Asian Junk Food Reviews Comes Back To Life!

This blog and me have come back from the dead.

Stay tuned for more snacky goodness as I post some new asian junk food reviews.

Yakult Probiotic Beverage Review

Not really an Asian snack so much as an everywhere in the world BUT the United States snack, Yakult is a probiotic drink that's especially popular throughout Asia, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.

• 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

Chocolate Fingers by Garden Co. Review

Yet another snack from the good people of Garden Co., these finger cookies are chocolate covered cookies that can be described as less sweet versions of 'Finger' by Cadbury

• 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

Tohato Caramel Corn

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

Dried Pork Floss

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

Haw Flakes

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

Aji Ichiban Black Sesame Fish Fillet

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

Kasugai Flower's Kiss Candy

Kasugai Flower's Kiss Candies come individually sealed in pretty pastel colored wrappers. The packaging claims that they make your breath smell as fresh as a flower so you can kiss.

• Texture: Flower's Kiss is a round hard candy that's a little bit bigger than Starburst hard candies. Be careful not to cut or puncture your mouth on the shards if you bite down on the candy. Rating: 5 out of 10.


• Flavor: The packaging says that plum flavoring is used. I found that it tasted like a cross between apricot and peach. The candies are not too sweet and a bit tart. They remind me of jolly ranchers. All the candies are the same flavor regardless of what color wrapper it has. Rating: 8 out of 10.


• Packaging: The wrappers are very pretty and the product seems to be targetted more towards female buyers. Flower's Kiss Candy wrappers come in pearlescent blue, pink, and yellow. Each wrapper has a picture of a different type of flower on it. There are 19 in total, try to collect them all! Each bag contains approximately 27 pieces of candy. Rating: 10 out of 10.


• Availability: This is a very common candy 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: Candy, Fruit, Junk food, Japanese, Sweet, Snacks, Kasugai

Kasugai Gummy Candies

Kasugai gummy candies are one of my favorite things in the world.  These gummies come in a variety of flavors. The gummies are individually wrapped and they are all made in Japan. The are 9 flavors in total.

• Apple
• Grape (Red Grape)
• Kiwi
• Lychee
• Melon
• Muscat (Green Grape)
• Pineapple
• Peach
  
• Strawberry
• Orange
  
• Prune
• Blueberry
• There is also a multiflavor pack available.
  
  

• Texture: Kasugai gummies are always soft and chewy. If they are kept in their individually wrapped packages, they will never be tough or hard. The gummies are very squishy and each bite fills your mouth with a yummy fruit flavor. Rating: 10 out of 10.
• Flavor: I can honestly say that I love all the flavors, even though I hate eating real lychees and grapes. The candies are so fragrant that eating one in a small room will fill the room with the scent of fruit! As with most
  Asian candies, they are not too sweet and leave your mouth feeling refreshed. The flavors do not taste fake or artificial and the sensation of biting into one is like biting into the most ripe and delicious fruit whose flavor
  is so concentrated that it leaves you with a heady sensation. Rating: 10 out of 10.
• Packaging: The backgrounds of the bags are all closeup pictures of fruit. They can be a bit difficult to find if you don't read Japanese, but they all have Kasugai written in the top left hand corner of the bag. If it says Kasugai and the contents are squishy, then you've found it. Each gummy is beautifully wrapped and cushioned with a bit of air. Rating: 8 out of 10.
  
• Availability: While they are available in most Asian grocery stores, the variety of flavors usually leaves a lot to be desired. Your safest bet is to buy them from a Japanese grocery store where there will be the largest selection. As far as I know, these candies are not available in normal supermarkets.
• Origins: 100% made in Japan so these snacks are safe to eat. Rating: 10 out of 10.

Technorati:
Candy, Fruit, Junk food, Japanese, Sweet, Snacks, Kasugai

Calbee Shrimp Flavored Chips

A classic snack that is easily found in most Asian grocery stores and 'non-ethnic' supermarkets in the states. Despite it's name, these are not really shrimp chips so much as french fry/cheeto shaped snacks. Do not confuse them with 'haw peen' which are actual deep fried shrimp chips.

• Flavor: 'Shrimp Flavored Chips" used to be called 'Prawn Crackers' several years ago before Calbee America was established. Despite the name change, the flavor is still pretty much unchanged. Some may find the shrimp flavor unsettling unless they're used to eating asian snack foods. Personally I don't think it tastes anything like shrimp and it really isn't that strong or noticeable anyways. It's also baked so it's lower in calories and has less seasoning (msg) than most American brand chips. A wonderfully light and not too salty flavor. Rating: 8 out of 10.


• Texture: Light and crunchy. Kind of like a cheeto except with more crunch and without the tendency to stick to your teeth. The chips aren't covered with a lot of seasoning and it's not tinted or colored so you'll never be left with dirty hands or clothes. This snack does not tend to leave behind any crumbs and it doesn't break apart easily in the bag or in your hands. Rating: 10 out of 10 for a very pleasant tactile experience.


• 
  Packaging: A standard chip bag filled with air for extra cushioning. The bag is white with pink dots and a large central picture of the chips against a yellow background.
  Compared to the size of most snack food bags, this may seem a bit small. The Japanese bag has a solid red background with a shrimp on the center of the bag. There's also a wasabi version with green dots instead of pink, and a garlic flavor with an orange background. Rating: 8 out of 10.


• Availability: Finding this snack used to be a problem if you didn't have access to an Asian grocery store. Now these chips are available at most supermarkets and even some wholesale retailers along with Calbee's other famous product in the US, Snow Pea Crisps. Rating: 9 out of 10.


• Origins: Rest assured that these chips are made in the states and are not from China or other countries where food safety regulations are either non existent or often violated. Rating: 10 out of 10.

Technorati : asian, calbee, chips, crackers, shrimp, snack