Prattle & Jaw

Two blogs about a whole lot of nothing

Japanese Goodies

I recently received a box of goodies from my friend Stuart who lives in Japan with his lovely wife, Ryoko. Japanese goodies. He said he'd be posting it before Christmas, but Christmas got in the way, and to be honest I wasn't sure when or even if he was going to post it. So, it's arrival today was a complete surprise. 

It's possibly the most bizarre present I've ever got. Two years ago my Uncle gave me biltong made from horse meat, that was pretty weird, but this...... I've had to take lots of photos so I can share it with as many people as possible, it's so weird. Have a look....

As you can see, there's quite a lot of, er, variety. From the what I think are chocolate lolly-pops in the bottom left, to the little packets with nothing but Japanese on them. What I am supposed to do with them is beyond me. I suppose I'll have to just open up and see if they're sweet, savoury, look like they're ready to be eaten or added to something - God only knows. It's a culinary adventure. 

Next up; Look a la Mode. Chocolate, I'm told. 

This looks quite normal, except for maybe the banana flavour, but it's the name I love. 'Look a la Mode' - I mean it just screams taste.

Next up is Meltykiss. Green tea chocolate does actually sound pretty good. In fact, we're thinking about trying this soon. Actually - I'm going to try it right now.

OK, Meltykiss wasn't so good. Dark and very sweet. Just tired banana chocolate, which is better than Meltykiss. In case you need to know. 

Anyway, next, we have 'the friend of wine' - cheese chocolate of course!

Cheese chocolate. Wine chocolate. It's a Japanese Willy Wonka. Very odd. I'll give it a go at some point, I think, as an apertif to....

Cheese Kit Kats!

Cheese and chocolate (and wafers) are apparently popular on the other side of the world. Fair enough. I tried one of the strawberry Kit Kat. It was OK. Sweet, again, but OK. 

My second favourite is actually two things, but they're both types of gum, so I've just put them in the same photo. I've no idea if it's misspelling, but I like to think it is. I mean, there's Trident Splash, so why not....SPASH! And if that's not quite your cup of tea, try Watering Kissmint - how, I ask you, can you resist that name?

However, in the number one spot, party due to it's nostalgic value (not so much the Buddha) and party because of the apparently totally random mix of product and logo.....Buddha Cigarettes!

Buddha cigarettes. Why? Does it make them seem more friendly? I suppose so. Would children over here even know it was Buddha on the flying cigarettes? And what is it he's hugging? A giant almond? A massive cocoa bean? Who on earth knows. I wonder if they'll taste like the ones we had when I was young. Not good. Judging by the other stuff I've tried, they'll be sweet. I suppose I'll only be enlightened by trying one. Sorry.

What a collection. No doubt I'll work my way through it. I think I have some stuff I'm meant to add to noodles. I'll have to give that a go on the weekend. Lovely. Wish me luck!

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