Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Hanahiyori - Green Tea White Chocolates

imageSometimes I’ve just gotta buy something because of the way it looks. I saw someone posting photos of this candy on Flickr a few months back. If I hadn’t seen what was inside the box, I’m not sure I would have bought it. The box is 5” wide and 4.5” deep (and only .75” high). The little candies are depicted on the package as well as a diagram of them (in Japanese) on the back (see the website for the text if you’re curious).

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I’ve always been pleased with Morinaga’s products. They’re one of Japan’s finer mass-market candymakers. Their ingredients are good quality and they have a fantastic way with packaging.

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The candies are “white chocolate” (made with real cocoa butter) with green tea in it (matcha). They’re shaped into pretty little candies - a fan, a flower, a leaf.

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There are two different kinds - a dark matcha shape with a chocolate base and then a version with a white chocolate outside with a green tea inside. Though they look different, besides the little bit of dark chocolate on some of them, they taste the same. If you’ve ever had green tea ice cream, that’s basically what this tastes like. Sweet, milky green tea in a solid creamy form.

Some matcha treats have a grain to them, but these are pretty smooth with a mellow, earthy flavor that has only a slight bitter note in the middle. The floral notes stay with you long after you’ve finished them, it’s a pleasant feeling, not like coffee breath. As white chocolates go, this is the way to eat them. They’re pretty, they have an actual flavor and they probably give you a good boost of antioxidants. These are the perfect little gift for someone. The packaging is sweet but they’re not too expensive (even for an import). They’d also be a nice finish to a Japanese-style meal. The package says that a single serving is the whole box, but at 167 calories per ounce, you’ll be doing your heart a favor if you share.

Note: You can order them online from JBox or scour the Japanese markets for them. They may be a seasonal item. This post is pretty much a blatant photography exhibition, they were just so ding-dang cute!

Name: Hanahiyori - Green Tea White Chocolates
    RATING:
  • 10 SUPERB
  • 9 YUMMY
  • 8 TASTY
  • 7 WORTH IT
  • 6 TEMPTING
  • 5 PLEASANT
  • 4 BENIGN
  • 3 UNAPPEALING
  • 2 APPALLING
  • 1 INEDIBLE
Brand: Morinaga
Place Purchased: Mitsuwa (Little Tokyo)
Price: $2.39
Size: 1.44 ounces
Calories per ounce: 167
Categories: Chocolate, White Chocolate, Japan, Morinaga

POSTED BY Cybele AT 9:31 am Tracker Pixel for Entry    

Comments
  1. My friend sent me a greentea flavoured Kitkat, when she was working as a teacher in Japan.

    Having only drunk green tea once (and not loving that), I did eye the slightly snot green colouring with some trepidation. But I was surprised to find how nice it tasted!

    Comment by Helen (Sammy) on 2/22/06 at 12:18 pm #
  2. I almost want to stop visiting this site because every time I do, I want to click the links, order the goods and then abandon my trusty keyboard and await their arrival.

    Purr.

    I love you candyblog!

    I even have a special secret fund that I slip a dollar into here and there when my writing actually pays off. And when it accumulates, you guessed it: I purchase a selection from candyblog that I squirrel away in my desk drawer and nibble on in secret.  Current selection: Choxie Hot Chocolate bar.

    And these tea chocolates look just divine!

    Comment by Erin O'Brien on 2/22/06 at 5:11 pm #
  3. Those green tea chocolates look really nice. I must second Morinaga on being a great candy manufacturer. I’m actually surprised these aren’t more expensive… the quality makes it look like it might be 4 bucks or more.

    cybele, btw did you get my email?  i’m not sure but i might have sent it to your gmail accidentally. =)

    Comment by Bryan on 2/23/06 at 11:13 am #
  4. MMM.  I have seen this box but never bought.  You just sold me, i will buy some this week.

    Comment by Easily Pleased on 2/25/06 at 2:52 pm #
  5. Mmmm. Oohhh, man! If you liked these, you gotta try the ones that are the Red bean flavor. I liked them soo much better than the Matcha ones…and I’m a big Matcha fan!

    Comment by Sera on 2/28/06 at 7:12 pm #
  6. sera’s right. the red bean (azuki) flavoured ones are real good. and they’re made from premium red beans from hokkaido.
    (the matcha’s from uji, which is famous for exactly that)

    Comment by LC on 3/15/06 at 4:04 am #
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