Nabisco? Hostess? Please, it’s all about Lotte, Glico and Calbee.
Growing up Asian-American, it was always hard not to feel just a little bit different from your peers, especially at lunchtime. While your classmates were knocking back Capri Suns and Dunkaroos, you’d be stuck drinking probiotic Yakult and eating Hello Panda crackers. But that’s okay, because trips to the Asian grocery store with your parents usually meant stopping by the toy counters out front and picking up the newest holographic Pokemon cards, which were always loads cooler than anything you’d find in a Cracker Jack box.
With that in mind, here’s a list of the top 16 Things That Taste Just Like Your Asian American Childhood. Mmm, just like mom used to pack.
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1. Pocky, Yan Yan, Hello Panda
Never underestimate the simple joy of crunchy bread dipped in chocolate cream. Also available in Strawberry.
Picthx Asian Food Grocer
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2. Lychee Jelly
These always came in giant buckets, but for some reason there were never enough. WHY WERE THERE NEVER ENOUGH?
Picthx Viet Wah
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3. Shrimp-Flavored Chips
The Asian equivalent of gum (i.e., once you opened a pack, you could pretty much say goodbye to it forever).
(Notable mention: Snow Pea Crisps)
Picthx Amazon
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4. Calpico, Ramune
For some reason, Japanese sodas were never content just being one color or flavor, and for some reason, the Strawberry one was always the best.
Picthx Asian Food Grocer, Sand Village Farm
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5. Yakult
You had the inkling feeling this was supposed to be like liquid yogurt, but decided it was probably best not to ask too many questions.
Picthx Fechando O Ziper
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6. Dry Ramen Packets
When you have built in crunchy noodles and built in seasoning, who needs chips? (Serving suggestion: crushed and shaken up in a zip-lock bag.)
Picthx Newgrounds
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7. Haw Flakes
Admittedly these ones tasted kinda funny and you only ate them because your dad gave them to you, but at least tearing open the packs was always fun. Plus they kinda looked like fireworks.
Picthx Nummy Nims
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8. Dry Seaweed
Perfect with or without rice.
Picthx Nourishing Meals
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9. Tamarind and Coffee-Flavored Candies
Also available at most Asian restaurants (with the check, of course).
Picthx World of Snacks
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10. White Rabbit
Two words: Edible. Paper.
Picthx Cafe Zupas
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11. Boba
Admit it, you felt kinda cool when all your American friends started asking you to take them to get “bubble tea.”
Picthx Tasting Tampa
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12. Rice-Seaweed Crackers, Wasabi Peas, Nagaraya Crackers
Picthx Hibiki, Nut Stop, Food Recap
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13. Hi-Chew
Just like harder, chewier Starburst, except they also came in Melon and Mango, aka possibly the best Asian-inspired flavors ever.
Picthx David Wong
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14. Asian Ice Pops
Hands down, 1 million times better than Otter Pops, just because they were a million times easier to open. Oh, snap.
Picthx Asian Food Grocer, Please Let It Be Friday
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15. Orion Choco Pie
Picthx Old Delhi Mart
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16. Pork Sung
Lastly, pork sung, which, despite all appearances, is really not hair. Really.
Picthx E Food Depot
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Leader Image: Jordan Plenzich, Flickr
47 replies on “16 Things That Taste Just Like My Asian American Childhood”
I tried SO many of these at the asian grocery in my neighborhood when I was a kid. Yan yan is what’s up.
And the first two people to comment aren’t asian american. =] But yes, I love all of these products. My girlfriend didn’t know about the lychee cups until last week when we were getting boba and they were selling them. So sad.
omg. I’ve had every single one haha
I’ve had all of these growing up and lots of Mexican candy. The lychee jelly eaten with the chile-coated dried mangoes were by far my favorite combination. Yakult on the side, thankyouverymuch. No summer was complete without these.
This is real.
#13 is inaccurate. Hi-Chews have been in the American market for less than 10 years. The original Hi-Chews were written in Japanese and were wrapped in foil. Then again I guess if you are a 10 year old #13 would apply to you.
I bought Hi-Chew easily 15-20 years ago in the suburbs of Detroit. Don’t remember exactly when, but it was definitely in the early to mid-90’s. Especially since I haven’t lived in the Detroit area since ’97.
truth. 🙂
The yellow Schweppes cream soda from Hong Kong. Sometimes mixed with some milk.
OH. And Robertson’s mango jelly.
Maybe it’s a Japanese American thing specifically but also Botan Rice Candy. Great list, though!
That’s available at Pavilions!
Yeh im Filipino British but this list is mainly for Japanese Americans. Asia is a very big place so its dumb calling it Asian American list
I disagree. I’m Taiwanese American, and I’d say this is for Chinese/Taiwanese-, Korean- and Japanese-Americans!
you’re filipino british mothafucka. a lot of yas don’t even identify with asian, spewing that pacific islander bullshit. and you’re also british.
As a Chinese American, we ate a lot of Botan Rice Candy as a kid… Who didn’t want their stickers?
you totally forgot about these: http://goo.gl/xnEeu
THOSE STRAWBERRY CANDIES! Truth be told, I had no idea they were an Asian thing.
Holy hell. I’d completely forgotten about those.
My grandma ALWAYS had those in her purse. The center was everything.
I had the HARDEST time wrapping my head around the edible paper for white rabbit candy. Even to this day (and I’m 27 now), I tear off the loose bits of paper first before I eat it. Great list though!
It’s made of rice!
I know that! haha. It’s just weird to wrap your head around edible paper.
what about wong wong?
Those were awesome when I was a kid in Taiwan! I just found them in Wisconsin last week.
My sister and I loved this list! That’s was totally 100% our childhood :3
What about Longevity brand condensed milk?? It went on toasted white bread, saltine crackers, ice cream, cornflakes… like, everything.
*East/Southeast Asian American Childhood 🙂
I had all the Chinese items when I was young like the haw flakes, white rabbit, pork sung (the tastiest hair). Though I had my first bubble tea when I was in my 20s. I didn’t have the Korean stuff until I met my wife. But they are missing this rice candy with edible wrapper that always came with a small toy in their box though later it became just a free sticker. Can’t remember its name since I haven’t eaten it in over 20 years.
Botan rice candy 🙂
Thanks!
agree about boba. that wasn’t big until the very late 90s/early 2000s.
It was so weird at first, but so good. Though it has been awhile since I had one.
You’re talking about “tomoe ame” :]
I am very much amused by this article: my wife is Japanese, and we have or have had a great many of these products in our shopping bags coming away from Marukai or Mitsuwa! (Dried seaweed and wasabi peas are especially prevalent at our house.) But my favorite, hands down — and you didn’t even mention them — are the Kinjo Jelly Candies!
TBH the only people I knew who ate dry ramen as a snack were white people…otherwise this is SPOT ON.
Every other kid in grade school in Taiwan was eating dry ramen as a snack. That was my main source of snacking in 2nd grade in Taiwan!
You mean you never had these??
http://s3.thisnext.com/media/largest_dimension/82F449E2.jpg
I never liked them much, but they were definitely eaten by Chinese kids!
I had every single of these things in Vietnam too
pure nostalgia
um Asia extends from Turkey onwards doesn’t this mean Japanese American? Because Pakistani American or Turkish American will have none of these items
Traditionally, Asian American refers to people of Far East descent. Turkish American, Pakistani American, and other variants of the many nations of Asia tend to use a different nomenclature… Though whether correct or not, no one is really fit to decide. =)
“cool when all your American friends started asking you to take them to get “bubble tea.” – by American, perhaps you meant Caucasian. American doesn’t = non-Asian.
How about those gooey dried plums in the clear wrappers? I used to get those before my hair was going to be washed so I’d shut up.
Needs more wah mui/preserved plums.
I miss the ice pops and jelly SO much. I pretty much grew up on those.
*Sigh* — you never mentioned the all-important Kinjo Jelly Candy!
Wait… where’s the Felix gum?