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Irvins Salted Egg Salmon Skin: One thing I often point to as an untapped market in the US is seafood-based snacks, which are normally quite popular in many Asian cultures. So I was very excited to try these salmon skin crisps, which have a delightful salty sweet flavor. The crispy fried skins are coated with a savory coating consisting of salted duck egg yolk and spices like curry leaves and bird's eye chili. The fish skin melts in your mouth and has a rounded, rich aftertaste from the egg yolk. I think this is really... (read more) 4.0/5.0

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KitKat Peach KitKats: I was gifted this bag of Japanese peach KitKats from a friend, purchased originally from Berkeley Bowl (the best grocery store in the country!!). The mini KitKats are individually wrapped, and the normally chocolate coating is a pale pink color. I expected this to be really sweet, but it’s surprisingly well balanced, with a tangy and tart ripe peach candy flavor. The rest of the KitKat is the familiar wafer crisps of the iconic candy bar. Definitely worth a try! 4.0/5.0

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Screamers Dole Whip: Screamers is a soft serve treats stand at Stevenson Wharf in Richmond, BC (a 30 min drive south from Downtown Vancouver). Their signature offering is a "screamer" drink they describe as a combination of ice cream and slurpee – it comes in a variety of classic fruity Crush soda flavors. Their other speciality is soft serve dole whip, a tropical treat combining pineapple and vanilla soft serve. The kiddie size (pictured) is more than enough for an adult and barely costs $3. The texture is i... (read more) 4.5/5.0

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Calbee Takoyaki Balls: Puffed corn snacks coated in a sweet and savory seasoning blend that tastes just like takoyaki sauce (sort of like Japanese Bulldog sauce or Worcestershire sauce, deep in umami). In other words, it doesn't taste like seafood but just the sauce that typically coats the normally octopus-filled balls. Undoubtedly a substantial amount of MSG. Purchased from Uwajimaya, but actually a product of Thailand. 3.0/5.0

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12 Tides Chili Pepper Puffed Kelp Chilps: These kelp chips have a texture similar to asian rice crackers but a little more dense (cassava and tapioca flour form the base). I haven't had kelp-based chips before, and I expected them to taste a bit like seaweed, but the chili pepper seasoning was way too overpowering – like eating paprika and cayenne spice directly. 2.0/5.0

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Beneficial Brewing Company Jamaican Ginger Hibiscus Kombucha: Great purity of flavors – ginger and hibiscus are refreshingly balanced. Slightly tart with a nice amount of spice that doesn't overwhelming. From Seattle-based brewing company and purchased at stocked at Chicken Supply in Phinney Ridge. 4.0/5.0

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