Pocky for Men: Gender specific chocolate in Taiwan
I’d never really thought about gender specific chocolate before. I mean there are some instances where gender comes into play, for example I wouldn’t give a Valentine a Snickers bar, but that’s more circumstantial then an outright restriction on gender.
I’m sure there are girls out there who, given the right circumstances, love Snickers bars as much as I do.
With political correctness seemingly gone mad in the west I was pleasantly surprised so stumble across this very gender specific brand of Pocky the other week.
For those not in the know Pocky is a Japanese invention. It’s basically a pretzel stick dipped in various flavours. I’m not exactly sure why but it seems to have a monumental following in a lot of Asian countries, Taiwan included.
Even back home you’d get the odd Asian or Australian born Asian raving about it. For the most part I just put this down to cultural clinginess. Sort of like the Greeks and their soccer, or the Vietnamese and their machetes, or Russians and their outdoor chess, or the Lebanese and their sense of 50 vs 1 in a fight fairness.
I personally don’t mind Pocky but bang for buck there are far better alternatives out there. Also due to the shape of Pocky it tends to lend itself out to being shared. I hate sharing my chocolate.
Like you could be dying or something and even if I held the magical cure for whatever you had in the form of a square of chocolate, I’d still think long and hard about giving it to you. And even then I’d still wind up eating it myself.
Manslaughter Schwanslaughter… I’ve got chocolate bitch!
This dark chocolate variety of Pocky seems to have been labelled ‘Men’s’ and I’m not entirely sure why. I for one can’t stand dark chocolate, it’s like someone took everything I like about chocolate out of it and left a dark brown lump of bitter coal. Nonetheless I’d always been led to believe that dark chocolate was for middle aged females.
Infact anyone who I’m ever met who’s admitted to liking dark chocolate has universally fallen into this category. I’m not saying Asian men are ladies or anything but it does seem strange they associate dark chocolate with men.
Oh and if anyone is up for it, what does the 11% yada yada sticker translate to in English? I’m assuming it’s not ‘n0w with 11% more testosterone!’ but being Taiwan I wouldn’t be surprised.
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March 23rd, 2010 at 4:35 am Tim(Quote)
lol – funny article. My sons love Pocky… glad to see they will have a version geared straight to them when they get older!
March 23rd, 2010 at 9:40 am lemmiwinks(Quote)
Normally I’d guess that the 11% was referring to the amount of cocoa in the chocolate, but 11% is a pathetic amount so it must be something else.
BTW, I’m partial to dark chocolate (no, I’m not a middle aged female, nor any kind of female in fact). This http://bit.ly/aYSk2b is very nice and there’s this http://bit.ly/5XZGX5 if you’re feeling tough. The mint intense is my favourite, 85% is an acquired taste though. Think of it like espresso vs a flat white. I guess milk chocolate would be a latte!
March 23rd, 2010 at 11:10 am J(Quote)
Yes, I agree, funny article Oz.
The sticker is in Japanese, basically it means they’ve put 11% more men’s pockey into that tiny box without you paying more for it
Bottom bit just means you can win some sort of library card which I assum only applicable to Japan area only (since its an imported good).
March 23rd, 2010 at 11:35 am ozsoapbox(Quote)
@lemmiwinks
Well I guess I’m nothing more then a latte sipping chocolate lover! I’ve tried the Lindt-ridiculous-percent-cocoa chocolate before, mostly for shits and giggles. I have no idea how people can enjoy it, it’s like eating a cigarette or something.
Where’s the sugary goodness at?!
@J
11% more hey? I’m guessing weight wise that translates into one whole extra stick or something?
Wow holy crap a library card?!
BEST PRIZE EVER!
God bless the Japanese.
March 23rd, 2010 at 3:02 pm J(Quote)
Opps sorry Oz, that was bad translation on my part. It should be book coupons rather than library card.
March 23rd, 2010 at 5:59 pm ozsoapbox(Quote)
Ah that’s ok. Makes a lot more sense actually.
In Taiwan bookstores are more popular then bars on a Saturday night… infact the only thing more popular are these stupid 7-11 toys. I imagine Japan must be similar.
March 24th, 2010 at 8:48 am lemmiwinks(Quote)
Heh, like I said it’s definitely an acquired taste. The 70% is great though, I could eat it by the packet which is why I try not to buy it!