I always enjoy browsing and shopping in Muji stores (more browsing than shopping since their products are on the expensive side). I adore their storage boxes and stationery items, especially their kitchen and dining ware.
And because I spend time in this very section (at their Pavilion Elite store), gazing at all the kitchen/dining stuff I wish I could own, that I first came to notice the snacks section next to it.
....to all types of green tea & matcha flavoured lattes, masala & chai tea, and even yuzu & honey drinks. They also offer instant soups, ramen & sauces.
I (of course) just had to buy a couple of these Japanese Muji Snacks to try, starting with this Green Pea Snack @ RM6.90. I was initially attracted to it thinking they were some kind of French bean fries coz they looked the part.
But when I ate the first piece, the taste of green peas was what I first tasted. So, I looked at the packaging again and realised they were actually a green pea snack. I used to hate green peas when I was a child but has now grown to love it (like bitter gourd). I especially like a good mashed green peas with fish and chips. I loved the fragrance and prominent taste of green peas in this snack! ^.^
Again, the intensity of the onion flavour was very notable in the crispy onion crackers.....yummeh! Quite unlike our local crackers that usually just taste crispy and salty without any flavour.
Another almost similar crispy snack is this Burdock Snack @ RM4.90. Fresh burdock looks a bit like white radish or jicama, usually stir-fried with carrot (and has a crunchy texture like lotus root) or braised in a soy sauce, sesame oil, mirin and sugar concoction till tender. I don't think I've had fresh burdock before.
The moment you open the pack, you get this whiff of Chinese herbal smell...something like ginseng or maybe Chinese angelica root ("dang gui") or codonopsis root ("dang shen" aka poor man's ginseng). I don't know which Chinese herb exactly but let me tell you that it tastes better than it smells! :D I'm ok with it but may be an acquired taste for some because of the herbal smell.
Well, in the remote possibility that you don't like crispy snacks (!), they have some non-crispy choices too like these Matcha-Flavoured Mochi @ RM6.90.....
I also got these Mini Ramen Chicken @ RM6.90 thinking they're similar to those Mamee Monster noodle snacks that you can just eat out of the packet. But that was before I read the instructions on the packet and found out that they're actually instant noodles that need to be cooked....haiz!
You can cook it like you do a cup noodle by pouring hot water over two cubes of noodles and let it steep for 3 minutes. Or cook two noodles over a pan of boiling water (instructions say to use 220ml) and crack an egg into it (the noodles will not take more than a minute to cook). Taste wise, it was like having yee mee with eggs...very savoury noodles in a very savoury broth (you may want to use more than 220ml water to dial down on the saltiness).
Seeing that there were some crushed bits of noodles left in the pack, I poured that into my mouth and realised that you can actually eat it like straight just like Mamee noodles...only better. It makes for a nice, salty, crispy snack.
Seeing that there were some crushed bits of noodles left in the pack, I poured that into my mouth and realised that you can actually eat it like straight just like Mamee noodles...only better. It makes for a nice, salty, crispy snack.
Then, you have this more common snack of Yolk Bolo @ RM5.90 which are small egg yolk biscuits with a slightly chalky, sweet and crispy texture. What can I say, I prefer crispy crunchy snacks...hihi! ;P
My ultimate favourite has to be this Small Fried Rice Crackers @ RM4.90. One thing about Japanese products is that they're very good at packaging it nicely to entice you.
These rice crackers, laced with soy sauce and honey, are so crispy and addictive with its salty-sweet flavours. They're da bomb....so goood...I can't get enough of them....and once you've tried them, you won't either! ^o^
Ya, these snacks may be more expensive than our local snacks and crackers, but I'd gladly pay the price for flavour, flavour, flavour! ;)
Perhaps, this year, you might want to get some of these Japanese Muji Snacks for a change (and there are lots to choose from), something different from the usual same old same old Chinese New Year goodies to snack on.....I know I do! ^_~
As some of us head out to our hometowns for our annual "CNY balik kampong" ritual tomorrow.....
Ooo, I’ve actually never done any Muji browsing before - I’ve been missing out! I’d like to try those crunchy, no-need-to-cook noodles - I used to be a Mamee addict back in primary school, and I probably ate a lifetime’s worth of MSG without my hair falling out - I wonder how much a packet of Mamee costs in school canteens nowadays - I guess around RM1 ... I hope Cookie is consoled by the fact that there’ll be a nice reunion dinner waiting for him tomorrow - will Cookie get a plate of fishy Yee Sang? :)
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, Cookie has to go to the pet hotel aka prison while we travel back to Ipoh, so no fishy yee sang for him! :( If you're a Mamee addict, then this ramen chicken noodles will suit you...and it's very savoury.
DeleteOh? They sell snacks too? I think there is a Muji at 1-U and I only look from the outside all those lovely household items that I know I can't buy. OK, I shall venture inside next time and see if this one also sells all those nice snacks hee..hee... That green pea snack looks like dehydrated long beans. I remember eating vegetable chips which had something similar inside.
ReplyDeleteYes, do venture inside the next time to get your hands on some of these snacks. I like that Japanese snacks really taste like what they're supposed to be. :)
DeleteOh! Forgot to mention I love that shot of Cookie taking a swipe at the CNY decoration tassle. Yeah, I used to wonder too why there is no year of the cat when we have dog and rat hah..hah...
ReplyDeleteCookie: Thanks, dear....muacks! ;) Hee...hee..at least someone agrees with me.
DeleteI've had some fun browsing this store. I'm fond of some of their clothing and house items that are made from natural materials such as cotton.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they have some really nice stuff here :=)
DeleteI've had fun wandering around this store too.
ReplyDeleteMe too...I love their storage boxes :)
DeleteKris, wishing you and your family Gong Xi Fa Cai!
ReplyDeleteI seldom walk into Muji because their prices are over my budget.
The green pea snack really looks like French beans. I only boil soup with burdock. The instant noodles is flavoured and doesn't come with seasoning powder?
Yes, their instant noodles don't come with separate seasoning powder as they're already flavoured...and quite salty at that.
DeleteI mistook them for french beans initially too.
That's why it's more browsing than shopping for me at Muji.
Happy Lunar New Year to you and your family too with wishes of health and wealth for the year ahead :)
I always like to visit the MUJI store at One-Utama too. Being in advertising, I would spend time looking at their plain packaging to figure out what made them design this and that. They are so typically plain in designs just like their famous Yohji Yamamoto whose clothes are chic yet very dull & plain but costs thousands of dollars even for a Tee shirt. Siao!
ReplyDeleteI used to joke about the missing Year of The Cat too! Meow!
Poor Cookie had to sleep at the Cat Hotel but that's a good time for him to meditate and self-reflect. My sister and another good friend could never send their cats to Pet-Hotels, so they gladly appreciate my time to feed their pets while they went on holidays.
I can't explain it too...their packaging (and products) are minimalistic and plain to the eye but yet so attractive...and cost a bomb! ;)
DeleteWell, your sister and friends have a good pet sitter in you to rely on...I'm not so lucky, so to boarding he goes! ;P