Japanese Candies: not-as-sweet, sweets

[jread]

I recently found a store here in town (Austin, Texas) that is exclusively Japanese. It's so authentic that it feels as if you've walked in off the streets of Tokyo when you go in there. Even the television screens have Japanese game shows, etc.

Anyway, there is a fairly large grocery section and there are many kinds of candies and treats. I've bought a few of them here and there (without even really knowing what they are), and have noticed that Japanese candy isn't nearly as sweetened as American candy. At the same time, it still tastes really good! I've also noticed other things aren't as strong, such as the soaps and shampoos. American bath products tend to be strongly scented while the Japanese products are much more mild.

All of this seems like it would be a lot healthier for your body in my opinion. If Americans would go with less sugar in our snacks and more mild soaps/shampoos, it would probably be much better for us.

Speaking of health, I hear that many people smoke cigarettes in Japan. What types? Do the Japanese import American cigarettes like most other countries or are there some distinct Japanese brands?

Thanks

 

[m477]

What countries import American cigarettes? In places I have been it seems that they will often have American-brand cigarettes, but they are actually grown and produced locally.

Such is the case in Japan, and in fact the Japanese Marlboros are much much better than the American ones. That's one of the biggest things that keeps me from smoking in this country, the cigarettes here taste so terrible, it isn't even enjoyable.

 

[jread]

What countries import American cigarettes? In places I have been it seems that they will often have American-brand cigarettes, but they are actually grown and produced locally.

Such is the case in Japan, and in fact the Japanese Marlboros are much much better than the American ones. That's one of the biggest things that keeps me from smoking in this country, the cigarettes here taste so terrible, it isn't even enjoyable.

I didn't realize they were locally made, just under an American label. Very interesting. I would like to try the Japanese versions and see the difference!

 

[pipokun]

For the junk food here, take a look at the following site.

Yaokin

やおきんドットコム

「うまい棒」をはじめ、スナック菓子から懐かしい駄菓子までトータルでプロデュースする株式会社やおきん公式サイト。

www.yaokin.com

I guess mild seven is a leading product here.

 

[jread]

For the junk food here, take a look at the following site.
Yaokin
http://www.yaokin.com/english/index.html

I guess mild seven is a leading product here.

thanks for the links!

I can't make much sense out of the candy site, though

 

[kokusu]

I recently found a store here in town (Austin, Texas) that is exclusively Japanese. It's so authentic that it feels as if you've walked in off the streets of Tokyo when you go in there. Even the television screens have Japanese game shows, etc.

Do you know the name of the store? Also, do you know if they have a website?

I work for a Japanese grocery and gift store in Seattle, WA. (www.uwajimaya.com), and am always interested in learning about Japanese stores here in the U.S.

 

[jread]

Do you know the name of the store? Also, do you know if they have a website?

I work for a Japanese grocery and gift store in Seattle, WA. (www.uwajimaya.com), and am always interested in learning about Japanese stores here in the U.S.

The name of the store is: "Asahi Imports". They don't have a website yet, but the girl working there said that one is in the works. This is the store's phone number if you'd like to contact them: (512) 453-1850

Also, here is a review of the store that I found online. It will give you a better idea of what it's like:

Austin's oldest Japanese grocery-gift store:

The Scene
It looks like a small store, but Asahi, open since 1967, is filled to the brim. Sally Matsumae, the granddaughter of the original owner, smilingly helps customers reach their culinary and shopping goals.

The Goods
Make sushi at home with broiled eel, rice, fish eggs, soy sauce, wasabi (Japanese horseradish), pickled ginger, seaweed, rolling mats and Japanese trays. Pick up soup and curry sauce mixes, tofu, noodles, dumplings, canned Asian vegetables, miso (soybean paste), lotus root and rice seasoning mixes. For dessert, grab some mochi (sweet red bean cakes) or rice candy. Asahi offers Japanese beer, several types of sake and plum wine and tea. It also stocks breakables like sake sets and bowls plus ceramic teapots, chopsticks, cookbooks, woks, greeting cards and origami paper. Look for Daruma "goal" dolls with unpainted eyes; you set a goal and paint the left eye, and paint the right when you're successful.


User Review:

Shop HERE for Japanese Foods
Posted by kuroneko on 05/16/2004

I was so happy to find a market that sells the real deal! I've lived in Japan before and going into this store made me feel like I was back. This place is great for people looking for specific Japanese foods and ingredients. They're especially helpful for those who are intimidated to go into an Asian market and need help finding their way around.

Pros: Good Service, Great Selection, Local Business
Overall user rating: Highly Recommended

Hope this helps I love this place! It's my new favorite store

 

[misa.j]

I work for a Japanese grocery and gift store in Seattle, WA. (www.uwajimaya.com), and am always interested in learning about Japanese stores here in the U.S.

Man! You're lucky! The name of your store always came up when I was searching for online Japanese grocery stores.

I usually get stuff from www.maruwa.com in California. I've had good experiences with them except that they close sometimes for expansion.
I stopped going to katagiri.com even though they are in Manhattan which is much closer than Maruwa; they didn't place my order for over a week and told me that it was out of stock after I called them twice.

 

[Riyko]

I go to this local japanese market and get all of my candy and stuff like that. I used to buy Seven Star cigarettes there, but I can't anymore T_T cause of US customs not allowing it, so when I go to japan I stock up on those cigarettes, but with the cigarette thing alot of them aren't as strong as the american ones.

 

[StarlitDreemz]

what was the Asian store called? the one in austin i mean.

 

[ojiisan]

If you boil 1 cup of sugar with 1/3 cup water to the hard ball stage and you boil 2 cups sugar with 4 cups water to the hard ball stage you will have the same amount of sugar . All of the excess sweetness comes from adding other sweeteners. Also you can cut down the sweetness by adding certain types of gum.

 

[kokusu]

Man! You're lucky! The name of your store always came up when I was searching for online Japanese grocery stores.

I usually get stuff from www.maruwa.com in California. I've had good experiences with them except that they close sometimes for expansion.
I stopped going to katagiri.com even though they are in Manhattan which is much closer than maruwa; they didn't place my order for over a week and told me that it was out of stock after I called them twice.

There is also a Maruwa not too far from where I work. But our Seattle store is much larger than the Seattle Maruwa (though I still sometimes shop there if they have a good deal . . . shh! don't tell my boss!).

Uwajimaya is trying to expand more into online/mail order retail in addition to their traditional business operations. I can honestly say that if they don't have something, they probably know where to order it from. I enjoy working there for the employee discount (^_^). But, also having a everyday familiarity with the product is so kewl, too. And not to mention the occasional free sample . . .