Aficionado Intelligence Report - 4

One product to review today.

Pepsi flavored Cheetos are making headlines in the U.S. on all the major networks including the Drudge Report which linked to an LA Times article. And one more from the LA Times "Dreams Crushed: Pepsi Flavored Cheetos Aren't Coming to U.S."

According to the Huffington Post - "Prepare for the Apocolypse."

On MSN news: Rumor: Pepsi-flavored Cheetos are actually real

On a recent visit to Daiei market I did discover them in the chip section, in case you didn't know where to look.

"New Sensation snack - Shuwa Shuwa - Cola flavored corn snack"

The fizzing (which is supposedly what shuwa-shuwa means) in your mouth  was very subtle. You have to be in quite room and concentrate, but it's there. Pop rocks lite.

USA Today reports "Pepsi-flavored Cheetos not too wacky to sell" and according to a food scientist, they have a name for this type of combo - "mouth surprise." (Based on this analysis I think many of us could be food scientists) Explaining that the mouth does not expect such a flavor combination,  which makes it more pleasurable to the mind. Well someone forgot to explain that to my daughter.

My daughter said she'd try one after I did - and she did. She then proceeded to the kitchen immediately and did something near the trash can. A minute later she said, "Dad, you can have the rest of 'em."  Mouth surprise.

Made by Frito-Lay Japan they will not be available in the U.S. and as such are creating a black market. If you're here in Japan you have an obligation to try these on the open market.

Now, I am much more willing than my daughter to give these chips a chance. You have to admire the attempt, and if you eat them the right way they really aren't too bad.  My suggestion is that you place a chip on your tongue and just let the popping occur and taste the outside of the chip. This is where the Pepsi flavoring is. Once this is gone, then go ahead and chew it. The tastes need to be enjoyed, I mean experienced, in succession, not together. Just like you wouldn't take a swig of Pepsi while your mouth is full of Cheetos. Yeah - I know, you're out there...

If they could have hidden some more cheese flavor on the inside they would have been much better. There is a distinct aftertaste of Pepsi in your mouth that lingers just like after finishing a diet Pepsi.

Below you see them promoted at LIVIN. The package is slightly different with the words "Shuwa Shuwa" written in English. Only 85 Yen, get them while supplies last. 

Past AIR status:
AIR 1 - Disappearing wasabi pretzels remain a mystery. Please report any sightings.  Potential correlation to the sun's coronal hole pattern - investigating.
AIR 2 - This very promising local restaurant remains a mystery.
AIR 3 - Revealed as being served by Andy's Shin-hinomoto in Tokyo.

* Aficionado Intelligence Reporting (AIR) was conceived of grey bearded men, through brilliant thought, in a small Izakaya on the backstreets of Yokosuka. AIR reports on little known but exceptional (or maybe just really good) dining spots or interesting food developments and relies on highly untrained observers making random observations and developing conclusions through sometimes single data point regression statistical analysis.

Any conclusions from it's reporting are final.


P.S. Remember that every Tuesday people from the base gather in front of Daiei (Shoppers Plaza) to help feed Yokosuka's homeless and those who have fallen on hard times.