Japanese Chewing Gum - Options Galore

On my first visit to Japan I was overwhelmed by the selection of products in every type of industry. From electronics stores to household shops or from supermarkets to convenience stores, it seems that there are hundreds of choices for whatever is on your shopping list. 

For candy lovers, Japan is the ultimate place to shop as the selection is even more diverse. By browsing our store you probably already have seen a great sample of this. That is because napaJapan always keeps on top of the newest, weirdest, tastiest, and most popular products. Our customers also give us listing suggestions which helps keep our inventory exciting, fun, and relevant.

If we break down the candy category even further to chewing gum, we expose even more wonderful flavors, collaborations and formats.

So let's run through a few types of chewing gums available in Japan:

Beauty Gum:

This corner of the gum market has been blossoming over the past few years. Fragrance filled gums with blends of flowers and fruit are very popular with women. They are even marketed with health beneficial properties. Glamatic and Fuwarinka are two of the most well known names out there.

Xylitol Gum:

One way to sweeten gum without adding as many calories is to use Xylitol, which is a naturally occurring carbohydrate. In Japan, this sugar alcohol based substance is added to many gums and candies. The Lotte Xylitol brand is available in a handful of fruit and mint flavors every year. They are a perfect gum to give your mouth a quick freshen up.

Bubble Gum:

Since blowing bubbles is not such a common thing in Japan and can even be considered rude, the availability of soft gum is not so vast. Bubblicious was once popular but now we find smaller alternatives such as Felix The Cat brand or Wata Cotton Candy that transforms into gum.

Long Lasting Gum:

When you are searching for both uniquely flavored and long lasting gums, look no further than Fit's. There are usually a dozen different types out at any given time. They often do collaborations with popular animation characters resulting in some cute and collectible packaging. 

Gum is very light so the shipping costs are not so expensive. You can put together large gum orders and not break the bank. We intend to add more and more selections as the manufactures release them so please check back often.

Happy chewing!

J-san

5 Japanese Snacks You Must Try Once

Since the Japanese confectionery market is always changing, it is extremely hard to keep up with all of the latest releases. As a casual candy and snack fan, you may come across a rare or unusual flavor only to have it disappear from store shelves within weeks or days. That is how fluid the sweet scene is here in Japan. There are regional exclusives, store exclusives, seasonal editions, and even variations on package appearance and size. This can make it overwhelming for the average consumer to select the perfect Japanese snack.

At napaJapan we often get requests from our customers to put together special random packs because they have no idea where to begin. Our catalog of over 500 products is massive, however it still doesn't cover everything that is available in the marketplace. We try to offer a nice balance of recognized brands, traditional goods, and rare special edition flavors. napaJapan is truly a one-stop-shop for Japanese confectionery products. It would be nearly impossible for you to find all of the products we sell because many of these fresh items have already been discontinued. The long shelf life on Japanese candy allows you to stock up on your favorites because who knows if they will be released again.

I have come up with five Japanese snacks you must try at least once. Since there are so many confectionery categories I have chosen the top product in these five genres: Cookies/Chocolate, Gummy Candy, DIY Candy Kits, Salty Snacks, and Soda Pop. Of course we do offer other types of delicious products so be sure to browse our products by category. The products I have chosen are available year round.

#1 - Every Burger Chocolate Cookie Snack

Once you get past the cute packaging you are introduced to the most adorable little snacks all sealed up in the inner foil bag. The manufacturer, Bourbon, spared no detail as the bun cookies even have sesame seeds on them and are partially glazed to give them an accurate grilled appearance. The 'meat' patty is made of milk chocolate while the 'cheese' slice is made of beige/white chocolate. They have a wonderful crunchy texture and the flavor is fantastic.

#2 - Kororo Fruit Gummy Candy

This has got to be the oddest gummy candy you will ever try. Texture! It is all about the texture. Imagine an overripe grape that is just about to burst its skin. These gummy candies have the "water balloon" feeling and when you bite into them a rich fruity rush of grape flavor fills your mouth. Quite an outstanding eating experience. Available in a few flavors at any given time. Both red grape and green grape are standard flavors.

#3 - Popin' Cookin' DIY Sushi Candy Kit

This product is a must for a rainy day. There are now over two dozen types of DIY candy kits. napaJapan carries them all HERE. The Sushi Kit is special because it is the one that ignited the Kracie Candy Kit boom. In the box you get powders, trays, and tools that allow you to make realistic, edible, mini candy sushi. All you need to do is add water for this particular kit. You can get English instructions HERE. There are a few easy techniques to create tuna, egg, and even salmon row. The main flavor is grape.

#4 - Cheeza - Real Cheese Crackers

The packaging on these does not scream 'Must Try!" however if you have been lucky enough to try them you will know what the fuss is all about. There is no fake cheese flavor found here. Over 50% of the cheese flavor comes from real cheese powder. This gives these triangular crunchy crackers so much taste. They are ridiculously addictive and they pair up so well with any cold beverage. These are usually sold in Cheddar and Camembert Cheese versions. You will also find limited edition versions from time to time so keep checking back.

#5 - Fanta Melon Soda

This is a very exclusive soda flavor, even within the borders of Japan! The full melon taste immediately comes through when sipping this bright green soda. It is so appealing both visually and gastronomically. It tastes so wonderful over ice cream too! Shipping bottles of soda from Japan can get expensive due to weight so you may want to add lighter candy products to offset the higher shipping costs.

After coming up with this list I remembered so many other products that should get honorable mentions. Since these five products only make up 0.5% of our catalog there are surely a bunch more hidden gems that are calling your name. napaJapan also carries chewing gum, mints, soft candy, hard candy, sweetened coffee & tea, potato chips, and much, much more! Please let me know your favorite Japanese sweets, snacks, or beverages. We do take product requests so feel free to drop us a line anytime!

J-san

GLICO - COVERING THE JAPANESE CANDY SPECTRUM

November 06, 2016

Ezaki Glico is a giant Japanese food manufacturer that specializes in confectionery, processed foods, and dairy products. Their most internationally famous product is Pocky, a thin cookie stick that is 80% covered in chocolate. Milk chocolate and strawberry are the most common flavors and those are sold worldwide. But when you check out the Pocky line up within Japan you soon realize how many unique flavors, special editions, and formats there are. Every region of Japan has its own specific Pocky flavor! At napaJapan we always carry the latest releases and have a minimum of 12 types available at any given time. 

Along the same lines of Pocky but "sans chocolat" is Pretz, a thin seasoned cracker with a light and crispy texture. Most of the time these are meat, sauce, or herb flavored so they would be considered a salty snack. However, from time to time, Glico offers sugary versions of Pretz such as Sweet Potato. You can expect to find at least a half dozen different types at napaJapan.

   

Sticking to the savory snack line up, Glico also offers a few unique products that go well with any cold beverage. Cheeza is a thin, triangular cracker that uses over 50% real cheese powder for flavor. They are extremely rich and have a perfect crunch. They even make alternative versions with avocado and sesame tastes. Customers like the resealable pouches as they are handy to carry along in a bag or pocket.

 
                                      

But if sweetness is your real vice then Glico's cookie and biscuit line up will surely please. Collon has a very unusual name and their look is unlike others in the marketplace. A cylindrical crispy cookie shell wraps a light chocolate center. There are usually a few flavors of Collon available every year. The Caplico cones have a similar chocolate texture but they mimic a real ice cream cone. Simply eat it from the top to the bottom while holding the cookie cone. Freeze dried ice cream is how I best describe it.

This list of Glico confectionery would not be complete without mentioning the product that started it all off nearly 100 years ago. Glico Caramel with the 'running man' on the box is likely the most iconic candy symbol within Japan. If you go to the Dotonburi district in Osaka you can't miss him running in neon. Why not grab a box of the caramels from napaJapan and see what all the fuss is about? I think the heart shaped caramels are delicious but most people love the classic mini wooden toy it comes with. 

napaJapan will always keep on top of all the new candy and snack releases within japan and offer them to the world. Please check back often to see what is new in store. We list products weekly. 

J-san