There has been a lot of buzz on which snack sensation was first. Pepero or Pocky? Does it really matter which delicious delight began the snacking sensation? Isn’t imitation a form of flattery? It is time to come together people and say there is room for both! Yes, let us all snack together! One world of goodies and sweetness!There is room for all the snacks of the world to be munched on! Kirin Sticks, German Mikado Sticks, and Yan Yan too. These thin stick-like candy coated biscuits that are favored snacks of many can bring us together! Love people… World Snack love! 

Aren’t we elated at the chocolate coated confections have reached the western market? They now grace the shelves of many convenience stores. No more trekking to specialty stores or anime conventions to get our cravings, you can even buy them online. However, I do find it slightly ironic that many supermarkets don’t carry these cookie-like goodies but make room for their westernized brethen. Yes, I am talking about Nestle Stixx. I’ve tried sticks and I have found them to be lacking in comparison to their Asian cousins. Now of course if you would want to share a Stixx with me.. I would comply only out of my extreme politeness.
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: candy, Pepero, Pocky, stix, treat

The Ezaki family has been creating and innovating confectionary products, including the immensely popular Pocky, since 1922. Their company, Ezaki Glico is currently run by Katsuhisa Ezaki, who has been serving since 1982.

First sold in 1966, Pocky consisted of a biscuit stick coated with chocolate. Simply enough, right? It had sales of ¥30b yen in its first two years (roughly $30.2b USD) and was an instant hit among Japanese teenagers.

Founding Father
After the death of one of his sons, Riichi Ezaki had retreated to a fishing village and noticed a group of very healthy and active children playing. Further investigation yielded the villagers’ high consumption of oysters which contained elevated levels of glycogen.
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: biscuit stick, chocolate, ezaki, Pocky, riichi ezaki, treat, yen