Tropical Travels

It's Vacation Time! We’re kicking off the summer down south, in the islands of Kyushu and Okinawa.

This month's snacks:

Marui Chinsuko: Beniimo

CLASSIC EXCLUSIVE!
MADE BY: Nampo
PRODUCT OF:
Okinawa
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: No
COMMON ALLERGENS: Wheat, Soy
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

Beniimo, or purple yam as it's also known, is an Okinawa superfood. Its stunning vibrant color adds a purple tinge to this traditional Okinawan cookie, and its natural sweetness gives a rich and earthy flavor. 

 

Marui Chinsuko: Pineapple

CLASSIC EXCLUSIVE!
MADE BY: Nampo
PRODUCT OF:
Okinawa
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: No 
COMMON ALLERGENS: Wheat, Soy
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

Chinsuko are a traditional Okinawan shortbread-style cookie with a crumbly and crunchy texture. This version is flavored with another Okinawa specialty: pineapple! It has a mildly tropical flavor that is sweet and just a hint tart.

Okinawa Salted Shiquasa Fried Kakinotane

MADE BY: Idea Package
PRODUCT OF:
Osaka
FLAVOR: Savory
VEGETARIAN: Yes
COMMON ALLERGENS: Milk
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

Kakinotane is a popular snack of crescent-shaped senbei, but these are deep fried to become light and crisp! Every bite is saturated with the salty sour flavor of local shiquasa citrus. Shiquasa are native to Okinawa and the Ryukyu islands, and are popularly used as a garnish instead of lemon or lime. 

 

Karu Choco Corn Puffs

MADE BY: Shoei Delicy
PRODUCT OF:
Ibaraki
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: Yes 
COMMON ALLERGENS: Milk, Wheat, Soy
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

 

These corn puffs are the kind of snack that will be gone before you know it! We think it’s the classic sweet and salty combo that makes them so addictive. The salt used is aoi umi or blue ocean salt that is made from seawater collected exclusively in one area of Okinawa.

 

Yuzu Monaka

MADE BY: Eguchi Seika
PRODUCT OF:
Fukuoka
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: Yes 
COMMON ALLERGENS: None
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

 

Monaka is a traditional Japanese confection, consisting of thin, delicate mochi wafers and a thick jammy filling made with sweet red or white bean paste. This tropical version uses white bean paste and yuzu citrus for a sweet, tangy filling.

 

Shima Togarashi Rice Crackers and Peanuts

MADE BY: Nansei Shokuhin
PRODUCT OF:
Okinawa
FLAVOR: Savory
VEGETARIAN: No
COMMON ALLERGENS: Crustacean Shellfish, Peanuts, Milk
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

 

These crunchy rice crackers are flavored with spicy shima togarashi, or island red chili pepper. It’s a type of hot chili pepper from Okinawa known for its strong heat and aroma. In the local dialect it’s called koregusu, and it gives this rice cracker peanut mix a kick!

 

Zawawa Chinsuko: Black Sesame + Kinako

MADE BY: Okinesia
PRODUCT OF:
Okinawa
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: No 
COMMON ALLERGENS: Eggs, Tree Nuts, Wheat, Soy
ALSO CONTAINS: Mollusk Shellfish

Black sesame kinako is a popular flavor in Japan, but isn’t common in chinsuko so we were excited to find these! Chinsuko is a traditional Okinawa cookie and it usually is flavored with local ingredients. However this version is a deliciously nutty departure from tradition. 

 

Curry Kamesen

MADE BY: Yamoto Seika
PRODUCT OF:
Nagasaki
FLAVOR: Savory
VEGETARIAN: Yes 
COMMON ALLERGENS: Wheat
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

Kamesen is a popular type of rice cracker, named for its shape that looks like a turtle (kame) shell. They are deep-fried for a crisp and light texture, with lots of cracks to hold on to the yummy curry seasoning. 

 

Zeitaku na Gummy: Kumamoto Watermelon

MADE BY: Sanjaku Ame Honpo
PRODUCT OF:
Osaka
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: No 
COMMON ALLERGENS: Fish, Soy
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

Kumamoto prefecture is known for its watermelons, and peak season is March through June—just in time for a fresh batch of watermelon gummies! This luxuriously chewy gummy uses only Kumamoto watermelons for a premium flavor.

 

Kabosu Nuts Sable Cookie

MADE BY: Dontoyaki Honpo
PRODUCT OF:
Oita
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: Yes
COMMON ALLERGENS: Milk, Eggs, Tree Nuts, Wheat, Soy
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

Kabosu is a citrus fruit native to Oita Prefecture. Its sour juice is often used in place of vinegar in local cuisine, but it’s also great for flavoring buttery cookies like this sable. The tender texture is broken up with finely chopped nuts for added interest. 

 

Yuki no Yado: Kokuto Black Sugar Milk Rice Cracker

MADE BY: Sanko Seika
PRODUCT OF:
Niigata
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: No
COMMON ALLERGENS: Milk, Soy
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

Sweet and salty rice crackers are a great snack to pair with tea. They are flavored with kokuto, a naturally dark sugar made from sugarcane in Okinawa, and sweet milk. Since kokuto is a natural sugar, it has a complex flavor that makes this cracker even tastier. 

 

Brown Sugar Caramel Macchiato Sandwich Cookie

MADE BY: Chinpindo
PRODUCT OF: Okinawa
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: No
COMMON ALLERGENS: Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Soy
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

This snack is like a chic cafe in a cookie. The subtle espresso flavor perfectly suits the rich sweetness of the kokuto sugar and nutty hint of caramel. The crumbly cookie is a great contrast to the smooth, thick filling too for a wonderful balance of flavor and texture. 

 

Higa Granny's Sanpin Cha Jasmin Tea

MADE BY: Higa Seicha
PRODUCT OF:
Okinawa
VEGETARIAN: Yes 
COMMON ALLERGENS: None
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

Jasmine tea, known as sanpin cha in Okinawa is a great example of how the Ryukyu islands historically blend influences from both China and Japan. Its light floral aroma is pleasant and faintly sweet against the delicate green tea base.

BREWING INSTRUCTIONS:
Steep the tea bag to your desired strength in hot water. Remove the teabag and enjoy.

 

Marui Chinsuko: Beniimo

CLASSIC EXCLUSIVE!
MADE BY: Nampo
PRODUCT OF:
Okinawa
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: No
COMMON ALLERGENS: Wheat, Soy
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

Beniimo, or purple yam as it's also known, is an Okinawa superfood. Its stunning vibrant color adds a purple tinge to this traditional Okinawan cookie, and its natural sweetness gives a rich and earthy flavor. 

 

Marui Chinsuko: Pineapple

CLASSIC EXCLUSIVE!
MADE BY: Nampo
PRODUCT OF:
Okinawa
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: No 
COMMON ALLERGENS: Wheat, Soy
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

Chinsuko are a traditional Okinawan shortbread-style cookie with a crumbly and crunchy texture. This version is flavored with another Okinawa specialty: pineapple! It has a mildly tropical flavor that is sweet and just a hint tart.

Okinawa Salted Shiquasa Fried Kakinotane

MADE BY: Idea Package
PRODUCT OF:
Osaka
FLAVOR: Savory
VEGETARIAN: Yes
COMMON ALLERGENS: Milk
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

Kakinotane is a popular snack of crescent-shaped senbei, but these are deep fried to become light and crisp! Every bite is saturated with the salty sour flavor of local shiquasa citrus. Shiquasa are native to Okinawa and the Ryukyu islands, and are popularly used as a garnish instead of lemon or lime. 

 

Karu Choco Corn Puffs

MADE BY: Shoei Delicy
PRODUCT OF:
Ibaraki
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: Yes 
COMMON ALLERGENS: Milk, Wheat, Soy
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

 

These corn puffs are the kind of snack that will be gone before you know it! We think it’s the classic sweet and salty combo that makes them so addictive. The salt used is aoi umi or blue ocean salt that is made from seawater collected exclusively in one area of Okinawa.

 

Yuzu Monaka

MADE BY: Eguchi Seika
PRODUCT OF:
Fukuoka
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: Yes 
COMMON ALLERGENS: None
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

 

Monaka is a traditional Japanese confection, consisting of thin, delicate mochi wafers and a thick jammy filling made with sweet red or white bean paste. This tropical version uses white bean paste and yuzu citrus for a sweet, tangy filling.

 

Shima Togarashi Rice Crackers and Peanuts

MADE BY: Nansei Shokuhin
PRODUCT OF:
Okinawa
FLAVOR: Savory
VEGETARIAN: No
COMMON ALLERGENS: Crustacean Shellfish, Peanuts, Milk
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

 

These crunchy rice crackers are flavored with spicy shima togarashi, or island red chili pepper. It’s a type of hot chili pepper from Okinawa known for its strong heat and aroma. In the local dialect it’s called koregusu, and it gives this rice cracker peanut mix a kick!

 

Curry Kamesen

MADE BY: Yamoto Seika
PRODUCT OF:
Nagasaki
FLAVOR: Savory
VEGETARIAN: Yes 
COMMON ALLERGENS: Wheat
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

Kamesen is a popular type of rice cracker, named for its shape that looks like a turtle (kame) shell. They are deep-fried for a crisp and light texture, with lots of cracks to hold on to the yummy curry seasoning. 

 

Zeitaku na Gummy: Kumamoto Watermelon

MADE BY: Sanjaku Ame Honpo
PRODUCT OF:
Osaka
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: No 
COMMON ALLERGENS: Fish, Soy
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

Kumamoto prefecture is known for its watermelons, and peak season is March through June—just in time for a fresh batch of watermelon gummies! This luxuriously chewy gummy uses only Kumamoto watermelons for a premium flavor.

 

Kabosu Nuts Sable Cookie

MADE BY: Dontoyaki Honpo
PRODUCT OF:
Oita
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: Yes
COMMON ALLERGENS: Milk, Eggs, Tree Nuts, Wheat, Soy
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

Kabosu is a citrus fruit native to Oita Prefecture. Its sour juice is often used in place of vinegar in local cuisine, but it’s also great for flavoring buttery cookies like this sable. The tender texture is broken up with finely chopped nuts for added interest. 

 

Yuki no Yado: Kokuto Black Sugar Milk Rice Cracker

MADE BY: Sanko Seika
PRODUCT OF:
Niigata
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: No
COMMON ALLERGENS: Milk, Soy
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

Sweet and salty rice crackers are a great snack to pair with tea. They are flavored with kokuto, a naturally dark sugar made from sugarcane in Okinawa, and sweet milk. Since kokuto is a natural sugar, it has a complex flavor that makes this cracker even tastier. 

 

Brown Sugar Caramel Macchiato Sandwich Cookie

MADE BY: Chinpindo
PRODUCT OF: Okinawa
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: No
COMMON ALLERGENS: Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Soy
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

This snack is like a chic cafe in a cookie. The subtle espresso flavor perfectly suits the rich sweetness of the kokuto sugar and nutty hint of caramel. The crumbly cookie is a great contrast to the smooth, thick filling too for a wonderful balance of flavor and texture. 

 

Higa Granny's Sanpin Cha Jasmin Tea

MADE BY: Higa Seicha
PRODUCT OF:
Okinawa
VEGETARIAN: Yes 
COMMON ALLERGENS: None
ALSO CONTAINS: N/A

Jasmine tea, known as sanpin cha in Okinawa is a great example of how the Ryukyu islands historically blend influences from both China and Japan. Its light floral aroma is pleasant and faintly sweet against the delicate green tea base.

BREWING INSTRUCTIONS:
Steep the tea bag to your desired strength in hot water. Remove the teabag and enjoy.

 

Zawawa Chinsuko: Black Sesame + Kinako

MADE BY: Okinesia
PRODUCT OF:
Okinawa
FLAVOR: Sweet
VEGETARIAN: No 
COMMON ALLERGENS: Eggs, Tree Nuts, Wheat, Soy
ALSO CONTAINS: Mollusk Shellfish

Black sesame kinako is a popular flavor in Japan, but isn’t common in chinsuko so we were excited to find these! Chinsuko is a traditional Okinawa cookie and it usually is flavored with local ingredients. However this version is a deliciously nutty departure from tradition. 

 

Ready to experience Japan?