Reviewed by
Mary
This month TokyoTreat’s Osaka Snacksation! box is taking us to the city of Osaka, a place which is known for its nightlife, shopping, and especially food!
As it’s not always easy to decipher what’s in the brightly coloured packages, there’s a terrific menu booklet enclosed. It gives you a complete list of all the goodies in the box, together with an allergen list, which is extremely useful.
There’s also a whole lot more information, you can read about the featured theme, restaurants and local food, different kinds of Japanese snack specialties, and Japanese popular culture.
Mike’s Popcorn Ume Flavour, KitKat Chocolate Orange
Ume is Japanese sour plums, and is a tangy flavour unique to Japan. It actually works surprisingly well with popcorn, the slight sourness is unusual very very enjoyable. It would be a great fun alternative to regular popcorn at the movies!
Japanese KitKats are renowned for their huge variety of flavours. This month we have the delicious chocolate orange flavour, a variety that was actually brought back as this limited edition after a popular poll.
Peach Pastilles, Osaka Takoyaki Senbei, Osaka’s Delaware Grape Gummies
These pastilles are different from the usual gummies, instead of being soft they are hard gummies, a bit like fruit gums or similar. Peach is a popular flavour in Japan, and even features in Japanese folklore. They’re really delicious, and as they’re not as chewy as usual they seem to last longer!
Send are crispy fried rice crackers, and these are flavoured like takoyaki, which are fried octopus dough balls. They are a very popular street food in Osaka, both for festivals and regular street dining, and the nori and dashi taste is savoury and rich.
Grape is another common candy flavour, and the Delaware grapes used in these soft gummies have been in Osaka for 150 years!
Takoyaki Flavoured Snack Mix, Retro Corn Puffs, Potato Fry Snacks
This mixture of peanuts and mini corn puff balls are flavoured like the sauce poured over takoyaki, which is fruity and salty for a delicious umami flavour.
Corn puffs are found in many flavours in Japan, and these little savoury puffs are coated in salty nori.
If you want something salted and simple, the little potato fry snacks are crunchy French fry-shaped sticks, and are surprisingly tasty and moreish.
Melon Panda Cookie, Banana Man Marshmallow, Chocolate Bread Bites, Lifeguard Soft Candy, Okonomiyaki Senbei
These little melon-flavoured cookies are always a nice addition. each one features a panda face with a different expression, and they’re a tasty little sweet snack. The banana marshmallow tastes surprisingly banana-like, and it also has a surprise chocolate filling which goes beautifully with the banana taste – chocolate banana is a fantastic combination!
The little bread bites look like tiny bread rolls, but they have a yummy chocolate cream filling and a fun retro design on the packaging. I wasn’t sure why the candy stick was called Lifeguard, but it turns out there is a popular energy drink in Japan called Lifeguard, and this sweet candy stick is the same flavour.
Okonoliyaki is another popular Japanese street food – it’s a savoury pancake with various fillings such as meat, vegetables, and seafood. This is a senbei version and the crunchy rice cracker is designed to look like a miniature version of the real thing.
Kobe Melon Soda, Tonkotsu-Style Vegetarian Ramen
Melon soda is much-loved across Japan, it’s sweet and refreshing and best served chilled over ice.
This month’s ramen is tonkotsu flavoured. Tonkotsu is usually made by boiling pork meat and bone to produce a rich broth, but this version is actually vegetarian! It’s savoury and delicious, and you can eat it on its own or add any toppings or additions you like.
By Evelyn 
