One of the best Japanese snacks ever is pocky. Its reputation extends beyond the borders of the land of the rising sun country. It wouldn't be surprising if you discovered it on the shelves of the grocery stores in your nation. Indeed, Pocky has achieved international fame with all the chocolate snacks available, which is quite an accomplishment for a snack cuisine. You can't go wrong with the winning combination of a seductively sweet chocolate-flavored coating and a little salty pretzel stick. In fact, with all the trends that Pocky has, many have made their own version of Pocky. Read on to learn more about Pocky and how you can make your own version of the best chocolate stick in the world.

What is Pocky?

Pocky is little cookies in the form of sticks that come in flavors, including chocolate, strawberry cream, dark chocolate, matcha green tea, and almond crush. This snack was originally known as chocotekku, but as the name had already been patented, they renamed it Pocky. Pocky is derived from the onomatopoeic word "pokkin," which has a pleasurable cracking sound. The 21.5 cm long Pocky Sticks come in a variety of flavors to suit even the most discerning snack enthusiastPocky has introduced hundreds, if not thousands, of variants over the years. With its limited and occasionally odd editions, the company has established itself as a traditional chocolate pleasure from its humble origins.

The available varieties vary by region and may not even be offered in Japan, for example, Chocolate Banana in Australia and Salted Caramel Pocky in Europe. Pocky Stick's ingenious construction includes a distinctive biscuit handle that enables customers to quickly eat the chocolate-covered portion of the biscuit without getting their hands messy. The idea of making the entire stick chocolate by adding a detachable foil to the end was discussed, but the simplest design ended up working best and gave rise to the recognizable Pocky stick we know today.

Pocky Flavors

Pocky is a beloved snack not only in Japan but also in many other nations, so Glico had to get creative in order to develop flavors that would appeal to both the Japanese and international markets. In fact, it's reported that Pocky has been produced in more than 50 different tastes! There are many different flavors of Pocky, including chocolate, strawberry, and almond.

Seasonal flavors like kiwifruit, mango, and honey are among the most awaited release. Pocky is available in various regional flavors, including grape in Nagano, yubari melon in Hokkaido, huge mikan in the Kyushu region, powdered tea azuki bean in Kyoto, Kobe wine in Kobe, and five-fusion berry (Goka). Moreover, many other flavors are available, including banana, lychee, coffee, caramel, marble royal milk tea, melon, and Daim bar in the UK. In fact, it's easy to find any taste you can imagine!

Pocky Variations

Pocky has unique variants, including Decorer Pocky and Mousse Pocky, which have more decorative icing, which features extra thick, "creamy" mousse-like icing, and are more exclusive. Mousse Pocky packets feature nine pieces in each box, fewer than ordinary Pocky, in contrast to other Pocky variants. There is also a Dessert Pocky, which consists of Pocky sticks drenched in copious amounts of cream. Double chocolate, tiramisu, chocolate banana, maroon white, chestnut, strawberry shortcake, and orange are some of the flavors on this list. Typically, a box of Dessert Pocky has five packets, three in each sleeve.

History of Pocky

The world's first chocolate stick was created in 1966, more than 55 years ago, and it was the beginning of the Pocky saga. The idea was influenced by Pretz, Pocky's more mature and savory sibling, which debuted on the market in 1963. The Japanese candy and confectionery firm Glico is entirely responsible for Pocky's existence. The unique component of the original Pocky, a sort of caramel candy from which the company took its name, was a particular ingredient.

The invention of Pocky was considered pretty brilliant at the time because it was intended to be the first chocolate stick in history. Pocky quickly gained popularity after its release to the general public, and the notion of introducing various flavors spread. By developing a range of Pocky flavors, including some extremely unusual, regional, and limited edition flavors, and even creating its own Pocky day to commemorate. Indeed, Pocky has tremendously advanced in the chocolate snack sector.

Additionally, Pocky became wildly popular in Japan very quickly after it initially appeared on store shelves there. They developed a wider selection of flavors over time and exported them to other nations. Glico Thailand was first produced in 1970, and after being introduced to China, France, Canada, and the United States in the 1980s and 1990s, it finally cemented its reputation as a legendary Japanese snack in 2003. Today, it is so well-known that it even has its own holiday.

How to Make your own Pocky sticks?

Many have yet to consider producing their own homemade Pocky because it is so easily available. But you'll miss the fun! Clean out your cupboard and use all of the remaining cookies, crackers, and sprinkles. It's so much fun to make these. They bring back your sense of innocent awe. Also, you have the option to select from a variety of unique flavors. But whichever flavor you choose, it will unquestionably be as delicious and easy! Here's an easy and fun Pocky recipe that let you make Pocky at home.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour or bread flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar 

• 1 large egg

• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 4 teaspoons lukewarm water

• coconut oil

Instructions:

1. Set your oven's temperature to 350 degrees. Put three baking sheets aside and line them with parchment paper.

2. In the bowl or food processor, combine the butter and granulated sugar. Beat till frothy and light for about 2 minutes using a wooden spoon. Add the egg and the vanilla extract. Mix again until thoroughly blended, scrap the edges for excess dough if required.

3. For one last time, combine everything together, then add the salt, water, and baking powder. Fill a piping bag with the batter and a tip that is rather small and circular.

4. Pipe batter in 5- to 6-inch lines onto the baking sheet. You can mark lines with a pencil, turn the paper over, and then trace the lines with a batter. Also, you can design your preferred pocky form. Continue doing this until there are roughly 30 lines on each baking sheet.

5. Bake the pocky for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden brown, on one baking sheet at a time. 

6. Move the sticks carefully to a rack to continue cooling after five minutes of chilling on the sheets on the racks to cool completely at room temperature. Use the leftover batter to continue. Save the parchment-lined baking sheet for the previous step.

7. Now for the dipping, you can make use of any flavor you like, whether it may be chocolate, strawberry, white cholate, and even matcha. In a 2-cup glass measuring cup (or another thin, microwave-safe container), melt the chocolate for 15 seconds at a time. You can also mix and match to different favors for a fun pocky experience like matcha and white chocolate combination.

8. Transfer the melted chocolate to a long cup or in a container longer than your pocky sticks. 

9. Carefully dunk each stick in the melted chocolate one at a time. To get the chocolate up higher on the stick, tip the cup on its side and dip each stick in where the chocolate is the highest (use caution as the sticks are quite delicate). 

10. Lay each stick on the prepared sheets after removing any excess chocolate. Sprinkle it with your favorite toppings; the options are also limitless. You can use anything you want, from cocoa powder, milk powder, freeze-dried strawberries, milk chocolate, nuts, popping candy to sprinkles, and more!

11. To set the chocolate, place the sheets in the refrigerator. Keep in the refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container for a crispy and fun Pocky delight. 

12. Repeat the steps until you’ve worked through all of the homemade pocky. 

It's Japan Crate Time!

Get all the ingredients you need at your neighborhood market or any Japanese grocery stores immediately to make your homemade Pocky and enjoy a taste of Japan! If you're really interested in finding out more about Japanese food and snack culture, go to Japan Crate right now. One of Japan's most well-liked subscription boxes, Japan Crate, allows you to enjoy Japanese snack culture in the comfort of your home. Japan Crate offers limited-edition, stylish, and seasonally appropriate Japanese goods, all packaged in delightful surprise boxes, and Pocky is no exception!

Check out the Japan Crate for more well-known and enduring Japanese Pocky pleasures if you've never tried it or are just curious about all the fuss. A monthly box of authentic Japanese items is available from Japan Crate. Grab your first box of the month right now! Enjoy.