Cubyrop: the perfect candy

Cubyrop
We first discovered Cubyrop via flickr and were smitten, so we put them in an Amazon wishlist. But after more than a year, we happened to just come across a bag of them at Nijiya (a Japanese supermarket) and were thrilled!

Cubyrop

The verdict? Cubyrop are intensely charming -- even better in person than they look in the photos. They are hard candy, intensely fruit flavored as only Japanese candies can be. While the name would imply that they are perfect cubes, they are indeed perfect but are not always cubes-- the sides vary from 11-13 mm. They come wrapped two to a package, which is just the right amount of sweet and flavor.

Cubyrop They are color coded:
  • Orange = Mango
  • Yellow = Lemon
  • Orange = Orange
  • Dark Pink = Grape
  • Super Light Pink = Litchi
  • Green = Melon
  • Light Pink = Peach
  • Medium Pink = Strawberry

Mango and orange are difficult to tell apart visually, but they definitely taste different. Cubyrop also come in a (slightly larger) gummy variety, which also have intense flavoring but are jiggly with a dusting of sour powder. (Note: Some of you who grew up in the same era as us may also have an innate fear of gelatinous cubes.) There is also a variety labeled as throat drops, with some sort of cough-drop powder in the center of the cubes. They taste vaguely medicinal, but are still significantly better than most cough drops.

Cubyrop

As with so many Japanese products, presentation is everything. The product shape carries over into the font, and the square color coding for the flavors is listed both in English on the front and in Japanese on the back. Charming, and tasty! What more could you want?

14 comments

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, June 30 2008 @ 12:42 AM PDT Cubyrop: the perfect candy
Attack of the Blog rated these in 2006 I believe. They don't seem to like them, but I think they look cool : )
Authored by: Windell on Monday, June 30 2008 @ 09:14 AM PDT Cubyrop: the perfect candy
They seemed to have mixed feelings about the gummy ones (as do I, actually). The original Cubyrop hard candy probably would have had a better reception.

---
Windell H. Oskay
drwho(at)evilmadscientist.com
http://www.evilmadscientist.com/
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, June 30 2008 @ 07:44 AM PDT One more variety of cubyrop
Besides the all-solid cubyrop like you have, and the gummy ones, there's also a type that has a hard outside and a soft filling. The soft filling ones' individual wrappers are kind of a purplish pink. The solid ones do win out for the best taste - the filled ones have a little bit of a menthol taste to them.

If you like Japanese hard candy, try to find some of those by the "Lion" brand. They have that Japanese pure fruit flavor, but without any of the herbal edge that some have.
Authored by: Windell on Monday, June 30 2008 @ 08:33 AM PDT One more variety of cubyrop
Yes, that's the "throat drop" variety that we mentioned above, with the menthol/medicinal taste. (Yes, the ones with the pink wrappers.)

---
Windell H. Oskay
drwho(at)evilmadscientist.com
http://www.evilmadscientist.com/
Authored by: Kagetsuki on Monday, June 30 2008 @ 03:21 PM PDT Cubyrop: the perfect candy
Indeed, the majority of Japanese hard candy would probably fit into the throat drop (nodo ame/のど飴) category. There's also a myriad of gummy candy, most of it good.
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, June 30 2008 @ 06:02 PM PDT Cubyrop: the perfect candy
<i>"What more could you want?"</I>
How about less damn packaging? What a waste!
Authored by: Kagetsuki on Tuesday, July 01 2008 @ 12:49 AM PDT Cubyrop: the perfect candy
In Japan recycling is essentially mandatory. All that plastic gets recycled. There could still be less packaging of course. It should also be noted most Japanese companies are switching or have already switched to bio-plastics. I know a lot of things I have picked up recently have little bio-plastic marks, and my notebook computer casing is made with bio-plastic. So even with excessive packaging, I'd say we're doing better than our American counterparts.
Authored by: Windell on Tuesday, July 01 2008 @ 12:58 AM PDT Cubyrop: the perfect candy
The packaging is actually extremely efficient compared to most US candy.

Also, it's not stupid. The individual inner wrappers are actually crucial for keeping the texture and appearance perfect-- which they are. It's a big art of the appeal of these little wonders.

---
Windell H. Oskay
drwho(at)evilmadscientist.com
http://www.evilmadscientist.com/
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, June 30 2008 @ 09:36 PM PDT Cubyrop: the perfect candy
Maybe I'm dense, but why does it say "Bourbon" on it? Is that a brand or an ingredient or some random English word stamped there?
Authored by: Windell on Monday, June 30 2008 @ 09:42 PM PDT Cubyrop: the perfect candy
Bourbon is the brand; it's one of the big names in japanese candy.

---
Windell H. Oskay
drwho(at)evilmadscientist.com
http://www.evilmadscientist.com/
Authored by: Kagetsuki on Tuesday, July 01 2008 @ 12:54 AM PDT Cubyrop: the perfect candy
Candy, snacks, and drinks as well.
Authored by: RichM on Tuesday, July 01 2008 @ 04:44 PM PDT Cubyrop: the perfect candy
I think I'd like it better if it were named PYROCUB. There could be little bears on the package, each holding torches or something.
Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, July 12 2008 @ 07:39 PM PDT Cubyrop: the perfect candy
hahahah i just bought a bag of these a couple of weeks ago, and they were delicious, then I got addicted! its so funny that it shows up on here. oh btw, love the website.
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, September 09 2008 @ 07:57 PM PDT Cubyrop: the perfect candy
I LOVE THIS CANDY!! I get it at the Japanese market (it's called Oriental Shop) here in Madison, WI. It's one of my favorites, ever!

Welcome to Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories. New projects are posted every Wednesday.


Bookmark EMSL

EMSL RSS Feed
Twitter: EMSL
del.icio.us
feedburner
Feed on Google Reader
YouTube Channel
Add technorati Fave

technorati search

Subscribe to get new articles by E-mail:

E-mail address:


Preview | Powered by FeedBlitz

My Account





Sign up as a New User
Lost your password?

Who's Online

Guest Users: 3

Forumposts

Order: New Views Posts
Latest 5 Forum Posts
 
Re: Ferritc core sub..
 By:  npkeith
 On:  Friday, November 20 2009 @ 10:34 AM PST
 Views 0 Replies 0
Re: alphanumeric led..
 By:  karlgg
 On:  Thursday, November 19 2009 @ 10:14 PM PST
 Views 0 Replies 0
Re: alphanumeric led..
 By:  Leviathan34
 On:  Thursday, November 19 2009 @ 07:21 PM PST
 Views 0 Replies 0
Re: 0 of 9 LEDs work..
 By:  Windell
 On:  Thursday, November 19 2009 @ 12:52 PM PST
 Views 0 Replies 0
Re: 0 of 9 LEDs work..
 By:  michael pechner
 On:  Thursday, November 19 2009 @ 11:40 AM PST
 Views 0 Replies 0

DIY Hardware for Electronic Art


Interactive LED Panels


Meggy Jr RGB
LED matrix game
development kit.


Business-card sized
AVR target boards


Peggy 2
LED Pegboard kits