The writer of this article
Taro
I like to travel and have visited eight countries so far. In every country, I try out candy that I cannot find in Japan. Since I lived in the United States for a short period of time, I would like to introduce good and unique Japanese gummies you may not be able to find in the United States.
What are gummies?
When you say candy, it can mean many things. Chocolate bars, lollipops, candy bars, and gummies. But when you say gummy, it means only one thing. Gummies are sugary, chewy, and made of gelatine. In this article, I would like to focus on gummies, which are my favorite candy. The gummies in this article can be found easily at convenience stores in Japan.
Japanese gummies, how are they different?
You may not find a lot of differences between Japanese gummies and American gummies. Japanese gummies are chewy, sometimes sour, and colorful. However, there are four distinctions between them.
Each product is different
Each Japanese gummy has a specific feature. For example, some products have many gummies in the package. Some have less than others, but the quality of ingredients is better. Some are focused on texture, sourness, and price.
I believe that American products are also diverse, but not like Japanese products.
The lineup changes a lot every year
Gummies come and go every year in Japan. A lot of products are released every year and it is hard to survive on the market even if they are very unique and tasty. They need to cover consumers’ needs in order to be lined up at convenience stores every year. So, you may not find the exact same products as the last year in convenience stores because they are always being improved and changed.
The packaging
Almost all packages of Japanese gummies are Ziplocs. You can close the package once you are done eating so the gummies do not fall out while you are carrying them around.
Even grownups buy them
Japanese gummies are made not only for children, but also for adults. Japanese people enjoy gummies the same way they enjoy gum. The texture helps you to release stress and to satisfy your stomach when you are just a little hungry. Japanese office workers often buy them as snacks to eat at their desks. That is one of the reasons why there are so many varieties of gummies you can find at convenience stores. Some products are targeted at adults.
Categories of Japanese gummies
There are a lot of categories of Japanese gummies. Some products have a lot of features in one, but I think that the main distinction between Japanese gummies is whether they are soft or hard.
Hard texture gummies
Hard Texture gummies have been popular for more than 10 years now. You can find a lot of them at convenience stores.
As far as I know, the first product that came out marketed as a hard type gummy was Sours Gummy. There are some other products that are hard-type gummies, but they emphasized other features (sourness, price, etc.) more.
Soft texture gummies
You may not find as many soft gummies as hard-type ones. Soft gummies tend to be focused on the ingredients or unique textures. Some products are made using fruit juice and others are made to create the exact same texture of fruits or some other deserts.
Amazing Japanese gummies you can find at convenience stores
These products are chosen based on three aspects: cost-effectiveness, how unique they are, and overall taste.
1.Kaju Gummy
Kaju Gummy was released in 1988 and has been one of the all time best-selling Japanese gummy. It is a soft-type gummy that contains fruit juice as one of the ingredients, with no artificial coloring. It continues to be popular even though its shape and texture have not been changed for many years. There are several flavors such as grape, strawberry, peach, orange, and musket. Special flavors are added to the lineup depending on the season.
The apple flavor was seasonal at this time.
Price: 106 yen
Content: 51grams
2.Shigekix
Since 1992, Shigekix have continued to be the most well-known sour gummy in Japan. The gummy itself is hard and very sour, but tasty. The sourness of each flavor is indicated on a scale of one to five on the package. One negative aspect is that there are only 20 grams worth of gummies in the pouch.
Price: 108 yen
Content: 20 grams
3.Ninja Meshi
A layer of sugar covers the hard gummy.
Ninja Meshi is the hardest Japanese gummy on the market. There are only 10 to 11 pieces in one package, but it lasts longer and satisfies your stomach thanks to its ultra-hard texture. It is meant for adults who want to eat snacks in between meals but also care about their diet. As you can see, an image of an office worker is on the package. Several different flavors are available.
Price: 108 yen
Content: 20 grams
4.Zuno Gummy
Zuno Gummy may not be very popular, but it is a unique product. This product is made to create the most suitable chewy texture to concentrate on while studying or working. It has also been used for research on the effects of chewing in the Osaka University dental school department. It is a chewy, but not very hard gummy. Even though texture is the main feature of this gummy, the taste is also great. Only grape flavor is available.
Price: 128 yen
Content: 42 grams
5.Otoko Ume Gummy
Otoko Ume Gummy is the most unique Japanese gummy. Unlike any other gummies, it is hard and salty. This product is made to recreate the flavor of Umeboshi (salted plum), which is a traditional Japanese food. The taste is not for everyone, but it has a good reputation among Japanese people who like Umeboshi. The flavor is hard to imagine for people who have never tried Umeboshi. My American friend said it tastes like Mexican candy.
Price: 129 yen
Content: 38 grams
6.Kakigoori Gummy
Kakigoori means snow cone in Japanese. Kakigoori Gummy not only looks like a mini version of a snow cone, its texture is very close to the real thing. There are sugar flakes on top of the gummy. It gives the gummy an interesting texture and you may feel like you are actually eating a snow cone when you chew it.
Price: 108 yen
Content: 55 grams
7.Cororo
You may know of this product if you have been to Japan. Cororo is a very popular brand of gummy that many tourists take home as a Japanese souvenir. The unique thing about this product is that its appearance, taste, and other features are the same as real grapes. The gummy consists of a very soft jelly-like gummy made of grape juice with a very thin gelatine layer surrounding it. When you bite into it, the outermost layer pops and the juicy soft gummy comes out. It almost feels like you are eating a real grape. The package is 40 grams, which is a little less than other gummies, but it is worth buying it. Nowadays, other flavors besides grape are available.
Price: 130 yen
Content: 40 grams
8.Tsubu Gummy
Tsubu Gummy is a hard-type gummy. It may not look interesting, but the good thing about it is the cost-effectiveness. It costs 140 yen for 85 grams, which is the cheapest you can find at this quantity. The taste is a little more sugary than other gummies, but still acceptable. Two flavors are available.
Price: 140 yen
Content: 85 grams
A premium version of Tsubu Gummy has been released too. It has a richer taste than the regular ones.
*Premium: 194 yen
Content: 85 grams
9.Nata de Coco Gummy
Nata de Coco Gummy is a gummy product that recreates the texture of nata de coco. The gummies are square, just like real nata de coco. Its texture is very close but the taste may not be what you expect. Several flavors are available.
Price: 130 yen
Content: 44 grams
10.Pure Gummy
Pure Gummy is a sour and soft-type gummy. Its texture is soft and a little similar to mochi. It has been sold for about 20 years. Its soft texture and just the right amount of sourness are the reasons why it has been on the market for years. There are several flavors and premium versions of Pure Gummy available.
Price: 130 yen
Content: 58 grams
The Premium Pure Gummy has sweet syrup inside
*Premium: 184 yen
Content: 63 grams