Berkeley Bowl Dark chocolate Malt Balls: I wish malt balls were shelf stable so they could be purchased without any coating. Until then, they seem so only exist in chocolate covered balls, as is this bulk snack from Berkeley Bowl. The chocolate coating is significantly thicker than that found on Whoppers or Maltesers, but as a side effect, the predominant flavor and texture is that of dark chocolate. When the chocolate layer is consumed first, the malt interior is found to be crunchy unlike the melt-in-your-mouth consistency of mas... (read more) 3.0/5.0
candy berkeleybowl dark chocolate malt balls 3.0
Snyder's Wholey Cheesy smoked gouda baked crackers: These crackers are shaped like swiss cheese but flavored predominantly by cheddar cheese followed by gouda (according the ordering of listed ingredients). They’re rectangular in shape and largely filled with air so that they easily shatter on initial bite. They’re fully flavored, with a smoky gouda flavor that has just a hint of the white cheddar powder of flavored Cheez-Its or boxed mac and cheese. Overall, they’re very tasty, but they do have one flaw: because they come in a resealable ... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended cheese snyders wholey cheesy smoked gouda baked crackers 3.5
Noosa Tart cherry whole milk yogurt: All-around quality creamy whole milk yogurt, with heartier pieces of fruit compote than normally found in comparable brands. Sweet but still satisfying. At a more manageable, snackable size for lunches than the normal flatter Noosa containers. 3.5/5.0
recommended noosa tart cherry whole milk yogurt 3.5
Uegaki Beika Co Matcha Uguisu Balls: Uguisu Balls are a classic Japanese snack of bite-sized rice and wheat balls whose appearance is meant to mimic plum blossom buds. To me, they looked more like the shiny round acorns the two sisters chase after while exploring their new home at the beginning of Totoro. In this case, a sticky sugary coating envelops each piece, making it possible for green tea powder to stick to its surface. Slightly soft yet crunchy, sweet and bitter, this snack blends opposites to mixed success; the matcha... (read more) 2.5/5.0
tokyofishmarket matcha japanese uegakibeikaco uguisu balls 2.5
Shrimp peanut snack: Despite my best effort at detective work with Google Translate and Reverse Image Search, I wasn’t able to track down the exact brand of this senbei snack. Too bad, because it’s one of the best ones I’ve had before. Purchased from Tokyo Fish Market in Berkeley, the snack consists of baked hollow balls filled with peanuts. Unlike the traditional crunchy glazed rice crackers I’ve had before, this one had a crumbly, buttery exterior that melt-in-your-mouths. The shell is well seasoned with a rob... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended tokyofishmarket japanese shrimp peanut snack 4.0
T-Pops Tarako Salted cod roe popcorn: Purchased from Tokyo Fish Market, this small bag of popcorn from T-Pops contains dense miniature kernels with a seasoned but not easily identifiable flavoring. It doesn’t taste like seafood, which I expected because of the salted cod flavoring and it’s dressed with a noticeable amount of oil. Not particularly good popcorn, or unique flavor. 2.5/5.0
tokyofishmarket japanese tpops salted cod roe popcorn 2.5