Tohato Nameko, Chocolate Mushroom Snack - Asian Food Market: Cherry Hill, NJ

Tohato Nameko, Chocolate Mushroom Snack - Asian Food Market: Cherry Hill, NJ

Is this mascot cute? Or creepy? I can't decide.

These mushroom shaped biscuits were a new item at my local Asian market, and they were on sale. (Three boxes for $2.00.) The packaging was really detailed and interesting, but I was a little afraid to commit to three boxes of a product I've never tried before. I really wanted to photograph the packaging, so I decided to take the plunge and buy the cookies. (Pretty packaging always suckers me in.)
After a quick internet search I found out THIS awesome video.
(WARNING: This song is incredibly addicting.)

Nameko even has it's own Youtube Channel!

Nameko mushrooms, also called Pholiota nameko, are a popular mushroom in Japan which is commonly used in miso soup. This sweet snack resembles it's mushroom namesake (it totally doesn't look like a penis), and comes in a few different flavors. My shop only had the chocolate variety, but I have seen strawberry versions available online. Have any of you seen other versions?

Similar to Hello Panda or Golden Bear, the packaging is 6-sided and it is made of cardboard. The packages shape comes in pretty handy, it can be stacked and displayed vertically as well as horizontally, plus the shape prevents the items from rolling off a shelf or counter. At first glance this design is really busy. The large image on the "front" takes up two panels and features a bunch of different mushroom characters. Some of the characters are freaking adorable (just look at the little hydrangea mushroom), while others are creepy (that purple one with the little growths/tentacles? No thanks). Although I can't read the packaging, there are enough context clues to tell me that these are chocolate snacks shaped like a mushroom with a surprise sticker inside. It might be a little busy, but I like this packaging a lot! (Plus, free sticker!)

Meiji Kinoko No Yama Roasted Sweet Potato - Asian Food Market, NJ

Meiji Kinoko No Yama Roasted Sweet Potato - Asian Food Market, NJ

What? Even MORE Chocorooms?

My other Chocoroom flavor reviews:

• Original (Chocolate)
• Caramel
• Strawberry
• Purple Sweet Potato
• Macadamia

This is the last box of Chocorooms I have in my stash.

The packaging for this flavor is very vibrant. The combinations of red-violet and green are stunning. I think this is meant to be a fall flavor and design, but I’m not sure. (The Purple Sweet Potato was definitely a fall release with an obvious fall color scheme.) The box is smaller and thinner than the Macadamia version I reviewed a few days ago, so it’s more like the original Chocoroom box than any of the specialty flavors I have had.

Meiji Kinoko No Yama Macadamia - Asian Food Market, NJ

Meiji Kinoko No Yama Macadamia - Asian Food Market, NJ

Even MORE Chocorooms!

My other Chocoroom flavor reviews:

• Original (Chocolate)
• Caramel
• Strawberry 
• Purple Sweet Potato

This box has a blue color scheme and a winter theme. (Similar to the purple sweet potato version and it’s fall theme.) There is a little village covered in snow with scatter snowflakes all over the box. While I do like the overall look and design of this package, I hate that I need to tear the front cover to open it. I mean, you really could open it any way you wanted, but the suggested way of opening it is to lift up a perforated flap on the front of the box. It always seems like a shame to rip a pretty design, but that is just my opinion.

Kinoko No Yama Caramel (Caramel) - Asian Food Market, NJ

Kinoko No Yama Caramel (Caramel) - Asian Food Market, NJ

Sorry for the lack of updates the last two days, I just got back from Otakon in Baltimore and my queue had run out.

This is the last flavors of my mushroom-themed snacks. This time, it’s a pretty well known flavor, caramel.

The box is smaller and thinner then the strawberry and the yam versions. It’s about half the size! This time the art seems to have a snowy theme, so maybe caramel is considered more of a winter flavor in Asian countries?  I like the combination of the colors on the box and I think they are really appealing.

Kinoko No Yama Ichigo (Strawberry) - Asian Food Market, NJ

Kinoko No Yama Ichigo (Strawberry) - Asian Food Market, NJ

After being disappointed in the yam version, I decided to try strawberry Chocorooms.

The box is just as cute as the Yam ones, but the art doesn’t match up to the perforations well. I hate tearing up beautiful box-art to get to the candy inside.

Meiji Kinoko No Yama Purple Taro (Purple Sweet Potato) - Asian Food Market, NJ

Meiji Kinoko No Yama Purple Taro (Purple Sweet Potato) - Asian Food Market, NJ

More Chocorooms! This time I have purple sweet Potato with white chocolate and black sesame seeds!

After trying the original, reviewed here, my sister was eager to try more! She loves this line! (It’s so cute!) I picked up a few flavors, so soon you’ll see reviews on strawberry and butterscotch soon!

The box is bright and eye catching. Judging from the image, I am guessing roasted sweet potatoes are a fall treat in Japan. There seems to be a fall theme to the box with leaves being Autumn colors. The package opens in the front, a lot like the Meltykiss Almonds I reviewed the other day, but the layout is arranged around the perforations so when I do open the box the design isn’t destroyed.I like that a lot!

Chocorooms Meiji : Short Review

Chocorooms Meiji : Short Review

More Meiji goodness!

My sister grabbed these at a Five Below of all places, which was odd, but it seems like they are a permanent item. (At least I believe it is a standard item, and not a special or seasonal one, but I could be wrong.)

Before buying a box of our own, I had seen these all over the net (Do people still say that? Is "the net" hip?). These little snacks are quite popular and it's pretty obvious as to why. Look at them! They are so freaking cute!