Wanpo Tea Shop Black Rice & Taro with Coconut Milk: This is my second time getting a drink from this Taiwanese bubble tea shop, this time at their Shibuya location. Both times, the employees seemed to identify that I was Chinese and spoke to me in Mandarin, but I could barely cobble enough Chinese together to say that I didn't want the drink to be too sweet. This particular drink is almost like eating a dessert rather than a drink, containing more solid ingredients than liquid and reminding me of eating Taiwanese shaved ice, with its mix of... (read more) 2.5/5.0
drinks wanpoteashop black rice taro coconut milk 2.5
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
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
Eat Me Golden Chai Ice Cream: Another solid pint of coconut-milk-based dairy-free ice cream from Rochester-based Eat Me Ice Cream. This one has a swirl of orange and yellow ice cream flavored with turmeric, ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon. As far as chai ice creams go, this is definitely one of the better ones I've had. I'm a little worried about the nutrition facts, since it's coconut-based, but the label is conveniently missing the label, so I could just enjoy it for the flavor! Purchased at the Park Slope Food Coop. 3.5/5.0
recommended icecream parkslopefoodcoop coconut dessert eatme golden chai ice cream 3.5
Tan Kim Hock Coconut Cookies: My friend Sher Minn brought these cookies back from Malaysia for me to try - my favorite type of present1 The miniature cookies look like little Cinnabons and are composed of dried shredded coconut mixed with breadcrumbs, egg, sugar. They have a crumbly yet crispy texture and taste purely of toasted coconut. Just sweet enough to be a dessert but easy to eat by the handful. Very tasty! A classic snack since 1967. 4.0/5.0
recommended malaysian tankimhock coconut cookies 4.0
Vita Coco Pressed coconut water: This product had a massive ad campaign featuring harsh critics writing online reviews deeming the drink "pretty good," so I can't help but feel a sense of deja vu. The first time I had coconut water, I described it as drinking liquid cookie, and we have reached peak liquified macaroon with this new Vita Coco drink. It has, if you will, even *more* coconut flavor than regular coconut water, but still with all the usual benefits (potassium and vitamin C). I buy coconut water pretty regularl... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended drinks coconutwater parkslopefoodcoop vitacoco pressed coconut water 3.5