Seijo Ishii Extra Spicy Ginger Ale: Ginger ale is my favorite soda, and I love ginger drinks that are particularly spicy, so I was excited to try this version claiming to be extra spicy. The bottle was a bit thicker than normal, which made me hopeful that it would contain especially carbonated soda. Overall, I found the ginger flavor to definitely be above average, probably in the top 40% of ginger ales I've had, but comparatively, it was just a bit spicier than Reed's Ginger Beer, which isn't as spicy as I would hope. On t... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended drinks gingerale japanese seijoishii extra spicy ginger ale 3.5
Tohato Chestnut Mont Blanc Caramel Corn: I honestly had no idea what flavor this snack was – the leaves on the rim of the packaging seem to indicate a seasonal fall snack, but the illustration of a pie topped with what I thought were strips of bacon and a fried egg made me think I was in for something breakfast-like. It turns out it is supposed to be a chestnut mont blanc, a dessert I haven't had before but consists of chestnut puree piped into vermicelli shaped threads, topped with whipped cream. Tohato caramel corn comes in lot... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese tohato chesnut mont blanc caramel corn 3.5
Koikeya Demonic Consomme Strong Potato Cihps: I wasn't sure of the exact flavor of these potato chips when I purchased them – the packaging features roasted onion, garlic, and chicken wings, all alongside a demo stirring a cauldron of beige-colored broth. I have had other potato chips from this line of Strong potato chips, ridged potato chips claiming to have a more robust flavor offering than normal Koikeya chips. These tasted largely of sweet onion and black pepper to me, and after looking up the actual flavor from the Japanese on t... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese chips koikeya demonic consomme strong potato cihps 3.5
牧場の瓶ヨーグルト 宮崎 ひゅうが夏 : This is the second time I had a hyuganatsu snack, a seasonal Japanese citrus fruit available in the summers. Though I haven't had the actual fruit, the flavor was quite consistent across the two flavored yogurts I've tried. This brand of yogurt came in a very cute glass jar, the type whose rim is small enough that it requires the use of dainty miniature spoon. It was very creamy and quite rich, probably made using full-fat milk, and had a slightly floral, lemon-like flavor. The texture o... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended yogurt japanese citrus 宮崎 ひゅうが夏 3.5
McDonald's McShake x Doraemon Yogurt Shake: Doraemon is a much beloved Japanese cartoon character, a fixture of children's television and merchandising that is pretty impossible to escape in Japan. This year marks the cartoon's 50th anniversary, which has led to many partnerships and exclusive products. McDonald's in Japan currently has a line of celebratory Happy Meal Doraemon toys, but I opted for their special Doraemon yogurt milkshake; a small drink cost 120¥ or about $1 USD. I can't say I've actually had a shake from McDonald'... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended drinks fastfood japanese mcdonalds mcshake x doraemon yogurt shake 3.5
Haldiram's Panchrattan: This snack combines potato sticks, cashews and almonds, and raisins with curry leaves to create an impressively delicious blend of sweet and savory. Haldiram's potato sticks are the closest I've found to french-fry-tasting snacks, and the pairing of french fries with raisins isn't a combination I would have thought could work so well. There's also a range of textures, from the crispy sticks to crunchy and rich nuts to soft and tangy raisins. It's a bit of a messy snack, so I pour it into ... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended indian haldirams panchrattan 4.0