Crunky serving crunchy deliciousness since 1974 – Japanese candy spotlight
Before coming to Japan, I had always had a sweet tooth, much to the disappointment of both my dentist and parents. I would often enjoy the wide variety of snacks offered in the UK, which has recently started to expand with more international goodies. When I arrived in Japan, I noticed quickly that the candy and chocolate on offer were very different. In Japan, candy can be found in a lot of places, but also, like in the UK, in the past candy was primarily found in small family-owned candy stores. When I was small, I would walk to school and along the way I remember the house at the end of my road used to be a candy store. Sadly, it is not there anymore, but where it once had the shop exterior, the join is still visible in the paintwork.
There are many slice-of-life anime titles which feature candy and even a whole show explaining the origins of some of Japan’s most famous. Dagashi Kashis’ focus is the cheap candy which can be found in candy stores, and for the older Japanese viewer it is no doubt a nostalgic blast from the past. Remembering the long, hot Japanese summers spent playing with friends and perhaps enjoying candy with pocket money. The plot of the show is entertaining as a boy from the country helps run an old-style candy store whilst a candy-obsessed girl appears and tries to convince him to get his father to join a larger chain. Perhaps referencing how many old-style businesses in Japan are fading into the past whilst larger chains replace them.
Whilst my favourite chocolate offering in Japan by far is Black Thunder, which will feature in an upcoming blog. Crunky is often my go-to when Black Thunder is unavailable. Today’s small blog will introduce you to another fun snack from Japan. Crunky is relatively cheap depending on the flavour, but you can usually find it for around 140 yen. For those coming to Japan who are interested in trying it, you can find it in supermarkets and convenience stores. It can be found in small bar form or in larger bulk bags where the chocolate is pebble-shaped. I prefer the bulk shape more but do often find myself going through the bag too quickly as portion sizes are smaller. Candy consumption in Japan is lower, and you will quickly find that most sweets and snacks are very small in portion.
Crunky started its journey in 1974, released by Lotte, marketed with the catchphrase "A classic chocolate with a light and crispy taste." Lotte is a Japanese company founded in 1948 and whose headquarters are in the bustling ward of Shinjuku. Since its founding, the company has expanded its borders and has large business dealings with Korea and several other countries. Crunky was marketed in 1974 with a burlap sack design which has only slightly changed since its arrival on shelves. The chocolate itself is marketed as being smooth whilst balancing the crispy malt puffs found inside. Since its creation over thirty years ago, the chocolate has seen many new flavours and collaborations.
Crunky has been released in many flavours, to name a few, strawberry cheese tart, maple sugar latte, Melon, Cookies and cream, matcha, and the fun Devils Crunky, which came out in 2023 featuring a higher cacao percentage and crunchy chocolate biscuits from Hokkaido. My favourites are the biscuit and sometimes the sea salt flavour. Crunky chocolate is light but not as creamy or sweet as most of the chocolates I am used to. But the crispy malt and additional biscuits provide a great blend with the thinner chocolate. Without the biscuits and additional flavours, I think I would enjoy Crunky a lot less. If you are a fan of chocolate bars with texture, this is the chocolate for you. It’s a great pick-me-up for when you are missing something familiar in Japan. For me, it reminds me of a blend of KitKat, Crunchie bar and Cadbury cookies and cream.
There is a flavour for everyone, and like most things in Japan, there are seasonal flavours and often limited-time ones. The Japanese market is not afraid to be experimental, and often the limited-time runs are some of my favourite things. However, it can be very sad when something you really like is no longer available. I fully recommend trying Crunky if you come to Japan, or seeing if the internet can ship to your home. I hope this blog has brought another delicious offering from Japan into the light.
