Korean Seaweed Snack vs Japanese Seaweed Snack

Today, I encountered an inquiry from one of our customers. He bought a bag of Japanese seaweed snack

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and a bag of Korean Seaweed snack

Both are great stuffs…. for us. However, it doesn’t seem so for this customer, who was new to the seaweed. After devouring the super crispy Korean seaweed, he found the taste of Japanese seaweed is quite dull and thought it was stale.

The truth is, the Japanese seaweed snack is just as fresh as the Korean seaweed snack. The difference in the taste was due to how the seaweed snack was made by Korean or Japanese.

Korean style seaweed snack are usually seasoned and roasted in sesame oil (most of the time). You can do one experiment. Use a fine tissue, or simply use your finger to rub the Korean seaweed gently, you will see/feel the oil on the tissue or your finger.

Because the Korean seaweed has been roasted in oil, it is very crispy and it stays that way very long. Japanese seaweed, on the other hand, is not added with any oil. They are simply seasoned and dried roasted, just like the seaweed nori used for sushi making. The Japanese seaweed snack is not very crispy. It gains some degree of crispy from being very dried, but you will never have a Japanese seaweed snack or nori sheet as crispy as Korean ones.

Because it is not oiled, many new comers to seaweed snacks might find the Korean seaweed is more attractive than the Japanese one.

Nevertheless, after enjoying the Korean seaweed for a while, you might find the mild, “plainer” Japanese seaweed to be just as enjoyable. You can use it to roll the rice, meat, sprinkle over the noodle, soup or eat out of packets. Many many ways to enjoy. At 4 calories per 12 strips, you don’t have to worry too much on how much calories you are taking in.

Just like Fried Chicken, it tastes great, but one day you might find a grilled Chicken to be just as tasty as the fried one……..

We love all different kinds of seaweed snack. PierMall.com carries

4 different seaweed snacks:

Korean Seaweed - Low salt - 3 bags

Korean Seaweed Snack - Green Tea

Original Korean Seaweed - 1 case

Japanese seaweed snack (light spicy)- Value pack available

PierMall.com also carry many different seaweed nori for sushi:

50 sheets seaweed nori +1 Sushi Mat (product of China)	Seaweed Nori for Sushi (China)
Seaweed Nori for Sushi (Japan)

There are many types available, available in single bag or value pack. Search for “Seaweed”

A good place to stock up Halloween candies

Free shipping at $25, these popular candies have a very good price! Close to the price offered in warehouse club.. Plus, you have something quite unique and scary enough to get some “wow”.

Nestle Halloween Assorted - Butterfinger, Baby Ruth, Crunch Chocolate, 56-Ounce Bags (Pack of 2)	Wonka Mix-ups, Halloween, 64-Ounce Bags (Pack of 2)	Wonka Mix-ups, Halloween, 64-Ounce Bags (Pack of 2)
Nestle Classic Scream Halloween, 32-Ounce Bags (Pack of 2)	Nestle Classic Scream Halloween, 32-Ounce Bags (Pack of 2)	Wonka Mix-ups Monster, Halloween, 18.7-Ounce Bags (Pack of 4)
Nestle Butterfinger, Halloween, Fun Size Bigger Bag, 24-Ounce Bags (Pack of 4)	Nestle Halloween Assorted, Fun Size Bigger Bag, 21-Ounce Bags (Pack of 4)	Wonka Nerds, Spooky Halloween, 18.7-Ounce Packages (Pack of 6)

Halloween is Coming…

The Jelly Belly Boo Box

Sounds like a good item for the office or home party. Here is the description of the item:

This charming little haunted house is decorated with smiling jack-o’-lanterns and a ghost on the outside, but the best part is what’s inside! Take the roof off and you’ll find some scary-sweet Jelly Belly treats! Here’s what you’ll get:

* One 9 oz. bag Deluxe Halloween Mix
* One 8.5 oz. bag Sour Gummi Pumpkins
* One Gummi Pet Rat (random flavor)
* One Gummi Pet Tarantula (random flavor)
* One 3.5. oz Beananza bag 20 Assorted Flavor jelly belly
* Two 1 oz. bags Candy Corn

Net weight 28 oz.

Remember the jelly flop? The interesting imperfect little Jelly Fellows. If you are patient enough, you can now get a much better bargain: Buy 2 bags and get 1 free. Use code: HALLOWEE at the check out!

Buy 2 Get 3 Free Puritan’s Pride Vitamins

I like Puritan brand products: High quality, Large selection, Excellent price with beautiful presentation. Can’t pass this deal:

Pretect Identity Theft with Aurora AS890C Paper/Credit Card Shredder

So many bills, statements filled in the mailbox everyday. It is just annoying! To deposit the document properly, I just purchased Aurora AS890C 8 Sheet Crosscut Paper/Credit Card Shredder with Basket from Amazon.com for $39.99 with free shipping.

Compared the price with eBay offering, it seems Amazon ($39.99) beats eBay ($49.99) this time.

Since my previous fellow shredder broke within a month. I did some research on Amazon and found: Fellowes Shredder Oil, 12 oz. Bottle with Extension Nozzle. It supposed to help keep confetti-cut machines working at their peak.

Hope so. Let’s see.

Aurora AS890C 8 Sheet Crosscut

Fellowes Shredder Oil

Celebrate your birthday with a delicious cake - Zero Calorie!

How much I want to have that delicious cake! Oh no, that fat, sugar….
When I was searching for a good cake replacement for an upcoming birthday, I came across to these beautiful cakes, they are so beautiful and will definitely cheer up the party. The best yet, they come with zero calorie - naturally! You will stay just healthy, if not healthier.. But if you are allergic to the flower, it might be better for you to enjoy some real cake, even it is loaded with calories..
All the delicious cakes are provided by 1800flowers.com:

A slice of life?		Birthday flower cake		or a cupcake?

Morinaga Hi Chew - How Many Flavors?

Hi Chew candies are the soft, chewy candy that was first released by Japanese candy maker - Morinaga in Japan in 1975. It was re-released in its current shape (a stick of several individually-wrapped candies) in February 1986.

Hi-chew candies are individually wrapped. Each candy has an outer white coating (this is the same for every flavor) and a colored, flavored interior, with some exception. For example, the Strawberry Cheesecake and Yogurt flavors have an outer colored coating with a white, flavored inside. There are also other flavors, such as Banana Chocolate, Watermelon chocolate, they could have chocolate dots in the white coating layer.

The flavor of hi chew is similar to US’ Laffy Taffy or Starburs or salty taffy candy, with a texture leans toward chewing gum. It is more chewy, not sticky at all.

Morinaga offers flavors of Hi chew each year. There are three flavors available all year around, which are: Green apple, Grape, and Strawberry. Each year, it releases several other new flavors. Some are the variation of previous released flavors, some are brand new. The most interesting flavors of year 2009 are: Dragon fruit and Camu Camu berry.

Morinaga has factories both in Japan and Taiwan. The original Japanese version has all Japanese printed over the wrapper, and each candy is individually wrapped in foil. The size of Japanese version is also larger, which is about 2.0 Oz per pack. Some very special flavors, such as Chocolate watermelon mentioned above, are in 1.5 Oz.

The “Hi Chew” in English is printed on the wrappers of Hi chew made outside of Japan. The size is smaller, they can be ranged from 1.5 ~ 1.7 Oz.

Hi Chew Ume Plum (Made in Japan)

Hi Chew dragon Fruit (Made in Japan)

hi chew Ruby red Bloody Orange (Made in Japan)

Hi Chew American Cherry (Made in Japan)

Hi Chew Camu Camu Berry from Amazon Forest (Made in Japan)

Traditional Flavors:

Hi Chew Grape (Made in Japan)

Hi Chew Green Apple (Made in Japan)

Hi Chew Strawberry (Made in Japan)

Sold out in 2009: Banana, Mango, Lychee, Mix fruit & Strawberry Cheese Cake

Although we do like flavor and texture of Original Japanese Hi Chew Better, we do find some interesting hi chew flavors made in Taiwan. The flavors are similar but with lower cost. They are offered by Amazon.  Click on the picture to go to the product pages. Here are some interesting and cheaper version of Hi chew flavors made in Taiwan:

Morinaga Hi chew Honey Dew Melon(Made in Taiwan)

Morinaga Hi chew Orange (Made in Taiwan)

Morinaga Hi chew Mango Made in Taiwan

Morinaga Hi chew Green Apple Made in Taiwan

Morinaga Hi chew Green Apple Made in Taiwan

This is not exactly the hi chew, but another very popular Morinaga product. It is made in Taiwan, a cheaper alternative than those made in Japan.

Morinaga Caramel Made in Taiwan

Okinawa Black Sugar for Weekend Kitchen

The Metropolitan Home’s Weekend Kitchen recipe - Black sugar magic is calling our Okinawa black sugar brick (also sold at our store at Amazon storefront). You can also find at our own online store: PierMall.com for better pricing.  The original recipe can be found at Metropolitan Home .

The newest batch of Okinawa black sugar brick just arrived in US. Very fresh and moisture.

Upon opening the bag, use a kitchen or steak knife to break the sugar into smaller pieces and store in air tight container. It is easier to break the sugar when it is freshly opened.

Before you use up all the black sugar, give it a try to eat a piece of sugar. You would be surprise at the rich flavor the sugar offers!

A Super Wired Candy — Yuck!

In searching for something special for upcoming Halloween, I came across a really scary candy from Jelly Belly;, which is quite beyond my wildest imagination. Not sure how about you. Here it is:

Individually wrapped Gummi Rats from Jelly Belly. Four flavors. 100% of the daily value of vitamin C. Great party candy!
You’ll actually want these rodents all over your kitchen. They’re soft, chewy gummi treats exploding with flavor. Best of all, each rat contains 100% of the daily value of vitamin C. Perfect for Halloween décor or handing out at parties, each Pet Rat weighs 3 ounces and is approximately 9 inches long. Four flavors are included in one package: Cherry, Orange, Marshmallow and Licorice.

24 Pet Rats total.

If you look at the package more carefully, here is what the candies look like:

Just too much for me…. at least  a Manga style rat will be more acceptable.

Any more, if you dare to get it, here is a 5% off coupon …
Buy Halloween at JellyBelly.com: Spend $25+, get 10% off your order. Apply code BOO at checkout.