Sanritsu Genji Pie: Genji Pies are heart-shaped Palmier cookies that come in individually wrapped packages containing two cookies each. The flaky pastry is surrounded by a ring of sugar, and while the cookies are sweet, they aren't as sweet as most American versions and come in a more snackable size. Feeling happy to have easy access to an affordable cookie that reminds me of home. 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese sanritsu genji pie 3.5 cookies
Morinaga Carre de Chocolat Strawberry Dark Chocolates: One of the delightful things about chocolates in Japan, even inexpensive options available from convenience stores, is they often have clever packaging, the type that make you want to display them and share them with other people. This box of 18 chocolates, costing about $3 USD, contains gold-foil-wrapped dark chocolate squares sized similarly to banquet-style individual servings of butter, the top half tasting of tart and sweet strawberry and the bottom half dark chocolate. The base of th... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese morinaga carre de chocolat strawberry dark chocolates 3.5
Bourbon Kitanotamago no Sable Biscuits: I've been having a lot of plainer snacks recently, but this biscuit is definitely one of the better ones I've had, in Japan and otherwise. The box comes with 8 individually wrapped cookies, shaped like eggs and reminding me of dinosaur egg cartoons. They have a crumbly texture and sweet, buttery flavor that's surprisingly satisfying and richer than your typical biscuit. 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese bourbon kitanotamago no sable biscuits 3.5 Maruetsu
Glica Cafe Ore Purin: I've always loved Japanese purin, or custard pudding with a sweet caramel base. It has a very satisfying jiggle that's more set than American pudding but less bouncy than Jello. I had never tried the Glica coffee version, which is flavored after the beverage line Cafe Ore. it has a typical yet still robust coffee flavor; the roasted coffee taste does round out the typical sweetness of the pudding (though it is definitely still very sweet). Would purchase again! 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese pudding glica cafe ore purin 3.5
Ginbis Asparagus Biscuits: These are biscuit snacks you can find everywhere, named for their stick-like-shape rather than flavor. The scallop-edged biscuits have a sprinkling of black sesame seeds and a lightly sweetened flavor that also tastes lightly buttery. A decent and affordable everyday snack. 3.5/5.0
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McDonald's McShake x Doraemon Yogurt Shake: Doraemon is a much beloved Japanese cartoon character, a fixture of children's television and merchandising that is pretty impossible to escape in Japan. This year marks the cartoon's 50th anniversary, which has led to many partnerships and exclusive products. McDonald's in Japan currently has a line of celebratory Happy Meal Doraemon toys, but I opted for their special Doraemon yogurt milkshake; a small drink cost 120¥ or about $1 USD. I can't say I've actually had a shake from McDonald'... (read more) 3.5/5.0
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