Nothing screams "SUMMER!" like a bear with a watermelon for a head, don't you think? Especially when said bear is also eating a piece of watermelon (perhaps sliced neatly from the back of his own head?).
Suika means watermelon and Suika Gumi, being watermelon-flavored gummies, has to have the most unoriginal name ever given to a candy whose mascot is an animal with a head made of fruit. Clearly, most of Kabaya's budget goes to the design department. (And, hey, this is the same company that gave us the adorably-packaged, boringly-named Puchi Purin Choco, or Petite Pudding Chocolate. Another of their candies is called, simply, Gumigumigumi. It's a gummy, FYI.) But I'll forgive Suika Gumi its snoozeworthy name; the package and the candy itself more than make up for it. A mere 100 yen gets you a cup filled with small, wedge-shaped gummies in two flavors: watermelon (red) and sour watermelon (yellow). There is a rare melon soda flavor (blue) which may or may not be included in the cup. (Mine didn't have any.)
Both flavors have that juicy bite of a good Japanese gummy, though I slightly prefer the sour watermelon, just because I'm a sucker for sour candy. The texture is chewy and substantial, but not rubbery. The best part is that the gummies are not individually wrapped, the way so many gummies in Japan are, so you don't feel like a disgusting glutton when you're done eating because you don't have to face a mountain of wrappers left behind. I'm all for a candy that doesn't leave easily-counted reminders of just how many pieces I ate.
It's possible that, after eating so many watermelon-flavored gummies and staring for so long at a bear eating a sweet sweet piece of his own watermelon head, you will begin to crave a piece of real watermelon. I did. But then I realized an actual watermelon costs at least $20 at this time of year, unless it's a square watermelon, in which case it would probably be closer to $80. That could buy you a lot of cups of Suika Gumi, you know.
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Comments (11)
Oishii so! I love watermelon, and I don't believe I've ever had any Japanese suika flavored things before...yum!!!
Posted by Sera | June 2, 2007 2:11 AM
yum! Melon gummies still remain my favorite purchase from the asian market. Except those are more honeydew melon rather than watermelon. Go Gummies! (and write me an email!)
Posted by sonya | June 2, 2007 3:29 AM
Mmm, those look delicious.
Posted by Mariko | June 2, 2007 4:36 AM
Eee! Those look wonderful. Sad I didn't know of them before my trip to a faraway giant asian market(I did, however, get cubyrop!)
Posted by Zena | June 2, 2007 8:28 AM
i wonder if there is anyone out there covered in tattoos that are japanese candy themed? it's as worthy a theme as any, as far as i'm concerned. and far cuter, actually.
Posted by jenn | June 2, 2007 10:42 AM
Very kawaii design lol. Maybe you are right about not much funding going towards the "naming department" compared to the other departments. Definitely looks tasty, I will pick it up if I ever see it here.
Posted by AS | June 4, 2007 8:29 AM
Hi! I think you write very well. I truly enjoyed reading this candy review of yours.
Posted by Faye Ilogon | June 5, 2007 8:46 PM
Oh. My. God. I want that candy and I want it now. That is the cutest thing ever and it feels delicious even over the Internets.
Posted by Moda di Magno | June 6, 2007 11:36 AM
I stumbled across your blog the other day and have been enjoying reading about your adventures in Japan. I must admit that I am envious of your opportunity to truly immerse yourself in another culture.
Posted by K. Anne | June 7, 2007 8:57 AM
that bear really is quitecute! once again, i thoroughly enjoyed your candy post =) i can't wait to go to japanin august and witness in person all these candies LOL =P
Posted by Denise | June 7, 2007 1:26 PM
Putting aside the rather gruesome watermelon-head + eating-watermelon aspect, that bear is ridiculously adorable! =D
Posted by Emma | June 8, 2007 11:02 AM