Break Me Off A Piece of that Japanese KitKat: Convenience Store Candy for the Everyday Man

One way to conquer the fear of eating foreign food is to begin with candy.

Below are some of my Japanese favorites.  Start with these chocolate, convini-treats and you’ll be trying sushi in no time.

Pocky
U.S. Equilavent: Oreo
Super Power: Ubiquity
Attitude: Classic gateway candy.  They are everywhere.  Dare I say they hold the same place as our beloved sandwich cookie.



Meltyblend
U.S. Equivalent: Hershey Kiss
Super Power: Making Hershey kisses taste like chalk—hard to say but true.
Attitude: Cool, chocolate ice cube sliding across your tongue



Green Tea Kit Kat
U.S. Equivalent:  Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Cream
Super Power:  Being green and not tasting gross at the same time
Attitude: The Tea Ceremony version of Original Kit Kat—simple and refined




Chocolate Covered Almonds
U.S. Equivalent:  There is none
Super Power: Textural dominance
Attitude: U.S. chocolate covered almonds wouldn’t even make the list.  But these are nuggets of multi-textured crunch with the slightest hint of coffee in the background.





Only to be bested by

Crispy Chocolate Covered Almonds
U.S. Equivalent:  We can only dream
Super Power: Master of Textural Dominance
Attitude: Three different textured crunches: Almond, Rice Crispy, and chocolate happening in your mouth at the same time—each distinct and harmonious in Seiji Ozawa-like concert.





Honorable Mention must go to Hi-Chew.  These creamy Starburst cousins are not chocolate, but they are slowly invading the American convenience store.  Keep your eye out.


Where to buy Asian candy
Hit up your local Asian neighborhood grocer.  Be it Japanese, Chinese or Korean, most stores carry candy from several countries.

No Asian Supermarkets Near By?
Try: http://www.asianfoodgrocer.com
What do Japanese People Eat?
What is Japanese Chocolate?
What is Japanese Convenience Store Food?
Who makes Japanese Chocolate?

How to eat foreign food

FOOD IS ONE OF THE MOST VISCERAL ASPECTS OF A CULTURE; IT CAN BE EXPERIENCED WITH NO LANGUAGE SKILLS, NO GUIDE, AND MOST TIMES WITH VERY LITTLE MONEY.