Edit: Get the strawberry Pocky over chocolate. No alternative for that, but there’s no need for one. If you can find it near you, those Yin-Yan dipping cups are also quite good. I double-dip to no end.
Most students and kids know what Pocky is. It’s little pretzel sticks dipped in fudge, or as I taste, chocolate. And the cost is about $2 for a normal-sized box. If you really wanted it, $2 is nothing to spare, but the thing is, Pocky tastes like plastic. Look at the picture and tell me it doesn’t seem fake. Reminds me of Lego blocks, which are made of shiny plastic.
Pocky is fairly popular, either through the name or the Japanese people. They sell it at my school for fund-raising, but it’s the crappy ones made in Thailand. Outsourcing is cheap and ring in big profits. I prefer the Japan-made ones, at least to say it stayed true to its origins. Maybe all of them are made in Thailand, or was it Malaysia? I’m not sure, but it’s one of those countries. I can usually get the small boxes at school for $1. Not for enjoyment, but so others won’t complain and whine how I don’t support fundraisers. This is how I discovered the fall of a product.
Pocky is probably just bought for the brand. Their little pretzel stick is dry, and I wondered what the hell I bit into. The “fudge” or chocolate coating is also weak. Not much flavor, and overall, they taste stale and bland. Maybe I’m just fat and American, but I want more sugar in that fudge. It might’ve been a bad batch, but I have yet to taste a good batch then. People should see that it’s just not worth $2, or the measly $1 I am literally forced to pay for. For $2, I can buy 20 bags of ramen, and enjoy myself in a noodle orgy. Then die. Or an assortment of fine American chocolate and develop diabetes. All the more satisfying.
Now, if you’ve been to Korean stores, they carry Pepero. It’s just a Korean version of Pocky. Their pretzel stick is more like a cracker, and the chocolate actually tastes like food. But they get stale sitting around my house or melts due to the heat. Sometimes, it gets lost around the couch or stolen by visitors. That’s always fun to discover. I buy these in packages of 6 or 7 for around $4. Considering that it is much better over Pocky, I’m in a win-win situation.
So, this comes down to self-preference. I just like the Pepero better, as it’s 1) cheaper and 2) feels like food. Pocky, I’ll give them the benefit of the Japanese pretzel engineering institute. Though if Pocky does include some kinky Japanese toys inside their boxes, I’m ready to switch over. They have my word. >: )
In another perspective, try to find which one makes you feel less guilt when digestion comes around. For the health-conscious, avoid these altogether. You’re not missing much. Chocolate on crackers? I think those were called poverty beaters years ago.
9 Comments
2007/09/17 at 06:52
You, my friend, have hit the proverbial nail on the head. Pepero is quite clearly the most magnificent chocolate-dipped stick- candy available on the market. One must not be disrespectful to Pocky, the godfather, if you will, but we must acknowledge that Pepero is superior.
2008/12/07 at 05:53
mmm i like both. but i looove pepero. i’m prolly being bias because i grew up on it (mom’s korean) but honestly, i have to agree with the fact that it does taste more like food and the cracker/cookie part tastes better. :3
but wow… pocky and pepero is expensive where you live ;__; at the stores near my house the price for pocky ranges between 89 cents and $1.79 (or something like that) and pepero is pretty much never more than 89 cents (the best deal i had was around 70 cents).
hehe i liked this article (i was googling to show my dad a pic of pocky and pepero for when he goes to the store, lol)… thanks! ^___^
2008/12/07 at 08:09
I’ve only seen Pepero in Koreatown. They may be available locally, but I’ve never had the need to search for them.
Around me, there’s probably a Pocky tax. Stores charge $1.19 for the small boxes of Pocky, and either $1.79 or $2.19 for the larger ones. If my school can sell them for $1 in volume, why can’t supermarkets do the same?
2009/08/30 at 10:50
ah . i never tried peppero i wanna try!
i live in the United States ,
and they only sell Pocky ,
or i’ve only seen Pocky ,
i always eat it , and i have to say i really like it .
but you know , if i tried peppero , it might be better .
2009/09/03 at 18:30
I see Pepero in Korean supermarkets here in the States. Haven’t seen them much elsewhere.
2009/09/13 at 06:43
i haven’t try pocky yet. but i am now eating the pepero thing.
the chocolate is not special. i know that taste too long.
i have it buy on a asian supermarket
and bough:
Pretz Chill pizza taste, pepero, and pocky strawberry.
my favorite is mabey the pocky strawberry.
since pepero taste me too bored.
and pretz give me some i want to go to the bathroom.
So winner is for me Pocky strawberry
2009/09/13 at 12:40
Pepero is pretty bland. But it’s a slightly fresher taste than Pocky. Milder flavor. The cracker stick isn’t as dry. Pocky coagulates my saliva, while Pepero leaves it slightly sticky.
Never tried Pretz.
2009/11/01 at 16:40
I LOVE PEPERO. Especially the almond one (green)
pocky in comparison tastes bland… eurgh
2009/11/01 at 17:41
I think I tried the almond one once. Wasn’t too bad, but it felt too abrasive to me. Those almonds sure are sharp.