Pocky Chocolate: Almond Crush

Got this Pocky Chocolate: Almond Crush from my dorm mate, Anggita, whose parents just got home from a quick getaway to Japan. A pack of this baby contains a couple bag of Pocky, in which was filled with five sticks of milk chocolate covered biscuit sticks drizzled with chunks of almonds on it. 

I was very satisfied with how the actual product itself looked very similar with the advertisement pictures printed on the box. Them Pocky sticks were very short compared to the ones produced here in Indonesia, yet a bite of it gave you a mouthful of flavor smack. Bam!

The combination of the creamy chocolate milk enveloping the upper part of the biscuit stick blended well with the savory almond chunks, and they were generous in amount, making it better. I'm guessing that the producer of these sweet treats back in Japan used a different quality of chocolate because of the fact that the milk chocolate that was covering the biscuit melted easier when it made contact with heat. Unlike the ones here in Indonesia. 

I really like this particular Pocky flavor. I would probably buy a dozen of them if I get the chance to go on a quick holiday to the land of the rising sun. And then I would probably buy another dozens of other flavors as well. 

Tokyo Banana: Banana Caramel Custard Cream

Other than the Baked Cheesecake Kit Kat that Dad brought from Osaka, he also brought home a box of Tokyo Banana. But, it's a different kind of Tokyo Banana this time. Dad usually bought Tokyo Banana Miitsuketa, the original ones where the sponge cakes are in plain beige color and are filled with banana custard inside, but this time he bought the caramel flavored Tokyo Banana. God bless Daddy!

The sponge cakes came inside a rather large box, wrapped in a very lovely white wrapping paper with pink colored giraffe patterns. On the wrapping paper itself is printed a picture of the Tokyo Banana, looking all adorable with its' giraffe pattern and big pink ribbon. I have to say, whoever design this adorable packaging deserves a raise because he, or she, did a great job in selling the product with this whole kawaii-ness! 

Each box are filled with 12 pieces of little sponge cakes - and by "little", I meant not that kind of small inhuman-mini-sized munchies that would disappoint you by just looking at it, but an average palm-sized kind of little. You will find some more giraffe patterns on the beige colored sponge cakes, yet I still have no idea why they would relate caramel with the animal itself. Maybe it's because the share the same color? I'm not sure. 

I tore open the individual wrapping of the Tokyo Banana caramel flavor and was welcomed with a super soft and super fluffy sponge cake. It was so fluffy! I am serious! I was expecting a plain jane kind of texture, you know how cakes feel like when you touch them, right? But, instead, I got a fluffy sponge cake that reminds me of a fat puppy with soft fur when you touch it. Sure, there are other cakes out there that are way fluffier than this particular sponge cake, but to find such texture in a Japanese souvenir is something. Don't you think? 

My mouth was filled with a mix of sweet banana and caramel goodness and fluffy sponge cake the moment the cake entered my mouth. Again, the cake was very fluffy and spongy, it was not the slightest bit airy, nor dry. The caramel custard filling was light, yet thick, and it did not eclipsed the banana sponge cake with its' strong flavor. Both sponge cake and custard blend it so well into a sensation of sweet and softness that tingled my taste buds. Delightful. 

True, Tokyo Banana can be a little bit overrated sometimes, but this custard filled sponge cake really is delicious. Maybe you should try it for yourself to judge whether this Japanese snack is receiving too much love or not. For those local Indonesian citizen who would like to get a taste of Tokyo Banana caramel flavor, you can try exploring your Instagram for some online shop that sells Japanese product, they might have it on sale. For those who are planning a trip to Japan, buy yourself a dozen! 

Sugar Rush

A late souvenir that I got from my Dad was this beautiful bowl of Japanese Artisan Candy

Artisan candies, or rock candies, are hand-made candies that have the same basic ingredients with lollipops. They are called artisan candy because them candy makers express their creativity in designing the candy. As you can see from the picture that I attached above, in the middle of the candy were printed adorably colorful drawings and patterns. Now, those patterns is what make artisan candy unique. Not just drawings of flowers and cherries, writing can also be printed on the middle of the candy - such as "Kiss Me", or "I Miss You", or "I LOVE NYC". I don't think one can run out of ideas in designing such candies. 

A unique paper packaging that enveloped the candy

After Dad went home from his flight to Tokyo, Japan, he gave me this pretty pack of candy. I opened the oh-so-japanese paper wrap, with drawings of funky people on it, my eyes sparkled from the rainbow I saw. 

The rock candies were colorful and adorable, nicely packed in a black container that has red-colored borders. One of them was pink, and the other was green. Swirly patterns were drawn at the middle part of the candy and I couldn't contain the excitement I felt I went "Ooooo, pretty!". 

Don't you just love that burst of colors?

Rocky, just like the name of the candy, and lollipop-like. What makes artisan candy and lollipop different are the fact that lollipop is served on a stick and that artisan candies are slightly more coral-like and fragile. It took me ages to finally decide to open the packaging and have a taste of the rock candy. I ate the blue one and it tasted like bubblegum. I wonder what flavor the yellow one is. 

I bet King Candy wishes he was here to taste all of this