Chances are very likely that if you've lived away from home, you've received a care package.
And the best care packages are always filled with food! In my opinion, at least. It's always comforting to be sent food that reminds you of home.
This past week, my parents sent me one filled with an assortment of items. In terms of food, my dad was sure to include two packages of Botan rice candy, a Japanese snack that I've eaten since I was a little kid. We always used to get two boxes - one for him, one for me whenever we went on our weekly excursion to our local Japanese market. Whenever I'm home we still do the same thing. I can definitely buy it where I live now, but it's the thought behind the candy that really makes it special.
Botan candy is a chewy candy with a slight lemon flavor, wrapped in a thin film of rice paper that dissolves when you eat it. Be careful not to eat the actual inedible plastic wrap! It comes in small, snack sized boxes with four or five apiece in them, plus a cute little sticker that features some cartoon animals. It's a good snack for both kids and adults, and you can find it in most markets that sell other Japanese foods.
What kind of care packages have you received? What's a sentimental food that always reminds you of home?
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Comments (11)
My mom would make lasagne for everyone on the floor. It always made me happy.
@Erika_Steele@xanga - For a moment, I was like... you mean everyone tries to eat it off of the floor?! Oh goshhh ha.
I love the Botan rice candy! I used to get them as a treat on those weekend trips to the Japanese market as my dad shopped for sashimi. Good memories indeed. :)
@B2yan_C@xanga - ROFL. I can see how it would seem that way.
There was a chewy fruit flavored candy similar to Starburst that I used to get at the Chinese market, and White Rabbit Candy. Whenever I'd visit grandma, either she gives me some cash and whisper to me to not tell my dad, or she'd give me pre-portioned packages of marinate pork spareribs or chicken she made and froze. All I'd have to do is thaw and put them in the rice cooker over the rice and water to make my dinner, and cook some veggies on the side.
@babybug329@xanga - HI CHEWS!
@B2yan_C@xanga - That's what it was called! Did you ever have the bubble gum balls that came in little boxes of 4 pieces, was soft in the center but a crunchy crust? Came in strawberry, orange and grape, I believe.
I remember the rice candy! Growing up, that would be something my mom bought us when she stopped by the Korean market. Being younger also I didn't know at the time that the filmy stuff you could actually eat. Ahhhh the memories....
They had that in the dining commons and I was lured in by the rice wrapper. No offense, but I found it disgusting :( There's another Chinese gummy wrapped in rice paper. The plastic wrap on top has a picture of a fruit such as a pineapple, and there are different flavors like grape, apple, etc. Those are much better!
Maybe the most different thing I have eaten is ant egg tacos. If I was away from home I'd probably want some snickers, cheetos. Too bad you can't send a whole pizza across the sea!
@Erika_Steele@xanga - @B2yan_C@xanga - AHAH! That's what I thought too. That's so sweet of your mom!
@babybug329@xanga - I looooooove Hi Chews. LOOOOVE THEM. So much so that I spaz out, clearly.
@chakram54@xanga - Heh, there were so many times when I was younger when I tried to eat the plastic.
@hilabpartnerxD@xanga - To each their own :) I'm not sure I've heard of that one....do you remember the name? I want to try it!
@MrTrololo@xanga - egg tacos sound great. I need to be on the lookout for those!
@joshiro - Make sure it's ant eggs.... yep them insect ant things that give you the creepy crawlies ;) I didn't really want to try them but had some beer first and then got hungry -- at that point I didn't care... but they actually tasted good ;)