Photo - Meiji Aqua Bulgaria Yogurt Taste Drink

This is a drink that brings the Bulgaria yogurt taste to a Calpis-like lactic acid fermented drink.

Haagen-Dazs with Real Gold Leaf

A new limited edition Haagen Dazs variety is definitely a luxury product. Coffee syrup, ganache, almond flavor and butter cream ice cream are combined and then covered with rich chocolate. Finally, the product is sprinkled with real gold leaf. Food sprinkled with gold leaf is no uncommon in Japan, but it is uncommon in packaged foods. The product is called Opera after the famous Opera Cakes in Paris. The YouTube video above gives a better representation than the photo.

http://www.haagen-dazs.co.jp/opera/

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

KitKat GRAN WAFER

The KitKat GRAN WAFER promises the crispiest wafer in KitKat history.

http://nestle.jp/brand/kit/gw/

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

Photo - Fukukomachi Sake

This is the last in a series of photos I took at a recent sake tasting. This sake from Akita Prefecture is not only famous and very good, but several people made the point of explaining that komachi can also be used to describe a young, beautiful girl. 福小町 酒

Photo - Hakata Torimon Manju

This is one of the most famous omiyage or gifts from Fukuoka. Very good and frequently seen in offices around Japan as Fukuoka is a big destination for business trips (and thus people bring these back for co-workers). 博多通りもん

7-Eleven Sapporo 100 MALT Beer

In a new collaboration with Sapporo Beer, 7-Eleven is offering a PB beer with a premium taste, "100% MALT Beer". There are many interesting points immediately obvious about this product.

1) in many ways it looks very similar to the 7-Eleven and Suntory collaboration on "The Brew", a discount 3rd category beer with a superior taste (my opinion). This collaboration is on a 1st category or "real" beer, so it is naturally more expensive than The Brew.

2) 7-Eleven is working with the big Japanese brewers to produce to quality PB brands. It also looks like they are trying to be careful not to alienate anybody in the process. First Suntory, then Sapporo, I would not be surprised if the next collaboration is with Asahi or Kirin. Since Suntory and Sapporo are in the 3rd and 4th places respectively, it might have been easier to start with them and then move to the top players.

3) this product is advertised as having a dry taste 辛口ドライ and comes in a silver can, which obviously creates a strong comparison with Asahi Dry, the best selling brand in Japan.

and
4) three points are noted as making this beer special: use of 100% malt, subzero degree aging 氷点下熟成 , which is a Sapporo process for avoiding bitter taste (the wort is immediately cooled), and another special Sapporo process called high fermentation which I cannot find an explanation for although it is mentioned for various Sapporo products starting at least 5 years ago 高発酵製法.

http://www.sej.co.jp/products/100malt.html

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.

Photo - Meiji Kilimanjaro Blend Coffee

This is pretty good, a bit stronger and less sweet than other brands.

Photo - Hato Sable Cookie

This is a popular gift to be purchased in Kamakura, but can be found other places as well. This product takes back to the early Meiji era, also sable products in general were imported as early as the Nara Era, according to the website. Hato means dove, and the cookies are in this shape because it is a symbol of the main shrine in Kamakura, Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine. 鳩サブレー 鎌倉 鶴岡八幡宮

http://www.hato.co.jp/hato/index.html

Photo - Meiji Gohobi Cafe Latte

This is a slightly premium latte, thus the slightly smaller package. Generally, it is much easier to produce good tasting drinks in cartons, but the shelf life is shorter than when using cans. Gohobi translates as a luxury or something to pamper yourself with. 明治ご褒美ラッテ

McDonald's Oreo McFlurry

For a limited run, the Oreo McFlurry starts tomorrow at McDonald's.

http://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/campaign/mcflurry/index.html

Photo is a web capture for explanatory purposes, copyright belongs to the company.