In case you’re in search of a one-stop shop for all of your weird Japan needs, you may’t go past Don Quijote. Loved by locals, tourists, and international celebrities, this variety chainstore sells every little thing from personal massagers to dishwashing liquid, and it’s where you’ll also find unusual snacks, like this one below.
These Shiitake Mushroom Snacks are produced by the chain’s own brand, Jonetsu Kakaku, and were recently featured on a preferred TV program, where they surprised the hosts. So when our reporter Mr Sato got here across them on a visit to Don Quijote, he immediately picked up a pack to try them out.
In accordance with the blurb plastered all around the package, these snacks have been rigorously crafted by a shiitake lover, with attention to details like seasoning in order that even those that don’t like shiitake will like them. They go thus far as to call it a “Shiitake Counterattack“, which was a daring claim that piqued Mr Sato’s curiosity.
Nevertheless, the photos of shiitake on the pack were said to be “images”, meaning they’re used for illustrative purposes only, so Mr Sato was keen to search out out what the snacks really looked like.
▼ “Photos are images”
Figuring there could be no way these could be shaped like actual shiitake mushrooms, Mr Sato imagined they have to be shiitake flavored chips or crackers. Nevertheless, upon opening the pack, Mr Sato’s eyes opened wide on the contents.
▼ Are these…actual mushrooms???
Tipping the contents out onto a plate, Mr Sato’s eyes widened even further as he realized these snacks were actually…dried shiitake mushrooms.
▼ Each mushroom even had the stalk still attached.
Well, this was an unexpected turn of events for a snack that claims to be a “shiitake counterattack” with the ability to win over even those that don’t like mushrooms. It’d actually be a confronting snack for those averse to eating mushrooms, but thankfully Mr Sato doesn’t mind fungi, so he popped one into his mouth for a taste.
Wow — not bad! The texture was very nice and firm, which helps to idiot the mind into considering you’re biting right into a fried rice cracker, while the taste was just like a consommé-flavored chip. It was strong on the salty notes, making it an excellent partner for alcohol, but essentially the most surprising part was the indisputable fact that the distinctive mushroom smell, often cited as the explanation why persons are turned off by them, was totally non-existent.
Despite being mushrooms, and looking out exactly like them, the flavour was totally different, and surprisingly tasty. More like an inoffensive drinking snack, these shiitake mushrooms are an actual surprise price trying, and at 645 yen per pack, they’re an indulgence that’ll help to raise your run-of-the-mill Don Quijote whisky.
Related: Don Quijote
Images © SoraNews24
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