With more and more Japanese sweets and snacks making their way to the West thanks to subscription box services, more international consumers are discovering the wild and colorful world of dagashi. Known for their low prices, colorful wrappings, and unique flavors, dagashi have been a staple of Japanese candy shops and convenience stores for over 100 years.
Dagashi is a broad category that encompasses everything from seasoned fish jerky to puffed corn to chocolate sweets. It can be sweet or savory, either the perfect dessert or a delightful afternoon snack.
Despite their popularity in Japan, especially among children, dagashi were one of the last Japanese snacks to make their way to the West. Unfortunately, for years, Pocky, Pretz, Hello Panda, and more recognizable names have overshadowed them. But any fan of Japanese snacks should give these tasty treats a try!
The Origins of Dagashi
The first known records originate from the Edo period. Due to Japan’s limited trade relationships with other countries, white sugar was a scarce resource. Because of this, some candy makers began producing sweets using corn or starch.
????????? is a combination of ??? meaning poor quality or low-grade and ?????? meaning snack. The rarer, more expensive white sugar desserts were called jogashi (?????????,) with ??? meaning high quality.