Pepsi Cola - Dry

LINK to this product

Name: Pepsi Dry

Maker: Pepsi/Suntory, Japan

Flavor: Kola Bean

Size: 490 mL

Release Date: May 2011

Best Before Date: Winter 2011

Packaging - I was so excited to pick up this shimmering silver PET bottle from my local convenience store on the morning of its release: May 24, 2011. The caps differ from store to store as some have the Pepsi logo and others are plain white. The latter was due to a shortage of caps influenced by the March earthquake. The PET bottle is curvy and fits in my hand snugly for easy drinking. Can't wait to crack it open!

At First Glance - Having not eaten breakfast I figured my senses would be in top form at 9 am. I cracked the cap off with a satisfying burst of carbonation escaping the neck. Immediately I took a whiff of the soda and found it to be exactly like regular Pepsi. Oh-oh, I thought. The color wasn't even different which added to my disappointment. Did past flavors such as Ice Cucumber and Azuki Red Bean Pepsi raise my expectations? I just had to drink it and find out...

What's Inside / The Taste - During the first second the Pepsi Dry hit my mouth I thought I had been duped. Was Pepsi just taking out a flavorless ingredient and calling it something different? tick...tick...THEN...second two came! Pepsi hit the back of my tongue where the bitter taste-bud receptors live and I forgot about all the other odd Pepsi products I have sampled in the past. This Pepsi Dry is bitter, adult bitter. Not only that but the sugar content is much lower than in regular Pepsi. Even after swallowing you can still taste that wonderful, almost black coffee-like flavor, in the back of your mouth. Surprisingly it is very refreshing too and filled with tons of carbonation. I absolutely LOVE this product and expect it to be a huge hit.

Extra Details - Pepsi wanted to design a traditional cola soda which contains Kola Bean, a very bitter African nut with a higher caffeine content and low sugar.

Nutritional Information (per 100 mL):

Energy - 21 Calories

Protein - 0.0 grams

Fat - 0.0 grams

Carbohydrates - 5.3 grams

Sodium - 8 milligrams

Ten Star rating - 10/10 My first perfect rating. Great job Pepsi! Too busy to type any more as I am drinking a Pepsi Dry.

Thank you for your continued business and if you have any product requests or questions feel free to contact us anytime!

Happy Snacking!

Fujiya LOOK Chocolate Parfait - Almond

  LINK to this product

Name: LOOK Chocolate - Almond Chocolate Parfait

Maker: Fujiya

Flavor: Vanilla and Chocolate Ice Cream with Almond and Waffle

Size: 14 cubes - 3.8 grams each (53.2 gram)

Release Date: April 2011

Best Before Date: Winter 2011

Packaging - This LOOK release is a non-standard size pack. Typically LOOK chocolates are packed loose on a tray within a thin box. The Parfait versions are individually wrapped cubes in a square box that opens from the top for easy sharing. The photo on the box is very glossy and captures all of the flavors stuffed within each chocolate cube. The individual wrappers are a brilliant red color and tear open easily for quick snacking.

 Box opens from top for easy sharing.

At First Glance - The chocolate cubes (actually trapezoids) have a very smooth milk chocolate finish and measure 2 cm at the bottom and 1 cm at the top. They are 1.5 cm tall. The chocolate seems quite delicate as it melted slightly on my fingers after a few seconds. They do have a very nice dessert aroma to them.

What's Inside / The Taste - The cross section of these chocolates is quite sophisticated. The top contains an accurate vanilla whip cream filling. Just under that are crunchy sugar coated almonds which remind me of Ferrero Rocher. Under that layer we find a delightful chocolate whip cream with bits of waffle embedded throughout. Fujiya really added a lot of taste into such a small space. I really enjoyed the texture of the crunchy almonds and the vanilla cream made it actually taste like a parfait. The waffle bits were hard to recognize however they did add to the eating experience due to their crispiness. I really enjoy the milk chocolate coating too as it is similar to a chocolate pudding. Maybe that is why it melted so easily.

Extra Details - Fujiya is a very old and famous Japanese confectionery company and they offer a vast array of chocolate products. I have even tried their real parfaits at their restaurants and was very impressed. LOOK is a fantastic brand that everyone should try at least once. This parfait version also comes in Green Tea flavor with sweet Azuki bean. Plus we carry a half dozen flavors of other LOOK products. Check them out!

Nutritional Information (per 3.8 gram cube):

Energy - 23 Calories

Protein - 0.3 grams

Fat - 1.6 grams

Carbohydrates - 1.8 grams

Sodium - 2 milligrams

Ten Star rating - 9.5/10 I was extremely satisfied with this product since it captured so many flavors and textures within one cube of chocolate. It was easy to polish off a half box with a cup of coffee.


Try these other LOOK flavors:

  LOOK Green Tea Parfait

  LOOK French Strawberry Dessert

We are back to blogging after a long absence. Despite the recent earthquake and tsunami in Honshu, napaJapan has been operating as normal. There have been some new product release delays but things should be getting back to normal soon. In fact, we will be seeing a lot more stuff in this month (May 2011.) Thank you for your continued business and if you have any product requests or questions feel free to contact us anytime!

Happy Snacking!

Suntory Chocolate Sparkling Soda "Wonderland"

Name: Chocolate Sparkling Soda

Maker: Suntory

Flavor: Rich Chocolate

Size: 410 mL

Release Date: January 2011

Best Before Date: Summer 2011

Packaging - Not your typical PET bottle as this contains 410 mL of soda rather than the standard 500 mL volume. The plastic wrapper has Alice in Wonderland images in monotone (there are various wrapper designs along with a 2011 date) which makes it a nice collectors bottle. A white twist off cap is secured on top its long slim neck.

At First Glance - I twist off the cap and immediately watch hundreds of tiny bubbles shoot upwards. Ah...this looks so fresh! Lowering my nose to the top of the bottle I inhale an intriguing aroma of bitter cocoa with sour subtleties. It pours into a glass like a typical colorless soda and fizzes up once again especially later when I add ice.

The Taste - If your taste buds are anything like mine you will be pleasantly surprised by the richness of chocolate in this soda. Not only that, but the carbonation is a perfect match since it doesn't burn your throat like you find with colas. I have tried other chocolate sodas in the past but they were always overly sweet. This soda places emphasis on the cocoa flavor rather than the sugar. All ages will enjoy it but I believe adults will appreciate it most.

Extra Details - Try it in a float with vanilla ice cream for a delicious instant kids drink. Adults can mix it with their liquor of choice. Ice pops may be another good use for this product. I like it on ice. This will only be around for a few months so be sure to snap them up before spring.

Nutritional Information (per 100 mL.):

Energy - 49 Calories

Protein - 0 grams

Fat - 0 grams

Carbohydrates - 12.1 grams

Sodium - 0 milligrams

Ten Star rating - 9/10 This did not taste like cheap chocolate but rather high-end. The champagne like bubbles had me feeling I was drinking something outside of my daily price range. Suntory is a huge beverage maker (all Japanese Pepsi products) and beer brewer in Japan. They often release unique flavors of beverages that I am sometimes too scared to sample (lemon and vinegar yogurt...ugh...pass!) Keep checking back for new releases.


While you are at our site please check out some other recent soda releases:

  Fanta White Grape Soda

  Pepsi Mont Blanc Chesnut

Thank you for your continued business and if you have any product requests or questions feel free to contact us anytime!

Happy Snacking!

Meiji - Crunchy Biscuit Chocolate Bar

 LINK to this product

Name: Crunchy Biscuit Chocolate

Maker: Meiji

Flavor: Chocolate of different textures

Size: 51 grams

Release Date: September 2010

Best Before Date: Summer 2011

Packaging - Simple red, thin box that opens on the end. Even the graphics aren't spectacular so I was surprised I sampled it so early. The huge Meiji letters are probably what drew me too it (if you have read my previous write-ups on products you will know how much of a fan of Meiji chocolate I am.) There is a foil 'pouch' inside containing the bar rather than typical foil wrapping. This must keep it much fresher. Best before date on box is nearly a year out.

Here is the other Meiji Creamy Marshmallow Bar released on the same day.

Please give me your review on this one

At First Glance - The chocolate looked very plain except for the sectional score lines and the prospect of some yummy looking chocolate bits poking through at the bottom of the bar. Also I noticed the chocolate to be much softer than typical chocolate bars in its category, despite the fact I ate it on a hot summer evening.

What's Inside - I'll tell you what is inside: A TON of mini chocolate cookie bits about the same size as small chocolate chips. The official name on the box contains "biscuit" but being from Canada that word definitely doesn't describe these chocolate COOKIES! To some it is semantics but for me biscuit is such a old-fashioned, boring name.

The Taste - Double chocolate delight! First off, Meiji makes the best mass-produced chocolate in Japan (IMO.) The embedded chocolate bits turn out to taste like crunchy brownies and they match the soft chocolate perfectly in both texture and flavor. I usually don't finish a bar in one sitting but this one just didn't have a chance.

Extra Details - I scoffed the last half of this bar down as I sipped my Japanese Whiskey on the rocks. They worked well together and made a satisfying nightcap. Try the marshmallow version if you like really sweet treats.

Nutritional Information (per 51 gram bar):

Energy - 281 Calories

Protein - 3.2 grams

Fat - 16.2 grams

Carbohydrates - 30.6 grams

Sodium - 75 milligrams

Ten Star rating - 8.5/10 I was going to give it a 10 but I suppose I am slightly biased after drinking Whiskey (I feel great!) and also the fact Meiji can do no wrong with me.

CHECK OUT SOME NEW FEATURES ON OUR SITE - JUST UPDATED SEPTEMBER 5, 2010

Try these other great Meiji products:

                    Blueberry Bar                    Choco Baby

Happy Snacking!

Doritos - Korean Roasted Seaweed

LINK to Japanese DORITOS we sell

Name: Doritos

Maker: Frito Lay

Flavor: Korean Roasted Seaweed

Size: 70 grams

Release Date: August 2010

Best Before Date: January 2011

Packaging - A very attractive green foil bag with a ton of Japanese writing on it with a VERY small Doritos logo in the top left corner. The picture of the chips were non-Doritos-like so I almost missed this new flavor. Oh how I wish I had. The big W on the top right corner stands for double (usually as in flavor) so I thought I should give these a try.

At First Glance - So I opened the bag and the smell of the ocean shoreline on a low tide rushed into my nostrils. It wasn't what I was expecting or wanting. It really put me off but I knew I had to continue and take one for the team. The chips are rectangular and about 6cm long. They are light green/brown/yellow in color with a ton of seaweed spots and salt. So now the appearance has even put me off. Why did I buy these?

What's Inside - I will get to the taste soon but just confirm that there ARE corn chips under all the flavorings and salt. They crunch the same as triangular Doritos and you receive the same amount per bag (70 grams.).

The Taste - Oh boy! The first chip entered my mouth and I licked the seasonings to get the full flavor profile. Never has a flavor disappointed me and offended me at the same time. Now I love seafood, seaweed, and even other sea plants often consumed in Japan. However, it felt like I was licking an algae infested wharf post that had been seasoned by the ocean for 80 years.

I managed to get through 2 chips for this blog but I paid a price of a terrible aftertaste that wouldn't go away. The only beverage I had around was a canned coffee and that didn't help the potpourri of flavors gone awry in my mouth. I had to wait a full 15 minutes before I had access to a toothbrush and mouthwash. Yes, they were that bad! No wonder Frito Lay hid the Doritos logo in the top corner of the bag.

!! SPECIAL OFFER !! - Since I refuse to list these on my site but realize there may be some brave souls out there I have an offer for those warped people ;)
Spend $25 or more (before shipping) at napaJapan and I will send you a free bag of these. I would like to hear your take on them. To receive your free bag you must send a message to SALES after you place your order. Just write: Doritos in the message body along with your Order Number. Offer expires August 31, 2010. One free bag per order. While supplies last.

Nutritional Information (per 70 gram bag):

Energy - 355 Calories

Protein - 5.5 grams

Fat - 17.7 grams

Carbohydrates - 43.5 grams

Sodium - 596 milligrams

Ten Star rating - 1/10 The worst product I have ever reviewed.


Instead of the seaweed flavor I recommend the following Frito Lay products:

                    Doritos - Ebimayo          Cheetos - Korean Yakiniku

Happy Snacking!

Kopan - Tuna & Onion Toast Rusks

 Click HERE to view the product at napaJapan

Name: Copan (Kopan)

Maker: Meiji

Flavor: Tuna & Onion

Size: 47 grams

Release Date: July 2010

Best Before Date: December 2010 (and beyond)

Packaging - Colorful green foil bag that opens from the top like any ordinary chip bag but has a flat bottom so it can sit upright on its own. There is no reseal on this package so you better eat them all in one sitting. Italian writing on the bottom of the bag but everything else is written in Japanese.

At First Glance - Each toast rusk is the same length (4.5 cm) and have an oval shape with pointed ends. They are about 0.5 cm thick. There are no broken pieces in the bag, probably because of their thickness. A wonderful aroma of buttered onion escapes the bag upon opening. If you hold your nose closer you soon pick up the tuna smell. The toast rusks do not look seasoned but have what looks like some butter soaked into them.

What's Inside - The rusks have the same crunch from one end to the other. This crunch is just perfect for me. I was expecting a hard product but these are light and crispy. They do seem a bit oily when handling them over a few minutes. I had to wipe my hands a few times.

The Taste - Meji hits a home run every time when they flavor their products. From the first bite to the last your mouth is swarmed with such an accurate taste of onion, tuna and butter. I would say onion is the strongest of the 3 flavors. The rusk flavor is mild which probably exaggerates the seasonings. The aftertaste is very prevalent though very delightful. I ate these 'sans beverage' and I am glad I did because it made me appreciate the flavor more and the crispiness was bolder.

Extra Info - I recommend these as an alternative to any potato or corn chips. Copan is spelled Kopan if you follow Japanese Romaji rules however Meiji advertises them as Copan which is translated as small bread. There are about a half dozen flavors out each year which include 3 standards. Check out the Copan we carry at napaJapan.

Nutritional Information (per 47 gram bag):

Energy - 253 Calories

Protein - 3.7 grams

Fat - 14.3 grams

Carbohydrates - 27.4 grams

Sodium - 270 milligrams

Ten Star rating - 9/10 Great crunch, satisfying amount for a snack, and accurate flavor. I wish the tuna had stood out the most.


If you like this product, or what you read in the review, I recommend the following products:

                    Copan Ham & Cheese          Doritos Air - Consomme

Happy Snacking!

Tohato Caramel Corn - Ramune Flavor

Click HERE to view the product at napaJapan

Name: Caramel Corn

Maker: Tohato

Flavor: Ramune Soda

Size: 75 grams

Release Date: July 2010

Best Before Date: November 2011

Packaging - Cute and appealing light blue foil bag with the classic Tohato eyes and nose adorning the package. The traditional Japanese Ramune (white citrus soda) bottle pokes out of a tub of ice cold water signifying summer has arrived! Opens from the top like any ordinary chip bag. There is no reseal on this package so you better eat them all in one sitting.

At First Glance - I didn't expect these to be so white though if they were blue I probably would have been reluctant to try them. Each corn puff curl is about 1.5 inches (4 cm) if they were straightened. A sweet Froot Loops® cereal aroma escaped the bag upon opening. The quantity of product in the bag was surprising and impressive so I was looking forward to munch away during my daily snack time (until I looked at the nutritional info...we will get to that later.) Anyhow, these are very sturdy despite the light weight and there was no breakage at the bottom of the bag.

What's Inside - These contain light and crispy corn with a thin layer of flavoring. The consistency from the outer coating to the center of the corn curl is very even.

The Taste - Caramel is in the product name but caramel is not what you are going to experience with this flavor. All I found was a light citrus flavored coating which was VERY sweet. The corn curl is sweet to begin with so a lot of sugar was used. The package claims these to be fizzy however it was very hard for me to pick up any carbonation. All I got was a tangy and sweet flavor though the ramune flavor was quite accurate. The crunch can be described as when you eat cheese puffs though the outer coating is slightly harder. No real aftertaste except for the sugar.

Extra Info - Ramune is a popular Japanese white soda that is usually consumed in summer. The uniquely shaped glass bottle has a glass marble under the cap to seal it. To open, the marble is pushed down into the pinched neck of the bottle creating a fizzy back-flow of soda. Check out the Ramune candies we carry at napaJapan.

Nutritional Information (per 75 gram bag):

Energy - 400.4 Calories * we told you there was a lot of sugar!

Protein - 1.7 grams

Fat - 22.4 grams

Carbohydrates - 49.1 grams

Sodium - 125.3 milligrams

Ten Star rating - 6.5/10 Too sweet for me!


If you like this product, or what you read in the review, I recommend the following products:

Ramune Candy Pellets          Nerunerunerune - Ramune Soda

Happy Snacking!