20 Strangest Japanese Candies

If their candy is any indication, the Japanese have a completely different philosophy about making candy than Americans. Ranging from useful to outright odd, their candy is often designed to serve a double purpose. Here are the twenty strangest confectioneries Japan has to offer:

1. Bust Up Gum. Are you a woman? Unhappy with your breast size? Well, the makers of Bust Up Gum claim chewing their gum can make your breasts fuller and firmer. They also claim the gum can improve the look of your hair and nails.

2. Yuzu Kit Kat. It’s safe to say Japan has some odd twists on an English and American favorite, the Kit Kat bar. In this version, they add Yuzu (a Japanese cross between a lemon and a lime) and . . . hot pepper. Yes, hot pepper.

3. No Time Gum. Out and about? No time to brush your teeth? This gum is a brilliant way to keep your teeth clean. Simply pop it into your mouth and chew after a meal.

4. Suplitol Tongkat Ali Gum for Men. The makers of Bust Up Gum also make a gum for men—this one to enlarge penis size.

5. Echizen Kurage candy. Already reported by Weird Asian News, this candy is made from echizen kurage, a 6-foot, 440-pound jellyfish. Developed by students at Obama Fisheries High School, this confectionary comes in the flavor of a combination of jellyfish and caramel.

Also available as cookies.

6. Every Burger. Have you ever craved a bourbon chocolate cookie that absolutely must be shaped like a hamburger? Well, search no more. Every Burger has what you need.

If chocolate is not your thing, but Burgers still are, then you might enjoy some burger flavored hard candies… Yum!

7. Ika. This concoction consists of dried squid covered in chocolate. Hey, why not? The French did it with ants, you know.

8. Okonomiyaki Drops. Another candy drop based on okonomiyaki, or “Japanese pizza.” Mayo, cabbage, and radish flavorings abound in this drop. Yum.

9. Grilled Lamb caramels. That’s right: grilled lamb flavored caramels.

10. Pepperfruits. This particular gum is made of different types of fruit mixed with peppercorn. Hold on : this isn’t as crazy as it sounds. Supposedly, peppercorn is a fruit. See? Fruity, peppery. Totally works.

11. Takoyaki Drops. A candy drop based on takoyaki, a food in which octopus is dropped into a ball of cooking batter, then topped with Japanese mayonnaise and green onions, this little sweet is said to “taste like a meal.”

12. Cake Soda. You may not be able to have your cake and eat it, too . . . but you can drink it. This lovely light soda is sure to give you tooth decay. But hey, after drinking you can always pop in a piece of No Time Gum.

13. Chocolate Beer. To be fair, the Japanese aren’t the first to mix beer and chocolate. Perhaps the makers thought they’d kill two pleasures with one stone.

14. Green Tea Milk Kit Kats. What? No time for that cup of green milk tea? Get it in your Kit Kat bar.

15. Campaign candy. It seems Japan was as interested in American’s elections in 2008 as Americans were. They made candy with Obama’s and McCain’s likeness, as well as candy pieces that said, “Vote.”

16. Drug candy. No, this isn’t what you’re thinking. It’s just candy spiked with supplements to give you energy or increase your brain function.

17. Chocolate art. These sweets are pure chocolate, but the reason they are manufactured may sound a little weird to American women: in Japan, Valentine’s day is for men, and these chocolates are given to men from women on Valentine’s day.

18. Gummy Choco. Please. You know you love gummy candy with a . . . chocolate coating.

19. Coffee chewing gum. For that long-lasting coffee breath. Come to think of it, we have this, too. It’s called Starbucks.

20. Deviled egg candy. Not sure what the appeal is of candy shaped like real food, but this one misses the boat if you’re looking for that charming real egg depression for the “yolk.”

Links 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

By stacychambers on 21-01-2010