[discussion] American going to Japan

[u/Goochenhaumeister]

I’m making samplers of American tastes to hand out, so root beer, butterscotch, puffy mints, smarties, I’m also doing dumdums, and I’ll see if I can get a bag of blue raspberry jolly ranchers and runts banana or banana laffy taffy

I think that rounds out American flavors well enough

(The Japanese love word play so smarties and dum dums are gonna be a joy to them, I plan on having little QR codes that explain everything)

I’m doing Tokyo Kyoto Osaka Nobara in 2 weeks so if you wanna meet DM me

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[u/GreatRecipeCollctr29]

Get Nerds Clusters in that batch. I don't think Japan has those yet.

[u/pchubbs → u/GreatRecipeCollctr29]

They don’t. Jolly Ranchers too, especially blue raspberry.

[u/Goochenhaumeister → u/GreatRecipeCollctr29]

I think I should even thought it jacks up the “budget” I basically had cheap / dagashi but I think it’s worthwhile

There is a “deal” for the berry punch individual packs it’s either $20 for 60 in classic red or $20 for 75 in blue

So it’s $20 either way and im trying to make 50 mixed bags that’s the quantity of the candy I have so far and also all the candy in the photo cost like $14 mind you

[u/KrissySquid → u/Goochenhaumeister]

If you’re going for cheaper hard candies, then I’d just stick with the jolly ranchers! Much more economical.

I wonder how cinnamon candy would go over there? 🤔

OHHH OR THOSE GRANDMA STRAWBERRY CANDIES!

[u/MrSchop]

As someone who lives in Japan I can tell you that Root Beer will probably go over like a lead balloon as it is very "medicinal" flavoured for them. I love licorice and root beer but they are hard to fine because of Japanese tastes even in foreign goods shops.

Starburst conversely would go over like gang busters because they are similar to haichu.

[u/denys5555 → u/MrSchop]

Second this. I’ve never found a Japanese person who likes root beer

[u/GreatRecipeCollctr29]

These are excellent choices of American hard candies. I liked the Red Bird peppermint puffs. These are my 1st childhood candies when I tried them when I was very young from an American expat 40+ years ago. Enjoy these candies, and share with friends and family.

[u/GlitteringEggCarton]

why are your rockets called smarties

[u/Goochenhaumeister → u/GlitteringEggCarton]

Why are your M&Ms called Smarties?

[u/Chocolatecakeat3am → u/Goochenhaumeister]

They aren't

[u/Oookulele → u/Goochenhaumeister]

M&Ms and Smarties are different brands (and, arguably, different things). They also taste differently. Idk about Rockets and Smarties since we don't have either here - are they literally the same thing and taste the same? 

One case where the same brand just literally has a different name around here is Wall's ice cream. That's called Langnese where I live, but afaik has completely different names in lots of different places.

[u/the_glutton]

Damn this picture made me miss my grandma!

[u/GreatRecipeCollctr29]

Anything from Dollar Tree or any bulk hard candies or lollipops are under $15.

[u/acouplefruits]

I’m an American who lives in Japan and I’ve had several experiences bringing back American candy for my friends here. The most popular choices have been sour patch kids, starburst, skittles (even tho they sell these here now they’re at a crazy markup), gushers, and unique M&M’s. Most other chocolate is a no-go because you can get much better chocolate here haha, and there’s the risk of melting in summer. Someone else mentioned but for nobody is gonna like the root beer ones (I’d happily take them off your hands tho lol). A lot of people also don’t love mint because they think it tastes like toothpaste. Jolly ranchers I think would be a hit!