Episode 2: Candy! And a giveaway!

Jan 16, 2012

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:32 — 38.0MB)

Japanese candy will ruin you.

It’s ruined both of us… it’s so good, we can’t help but be addicted.

Rice Candy

Rice candy has always been Allison’s favorite. It has a yummy, light, citrusy taste, there’s a really cool edible rice paper wrapper that melts in your mouth, plus you get a sticker in every box.

And when a bunch of adult (children) get a hold of a bunch of rice candy stickers… things like this happen:

Allison with a bunch of stickers on her arm

Konpeito

Then you have the traditional, centuries-old Konpeito. Still made by hand, this colorful sugar candy is traditionally given as wedding favors.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Kit Kats

Did you know there have been 105 different flavors of Kit Kats made, 97 of which are completely unique to Japan?

Flavors like:

Aloe Vera
Aloe Yogurt
Apple
Apple Vinegar
Azuki (red rean)
Banana
Beet
Bitter Almond
Black Tea
Blueberry
Blueberry Cheesecake
Bubblegum
Brown Sugar Kinako
Cacao 61%
Cacao 72%
Café Latte with Hokkaidō Milk
Calpis (a yogurt-flavored drink)
Caramac
Cantaloupe
Cappuccino
Caramel
Caramel and Salt
Caramel Macchiato
Caramel Pudding
Cheese
Chocolate Banana
Chocolate Overload (milk chocolate outside, chocolate creme filling, and chocolate wafers)
Cola and Lemon squash
Citrus Pepper
Cookies & Chocolate
Cookies and Milk
Cookies PLUS
Creamier Chocolate
Creamy Apple
Cucumber
Custard Pudding
Dark Chocolate
Dark Chocolate with Cookies for adults
Daigakuimo (sweet potato)
European Cheese
Exotic Kansai (sweet chocolate with a sour mix of orange, lemon, and passion fruit accented with ginger)
Framboise (raspberry cheesecake)

Fruit Parfait
Ginger Ale
Green Grape Muscat
Gold (petits with fudge-like covering and dusted cocoa powder on outside.)
Golden Peach
Hazelnut
Hascapp (Hokkaido blueberry)
Houjicha (roasted tea)
Iced Tea
International Recipe (chocolate made from Ghana cocoa beans)
Itoen Juu-jitsu Yasai (vegetable enriched ‘veggie’.)
Jasmine Tea
Jyagaimo (potato)
Kobe Pudding
Kinako (soybean)
Kinako Ohagi
Kiwifruit
Kokuto (black sugar)
Lemon Chocolate
Lemon Vinegar
Mango
Mango Pudding
Maple
Matcha (green tea)
Melon
Mild Bitter
Milk Coffee
Mint
Mint Chocolate
Miso
Mixed Juice
Noisette (hazelnut)
Orange
Passion fruit
Pepper
Pickled Plum
Pineapple
Pudding
Pumpkin
Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ramune (a soda drink)
Raspberry and Passion fruit
Relaxation Cacao
Rose
Royal Milk Tea
Sakura (cherry Blossom)
Sakura Macha (cherry blossom green tea)
Semisweet
Sour Orange
Soy Sauce
Sports Drink
Sparkling Strawberry
Strawberry
Strawberry and Cranberry
Strawberry and Milk
Strawberry Cheesecake
Sweet Potato
Tiramisu
Tiramisu Macha (tiramisu with green tea)
Triple Berry
Ume Soda (plum soda)
Vanilla Bean
Wa Guri (chestnut)
Wasabi
Watermelon and Salt
White Chocolate
White Peach
Wine
Yakimorokoshi (grilled corn)
Yuzu
Zunda (mashed edamame beans)

We tried the Pumpkin Cheesecake flavor… which tasted more lemony than pumpkin cheesecakey.

Apparently parents in Japan give them to their children for good luck on test days.

Milky

Milkys, a sweetened condensed milk candy, are Rachael’s favorite.

Hello Panda

Hello Panda cookies are another childhood throwback for Allison, and one you’ve probably seen in a store near you!

kinokono yama murasaki imo

Why is Rachael making us eat purple sweet potato mountain mushrooms???

Allison was intrigued by them… and it turns out that those Kinokono Yama Murasaki Imo (purple sweet potato mountain mushroom candies) are ridiculously addictive… as odd as they may sound.

goma ame

On a whim, Allison decided we should try this Golden Sesame Candy… and now we’re both addicted. (Oops.)

They taste like those Chinese fried sesame mochi balls that are often found in Chinese buffets (and Vietnamese bakeries), plus Rachael has a recipe for sesame brittle that tastes pretty similar.

Milk Soft Candy

Rachael wanted to try another Milk Soft Candy that was pretty similar to the Milkys, except much softer.

Strawberry Hi Chew

Lastly, the classic Hi Chews.

(Which, by the way, are now officially gluten-free as of 2012!)

Hi Chews or strawberry milkshakes? It’s a close call… which would you choose?

If you just can’t get enough of the craziness that is Japanese candy, why not subscribe to get some in the mail every month?

(We think it’s a pretty cool program! And we’re not in any way affiliated with them… we just can’t resist more Japanese candy!)

But even better…

We’re having a giveaway!

All you have to do in order to win a fantastic package of all the candy we talked about today (plus a couple more bonus items) is leave a comment on this post! (If you’re listening to this on iTunes, make sure you go to the Episode 2 show notes on http://misofy.com/podcast !)

You have until 11:59pm PST on Monday, January 23rd to enter. One entry per person. Anyone can enter – we’ll ship internationally!

Good luck! ^_^

61 comments

Kimberly from Foodies Unite Jan 16, 2012 at 12:46pm

SO cute - love this and you are doing a great job!!! Purple Sweet Potato Mushrooms!?!?!? Love this!
Stephanie @ kitchen frolic Jan 16, 2012 at 12:49pm

OMG, I LOVE Japanese candy (and Chinese candy too) and I always have a problem just choosing a few to buy at the grocery store. I'm like Rachael - totally addicted to soft milk candies while my sister loves Hello Panda in all its flavours (and there's another version that has koala bears instead of pandas). Thanks for the contest (and thanks for shipping internationally!!!) Yay candy!
jourdan morrison Jan 16, 2012 at 12:49pm

OH MY GOD my husband and I grew up eating those candies I'd KILL to have some! Super jealous!
jourdan morrison Jan 16, 2012 at 12:59pm

Hi-chew's were my favorite as a kid in Japan, I'd give almost anything for a round of those guys!
Lillian Jan 16, 2012 at 1:41pm

I love Japanese candies - I can find some of them at my local Chinese supermarket but have been dying to taste all the different Kit Kats. ;P I'm really intrigued by the mushroom-shaped ones too. Have you guys had milk candy that also have the rice paper on the outside? I actually don't like the rice paper so I usually try to peel most of it off. lol... I'd love to try the rice candy though!
Kenny Jan 16, 2012 at 1:42pm

I definitely remember getting the little toy in the box of Botan Ame Rice Candy when I was a kid. Back then it was only available in japanese markets.
sippitysup Jan 17, 2012 at 10:20am

miso wanna win! GREG
Marisol Jan 17, 2012 at 10:28am

Wow such a great giveaway! you are sooo generous love the blog and the podcast! Now I have subscribed so I do not miss any of them! Yay! Good luck to all!
Pam Jan 17, 2012 at 11:13am

I must say all these candies look very interesting. I would love to give them a try.
Erin R Jan 17, 2012 at 2:47pm

I love Japanese candy - in fact it's been displayed in our gingerbread houses the past few years (This year we had the kinokonoyama chocholate mushrooms and the year before we had pink and white konpeito smoke from the chimney). Glad you like it as much as I do! -Erin
Big John Jan 17, 2012 at 9:19pm

Love the podcasts. Japanese candy is so good! Might I suggest a mochi maker to save some hard work. Looking forward to the next episode!
Kirsten Spear Jan 19, 2012 at 12:43pm

I'm a new new listener - just started this morning - and I'm loving your show! I miss Japanese candy so much!
ikkinlala Jan 19, 2012 at 6:47pm

Interesting episode! I wish I had access to some of these here (especially the sesame ones, but maybe that brittle will work) and would love to enter the giveaway.
Alison Jan 20, 2012 at 7:43pm

Awesome giveaway! My husband lived in Japan and got me into all things Japanese. I'm fascinated by those potato mushrooms.
Rihana Jan 21, 2012 at 9:08pm

I can't get over all of those Kit Kat flavours. I've had the matcha and strawberry and milk varieties - both strangely moreish - but I'm not sure how keen I'd be on miso and soy sauce... A friend of mine in Japan used to send me boxes of candy. I don't think I could ever get sick of grape or melon Hi-Chews.
Caresse Jan 21, 2012 at 9:11pm

How fun ! The Hi Chews are my personal favorite.
amber Jan 21, 2012 at 9:33pm

I am amazed that some of those Kit Kat flavors actually sell passed an initial novelty stage.
Myra Jan 21, 2012 at 9:47pm

Japanese candy all look so tasty! I've only personally tried the hi chews, but would love to try other varieties!
Rich G Jan 21, 2012 at 9:58pm

I'm in. Japanese candy FTW!
Mika Jan 21, 2012 at 10:01pm

Thanks for bringing back memories of candy from my childhood! I had forgotten about konpeito and I too LOVE rice candy!
Susana K. Jan 21, 2012 at 11:57pm

Everytime I go to the market, I have such a hard time buying only one candy from the Japanese candy section. It's a bit agitating to know that I can't just buy everything on the shelves at once. Of course it gets even worse when I end up driving all the way to New Jersey from New York just to go to Mitsuwa(Japanese market)! Lovely giveaway.
Vanessa Jan 22, 2012 at 12:00am

Awesome candies many that I haven't tried :P
Diana Jan 22, 2012 at 12:10am

So many yummy candies! The Botan rice candy IS SO ADDICTIVE! But all those flavors of kitkats sound preeeetty good...
Sarah Jan 22, 2012 at 1:43am

Yum! I love Hi Chews. Really wish we could get some of the different Kit Kat flavours in stores.
Jane Ko Jan 22, 2012 at 2:01am

Great write up on Japanese candy! I had no idea that there were so many Kit Kat flavors www.atasteofkoko.com
Judy Jan 22, 2012 at 2:18am

All of the candies look delicious! I'm craving some! :')
Grace Jan 22, 2012 at 5:50am

I want to try all the different Kit Kat flavors!
mrsblocko Jan 22, 2012 at 6:07am

Woah! Makes me want to take the long trek to the Japanese market. I'm always scared to try new candies, afraid that I won't like them. Now I know what to look for. Awesome giveaway too!
Burin Jan 22, 2012 at 6:14am

Oh my gosh! I love Japanese candy so much and have been craving it since I've been living in Germany and it's not really available here. I hope I win!
kara Jan 22, 2012 at 7:30am

i LOVE hello panda cookies! sadly, the japanese food store in my area shut down recently and i haven't been able to find a new supplier.
Suroor Jan 22, 2012 at 7:43am

OMG!!!! I eat sweetened condensed milk out of the can!! Putting it in candy form is pure genius =D
Savannah Jan 22, 2012 at 8:38am

They all look so good, I wish I could try all of them... Haha the Hello Panda cookies are so addicting x)
Angela Jan 22, 2012 at 9:39am

This makes all the U.S. candy seem so bland, especially our traditional Kit Kat.
Julie Jan 22, 2012 at 9:58am

I liked li hing mui (Chinese, not Japanese, but equally unique to my palate) when I visited HI, so I tried chan pui mui from a Japanese market here at home. Hmmm. Guess I'll have to keep trying. I haven't had most of your blog candies, but have seen some at the store. I hope to taste-test them soon!
Imran Jan 22, 2012 at 10:00am

The mushrooms are the best, there is a store by my house which sells the regular ones. I have yet to see the sweet potato ones but they look pretty neat.
Angelica Jan 22, 2012 at 10:08am

I love hi-chews, theyre soft and so delicious!
Ariel L Jan 22, 2012 at 10:39am

If you love rice candy you should also try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Rabbit_Creamy_Candy - it's a sweet rice candy that is covered with rice paper. These bags never last long at my house!
Molly Jan 22, 2012 at 11:19am

I've tried variations on a few of these - must try the rest!!!
Lindley Jan 22, 2012 at 12:13pm

All these are sooo different from American candy! I'd love to try them and expand my candy repertoire!
Priscilla Jan 22, 2012 at 2:14pm

We love wacky/awesome Japanese sweets, too. There are a few available at one of the big pan-Asian markets around here, but most of the ones you've shown are totally new to me. Thanks for the chance to win a box of 'em!!
Justine Jan 22, 2012 at 3:45pm

What a great giveaway! Loving the podcast so far!
Anne Jan 22, 2012 at 3:51pm

These all look amazing-- the little mushroom candies are the cutest! They would look so perfect on a bouche de noel
Karolyn Jan 22, 2012 at 4:00pm

What a fun post! I grew up eating Tomoe Ame and Botan rice candy--love this giveaway! Am enjoying your podcasts too. :)
ellen Jan 22, 2012 at 5:49pm

Japanese candies are so great! I've always wanted to try the Milky candies!
Amanda Cottom Jan 23, 2012 at 7:19am

I love Japanese Candy!!!!!!!
june Jan 23, 2012 at 7:55am

OMG I LOVE ALL OF THESE!! I need to find that purple mushroom one---it looks ADORABLE!
anita b Jan 23, 2012 at 8:13am

ooooh they look so pretty i wanna eat them!! imnotarunner at gmail dot com
Alexis Jan 23, 2012 at 8:52am

What a fun post! Very helpful for those of us who haven't been brave enough to try a wide variety! :)
rachel Jan 23, 2012 at 10:03am

i love asian candy i thought i knew alot about them because i grew up in china town but i have never heard of any those kit kats they sound amazing though!!!
lydia Jan 23, 2012 at 11:00am

I went to Japan once and went crazy over all the different things they had to offer!!! Love it so much!!!!!
Mary J Jan 23, 2012 at 11:34am

How neat, all those Kit Kat flavors!
gracie Jan 23, 2012 at 11:35am

I had no idea KitKat produced so many different flavours!
Sheree Jan 23, 2012 at 8:27pm

i <3 japanese candy! man i'd really love to try azuki kit kats!
Noreen Jan 23, 2012 at 11:04pm

I remember hearing about how certain flavours of Kit Kats are only available in certain regions of Japan, and people travel around trying to collect them!! Milky candies and hello pandas bring back memories! The detail they take with packaging is amazing....
Brobest Jan 23, 2012 at 11:29pm

I love the Hi-Chews. Was surprised at the Kit Kat variety. Can hardly wait to try some of these sweets! Miso Hungry!
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lonee Feb 9, 2012 at 7:05am

hi??
Kate @eatrecyclerepeat Feb 16, 2012 at 12:30am

What about pucca??? Pretzel-shaped tako filled with chocolate!
kayla davis Nov 13, 2012 at 2:34pm

yummy those candies loook so good!!!
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