Say "Hi" to Hi-Chews: Your New Favorite Snack!

by Courtney Thompson

Hi-Chew made its debut in Japanese grocery stores in 1975, when it was first created by Taichiro Morinaga the founder of the Morinaga company. Meant to be an edible version of chewing gum, Hi-Chew is a juicy and fruity candy that becomes softer as you chew it, unlike regular gum which eventually becomes harder and loses its flavor. Hi-Chew achieves its beloved fruity flavors by using real fruit juice as a top ingredient. This helps explain why Hi-Chew became such a popular candy in Japan and is a staple of Asian grocery stores. People appreciate the use of natural ingredients, and you can certainly taste the quality in Hi-Chew candy!

Say Hi to Hi-Chews!

Another reason why people love Hi-Chew is that the fruity flavors are refreshing, and unlike gum, you don’t have to spit it out. This was Morinaga’s inspiration behind creating Hi-Chew, and it proved to be a popular idea. Spitting out your chewing gum can be seen as impolite and unsanitary, especially in Japan, so having a long-lasting chewy snack that you can just eat is a perfect solution! An added bonus of this is that Hi-Chew candy is also much better for the environment—unlike chewing gum, Hi-Chew just gets enjoyed, and not stuck to the undersides of desks and other public property when finished with.

Hi-Chews: Yogurt

You may be surprised to learn that there have been over 170 flavors of Hi-Chew! Some of these Hi-Chew flavors were limited edition or seasonal, and the current available flavors include blueberry, raspberry, black cherry, watermelon, green apple, dragonfruit, strawberry, grapefruit, kiwi, lemon, mango, grape, acai, cola soda, banana, yogurt, lilikoi, and pineapple. Hi-Chew has also expanded far beyond their original concept, releasing fun additions to the Hi-Chew collection like a soda-flavored Hi-Chew line that has a crunchy outer layer and smooth inner layer filled with little crystals to mimic carbonation.

Hi-Chew is a great snack to enjoy on the go, but it’s also a great compliment to a lot of other snacks and drinks! If you’ve eaten something salty, like these seaweed and salt potato chips, following it up with some Hi-Chew can be a great refresher and keep your mouth from feeling dry. Hi-Chew is also the perfect summery treat to have along with some fruity drinks like Qoo Orange soda to bring out your inner child or Calpico: Mango to bring the beach to you. If you’re feeling fancy, you can even use Hi-Chews as an ingredient in your next cocktail! The soft texture of High-Chew candy makes them easy to infuse into liquors, and their real fruit flavors shine through brilliantly! Consider using classic Hi-Chew flavors like mango or lemon to create a tropical cocktail that will make you feel like you’re on vacation. You can also try mixing strawberry Hi-Chew infused liquor with chocolate liquor to make a decadent dessert cocktail.

Whether you enjoy your Hi-Chews throughout the day in lieu of gum or turn them into a special treat, it’s clear to see why Hi-Chews have remained such a popular Japanese candy over the years! If you’re a dedicated Hi-Chew fan, or someone looking to try them for the first time, Bokksu Market makes it easy to stock up on all the best Hi-Chew flavors! It allows you to easily order groceries online, including Hi-Chew candy and all your favorite Japanese snacks!

Bokksu Market is the perfect solution for those who don’t have time to go out to an Asian grocery store or might not even have an Asian grocery store near them. For first-timers looking to try Hi-Chew, this assorted mix of Hi-Chew candy is a great option! Bokksu Market also carries a fun yogurt mix of Hi-Chews, which includes plain yogurt, strawberry yogurt, and blueberry yogurt flavors!

By Courtney Thompson


Author Bio