Japanese chocolate snacks you should try ①： Pocky

Chocolate, cheese and wine -- these tree things are what I miss the most about France, where I lived for 3 years. When I came back to Japan and ate a chocolate from my neighboring konbini (convenience store), I almost spat it out! I thought I had a piece of plastic or soap (although I have never had either of them). Unfortunately, I have to admit that Japan is no match for Europe when it comes to chocolate quality.

Even if Japanese chocolate itself may not taste great, however,  Japanese "chocolate snacks" are not that bad.

I don't know if  "chocolate snacks" is correct English, but here in Japan it generally means any sweet things with chocolate, such as chocolate-coated cookies and chocolate-stuffed pies, and normally it refers to the mass products available at any supermarkets or conbini for relatively low price.

I'd like to introduce you some long-sellers that have sold for nearly 50 years. Today, I'll pick chocolate-coated pretzel Pocky by Glico, first appeared on the market in 1966. Similar ones are sold in many countries under different names, such as Mikado in France, but this is the original.

Do you know there are several different types of Pocky here? Many Japanese confectionery makers develop new versions one after another once they create a hit product.

For example,  the following is my favorite "Almond Crush Pocky,"  sprinkled with coarsely chopped almond (left), and almost the same version using  coffee-flavored pretzel called "Crush Pocky Almond, Coffee-shitate" (right) , both of which were put on sale in September of this year.

And they have strawberry-flavored Pocky, which I believe I have had long long time ago, and its new version that has been sold only at convenience stores "Tsubu tsubu ichigo Heartful" (heart-shaped pretzel coated with cream containing strawberry pulp). Both definitely target young girls who consider anything pink cute. I'm sure many men need the courage to buy them.



 They have thicker types using biscuit instead of pretzel coated with more chocolate than others, called "Pocky Midi Potteri Chocolat" and "Pocky Midi Potteri Matcha (Green Tea). "Potteri" means plump, chubby or fat in Japanese, but I'm not sure where "Midi" comes from.  "medium size" ?   They taste good, but to me, it is not Pocky any more.


   

Some men love plump girls, and some others prefer skinny girls. Yes, Glico, trying to meet every customer's demand, developed "Gokuboso Pocky" or Super-Slim Pocky as well!!

 

Sweets are not only for children. As everyone knows, Japan's birthrate is declining and confectionery makers have to find a new market to survive. It is no surprise that Glico has developed adult-oriented Pocky, right? Yes, of course they have one. Called "Pocky Otona no Milk," it uses pie-like layered pretzel coated with rich milk chocolate. I tired and found it good, I don't understand why they named "otona no (for adults)". 

 

Actually there are more, but I'm getting tired... If you are living in Japan or plan to visit here, please check with them at a neighboring supermarket or konbini!

ここからは日本語で。
From here, I'll write in Japanese.

日本のお菓子メーカー、グリコのロングセラー、ポッキー（ヨーロッパではミカドという名前で売られています）を知っていますか？細いプレッツェルをチョコレートでコーティングしているお菓子です。

お菓子(おかし）     sweets, confectionery
 
発売されたのは、なんと1966年。50年近くも前なのですね。

発売（はつばい）　put on sale
なんと　　　surprisinly
近く　（ちかく）　nearly

では、ポッキーに色々な種類があるのを知っていますか。

色々な（いろいろな）　　various
種類（しゅるい）　　kinds

例えば、粗く刻んだアーモンドをまぶした「アーモンドクラッシュポッキー」。コーヒー味のプレッツェルを使ったものもあります。

例えば（たとえば）　　for exmaple
粗く（あらく）　　coarsely
刻む（きざむ）　 to chop, mince
味　（あじ）　　flavor

「いちごポッキー」とコンビニ限定販売の「つぶつぶいちごポッキー　ハートフル」（プレッツェルがハートの形をしています）。

いちご　　strawberry
コンビニ限定（げんてい）　limited to convenience stores
販売（はんばい）　sell
形（かたち）　　shape

チョコレートを太くて短いビスケットに、たっぷりかけた「ポッキー　ミディ」シリーズ。反対にとても細い「ポッキー　極細」もあります。

太い（ふとい）　　fat
短い（みじかい）　short
たっぷり　　generously
かける　　to pour
反対に（はんたいに）　　to the contrary
細い（ほそい）　thin
極細（ごくぼそ）　extremely thin


最近では大人向けの「ポッキー　大人のミルク」も発売されました。どうして大人なのか、わかりませんでしたが。

最近（さいきん）　　recently
大人向け（おとなむけ）　　aiming at adults