If you’re a snack food fiend, you’re already well versed in the Ultimate Potato Chip, where to get the best salsa for the lime Tostitos, and how to eat the Oreo with milk ‘the right way’. You spend hours combing the snack food aisle at the grocery store looking for the latest addition to your daily fare–Ritz crackers with cheese, Chex Mix with the latest seasoning, and a tub of miniature brownie bites are already fighting for space in your grocery cart.
If you happen to live near an ethnic grocery store, the search and find process can start all over again (with, or without a translator to aid your venture). The Japanese snack food aisle is a haven for snack lovers with adventurous tastes. It can be like a treasure hunt; you can strike snack-world nirvana after finding the perfect accompaniment to those shrimp flavored potato chips. As you brave the course in the Japanese snack food aisle, here’s what you can expect to decipher and enjoy:
Hello Panda biscuits: Found in joyful red, purple, and brown boxes with a giant Panda leaping out of a bamboo plant. These are crunchy shortbread cookies with flavored fillings. A popular snack in Japan, these are great for long car rides or substitutes for movie popcorn.
Black Black: Yes, it’s black gum, but it’s infused with caffeine so let your apprehensions disappear and, as they say, don’t judge a book by it’s cover. These offer an intense, powerful jolt for your wake up call.
Yotchan Ika: You’ll found it at almost every street-side vendor in Japan, and sometimes as a prepackaged snack. The high protein from this vinegar-soaked squid is sure to give you some long-lasting energy for snack time.
Age Ichiban: Individually wrapped rice crackers in a bright orange package. These put the Quaker Oats team to shame; each rice cracker is crunchy, flavorful, and can stave off hunger pangs for at least an hour.
Ajigonomi: this handy bagged mix contains everything you need for nutrition from a basic meal: rice crackers, tiny dried fish, peanut flavoring, and no mess! You’ll find this in bright red and yellow packaging, sometimes with picture of chilies on it if it’s the spicy version.
Mobi: If the afro haircut on the non-Japanese kid doesn’t grab your attention, at least keep your eyes peeled for the pocket-sized bag of these little crackers. These are mini sesame crackers filled with chocolate filling. (The strawberry version features a girl and strawberry stem coming out of her head).
Kappa Ebisen: Shrimp chips, one of the most popular baked, salty snack foods in a convenient pink and yellow bag. If you have a sensitive sense of smell and dislike seafood, expect your stomach to turn.
Sushi Gummi marshmallows: what could be more exciting than a fish shaped gummy candy on top of a chocolate-filled marshmallow??
Kaki peanuts: The Japanese version of bar peanuts, these are found in miniature snack bags and in bulk. They’re a mixture of soy rice crisps and peanuts, and also quite addictive.
You don’t have to go another day stuck in a snack food rut. Prove that variety is the spice of life, and venture out into the ethnic food aisle once in a while-it’s fun to learn what the rest of the world snacks on to get through long days. Besides, you’ll want to boast about how you beat your coffee addiction as you chew away on the Black Black.
