# Do you like candy of other cultures? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 13, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438 "2014-08-13T14:35:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/1 "2014-08-13T14:35:26Z")
Very small sample size. I’ve only had Mexican and Vietnamese candy. The Mexican candy was a goat’s milk sucker and [this](http://www.amazon.com/Glorias-De-Linares-pecans-Mexican/dp/B00CQ3CAWU). I don’t remember what the Vietnamese candy was. The sucker tasted like caramel but took getting used to. I probaably would have been fine had I not been told there was goat’s milk in it. I didn’t know the Spanish word for goat. The other two candies made me long for a pack of Now and Laters. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/2 "2014-08-13T14:49:25Z")
I stock Mexican pinata candy in my classroom, and I adore English candy. The rest I can take or leave, not being a chocoholic. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/3 "2014-08-13T14:53:31Z")
Welcome to the wonderful world of [Japanese Kit Kat Bars.](http://www.itsasickness.com/japanese-kit-kats/content/list-flavors)😃 edited to add: Available in [lovely gift packs!](http://misstravelosopher.com/2013/04/13/kit-kat-flavors-in-japan/) ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/4 "2014-08-13T15:00:34Z")
Some flavors of [mochi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mochi) (from Japan) are pretty good. I’ve also had [azuki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azuki#Uses) flavored ice cream, which wasn’t bad. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/5 "2014-08-13T15:13:46Z")
My parents brought back Japanese candy when they visited in the early 60s. It reminded me of salt water taffy, but the bonus was that they were wrapped in rice paper, so you could eat them without unwrapping. Whenever I’m in Canada or the UK, I stock up on Maynard’s Wine Jellies. I discovered them through a SDMB candy exchange, and they were delicious. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/6 "2014-08-13T15:18:32Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Some flavors of [mochi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mochi) (from Japan) are pretty good. I’ve also had [azuki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azuki#Uses) flavored ice cream, which wasn’t bad. Agree. I also like Pocky, Yan Yan, and Botan Rice Candy. ---
**Author:** ![Airk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Airk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airk)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/7 "2014-08-13T15:19:34Z")
Japan has some pretty awesome snacks/candy. And some pretty scarey ones. So the answer is “Yes, sometimes” ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/8 "2014-08-13T15:27:22Z")
I once started a thread about Dutch salt licorice–egad! I’ve tried the Mexican lollipops–the red, white, and green ones they probably sell on Olvera Street. And as a kid I ate panocha; that’s too much sugar for me now. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/9 "2014-08-13T15:31:47Z")
My daughter recently offered me some Chinese green tea flavored candies someone had given her. I held one in my hand and it was exactly the texture, size, and weight of a testicle. I pinched off a tiny piece and ate it. Unsurprisingly, it tasted like green tea which I don’t even like, so I gave the rest to the dog. I had to get up in the night and take the dog out because she had the shits. We had some nice candy in Australia, though. I bought some chocolate bars that we don’t find at home, something with mint filling, a Cherry Ripe, some variety of Cadbury bar. I wanted a Violet Crumble but they weren’t in store at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/10 "2014-08-13T15:40:33Z")
I’m convinced that the Japanese just don’t get the concept of sweets. They get it right occasionally, like with Pocky, but that’s just by accident. But sugar-coated soybeans? Seaweed-flavored cookies? No, those don’t work. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/11 "2014-08-13T15:58:50Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > My parents brought back Japanese candy when they visited in the early 60s. It reminded me of salt water taffy, but the bonus was that they were wrapped in rice paper, so you could eat them without unwrapping. [Botan Rice Candy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botan_Rice_Candy) I grew up in the SF Bay Area and it was in most of the grocery stores. No passport needed. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/12 "2014-08-13T16:08:05Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Welcome to the wonderful world of [Japanese Kit Kat Bars.](http://www.itsasickness.com/japanese-kit-kats/content/list-flavors)😃 > > edited to add: Available in [lovely gift packs!](http://misstravelosopher.com/2013/04/13/kit-kat-flavors-in-japan/) Oh god yes! A lot of Thai candy is good. ---
**Author:** ![notquitekarpov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@notquitekarpov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notquitekarpov)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/13 "2014-08-13T16:08:46Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > I once started a thread about Dutch salt licorice–egad! If it anything like Finnish Salmiakki salt liquorice then that is fantastic stuff! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/14 "2014-08-13T16:09:16Z")
[Milk candy](http://www.asianfoodgrocer.com/img/prods/japanese-candy/16136-kasugai-milk-candy-lg.jpg) from japan is a perennial favorite of mine (I prefer the kasugai brand since they offer a hard candy). [Konpeito](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Bag_of_konpeito_kompeito.jpg) is great too, but it’s harder to find even in the local asian groceries. [Pocky](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Pocky_Chocolate.jpg) doesn’t have enough umph for me anymore - I like [Meiji’s Fran](http://www.tofucute.com/images/823_meiji_fran_meltykiss_large.jpg) version more since it has a thicker coating, but when the choice is pocky or milk candy at the checkout I’m taking the milk candy. (I’ll take flavored [Pretz](http://www.jaunted.com/files/6193/1PretzPan_3.jpg) over Pocky any day though!). Japan has the best kit kat flavors - why they never brought the more generic strawberry or dark chocolate over here is a mystery to me. [Ice cream mochi](http://www.greenteadesign.com/thedesigntree/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/MochiIceCream.jpg) is an interesting experience but ultimately I’ll just take straight ice cream since that’s why I’m eating it to begin with. You could sort of consider soda a candy so I also like [ramune](http://beautycultureworld.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/ramune_bowling_by_charlesnguyen.jpg). Less sugar than a standard Coca-Cola or the like. Lots of fruit flavors. Small bottle. Fun shape. (Bought a fukumaneki neko (lucky cat) one the other day, couldn’t resist). What’s not to like? My parents get japanese candy assortments for me as birthday gifts sometimes so I’ve had dozens of different types and I’ve pretty much liked them all. The commercial ones are all pretty standard stuff. The only one that was “meh” for me that I can remember was those botan rice candies. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/15 "2014-08-13T16:12:25Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > edited to add: Available in [lovely gift packs!](http://misstravelosopher.com/2013/04/13/kit-kat-flavors-in-japan/) Oh man, now I want that. Do I have to go to Japan to get one? ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/16 "2014-08-13T16:40:55Z")
I love the [durian-flavored coconut candy](http://www.keoduathanhlongvn.com.vn/Images/Products/416_image1.jpg) of Viet Nam. I’m also fond of the banana candy (kẹo chuối), and kẹo kéo, a sort of soft taffy mixed with peanuts. In England, I remember liking acid drops, but mostly just because of the name. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/17 "2014-08-13T17:58:26Z")
I enjoy Tamarind candy. A Dutch/Indonesian coworker introduced me to it. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/18 "2014-08-13T18:28:07Z")
Does baklava count? I like halvah, but a little goes a long way. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/19 "2014-08-13T18:36:50Z")
We were gifted with some Japanese wrapped candies recently. I didn’t try one after the look on my daughter’s face. We’re just hoping it was seaweed flavor. I still buy Botan rice candy sometimes, out of nostalgia for childhood visits to Chinatown in Chicago. I also like lavender pastilles, with the anise seed in the middle. Those are a little exotic, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438/20 "2014-08-13T18:49:33Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > My parents brought back Japanese candy when they visited in the early 60s. It reminded me of salt water taffy, but the bonus was that they were wrapped in rice paper, so you could eat them without unwrapping. > > Whenever I’m in Canada or the UK, I stock up on Maynard’s Wine Jellies. I discovered them through a SDMB candy exchange, and they were delicious. The botan rice candy, I remember when it had a little toy in the box 😃 We used to get it at an asian grocery store in Rochester NY back in the 1970s. We go to an asian grocery store about once a month for cooking ingredients, and will pick up assorted different stuff that looks interesting [mrAru has a serious sweet tooth. I will generally try a tiny nibble.] We have tried various flavors of pocky, these little thimble sized [jellies](http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/deborah/japanese%20jelly%20snacks.JPG), little fruit [things](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_-pqrQDrwPkE/TBiSUBWPgQI/AAAAAAAAI_k/KZEvaVxv5TQ/s1600/slimandslim-jellies-grape-mango.jpg) but not in zero calorie, dried [haw](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haw_flakes), adzuki bean jelly, in all [5 flavors](http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/a0/52/7e/a0527ecc45ff34ecf6aff21c982e35d5.jpg)! Sesame candies, pumpkin seed candies, assorted fruits nuts and flakes of all sorts. And I like [musk candy](http://www.candyblog.net/blog/item/lifesaver_musk/) :smack: [URL=“[http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/](http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/)”] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-candy-of-other-cultures/695438.md?page=2)