Live Kombucha Ginger Kombucha: I hadn't read the label carefully on this package and only realized after I had opened the bottle that it's sweetened with Stevia. The artificial sweetener gives it a characteristic aftertaste that I personally do not find pleasant. The kombucha itself is pretty generic, with a mild ginger flavor. Purchased at Ballard Market. 2.5/5.0
drinks ballardmarket livekombucha ginger kombucha 2.5
4505 Spicy Green Chili & Lime Pork Cracklins: Cracklings are one of the few meat-based snacks you can find in the snack aisle in western grocery stores (compared to the variety of seafood-flavored options you have in Asia), and cracklings seem to represent the most moorish cravings, with their typically high salt and fat content. This bag from San Francisco-based BBQ shop 4505 features pork skin covered with a spiced green chili powder and a bright finish of lime. I found them to be a little bit on the salty side and much crunchier (a... (read more) 3.5/5.0
cracklings ballardmarket 4505 spicy green chili lime pork cracklins 3.5
Sun Tropics Golden Curry Mochi Snack Bites: This is the second flavor I've had from Sun Tropic's Mochi Snack Bites line, purchased at Ballard Market. The Golden Curry flavor has a warming spiced flavor that I haven't seen in many western grocery stores, and it has an unexpectedly sweet aftertaste. The bites are crunchy and dense but in a filling, substantial way. Would definitely purchase again. 3.5/5.0
ballardmarket recommended suntropics golden curry mochi snack bites 3.5
Naia Berry Collection Fruit Bars (Strawberry, Blackberry, and Raspberry Sorbetto): After having the excellent citrus collection fruit pops from Naia, I purchased a follow up set the next time I went grocery shopping at Ballard Market. While these berry flavors are more familiar, they are not at all ordinary. I loved getting to taste the texture of the seeds and was impressed by how accurately each captured the berries at their seasonal peak. The blackberry was my favorite, but all of them were entirely enjoyable and very well balanced - sweet treats that capture the tru... (read more) 4.5/5.0
exceptional frozen naia berry collection fruit bars blackberry raspberry 4.5 strawberry sorbetto ballardmarket
Naia Citrus Collection Fruit Pops (Blood Orange, Tangelo, and Meyer Lemon Sorbetto): Naia is a California-based gelato and sorbetto brand which was originally a shop in Berkeley (one that I unfortunately didn't get a chance to try firsthand as it closed back in 2012). I came across their fruit bars at Ballard Market and was immediately drawn into the unique variety, with each pack featuring a trio of popsicle flavors. This is perfect for me, as I could try three different flavors with a single purchase. The citrus pack features blood orange, tangelo, and Meyer lemon (listed ... (read more) 4.5/5.0
exceptional fruit frozen naia citrus collection pops tangelo meyer 4.5 bloodorange lemon sorbetto ballardmarket
Sun Tropics Thai Bird Sriracha Mochi Snack Bites: It's been interesting to see crunchy mochi snacks show up in more and more places, especially when their product placement is side by side with the chewy dessert mochi that's more familiar. I personally was not such a fan of the Trader Joe's mochi bites, which are overseasoned, but I did enjoy these sweet and spicy Thai bird sriracha flavored ones that I purchased from Ballard Market. The little nuggets are dense yet crispy, definitely get stuck in your teeth, and are dusted with an orange... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended ballardmarket suntropics thai bird sriracha mochi snack bites 3.5