There’s nothing like Japanese convenience stores to put you at ease with their abundance of gourmet niche items, delicious and affordable!
1. Coolish “Rich” Pistachio x Milk
Coolish is Japan’s iconic “drinkable” ice cream pouches that are sold in every convenience store and supermarket.
Flavors are constantly on rotation, and once in a while, you’ll find a premium release such as this rich pistachio x milk variety, which I picked up at a FamilyMart in Kyoto.
Of all flavors I see in Japan, pistachio is certainly a rarity, but it also happens to be a personal favorite of mine, particularly when it’s in the form of ice cream!
2. Curry & Soft Boiled Egg Pan
The curry pan is a classic Japanese baked good found just about everywhere, from bakeries to combinis and supermarkets.
Courtesy of FamilyMart once again, I came across this rare item known as the curry and soft-boiled egg pan.
Featuring the typical delicious curry sauce filling inside a crisp and crumby bun, it also had the added soft-boiled egg at its core, adding a lovely layer of flavor and protein to the mix!
3. Caramel Pudding Soft Serve
There’s rare, then there’s super rare, and that was the case with this most intriguing caramel pudding soft serve cone.
A beautiful swirly tower of caramel pudding-flavored ice cream is decorated with a trail of caramel syrup for a gourmet dessert that both looks and tastes fantastic!
Again, FamilyMart is the host of this rare item, though it may be possible to spot it elsewhere, as it is not an exclusive FamilyMart-branded product.
4. Biscuit Au Lait
Japanese convenience stores are known for their niche flavors of beverages, particularly in the cafe drink department.
Coffee drinks come in all sorts of flavors from sweet potato lattes to cherry blossom Frappuccinos and, in this case, a “biscuit au lait!”
A delicious sweet drink with the slight bitterness of coffee infusion, this tasty treat truly resembles a “drinkable biscuit” of sorts, featuring a resemblance to the iconic Biscoff brand.
5. Black Sesame Protein Shake
Last but certainly not least is a combini special for the gym enthusiasts, a black sesame protein shake!
This small drink box contains a solid 16 grams of protein (as much as a can of tuna!) and comes in a variety of niche Japanese flavors such as black sesame and matcha green tea.
It’s also packed with vitamins such as vitamin A, B1, B6, C, and D, which is a nice bonus.
All in all, FamilyMart is perhaps Japan’s most iconic convenience store, alongside Lawson and 7-Eleven, and you’ll find niche items like these on rotation all year round!
To learn more about life in Japan, check out my book: The Japanese Pursuit of Perfection. This book features my most profound observations of Japanese culture and society as a foreign resident. Available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Grab your copy today!