Snow Brand Mango Pudding: The texture of this Japanese pudding is really something else - it's just set, so much lighter than American puddings and buckles a bit under the pressure of a normal-weight spoon. It's definitely the best store-bought pudding texture I've had, but I have a feeling as I try more things in Japan, that may change. The flavor of the pudding is very similar to Chinese mango-flavored gelatin cups, which is very sweet and kind of artificial tasting. I mostly like it because of the texture. 3.0/5.0
japanese snowbrand mango pudding 3.0
Ito En Nata de Coco Yogurt Taste: I knew vending machines were everywhere in Tokyo, even randomly in the streets in residential neighborhoods, but I didn't realize that drinking while walking is not polite in Japan. When people buy drinks from vending machines, they drink it right then and there before continuing on their way, or they pack it to drink later. Since there are essentially no public drinking fountains to Tokyo, and I'm always thirsty, I've been buying more drinks from vending machines. This one is a creamy yogur... (read more) 3.0/5.0
drinks japan vendingmachine coconut itoen nata de coco yogurt taste 3.0 japanese
Heaven & Earth Taro Chips: Kind of like Terra blue chips, these taro chips eat like they're one-level up from normal potato chips but really are just appealing to those who love potato chips but feel too guilty to eat Lay's. They consist of jus a few ingredients: taro, palm oil, and salt, and taste mostly of oil and salt; the chips are sliced impressively thin and have a crispy texture. Overall, tasty but a bit expected. 3.0/5.0
chips parkslopefoodcoop heavenearth taro 3.0
Wat U See Lightly salted popped Chickpeatos: Like a vegan version of cheese puffs but mostly tasting of oil (there's a lot of it). Made of chickpeas and green beans. For portion control, I often pour out a handful into a bowl, and there's usually a slick coating of oil at the bottom when I'm done. The oil doesn't taste bad per se, like fried foods more generally, but definitely not healthy. 3.0/5.0
parkslopefoodcoop watusee lightly salted popped chickpeatos 3.0
Trader Joe's Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers: I tried these Trader Joe's corn snacks on a recommendation. They are thicker and have a larger footprint (about 2.5x width) than Fritos strips, and they have a generous amount of tangy spiced seasoning. I really like Elote, a traditional Mexican corn dish, but it doesn't taste like Elote, lacking both the creaminess and acidity I expect of the dish. Instead, it tastes like a milder version of Dorito's Cool(er) Ranch, with a creamy sour cream and onion flavor. Overall, it's pretty decent ... (read more) 3.0/5.0
chips cornchips traderjoes organic elote corn chip dippers 3.0
Echo Farm Puddings Heidi's Spiced Pumpkin: Made with whole milk, this seasonal pudding has a texture a bit looser than I would expect (almost like non-Greek yogurt), spiced with a pumpkin-pie mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and clove. It's very sweet, with 27g of sugar in a cup. It feels homely and understated, in that you know exactly what you're getting; as a result, it isn't especially memorable. 3.0/5.0
parkslopefoodcoop echofarmpuddings heidi's spiced pumpkin 3.0