasugai Japanese fruit gummies that came individually wrapped and were shaped like half domes; this drink is like... (read more) 3.0/5.0
soda japanese aeon fanta premier peach 3.0 drinks
Pringles Passport Flavours London Fish and Chips Flavor: I've encountered several versions of special edition snacks featuring flavors from abroad, including Lotte Choco Pie's "Around the World" series and Fanta's "Delicious Flavors of the World." I'm not sure if it's a response to the inability to travel these days or just a regular occurrence in a country that loves limited edition takes. But this tube from Pringles is the first of their "Passport Flavours" series featuring London's Fish and Chips. The chips taste a lot like Salt and Vinegar,... (read more) 3.0/5.0
chips japanese aeon pringles passport flavours london fish flavor 3.0