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Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Yan YanLisa, a former co-worker and fellow blogger, mentioned some months back that I should try Yan Yan (actually, she wanted me to get the Hello Kitty equivalent). It’s like do it yourself Pocky! Well, in theory, anyway.
The little tub is pretty cute and they’ve thought of everything here. You start with a plain cookie stick. It’s not flavored, just a light, crunchy stick like a digestive biscuit. About one third of the little tube is a reservoir of chocolate dip. I thought it would be like frosting.
In fact, it took me about a day to figure out what it was. Then I remembered this article I read last summer. It reminded me of American cheese. A soft, super-emulsified chocolate cheese spread. Reading the ingredients confirmed this: Wheat Flour, Vegetable Oil & Shortening (Palm & Canola Oils), Sugar, Whole Milk Powder, Skim Milk Powder, Cocoa Mass, Cocoa Powder, Leavenings (Ammonium Bicarbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Yeast, Cheddar Cheese (contains Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt), Salt, Emulsifier (Soya Lecithin), Artificial Vanilla & Chocolate Flavorings, Natural Colorings (Beta Carotene, E160 & Caramel E150A), Enzyme (Papain). You remember those little cheese and cracker snacks, where you spread the cheese with a plastic stick? This is just like that, only with a chocolate cheese. I suppose the idea of chocolate cheese shouldn’t be that odd. We make a lot of desserts with cheese, like cheesecake or even cream cheese frosting. Using cheese as a base makes it super creamy and thick. It could be more chocolatey and there is a slight cheesy tang to it. It’s a very firm frosting too, with no hint of grainy bits like in some frosting candies.
The little biscuit sticks are cute, my sayings included:
I kind of wondered if the sticks are sold in English in Asia and if they are, are they used for learning conversational English. Maybe you go to a first year English class and they engage you in a nice little talk about moles that happen to be in holes and that horses gallop away? They’re like crib notes for small chat! While I think the idea is pretty cool, this is obviously a very popular treat in Asia, and I liked the biscuit sticks, I didn’t really like the dip. I’ll eat the rest of the sticks, though. The nutrition label says that there’s 1 gram of trans fat in here ... I’m hoping it’s not in the sticks. The label also mentions that this product contains no pig fat. On a side note, I got an email from a reader, Chris, last week asking about a similar frosting-type treat that was available in the States (and may still be). He described it as this “It came in a small blue plastic container with a foil top and inside was the mixture with a small spoon or stick to scoop out the yummy stuff.” Does anyone remember this? UPDATE: It’s probably Dunkaroos from Betty Crocker (thanks Elise!). I saw that there’s a Shrek version of them on Amazon, but they may be all but discontinued. I seem to recall another something similar that was just a frosting type snack but I can’t remember the name of that either.
POSTED BY Cybele AT 11:24 am 
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Meticulously photographed and documented reviews of candy from around the world. And the occasional other sweet adventures. Open your mouth, expand your mind.
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COPYRIGHT NOTICEAll content (text and photos unless otherwise credited) is copyright 2005-2008 by Cybele MayPlease do not use my photos on your own site without permission directly from me, they represent what I ate in preparation for these reviews and are not to be used for other purposes. Design by Hop StudiosPowered by ExpressionEngine
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VOTE IN THE POLLWhich do you prefer?
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Milk Chocolate 
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1% (3)
 
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Yes, I remember those blue (purple?) plastic and foil containers. I think they were kangaroo shaped graham-type crackers, or named after the kangaroo. Did a quick Google search for “kangaroo” and “snack” and “chocolate” and “discontinued,” but came up with nothing relevant. They used to be in the kids snacks section in grocery stores, and I’m betting they were made by Kraft, the makers of Handi-Snacks cheese and crackers. I haven’t seen them recently, so I bet they don’t make them anymore.
Those are Dunkaroos - I don’t think they’re discontinued though. Good luck finding them!
wow… i just bought the strawberry version of yan yan i wonder if it has cheese in it… let me check… it does it does… now off to try it…
i love your blog!
Yan Yans aren’t as good as the Skinny Dips of my childhood, but they’ll do in a pinch!
Omigosh!!!
I literally JUST bought the strawberry version of this at my local Albertsons! (That, and some Glico brand strawberry Pocky and Strawberry mochi ball ice cream- can you guess my favorite flavor? ;P )
I had no idea about the cheese- facinating. I like when you add external links, too- keeps me learning. ha-ha
Pocky rocks! There is this funny online documentary called “The Depths of Addiction” all about Pocky- some of you may want to check it out.
<3POCKY<3
Wow, I used to eat this a lot when I was still living in Jakarta. Oh how I miss it so much.
Mmm...I loved Dunkaroos. About ten years or so ago I used to pick up a couple kids after school and watch them and their kitchen was stuffed with snacky things, including Dunkaroos, which I got hooked on.
Wow, I am such a fan of Yan Yan, and I never realized it had cheese in it. Next time I go to Mitsuwa I’ll have to stock up and see if I can tell.
YAN YAN is my personal favortite candy/snack/whatever. Those photos make me want some right now!
I remember Skinny Dippers from when I was a kid. Kids aren’t allowed stuff like that anymore.
oreo has a similar product out...probably closer to a dunkaroo called cookie stick n’ creme. They’re chocolate cookie sticks that you dip in the white oreo frosting. they look yummy.
Bronwen - Skinny Dips! I’m not sure if I had those, now I’m curious.
Cathy - I’m thinking the strawberry might go better with the cheese notes.
Kirsten - I should amass all the candy documentaries and movie and start my own film festival!
Shay - thanks for the kudos on the photos - this was my first time using the new camera and I was pretty pleased with how they turned out.
Dave - yes, I fully expect cigarette-style warnings on sweets in the next few years.
Cheryl - I haven’t seen the Oreo things, though I pretty much prefer my sweets to be pre-assembled (or maybe give me a discount for doing it for them!).
Chocolate cheese, not so new ...
Just FYI because you seemed to be wondering in your comments...Asians often use English on products and are indifferent to understanding it. It’s used for decoration because they like the way the letters look and think it’s cute. It’s in no way related to learning English. In fact, more often than not, the English that is used is very wrong (for examples, check out http://www.engrish.com).
Also, the “do it yourself” Pocky sticks aren’t really all that popular. It’s just a temporary food fad product.
Orchid - I’m so glad you but the link to Engrish up! It’s so fun
But i LOVE Yan Yan, i’m eating some right now and decided to look up web pages that talk about it
Seems like there are a lot of people who like them too, and similar American-made types.
Be glad you didn’t eat the Hello Kitty equiv of Yan Yan. It stinks! I had it once and unfortunately it’s in a plastic container which smelled of old rubber tires. So that aroma really turned me off but I still tried the cookies and chocolate in it… to find they all reeked tastewise of rubbery plastic aftertaste. YUCK!
Yan Yan atleast is in that paper foil package so it doesn’t give off a nasty side taste to the candy / dip.
~J~
hm, i always assumed the cheese was in the sticks. if i can recall correctly, i did taste tests between the different flavours you could get of yanyan and noticed the cheesy flavour that was in one, and not another. i really didn’t think it’s the choco dip that has the cheese, but rather the sticks. all the ingredients were glopped together, but there’s obviously no yeast in the dip, or chocolate in the sticks. at least not for the yellowish ones.
ah, the idle time of youth. how i miss it :D
hey i really love these--i’m from asia and i used to eat them by the boxful and even save up for them. there’s also a strawberry flavored version of yan yan and a new version where the yan yans come out in little square biscuits. meiji also makes hello panda. they’re little panda cookies with chocolate inside (or strawberry or milk, it comes in different flavors)
they’re great.
I’m eating some right now! These are a hoot:
Sheep- wool sweaters
starfish-star+fish
fox- beware of lies
goat- you are lucky today
octopus- lucky number 8
stag beetle (?)-Love it
Panda- go for more
weird, but fantastic
has anyone seen the golden egg stick, cause i got one and i don’t know what it is or what to do with it.
Hi. I was wondering if you have any idea of why there is a golden egg stick and a golden log stick? I am wondering because I got one in a pack I got at the gas station and wated to know if their was anything to these specialy marked sticks
AHHH those sayings make no sense and they crack me up!! the ones on the sticks! ahha i love it!
like the one that says “cow muuu”
and “moo” is spelt wrong!! they are so good though!
what do i do with GOLDEN EGG ? :o i found a panda and a rabbit they were so kute ;] i ate the duck sheep elephant and squirrel ! :D the whale looks cuuuuuuuuute dX
i love yan yan as well. Chocolate is my favorite.. but i do believe the cheese is in the sticks rather then the choco creme.
what were the other things that were similar to yan yan but i believe they were american.. they had a peanut butter flavored one.. what were they called? anyone know?
mmmmmmm… I got one that says golden egg. confused yes, but its sure tasty!!
When i was young, my mother buy me this EVERY SINGLE day, so I stop doing stupid things. I don’t remember the name, but the new one includes a orange or lemon juice, wich means you can enjoy three times.
OHEMMGEE. YanYan is magical. I love it.
Ahah..YanYan have its own ‘spoof’ here in Malaysia! To me its taste 8/10. Its called Nini with hilarious TV ads…
“It came in a small blue plastic container with a foil top and inside was the mixture with a small spoon or stick to scoop out the yummy stuff.”
The one candy I remember like this is a Mexican candy called “Duvain”
http://www.mexgrocer.com/9215.html
You can still get dunkaroos on amazon and sometimes stores such as big lots
Check out that picture. It’s of a golden egg yan yan stick. :D I got one not too long ago and took a pic for prosperity. :D
I can also post more pics of the other types of sticks found in Yan Yan.
secret
Is there ‘artificial vanilla’ in all the kind (including the peanut butter) or just certain flavours? I need to know so I can determine whether or not I’m allowed to eat them.
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