Monday, September 17, 2012
Morinaga HiCHEW Fanta: Grape & Orange plus ColaA few months back I went on a little buying spree on eBay for some Japanese candies I was having trouble finding here in the United States. I paid far more than I usually would for mass-produced candies, but I also haven’t bought much candy on eBay and wanted to see what that experience was like so I could share it. I did a “buy it now” purchase from the storefront of jappy11. The prices were steep, about $2.00 to $2.50 per item and then there was the international shipping, which averaged out to about $1.10 additional per item. These were the small HiCHEW packages, something that I usually spend about $1.25 for here. The key to value for me is to find a seller with a large enough selection that buying multiple items that I simply can’t find anywhere else makes sense. Invoicing, payment and shipping was quick and easy. The items arrived quite quickly (but I’m on the West Coast). Grape was always my favorite soda flavor as a kid. I love to drink Shasta Grape from a matching purple anodized aluminum tumbler at my grandmother’s house. There’s nothing quite like fake grape soda.The HiChew Fanta Grape is achingly close. The tangy start has some actual authentic notes of concord grape at first. In addition to the layered look of the pieces (a light colored center and a creamy lavender colored outer layer, there are little crunchy bits that emulate the pop of effervescence. The chew is smooth and lasts a long time, without losing its flavor at the end. I enjoyed these so much that I was sure to pick up another package when I finally found them at a local Japanese grocery store. Orange soda was probably my second favorite as a kid. The HiCHEW Fanta Orange is less distinct than the grape, but still fun and refreshing. The citrusy taste is a mix of Tang drink mix and orange SweeTarts. It has a little bit of zest in it, but it’s mostly a juicy flavor, also with the little crunchy pops of candy inside. Even though it’s not a Fanta flavor, I’ve been aching to try the HiCHEW Cola flavor for a long time and could never find it in the States. These pieces look more mundane, a dull brown that could well be a caramel. The flavor is deep and well defined. What I like about Japanese cola candies it that they’re more intense and concentrated than actual cola soda. This version is actually quite caramelly, with some good lemon/citrus note and a hint of cinnamon. I would definitely buy these more often if they were part of the American release of HiCHEW flavors. (They aren’t they?) Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 2:08 pm Candy • Review • Morinaga • Chews • Cola • 6-Tempting • 7-Worth It • 9-Yummy • Japan • |
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Meticulously photographed and documented reviews of candy from around the world. And the occasional other sweet adventures. Open your mouth, expand your mind.
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Ahh, jappy11! He was my primary source of Japanese Kit Kats for a while there
These look good; I’m always impressed that Japanese candy flavoring is somehow so much more ‘realistic’ than American candy
I saw cola HiChew at my local (east coast) Cost Plus World Market a couple of weeks ago. I’m pretty sure the writing was in English, not as pictured here. I would have purchased a pack had I known they were difficult to find.
I’m with you on that, love fake grape taste, and it is a very fond childhood memory, grape sodas at a lunch counter with my mom when we would go shopping and the grape sno-cones that were my favorite. love fake grape color too For me, I hate when the newer grape sodas have a grape juice flavor, if I want grape juice I will buy grape juice, tells me they just don’t get it
And I would love to try these Japanese candies and I even saw Japanese green tea kit kats on facebook
If you happen to place an order at asianfoodgrocer.com they’re currently selling the Fanta flavors at a normal price, just fyi =)
I have an order coming soon with a couple packs of each, can’t wait to try them!
@Rebecca, thanks
Going to order some of the fanta flavor chews and check my local Asian market. I have a love for Japanese candies. These sound yummy!!!
We’ve been buying bags of the hichew assortment available at Costco far too frequently lately and have been going back and forth about ordering some moringa caramels online to try because we were so impressed with the hichews. does the textures of the caramels comp are at all too the hichews?
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