Pocky (ポッキー, pokkī) is a traditional Japanese cookie, produced by Ezaki Glico since 1965, which consists of a sweet stick covered with chocolate or another special flavor. The word 'Pocky' is the onomatopoeia of the sound it makes when the stick is broken in two.
Over the years, different flavors of Pocky, strawberry, melon, tangerine, kiwi, Manga, grape, honey among others have been launched. Some are special, regional or seasonal editions.
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Table of Content
Pocky's story
It all started in 1922, when the Japanese company Ezaki Glico Co. Ltd. launched its Glico caramel. 44 years later Pocky was born. This chocolate stick has been a part of Japanese life since 1966 and has been enjoyed by generations of families.
According to legend, Pocky was created by Yoshiaki Koma, an employee of Glico, who decided to dip a cookie stick in chocolate as a way to take advantage of excess chocolate from the production of another product line of the company. This experiment ended up giving rise to one of the most popular snacks in Japan.
Currently, Pocky has expanded worldwide and sold its products in China, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, USA, Canada, Australia, and others. Unfortunately, Brazil is not on this list. But it is possible to find it at events and specialty stores for Japanese products, at a slightly high price.
meaning of pocky
The name “Pocky” was inspired by the sound of “pokkin” in Japanese, which is the sound a cookie makes when broken in half. Over the years, the Pocky has become a cultural icon in Japan and elsewhere in Asia, often being featured in movies, anime, and television shows. In addition, the snack has also gained popularity around the world and is widely sold in convenience stores and supermarkets in many countries.
You can find a timeline with the history of Pocky and the company Glico by clicking here.
Glico Pretz - Salted Stick
Glico Pretz is a savory stick-shaped snack, produced by the Japanese company Glico, the same company responsible for manufacturing Pocky. Unlike Pocky, which is covered in chocolate, Pretz is an uncoated cookie with a salty flavor.
Pretz were first introduced in Japan in 1962, and have since become a popular snack across the country and in other places around the world. Pretz is known for its crunchy texture and salty flavor, and it comes in a variety of flavors including onion, cheese, tomato, pizza, wasabi, and more.
What's the difference between Pocky and Pepero?
Pocky and Pepero are two types of stick snacks covered with chocolate or other flavors, very popular in Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, respectively.
Although both snacks have a similar look and concept, there are some differences between them.
The main difference is that Pocky is produced by the Japanese company Glico, while Pepero is produced by the South Korean company Lotte. Also, everyone's recipe may be slightly different, with subtle differences in taste and texture.
Another difference is the way the two snacks are marketed. Pepero is usually sold in larger boxes, while Pocky is often sold in boxes with several individual packages.
In terms of popularity, both snacks have a dedicated fan base in their respective home countries and across the globe.
Facts about Pocky
Pocky Day: In Japan, November 11th (11/11) is known as "Pocky Day", because the date resembles Pocky sticks. During this day, people often exchange Pocky boxes with friends and family as a gesture of friendship.
Exclusive varieties: While there are many different flavors of Pocky available around the world, some varieties are exclusive to certain regions. For example, in Japan you can find flavors like sweet potato, blueberry yogurt and milk tea.
Pocky Game: The “Pocky Game” is a game popular among Japanese teenagers in which two players hold a Pocky stick in their mouths and try to eat it simultaneously, leaving only a small part of the stick left.
World record: The largest cookie stick mosaic measures 50.92 m2 and was created by Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd. (Japan) at Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall in Chuo, Tokyo, Japan. It consisted of 1,307,208 strawberry milk flavored pink chocolate chip cookie sticks, and it took 240 people 48 hours to create!
Pet version: Glico has created a pet version of Pocky called “Pocky for Pets” that is made with dog and cat safe ingredients like chicken and salmon.
Iconic design: Pocky's packaging and design has become iconic, with its colorful, narrow packaging that contains a series of chocolate-covered sticks, becoming a cultural icon in Japan and other Asian countries.
List of Pocky Flavors
There are many different flavors of Pocky, with variations available in different countries. Here is a list of some of the most popular Pocky flavors:
- Milk chocolate
- Strawberry
- Matcha (green tea powder)
- Cookies and Cream
- White chocolate
- Peanut
- Caramel
- Raspberry
- Tiramisu
- Banana
- Condensed milk
- Melon
- milk tea
- Cocoa powder
- Peanut butter
- Brunette
- Lemon
- Grape
- Abóbora
- Peach
- Bitter chocolate
- Green Tea
- Poop
- Milk
- double chocolate
- Blueberry
- Pineapple
- Orange
- Watermelon
- Green apple
- pink pepper
- Ginger
- black sesame tea
- white cocoa
- Vanilla
- Cashew nut
- Blueberry
- Hazelnut
- Damascus
- Cheesecake
These are just a few of the Pocky flavors available, and new flavors are frequently released to meet consumer demand. It is worth mentioning that some flavors may be exclusive to certain seasons, regions or countries.
See below how Pocky is Made:
