Asian Snack Review: Marble Pocky
A few evenings ago, I found myself in my friendly neighborhood Japanese supermarket. I’d assigned myself the vague mission of finding interesting J-snacks to review. I was having difficulty narrowing my selection, though, and found it far easier to lose myself in the barrage of sights, sounds and smells not often encountered at typical American markets.
Halfway through the cookie aisle, I was struck by a sight so familiar and so obvious that I nearly slapped myself for not already having reviewed it. At once, a slew of happy memories of teenage Otakudom washed over me, resulting in what can only be described as a full-body smile. I can’t say for certain, constrained as I was to my own body, but I’ve little doubt that onlookers witnessed my temporary transformation into a bouncing “chibi” caricature. Ah, but what snack could inspire such an intense reaction in a normally polite and unremarkable 24-year-old woman? None other than Pocky.
Pocky must have fueled half of my high school experience. Thanks to their cream-coated stick cookie goodness, I remained nourished through marathon nights of OhayoCon costume-construction, fanfic writing… even (occasional) study. It’s no small wonder my encounter was a joyful one. After the initial sensations of warmth, bliss and wonderment receded, however, I began to question my relationship with Pocky. Was my Pocky addiction truly founded upon a great snacking experience, or was it a statement of group identification? Factoring in the maturation of my taste buds (to say nothing of my interests!) would I even enjoy the Japanese cookies anymore? There was only one way to find out! I grabbed three tony-looking varieties labeled “Marble” and headed home for a sweet, sweet reunion.
Once home, I laid my booty in front of me and perused the flavor selection. Leaping from boxes with lipstick hearts (and one plain black box), the three types of Marble Pocky shared a common design” an attractive zebra-striped coating of “choco” (mockolate), with a slightly different color scheme for each. The three flavors I’d selected were Caramel Chocola, Rum-Raisin and the perplexing Mousse Shitate Mild & Bitter.
I withdrew a stick of each, hesitating slightly before taking a bite. I realized that the romantic allure of my precious Pocky could very well fade with this taste test. Did I really want to take that risk? Yes, I decided. Below are my findings.
Caramel Chocola Marble
This variety of Pocky boasted a light brown chocolate coating, with ebony stripes. I noticed right away that the creamy coating was a bit thicker than the Pocky I was used to. Much smoother too, with an almost lacquer-like sheen. I sniffed the cookie before biting. I smelled no caramel, but there was a slight coffee scent. Tasting the cookie and feeling the familiar snap of the cookie, I’d like to say I fell in love all over again… I didn’t, but perhaps I fell in “like.” The coating did, indeed, taste of coffee - more so than chocolate, actually. I checked the ingredients, and sure enough, “coffee powder” made an appearance. The cookie underneath was dependably bland, as Asian mass-produced snack cookies often are. Decent enough flavor.
Rum Raisin Marble
Undoubtedly the most gorgeous of the Marble Pocky varieties, with an ivory base offset by dark chocolate stripes. These are better left to decorative purposes than used for snacking, I’m afraid. They’re not very good, with a phony alcohol taste which, for me, was a bit off-putting. Strangely, there’s no detectable attempt at “Raisin” in the coating. Still not awful (that cookie “snap!” can redeem a lot), but disappointing.
Mousse Shitate Mild & Bitter Marble
Virtually indistinguishable from its Caramel Chocola relative, this strain of Marble Pocky actually tasted more strongly of caramel. Between that and the fact that it was the only variety with any sort of chocolate flavor, this was my favorite variety tasted. This is the only kind of “Marble Pocky” I’d buy again.
At taste test’s end, I was forced to concede that, although Marble Pocky is a fun and decently tasty snack, it isn’t quite worthy of my high-school obsession. Yet, I’m not completely disillusioned. Marble Pocky were not my Pocky of choice all those years ago (that honor fell upon more conventional chocolate and strawberry flavors). I seem to remember those tasting quite a bit nicer than their dolled-up, marble-y counterparts, and I don’t think my taste buds have really changed that much. Before reaching any official conclusions, I’ll have to revisit the classics.
Buy Pocky Online:
- at Amazon.com
4 Comments
Rachel on September 4th, 2008
I agree; which wouldn’t be so bad if it were awesome-quality chocolate! 
Robert on September 19th, 2008
Dang it. My local asian markets only have plain regular Pocky (which is great, but I can get THAT at Wal Mart!). How do I convince them to order some variety. THey have 4 flavors of Yam Yam… but just one Pocky.
Rachel on September 19th, 2008
Hmmm…where do you live? It’s very strange that anyone should have more varieties of yam-yam than pocky!!
amy on September 4th, 2008
the almond crunch pocky in the big angular box you have are the best! absolutely. and they are totaly addictive. and strawberry is always good. and plain chocolate is an enjoyable snack. i think you just have to taste more varieties. for what it’s worth, the mousse ones seem to have too much coating for the cookie/cracker.