Yakult Probiotic Beverage Thursday, August 03, 2006
- Texture: A very nice palate cleansing tartness, not creamy or filmy like other milk products. Rating: 10 out of 10.
- Flavor: Nice and tart with a fragrant flavor that tastes like a tart creamsicle. Rating: 8 out of 10.
- Packaging: These come in little plastic 'milk bottles' that are about 3 inches tall. The peach colored body and red foil lid of the jar is a classic design that's common to all forms of Yakult, no matter what region they happen to come from. However, similar drinks made in China, Taiwan, and Korea mimic the Yakult packaging to trick unsuspecting buyers. Don't be duped! Rating: 8 out of 10.
- Availability: I rarely find Yakult in the U.S., even at grocery stores. Most of the time I find Chinese/Korean/Taiwan knockoffs at Asian grocery stores. I have found Yakult (manufactured in Mexico) in some Japanese markets. Rating: 3 out of 10.
- Origins: Depends on where you're located. If you're in the U.S., chances are that your Yakult will be from Mexico. If you're in Europe, it'll probably be from the U.K. If you're in Japan, it'll be made in Japan and if you're in China, it'll probably be made in China. Check your packaging! Rating: 0 out of 10.
Technorati Tags: yakult, probiotic, asian, junk food, snacks, beverage
Yakult Probiotic Beverage posted by Kay @ 8:15 PM,
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Chocolate Fingers by Garden Co. Wednesday, July 26, 2006
- Texture: Very crispy and light cookie center which snaps and breaks cleanly. Rating: 10 out of 10.
- Flavor: A slightly sweet vanilla shortbread cookies covered in chocolate. Not too creamy, nor is it sweet enough to make your mouth ache. Rating: 8 out of 10.
- Packaging: These come in little plastic gift bags and each cookie is wrapped up like old fashioned candies. Rating: 10 out of 10.
- Availability: I rarely see Cadbury Fingers in the US much less Garden Fingers. Good luck on finding these (tell me if you do!). Rating: 0 out of 10.
- Origins: Garden is a very famous and well established baked goods company (like Hostess or Wonderbread) in Hong Kong. They are best known for their white bread, cookies, and crackers. Anybody who's been in the general vacinity of the bakery has smelled the welcoming aroma of fresh baked bread. Their manufacturing practices are pretty open and public tours through their bakery are often given. Rating: 10 out of 10.
Technorati Tags: garden, cookies, chocolate, asian, snacks, junk food, hong kong, chinese
Chocolate Fingers by Garden Co. posted by Kay @ 8:51 PM,
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Malkist Crackers (麥芽酥) by Garden Co. Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Malkist crackers are basically soda crackers with a coating of caramelized sugar on one side. Malt extract is also used to flavor the crackers, giving them a slight beer flavor.
- Texture: This snack is crispy as long as the crackers are kept in an air dry container. Rating: 10 out of 10.
- Flavor: Like a saltless beer flavored saltine covered in brown sugar. Rating: 10 out of 10.
- Packaging: Rather plain looking clear plastic wrap packages of two rows of crackers. These are packaged like all the other soda crackers made by Garden, so it's easy to confuse them. Rating: 5 out of 10.
- Availability: Available in most Chinese grocery stores. Rating: 8 out of 10.
- Origins: Garden is a very famous and well established baked goods company (like Hostess or Wonderbread) in Hong Kong. They are best known for their white bread, cookies, and crackers. Anybody who's been in the general vacinity of the bakery has smelled the welcoming aroma of fresh baked bread. Their manufacturing practices are pretty open and public tours through their bakery are often given. Rating: 10 out of 10.
Technorati Tags: garden, crackers, cookies, malt, asian, snacks, junk food, hong kong, chinese
Malkist Crackers (麥芽酥) by Garden Co. posted by Kay @ 5:51 PM,
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Azuki (Red) Bean Ice Cream Monday, July 24, 2006
A popular treat in Asian countries and the Pacific Islands, red bean
ice cream is always a wonderful treat. The only way I can describe the
flavor of red bean ice cream to those who have never tasted it is
something between vanilla, cream, strawberries, and cotton candy. There is nothing
'beany' or gritty about azuki bean ice cream
- Texture: A good azuki bean ice cream like that made by maeda-en of California will be creamy smooth like a good Haagen Dazs with bits of soft red beans dispersed throughout. Rating: 10 out of 10.
- Flavor: A blend of vanilla, cream, strawberries, and cotton candy that can only be described as comforting and homey. Rating: 10 out of 10.
- Packaging: Most commercially available azuki bean ice cream in the US come in rather plain looking ice cream cartons. There may be pictures of red beans and the package will most likely be maroon colored. Just look for the phrases 'azuki', 'adzuki', or more commonly 'red bean'. Rating: 5 out of 10.
- Availability: I've seen red bean deserts in practically all the Asian grocery stores I've been to. Chinese stores will tend to have Chinese brand red bean popsicles rather than ice cream. Japanese stores will generally have azuki bean ice cream or even mochi ice cream if you're lucky. Rating: 7 out of 10.
- Origins: Maeda-en ice cream is made in Irvine, California so it's safe to eat. Rating: 10 out of 10.
Technorati Tags: japanese, chinese, asian, ice cream, red bean, azuki, dessert
Azuki (Red) Bean Ice Cream posted by Kay @ 2:42 PM,
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Beer Pretz by Glico Friday, July 21, 2006
Most people who have had some kind of exposure to Asian snacks know what Pretz are. Here's an extremely hard to find (in the US) flavor that just unluckly happens to be my favorite flavor.- Texture: Crunchy without being too dry, tough, or brittle. Not at all floury or gritty, a very nice cross between a butter cracker and pretzel. Rating: 10 out of 10.
- Flavor: There's honestly nothing unique about Beer Pretz. No they do not taste like beer, rather they go well with a nice cold glass of the frothy stuff. The only way that I can describe the flavor is that they're kind of like heavily salted and peppered crispy french fries. Rating: 10 out of 10.
- Packaging: There's two Japanese versions of Beer Pretz, the red box and the black box. I personally like the black box version because it's spicy spicy spicy! Be aware that there's also a Thai version of Roasted Pretz that looks like black box Beer Pretz, there's even a glass of beer on the box. You'll want to avoid these at all costs! It might help if you can differentiate Thai script from Japanese writing. There's no flavor at all to these, not even a sprinkling of salt and msg. Rating: 8 out of 10 for indistinguishable box designs.
- Availability: I haven't seen Beer Pretz in the US in the last 4 years. It's even been impossible to find in Hong Kong in the last 2 years. Good luck finding this if you don't have any Japanese connections. Rating: 0 out of 10.
- Origins: 100% made in Japan (unless you pick up the Thai version) so these snacks are safe to eat. Rating: 10 out of 10.
Technorati Tags: japanese, snacks, junk food, beer, glico, pretz
Beer Pretz by Glico posted by Kay @ 5:15 AM,
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Tohato Caramel Corn Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Tohato Caramel Corn Snacks are basically cheese puffs that aren't cheese flavored. These corn snacks come in a variety of flavors with the original being Caramel Corn. Just imagine corn puff shaped caramel covered popcorn...mmm...- Texture: If you get your hands on a fresh bag, then the corn puffs are always light, airy, and crispy. The outside is coated with a crunchy caramelized coating of sugar which provides a nice contrasting crunch to the softer corn grit insides. Afterwards, the snack quickly disintegrates and melts in your mouth. A perfect light afternoon snack. Rating: 10 out of 10.
- Flavor: Very yummy flavors including Caramel Corn, Chocolate, Matcha (green tea), Mango Pudding, Strawberry, Vanilla Ice, Chestnut, Honey Roasted Nuts, Almond, and other flavors. Surprisingly, all of the flavors are quite pleasing and none of them taste like disgusting artificial flavors. Also there's no funky corn grits aftertaste. Rating: 10 out of 10.
- Packaging: Tohato Caramel Corn come in short brightly colored bags with a cute face in the middle. There are also special bags designed for holidays like boy's festival and christmas. For some reason I can't explain, the packages remind me of an owl... Rating: 10 out of 10.
- Availability: This is a very common snack and can be found at almost all Asian grocery stores. Rating: 8 out of 10.
- Origins: 100% made in Japan! Rating: 10 out of 10.
Technorati Tags: snacks, tohato, japanese, caramel corn, junk food, asian
Tohato Caramel Corn posted by Kay @ 1:25 AM,
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Vitasoy Soya Bean Milk Monday, July 10, 2006
What kid from Hong Kong doesn't like Vitasoy Soy Milk? This stuff is like the asian version of nesquik. Vitasoy comes in plain, chocolate, malt, coconut, honeydew, and now mocha flavor. Note that this is different from the big boxes of Vitasoy that's sold in the US at Whole Foods. That stuff is absolutely disgusting.
- Texture: Thinner and less phlegm inducing than western soy milks like Silk and American Vitasoy. Rating: 10 out of 10.
- Flavor:
- Plain: There's really no flavor to this except a light soybean flavor that's really not noticeable. As this is a kid's drink, it is loaded with sugar cane juice (not high fructose corn syrup) and has a nice creamy flavor. A classic that can do no wrong. Rating: 10 out of 10.
- Chocolate: While there is definately a chocolate flavor, it really doesn't taste like what Western chocolate milks. It tastes more like a cocoa powder/carob mix. Rating: 7 out of 10.
- Malt: Malt vitasoy is one of my favorite flavors. There is a very distinct and yummy malt flavor that's really hard to describe, but it leaves you wanting more and more and more... uh yeah, anybody who's tasted malty drinks like Horlick's knows what I'm talking about. Rating: 10 out of 10.
- Coconut: I have to admit that this is one flavor that I find completely unpalatable. Coconut milk is just one thing that does not need to be made creamier. Rating: 0 out of 10.
- Honeydew: This is a really unique (weird) flavor. Usually I don't like honeydew vitasoy, but once in a great long while I do get the urge to drink packs and packs of this stuff. It's like eating an everlasting creamy honeydew candy. This is one vitasoy flavor that leaves your mouth smelling like a fruit salad. Rating: 7 out of 10.
- Mocha: I think this flavor is relatively new as I haven't seen this anywhere in the states yet.
- Packaging: Not much to look at. Each box is the size of a normal juice box and they come in different colors depending on the flavor so they're easy to distinguish from each other. One thing that I don't like is how easily the straw bends and gets a hole when I'm trying to get it out of the plastic wrapper. This makes it impossible to drink the rest of the soymilk once the level of liquid in the box is below where the break is in the straw. Rating: 6 out of 10.
- Availability: This is a very common drink that's available at any Asian grocery store. Rating: 8 out of 10.
- Origins: Vitasoy is currently produced in Guangdong, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. There was a sour milk incident ten years ago with milk packaged from the Guangdong plant. I'd buy the Hong Kong produced milk just to be safe. Rating: 5 out of 10.
Technorati: soymilk, vitasoy, junk food, drinks, beverages, snacks, soy
Vitasoy Soya Bean Milk posted by Kay @ 1:00 AM,
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Dried Pork Floss Sunday, July 09, 2006
Pork Floss is basically shredded pork that is flavored with soy sause and sugar that is then cooked over dry heat until the meat fibers become so dry and dehydrated that it resembles fluffy bits of wool. The pork floss is often eaten as a sandwich filling, sprinkled on top of congee, or just eaten straight out of the jar. Pork floss on toast goes wonderfully with a cup of milk tea. :)
- Texture: Dry and a little crunchy. Kind of like eating cotton candy where once you put the pork floss into your mouth, it 'dissolves' into a juicy bit of pork jerky. Does not tend to get stuck in teeth, but eating this snack can get a bit messy if you're not careful. Rating: 10 out of 10.
- Flavor: As this is flavored with soy sauce and is basically concentrated bits of pork jerky, it is very savory and flavorful. Even though the main flavoring is soy sauce, it's mellowed out with sugar so pork floss is never overly salty. Rating: 10 out of 10.
- Packaging: Pork floss is usually sold in tiny soup bowl sized tubs or giant gallon sized tubs. It's very hard to miss unless you're aware of some other food that looks like bits of yarn. The packaging is nothing special to look at. Rating: 5 out of 10.
- Availability: This is a very common snack that's available at any Asian grocery store. As far as I know, it's still not sold in any supermarkets. Rating: 8 out of 10.
- Origins: Made in China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, or Thailand. So eat at your own risk! Rating: 2 out of 10.
Technorati: pork, jerky, pork floss, pork fu, Junk Food, snacks
Dried Pork Floss posted by Kay @ 10:12 PM,
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Haw Flakes Saturday, July 08, 2006
Haw flakes are a kind of candy made from dried berries of the Hawthorne flower. They come in various sizes depending on the compnay that produces them. My favorite kind look like little packets of firecrackers. They come in ten packs of cylindrical stacks wrapped with pink, green, and yellow paper. However, they're always shaped into thin round wafers. They're brownish/redish colored and taste like dry non gummy versions of fruit rollups or fruit leather. That is if fruit rollups were made from real fruit...
- Texture: They start out dry and kind of crunchy. This is really hard to explain, haw flakes aren't really crunchy like a potato chip, but more like crunchy with a bit of chew. The plastic wrapped kind of haw flakes tend to be sticky and moist, these aren't really crunchy. Warning: this snack does tend to stick to teeth. Do not eat more than one at a time. They also leave your mouth with a rough feeling. There's really no aftertaste. Rating: 5 out of 10.
- Flavor: Even though haw flakes are made by several companies, they all taste the same, though some may be sweeter. Rating: 7 out of 10.
- Packaging: Depending on the brand of haw flakes, they may be wrapped in plastic or paper. I personally think the paper kind is pretty nifty. They look like little firecrackers, they're ultra portable, and they're stackable. The plastic wrapped kind come in long rolls of discs and they have to be sealed up or put into a ziploc bag after they're opened. Rating: 10 out of 10 for the firecracker haw flakes.
- Availability: This is a very common candy and can be found at all Asian grocery stores. Rating: 8 out of 10.
- Origins: Most likely made in China or Taiwan. Though I've eaten these for more than a decade and haven't gotten sick from them, eat at your own risk. Rating: 5 out of 10.
Technorati: Sweet, Fruit, Junk food, Candy, Dried Fruit, Snacks, Haw Flakes, Chinese
Haw Flakes posted by Kay @ 4:01 PM,
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Aji Ichiban Black Sesame Fish Fillet Thursday, July 06, 2006
Aji Ichiban's black sesame fish fillet consists of a savory black sesame illing sandwiched between two thin layers of dry cod jerky cut into thin strips.
- Texture: Dry and chewy like any good jerky, but neither tough or stringy. The little black sesame seeds may tend to leave behind specks of black in between teeth. I like to eat these like I eat oreos, yummy filling first and then the outside layer. Rating: 8 out of 10.
- Flavor: Salty and savory, this snack doesn't have a very strong or distinctive flavor. However I just can't stop at one, kinda like potato chips. There is a slight fishy smell, but it really isn't that noticeable. Each bite into the sesame seed filling releases a bit of toasted sesame flavor. Rating: 7 out of 10.
- Packaging: The jerky is sold by weight, either prepackaged in flat packages or half pound bags. At their store locations, you can pick whatever you want and fill your provided aji ichiban bag to the brim. The plastic bags are clear with orange edging and Aji Ichiban in both chinese and english printed on the center of the bag. Be sure to keep everything in a ziploc bag once you open the package though. Rating: 8 out of 10.
- Availability: Very hard to find outside of Hong Kong or large chinatowns. This type of jerky is also made by many Chinese and Japanese brands, but they may use different recipes. YMMV. Rating: 2 out of 10. Aji Ichiban USA
- Origins: Origins are unknown, so eat at your own risk! Rating: 0 out of 10.
Technorati: salty, fish, Junk food, seafood, asian, Snacks, sesame
Aji Ichiban Black Sesame Fish Fillet posted by Kay @ 7:00 PM,
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