Pretz is not a Japanese candy. Pretz is Pocky’s evil savory cousin. Ok, so it’s not evil except that like Pocky, it’s rather addicting. I was very pleased to find Tomato Pretz because I used to eat the stuff almost daily when I lived in Japan. I haven’t had it in years, but when I put it in my mouth, there was that taste I remember.

Pretz has the same stay-fresh packaging as Pocky and each stick has a lovely crunch. Tomato Pretz has seasoning powder on it. The seasoning doesn’t really taste like just tomato – I’ve always found it tastes like the spawn of a Nabisco Chicken in a Biskit Cracker and a bloody mary. And for some reason, that leads to a major yum factor. Since this is the U.S. version, I was actually able to read the ingredients and did find an ingredient list which is quite similar to the ingredients of bloody marys (minus the vodka) and Chicken in a Biskit crackers!  I hope my dear vegetarian friend M. who introduced me to Tomato Pretz years ago in Toyama-ken doesn’t read this because turns out Tomato Pretz isn’t vegetarian and we’re not talking gelatin this time. The ingredient list includes chicken extract powder, various vegetable extracts and MSG. As I write this review, I’m realizing that ignorance really is bliss – I liked Japanese processed food better when the ingredient list was just a big ol’ mess o’ kanji!  That being said, Tomato Pretz will always have a special place in my heart (and stomach)!

This Tomato Pretz was purchased in the asian candy aisle at Central Market, Shoreline, Washington (a few miles north of Seattle.)  There are four packets of Tomato Pretz in the box. These showed up on my receipt incorrectly as GLICO ICHIGO PRETZ, but I think the price is the same – $2.59.

Tomato Pretz are a uniquely flavored, yummy, crunchy snack. And like other pretzel snacks, you can pretend you’re being somewhat virtuous because you’re having pretzels, not chips, so it’s practically health food. Recommended.  4/5

Note: Photos in this post are provided by the author/photographer and copyrighted to her. Do not reproduce without written permission from the author/photographer.

Long ago (2001-2003), I lived in rural Japan and taught English at a junior high school.  One day at school, one of the kids asked me I like Hi-Chew.  At first I thought the kid meant Chu-hai (Japan’s version of wine coolers, but better – and yes, I like it), but I got clarification and learned that it’s a “soft candy.”  I bought some after school.  It reminded me a bit of Starburst but with some added deliciousness.  I usually prefer chocolate nutty candy (Snickers, Twix) rather than fruity candies, but I got hooked on Hi-Chew.  For years, I’ve been wondering what it is that makes Hi-Chew so much more delicious than other fruit candies.

Fast forward to last week.  I visited my local 7-11 to buy a Peanut Butter Twix, but found Hi-Chew right next to the register.  I ate half of the pack of the Mango Hi-Chew on the walk home.  It has a much better mouth feel than Starburst.  I looked at the ingredients on the label. What makes it so good?  Is it the hydrogenated palm kernal oil? The paprika and carotene for color?  The traces of milk and soy from the factory in Taiwan?

I pondered these ingredients for a while and then decided to let my fingers do the walking.  I found hichew.com and checked the FAQs.  I now suspect that the je ne sais quoi is the gelatin made from pig hide.  I’m not a vegetarian so I’m not really opposed to eating pork products in candy and to be honest, it’s nice to have the mystery solved.  There is something special in Hi-Chew and it’s pork.  But vegetarians may want to avoid American Hi-Chew.  Six flavors of Hi-Chew are available in the U.S. – melon (new!), mango, orange, grape, green apple and strawberry.  My local 7-11 sells mango, green apple and strawberry.

The Green Apple Hi-Chew tastes quite artificial to me.  I found it a bit too sweet because I’m always thinking that Green Apple will be more tart and Granny Smith-esque than it is in Japanese products. It’s not a bad candy though and I was able to finish the package because Hi-Chew is ridiculously addicting. 3/5

The Mango Hi-Chew is very tropical and yummy.  It has a strong mango flavor without any of the bitter aftertaste often present in actual mangos.  The texture is great.  Mango seems a bit more exotic and upscale than your typical convenience store candies. Seems like a real bargain for $.99! 5/5

Note: Photos in this post are provided by the author/photographer and copyrighted to her. Do not reproduce without written permission from the author/photographer.