Morinaga Mango yogurt with aloe cubes: Pieces of aloe in creamy yogurt did not seem appealing to me when I first moved to Japan, but now having it for breakfast or a small snack feels like a daily routine. Generally, the Morinaga yogurt is runny and has a slightly tart flavor, and the cubes of aloe add a burst of juicy sweetness. The aloe yogurts come in a variety of fruit flavors a nd have bits of fruit inside on top of the aloe; the mango version is a nice tropical treat. 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese morinaga mango yogurt aloe cubes 3.5
Tohato All Osatsu Sweet Potato Cookies: A classic snack in Japan is yakiimo, purple Japanese sweet potatoes roasted over hot stones and served from street carts. This beloved snack makes its way into seasonal flavors of grocery store products, including biscuits, cookies, and even ice cream (I've seen Haagan Dazs sweet potato ice cream, for example). These cookies from Tohato are almost like mini pies, with a glazed puffed crust and chewy interior containing bits of roasted sweet potato flavored with honey. The bag contains indivi... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese cookies aeon tohato all osatsu sweet potato 3.5
Trader Joe's Jalapeño seasoned corn and rice puffs: My sister sent me an awesome birthday present from the US: a box of Trader Joe's snacks. I've been away from the US for 9 months now (!) and before that, was mostly shopping at the Park Slope Food Coop, so I haven't had a chance to try their seasonal snack offerings for a long while, which is one of the main reasons I enjoyed shopping there. Normally, puffed snacks made of alternative grains like rice and quinoa (as opposed to the more typical corn puffs) are too soft in texture or have a ... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended traderjoes jalapeño seasoned corn rice puffs 3.5
Trader Joe's Mango Jalapeño Apple Fruit Snacks: These strawberry shaped dummies are shaped as if they've been stamped rather than molded, a straight extrusion of a 2d profile. They have a dense rather than chewy texture similar to a thick piece of fruit leather. Its flavor combines several concentrates, including apple, mango, and lemon, and it's finished with jalapeño pepper powder. You can definitely taste all of those individual ingredients – there's a pleasantly spicy aftertaste and the lemon juice helps balance out the sweetness of... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended traderjoes mango jalapeño apple fruit snacks 3.5
Akai Bonshi Coconut Choco Sand Cookies: When I first came to Japan, I was surprised to always see the word "Sand" on cookie products but realized that "sand cookies" are a basic type of thin cookie somewhere between shortbread and sugar. This bag contained three varieties of sandwich cookies: pineapple, mango, and banana, which have different creme fillings. They're all pleasantly tropical and are equally sweet and rich, with a toasted coconut coating. Purchased at Queens Isetan grocery store in Tokyo. 3.5/5.0
recommended akaibonshi coconut choco sand cookies 3.5 japanese queensisetan
Yotsuba Peach Yogurt: Japanese peaches taste a little different to me than American ones – they're sweeter and juicier, and good ones are highly coveted. This peach yogurt, made with Milk from Hokkaido, is good quality Japanese yogurt that any fan of peaches could enjoy. And luckily, I don't believe this is a seasonal flavor, so you don't need to worry that it'll soon be gone. 3.5/5.0
recommended seijoishi japanese yotsuba peach yogurt 3.5