{"id":1671,"date":"2016-02-18T19:00:45","date_gmt":"2016-02-18T10:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=1671"},"modified":"2020-07-23T00:12:48","modified_gmt":"2020-07-22T15:12:48","slug":"chip-out-of-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/chip-out-of-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"A chip out of Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"
Chips in Japan have so many varieties it’s almost uncountable. \u00a0This is partly\u00a0due to the fact that Japan has so many varying flavours of chips, let alone different types of snack. <\/span> I hadn\u2019t eaten chips\/crisps regularly for a long time until coming to Japan, and now I practically can\u2019t stop. Like pretty much all Japanese food, the flavours are seasonal, which means that there are some limited-time flavours. \u00a0That’s a smart move, as I am certain I am not the only one lured into unique limited edition items. This winter I have been introduced to quite a few great flavours. \u00a0Let\u2019s take a look at them.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1. Calbee Happiness Butter Potato Chips<\/strong><\/p>\n After some research I have discovered that these are not seasonal, but I did not notice them until winter. \u00a0I haven\u2019t stopped eating them since. <\/span>My first impression of the pack was perhaps that it is Cheese and Honey flavoured, until I noticed the word \u201c<\/span>\u30d0\u30bf\u30fc\u201d read \u201cBuTah.” The pack also indicates two other main flavours: parsley and mascarpone. These are all quite subtle flavours; flavours that I may not have pictured to match together. \u00a0Perhaps that’s mainly because the butter seems to be the focus. Needless to say, I had to buy these.<\/span><\/p>\n Opening them I was surprised to find that they have quite a cheesy smell. I thought perhaps I had somehow misread \u201c\u30d0\u30bf\u30fc\u201d and it was secret cheese flavour. Now I think perhaps the salt of the butter mixed with both the cream of the mascarpone and the sweetness of the honey to give that smell.<\/span><\/p>\n The taste is over-all very smooth with a slight tang. I couldn\u2019t say if it tasted just like honey, butter, parsley, and mascarpone, as this is the only case in my memory that I have had the flavour combination. These ingredients are rather expensive in Japan, which makes me wonder if this is considered a \u201cfancy\u201d chip. Research into the flavour has revealed to me the South Korean \u201cHoney-Butter Craze:\u201d a trend so popular that stores had to put up signs to warn customers that they were out of stock, and that 60 g bags were being sold at around $50. I think it was serendipitous that I found my first bag in Japan. While I do love the flavour, I\u2019m happy with the standard Japanese price.<\/span><\/p>\n These chips are best enjoyed as soon as you get them, as it would seem that they\u2019re being bought quicker than Calbee can make them. Perhaps it\u2019s time for me to open an eBay account, and reap my millions from the craze\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n <\/a>2. Calbee Smoky Bacon<\/strong><\/p>\n So these probably aren\u2019t \u201cSmoky Bacon\u201d flavour, but they certainly are something bacon. I researched the flavour, and Calbee says that they are \u201cdark taste broiled bacon\u201d so as an Englishman, this translates to my world of snacks as \u201cSmoky Bacon\u201d. <\/span>The pack depicts a couple of thick slices of bacon upon a grill above some fire; a classic scene. Like many Calbee chips, the little potato man bashfully points to the image as if to say \u201cYou caught me unaware, I was just about to eat this big piece of bacon\u201d. <\/span>The top of the pack has what I can only describe to be \u201cBacon Stripes\u201d, which is something I feel we\u2019re all beginning to recognise as a symbol of taste as bacon continues to be a classic favourite.<\/span><\/p>\n Inside I am met with the familiar bacon-crisps smell, but like all Japanese chips, the flavour itself is more delicate. This might sound bad for snack-food, but it really is good. The taste doesn\u2019t become boring or too salty despite the generous sizes of the bags. These chips taste quite sweet, and there is a distinct difference between these and what you might find in the UK. \u00a0Yet, I can\u2019t quite put my finger on what. Maybe this could be due to the fact that bacon does not seem to have a universal form, despite its popularity; telling a Japanese person that I miss having bacon, they told me that it is easy to find, and described it to me in a combini. Even though these chips may not represent the bacon I know, they really are quite more-ish.<\/span><\/p>\n A classic crisp sandwich would be great with these\u2026 a crisp sandwich with a good Japanese lager.<\/span> 3. Koikeya Strawberry Cake<\/strong><\/p>\n Yes, Strawberry Cake-flavoured crisps. The packet depicts a nice looking sponge cake: complete with cream and a plump strawberry, floating over some crisps. Just above this, there are two giant cartoon strawberries. Without any hesitation I had to have these; deep down, my heart told me I always needed this flavour, I just didn\u2019t know it for sure until I saw the packet on the shelf.<\/span> Japan is quite famous for bizarre flavours, but I think it is actually quite rare to find something strange. So, getting this kind of flavour is quite a \u201cTwilight-Zone\u201d feeling. <\/span>I am lead to believe that this strawberry cake is the Japanese take on a Christmas cake, and that that\u2019s why it is being sold as a winter flavour.<\/span><\/p>\n The bag is large, as are the chips inside. \u00a0That’s always a nice surprise, especially in Japan, where you might picture everything to be on the \u201cpetite\u201d side. The crisps are quite sweet, and surprisingly tart, but that is toned down by the buttery cake taste. As you can imagine, the combination of potato and strawberry isn\u2019t exactly champion, but everything else about the chip is great. \u00a0It\u2019s almost like eating a strawberry granola bar, or perhaps strawberry shortcake.<\/span><\/p>\n This chip is best served as a cheap alternative to a fancy dessert at a restaurant. If you offer your partner to skip on the dessert and go straight home to open up a bag of these, I\u2019m sure the evening would be perfect.<\/span><\/p>\n
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\n<\/span>Now I know what I\u2019m having for lunch.<\/span><\/p>\n