Where is Pocky From?

There is no denying that Japan has so many delicious foods to offer, from sushi, onigiri, and Ramen. But that's not all. Japan also makes great candy and delicious snacks that you'll definitely love, and Pocky is no exception. Pocky is crisp biscuit sticks covered in a decadent chocolate covering. They are undoubtedly among the most well-liked snack foods in Japan. Learn more about Pocky and where this comes from.

What are Pocky Sticks?

Pocky is a well-known brand of Japanese chocolate-covered biscuit stick from Glico! The Japanese onomatopoeic term pokkin-pokkin, which describes the snapping sound generated as the biscuit snapped, gave rise to the name Pocky. Pocky stick includes a distinctive biscuit handle that enables customers to quickly eat the chocolate-covered portion of the biscuit without getting their hands messy. They are biscuit sticks with cream on them and are available in various Pocky tastes and seasonal and limited-edition versions.

Birth of Pocky In Japan

Pocky snacks are thin, chocolate-dipped biscuits in the form of sticks born in Japan. These Japanese snacks were created by Yoshiaki Koma and first offered in 1966 by the Japanese snack company Ezaki Glico Co. Young females looking for a portable snack were the target market for this innovative snack. It found out that chocolate-covered fingertips weren't all that enticing to Pocky eaters. Thus, Glico decided to have a portion of the biscuit left bare, making for a cleaner nibbling experience, which helped establish Pocky's distinctive appearance.

The invention of the chocolate snack Pocky, which had the goal of being the first stick of chocolate in history, was considered pretty brilliant at the time. Once Pocky original chocolate flavor was made available to the general public, it immediately became a success for everyone, to the point where the notion of introducing different flavors quickly caught on. Due to the enormous popularity of Pocky chocolate, the Japanese Food manufacturer introduced Almond Pocky five years later in 1971, and Pocky Strawberry followed in 1977.

Pocky Global Expansion

When Pocky initially appeared on Japanese store shelves, it became incredibly popular, and as time went on, they not only expanded their flavor selection but also exported it to additional nations. Pocky began to spread over the world in the 1970s. The initial stage in Glico's entry into the global market was the founding of Thai Glico Co. Then, in 1982, Generale Biscuit Glico France S.A. was founded. This gave Pocky a base from which to enter the European market. From this, Pocky grew bigger with Shanghai Ezaki Glico Foods Co., established in 1995, Ezaki Glico USA Co., Ltd., established in California in 2003, and PT. Glico Indonesia was established in South Jakarta in 2014. Pocky became widely available over the world as a result of its increasing popularity over time.

Pocky Day In Japan

You would be surprised to know that Pocky has its own holiday in Japan. A day dedicated to Pocky snacks may initially sound a little strange, but it doesn't seem all that weird when you consider Japanese culture and the obvious love of snacking. Japan celebrates Pocky Day, or "pokki no hi," on November 11. When you think about it, the explanation is both clear-cut and clever. The four 1s of the number 1111, representing the date November 11, are shaped like the well-known Pocky sticks. Although there is no formal significance to the day, many Japanese observe it by purchasing a Pocky box, whether regular pocky or little pocky, in their preferred flavors. 

Flavors of Pocky

Original Pocky flavors include chocolate, strawberry, and almond flavors are expanded over time to include a variety of new flavors, including dark chocolate pocky, almond crush pocky, cookies and cream, royal milk tea pocky, and marble pocky, among many others. Seasonal Pocky tastes are also offered. However, they are only accessible at specific seasons of the year. Seasonal flavors include mango, pineapple, cherry blossom, green tea, cocoa powder, gorojima kintoki sweet potato, and honey flavors.

Additionally, there are regional flavors that are exclusive to various regions of Japan. Regional flavors include gigantic mandarin oranges in Kyushu, Shinshu Kyoho Grape in Nagano, Uji Matcha tea, Yubari King Melon, and Kobe wine in Kobe. But wait, there's more! Pocky also has a pocky dessert line that you shouldn't miss. These flavors include Double Chocolate, Strawberry Cream, Tiramisu, Chocolate Banana, Marron White, Chestnut, Strawberry Shortcake, and Mousse Pocky. The company also sells themed products like Pocky Decorer, also known as "Gorgeous Pocky," with decorative and culinary uses. This style has bright stripes covered with a coating. A more modern variation of the trademark is "Adult Amber." This one has a salty undertone and offers a Pocky bitter chocolate flavor. It is regarded as a snack that complements whisky.

It's Japan Crate Time

If you've never tasted it or are just curious about the hype, check out the Japan Crate for additional well-known and delectable Japanese Pocky delights. Japan Crate offers a monthly box of authentic Japanese items, including a few Pocky products you'll love! Get your first crate right now! Enjoy.