Mango Curry Chips

 Japanese Food Review #105

Well, it's "Thai Curry Chip Week" once again here at the Times. This year we have two exciting entrants.

First up is a mango curry chip produced by Koikeya in their Exochip line. I believe Exochip is short for exotic chip, so my first reaction was to be incredibly turned on by these. Well played, Koikeya. The chip is said to combine the sweetness of a mango with the mild taste of coconut milk. You'd think they'd mention something about spices. They smelled pretty crappy and not particularly like mangoes or curry. There wasn't a strong curry taste, but it was there with a little mango taste that came on stronger the longer I chewed.

Ratings:
Gaybot: 3  It wasn't the worst, but after 5 chips or so, I'd had enough.
Girlbot: 1  She hates mangos. She said these tasted like chemicals (but she also thinks mangoes taste like chemicals). I didn't notice this at first, but after she pointed it out, I did notice there was a faint, soapy aftertaste.
Overall: 2

Will the other Thai curry chip score higher than 2 and take home the coveted trophy? Check back multiple times a day to find out!

Banana Potato Chips

Japanese Food Review #103

These are made by Koikeya. They are a major company, but anyone in the Japanese snack game knows they are a poor man's Calbee's. They have produced three fruit flavored potato chips this year, peach, mandarin, and, the type we will be examining today, banana.

There is a "press release" on the Koikeya website explaining that they would like their fruit chips to become the "4th breakfast" joining bread, rice, and granola. They said they noticed that pancakes (perhaps considered a bread?) and granola are very popular with people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. We all know that children and people over 50 hate pancakes. Anyway, they discovered that both pancakes and granola are often eaten with fruit! So why not spray chips with banana powder?!

While the bag says "banana powder was used", I couldn't detect any real banana flavor. I guess I'm not sure what banana powder means, but it was just that very fake banana taste. If you want to taste this and don't live in Japan, maybe grate some banana laffy taffy over some chips and enjoy. It was that exact flavor. That sounds awful, and it was, but it wasn't so bad that I couldn't eat it. I had two chips. I could have eaten the whole bag, but the thought, "What the hell am I doing?" came to mind, and I stopped.

I think the recipe they share on the back is also of interest.

It's marshmallow banana toast. You put marshmallows, bananas, and banana potato chips on toast and cover it in chocolate sauce. I think it's for people that are worried eating only chips for breakfast is unhealthy. They say the crunchy chips and fluffy marshmallows go well together.

Ratings:
Gaybot: 2.5  Again, I could eat it.
Girlbot: 1  She noted that the banana flavor is very strong when you first put it in your mouth, but it fades away and then only tastes like a chip.
Overall: 1.75