Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Kasugai Pineapple GummyI bought this package of Kasugai Pineapple Gummy Candy back in January on a trip to Little Tokyo that I’d hoped would cheer me up. After all, the most widely accepted definition of candy is sweetened, concentrated and read-to-eat fun [1]. The package is dominated by a photo of two real pineapples. Pineapples are the symbol of hospitality in Western culture and their Indian name, anana [2] means simply excellent fruit [3]. So what better combination to make lightly sweetened, concentrated and edible fun than to make it from the most excellent fruit? The ingredients list goes like this: sugar, corn syrup, pineapple juice, gelatin, oblate powder, sorbitol, citric acid/malic acid, pectin, artificial pineapple flavor, palm oil, emulsifier, coloring (beta carotene). Each gummi is individually wrapped. This keeps them fresh, which is good because I don’t usually eat a whole bag of gummis in one sitting. (But then again I have no problem eating stale gummis.) The pieces are rounded, with a little crease in the top that might even make this look like a heart to some. Or maybe a peach. Opening the little packet and the gummi is super soft, a little most but most of all, heavily scented. It smells like opening a can of pineapple: sweet but very deep. The chew is soft and pliable, almost like a Jell-O dessert. It’s tangy and has a little sizzle to it with a good fruity burst. If I have a complaint about them, it might be that they’re just too fruity. After about five of them I get that same tongue burn. No, wait, that’s not a complaint. I love them. They make me happy. They’re concentrated bits of sunshine and tropical beaches. My misgivings are the fact that I find them hard to find and they’re pretty expensive for gummis. Kasugai makes a pretty large array of flavors, most of them tropical including Lychee, Kiwi & Mango as well as the more middle-of-the road like Orange, Apple, Muscat (white grape), Peach and Strawberry. [1] - This definition first appeared on Candy Blog on August 6th 2008, so may not be as widely accepted as I might hope. Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 11:40 am |
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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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“Ananas” is also “pineapple” in French. Come to think of it, where does English get the term “pineapple”?
“ananas” is also pineapple in polish!
and as you know from the katjes pineapples, the German word is also Ananas
I’ve never tried this kind, but I was always a big fan of their muscat gummies.
Wikipedia:
The name pineapple in English comes from the similarity of the fruit to a pine cone. The word was first recorded in 1398, where originally used to describe the reproductive organs of conifer trees (now termed pine cones). When European explorers discovered this tropical fruit, they called them “pineapples” (term first recorded in that sense in 1664) because they resembled what are now known as pine cones. The term “pine cone” was first recorded in 1694 to replace the original meaning of “pineapple”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapple
I love these gummy candies but I have never tried the pineapple flavor.
I love the strawberry flavored ones because I can taste the honey in them, plus (if you suck on them) the flavor lasts a long time.
i love these
you can get all the varieties you listed and more at the east coast bagel shop in the commons in calabasas
weird but true
You can get a good selection of these at Cost Plus/World Market for $2.99 and they have the Pineapple, Muscat, Lychee, mixed bag, I think a regular grape, and a few other flavors. They do put these on sale too for $1.99 every once and awhile! :D
Walgreens by me now sells these gummies and other Japanese candies. (They don’t sell the lychee ones, though. I have to get those in Chinatown.) I thought these tasted just like pineapple juice. (as opposed to fresh pineapple) I liked them too.
haha, i’m glad you have the gummy chocos already added. i think japanese candies are f-a-n-tastic, they are SO CUTE to look at and always have such a quirky taste! you should hit me up whenever you’re in little tokyo; i’ve had my fair share of those adorable and sometimes pricey candies and could probably recommend a few to you
I purchased some of these on ebay as a result of your recommendation, and let me say, they’re every bit as good as you described - maybe even more so! It’s too bad they’re so difficult to find, because I would certainly get a big box of them, the flavours are just bursting!
I just got the mango kind. Yum!
I actually bought a package of the Kasugai Peach Gummies at Cost Plus World Market. They are incredible, and I love them. I initially bought them for my boyfriend, who loves Peach-O’s, but these were not to his liking (I think he just likes the sugar coating on the other ones!)
I’m not sure if it’s the case with all their gummies, but after a long, hot car ride, these all melted to liquid in their tiny packages.
I like the Kasugai Muscat ones. The bag says something like “tempting flavour with grace of elegant lady. I have to say I didn’t much feel like an elegant lady even after eating them all.
My favourite Kasugai gummies are the grape ones - they have an intense smell (even when wrapped) not unlike Welch’s grape juice, and a juicy, squishy texture. Plus I love the blurb on the bag, which promises that you will “enjoy the soft gentle breeze that floats down from the vineyard”. :D
While at an Asian grocery store today, I suddenly remembered this review and picked up a bag. Mmm, I wish I had bought more than just one! The pineapple flavor is terrific…they are awfully pricey, though ($2.99).
I found them today and I tried the Orange flavor.
They are great! I am going to go and buy the other flavors!
You know what makes Kasugai gummies even better? FREEZING THEM. Seriously, next time you get some, try it. It makes them a little thicker, which is good for me because sometimes gummy candy gives me a stomachache- doesn’t happen as much when it’s tougher. In any case, my favorite flavors of Kasugai are lychee and melon.
I got the honey dew one this time!
Hi, was just wondering what are the origin of the gelatin… is it plant based, or animal based..
May - there is no such thing as plant based gelatin, there are other ingredients such as Gellan Gum or Agar Agar, but they’re always mentioned that way. This is made with both gelatin and pectin. The gelatin is from animals and my guess is that it’s pork based because that’s the cheapest.
I was wondering if you had tried any of the other fruit gummies.
The kiwifruit gummy has little seeds in it!
Excellent review BUT WOW, do you have too much time on your hand or what ?? Just a tad too much information - ANYWAY, Yes, I love this brand of gummy candy as well. I bought a bag of the GRAPE flavor and I can never just eat one. three of them usually satisfies me. I bought mine at the Japan Pavilion at the Orlando, Fl EPCOT theme park - Just ran out and trying to find where I can buy more…
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