Brand: Zen-Noah Ibaraki Found at: Bokkusu I will say this again for the people in the back: Stop. Selling. Jelly. In. A. Packet. It is disconcerting and I hate it. Is the yuzu flavor pleasant and refreshing? Certainly. Is it convenient to be able to take a jelly treat with me in my purse? Most... Continue Reading →
Ginger and Yuzu Herbal Tea
Brand: Nitton-Tea Found at: Bokkusu Ellen has come down with a fever. We’re not as worried as we might be - her symptoms are more consistent with tonsillitis than Coronavirus - but in the interest of public safety, the rest of the ladies have self-isolated until her antibiotics start working. The last thing any of... Continue Reading →
Yuzu Salt and Beef Flavored Potato Chips
Brand: Yamayoshi Found at: Bokkusu Yuzu (pronounced “you-zoo”) is having a little bit of a hipster moment right now and I am so excited. Yuzu is an Asian citrus fruit that looks like a knobbly clementine and tastes a little like a lemon and a little like a lime. It is used in a lot... Continue Reading →
Sentouchi Lemon Pie
Brand: Furuta Seika Found at: Bokkusu My friend Mackenzie is a picky eater. This would usually be a problem for me. In the past, I have struggled to cultivate empathy for the food shy – my slightly Victorian upbringing has left me with the misguided impression that all of life’s problems can be solved with... Continue Reading →
Butter and Soy Sauce Crunchy Eringi Mushrooms
Brand: Sozai Found at: Bokkusu Oh no. I don’t even know where to start. These are horrific to the point that my brain cannot process the information that my mouth is giving me. Imagine butter popcorn that is also mushroom flavored. Now imagine that it is not only mushroom flavored, but artisanal mushroom flavored, with... Continue Reading →
Kinako and Black Sesame Milk Latte
Brand: Nittoh Found at: Bokkusu For today’s first world problem: I miss drinks that come in sachets. Yes, in the midst of a global pandemic in which hospitals are overrun, jobs are disappearing, and everyone is more alone than ever, I am still able to find something banal to whine about. You’re welcome world.... Continue Reading →
Kuroi Kinako-San Dango Mochi
Brand: Yamayo Seika Found at: Bokkusu Location: Aichi Prefecture Eating this is like licking a molasses desert. The mochi itself is flavored with Japanese black sugar syrup, and this gives it a pleasant, brown-sugar flavor that’s not too powerfully sweet. But for all the moderation in the mochi flavoring, the coating of kinako... Continue Reading →
One-Bite Green Tea Warabi Mochi
Brand: Nagatanien Found At: Bokkusu ‘A sweet and bitter green tea jelly that you eat from a package’ – described accurately, this snack hardly seems appealing. The packaging, too, is quite off-putting as only a packet of jelly can be. But as unappetizing as it seems, the taste is something transcendent – that quintessential... Continue Reading →
Crispy Chewy Shonan Gold
Brand: Shonan Toffee Found At: Bokkusu This candy disintegrates faster than my self-control when encountering any temptation. Sitting in its packaging, it’s quite sturdy - I’ve tried to crush it with no success. Yet as soon as you pop it in your mouth, it shatters into a fine, lemony powder. It’s how I imagine... Continue Reading →
Cocoa Funwari Raw Chocolate Ganache Mochi
Brand: Tsuruya Seika Region: Osaka Found at: Bokkusu Thank goodness for the lockdown so that no one has to see me eat this. I’ve never looked so much like a cave gremlin in my life – and I have done my fair share of gremlining. In my defense this is a rather messy desert:... Continue Reading →