tasty snacking

Kasugai Squid Pea Snack: I expected this to be a wasabi pea snack but quickly discovered that pea is short for peanuts. Each crunchy rice ball contains a single peanut. The exterior is crispy and tastes a bit like shrimp crackers (the ingredients list cuttlefish). A bag contains two servings, which go quickly. 3.5/5.0

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Dried filefish fillet: Purchase from Hmart, this package of dried fish is unexpectedly meaty and sweet. Good overall flavor, though maybe more chewy than desirable. 3.5/5.0

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Tao Kae Noi Sriracha chili sauce flavored crispy seaweed: While the packaging features a mascot that can't take the heat, I was surprised to find this snack lacked any punch. I don't have a high spice tolerance, yet I wouldn't characterize this snack as spicy at all. If I didn't know it was supposed to taste like Sriracha, I would have guessed a sweet chili flavor rather than a spicy one. The seaweed also was not very crispy compared to other times I've had this snack. I'm not sure if I got a dud, but this product was disappointing overall. 2.0/5.0

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Kung Fu Tea brown sugar ginger tea with boba: This hot beverage evolved over time, but for the worse. I really liked how the ginger flavor was prominent and unforgiving-perfect for cold winter nights. But as I progressed to the bottom of the cup, the drink became overly sweet. And the boba was terrible (far too mushy). For the tea alone, it was a 3.5, but with the boba, it comes down to a 3.0. 3.0/5.0

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Kong Kee unsweetened Soyadrink: Recently, I wrote about how American soy milk is far too sweet. On a recent trip to Hmart, I purchased Soyadrink, the one soy milk you will find at any Asian grocery store. Soyadrink is the drink to get to understand the sharp contrast between an Asian and American palate. First, the drink is thinner in viscosity and actually has a soybean-like aftertaste (think plain tofu). This light flavor nonetheless lingers on your palate long after drinking. Additionally, no one bothers to fortify thes... (read more) 3.0/5.0

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Chin Chin grass jelly drink: I'm a big fan of gelatin in drinks, from boba to grass jelly. For those who haven't had grass jelly before, it's not chewy like boba but soft (it's less firm than jello). Unfortunately, the drink overall is too sweet, though the grass jelly adds a slightly medicinal flavor that cuts through. Because the jelly settles to the bottom of the can, much goes to waste after the liquid runs out. A good companion, though, to spiced Asian food. 3.0/5.0

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