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
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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
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Yuki & Love Boba Milk Tea Mochi: A product of Taiwan, the motherland of boba milk tea, these mini individually-wrapped mochi snacks are about two inches in diameter and contain a moist, mulit-layered filling. An outer layer is lighter tan in color, resembling milk tea, while a dark brown center takes the place of boba. The inside is a gelatinous core that's pleasant in its milk tea flavor, if not accurate in texture, though the texture of the mochi itself is surprisingly intact and satisfyingly chewy. Purchased at 99 Ranch. 3.0/5.0
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Mister Donut Sakura Mochi Donut: Cherry blossom season is about to start, and seasonal sakura-themed snacks are already being featured in snack aisles and specialty shops alike. Mister Donut, a popular donut chain in Japan (though originally from the US), has several special donuts for this occassion, each packaged in its own takeaway box with "misdo" branding. Every donut has a slightly different emphasis on either sakura, matcha, or white chocolate flavors. The sakura mochi donut I purchased builds on their classic ring ... (read more) 3.0/5.0
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Ginza Akebono Sakura Mochi: The first time I had sakura mochi, pink mochi wrapped in a cherry blossom leaf, it was from Fugetsu-Do in Los Angeles, I was surprised by the sweet and savory combination. The leaf is typically pickled and has a concentrated salty flavor that can catch you off guard if you're used to the mild and sweet anko-filled dessert. This version of sakura mochi was purchased from the Ginza sweets shop Ginza Akebono, where I had previously tried their strawberry-covered mochi. The chewiness of the m... (read more) 3.5/5.0
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Ginza Akebono Strawberry Daifuku: For the most part, I've been able to try all the major traditional Japanese confectionary treats in my time in Japan, so I generally haven't been going out of my way to visit particular shops. However, if I see that a shop has a line, I'll take a look, especially as there are essentially no tourists in Tokyo now and so any place with a line is a local favorite. I hadn't known about this small shop in Ginza that opened right after WWII (about 60 years old), but their ichigo (strawberry) dai... (read more) 4.0/5.0
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