Let's Raid a Japanese Convenience Store! Top 2 Delicious Puddings

When traveling in Japan, no matter which region you visit, buying convenience store food is always on the must-do list, right? In Korea, the convenience store culture has naturally taken root as Japanese convenience stores have been introduced. It's so well-known that Japan comes to mind when you think about the origins of convenience stores. There are actually many different convenience stores in Japan, not just Seven Eleven, but also FamilyMart, Lawson, and more.

There are approximately 50,000 or more convenience stores nationwide in Japan, and you can buy all sorts of goods, from bento boxes and desserts to drinks and daily necessities. Moreover, convenience stores are continuously launching original products with unique characteristics to stay ahead of their competitors. Especially when it comes to food, the variety, taste, and quality are top-notch.

There are many foods that Koreans love in Japanese convenience stores. In winter, you can find a wide variety of famous and delicious items like oden, dango, sushi, and bread. Did you know that convenience store pudding in Japan is known for its high quality? It even gained popularity on SNS, with many recommending delicious Japanese convenience store puddings. While pudding is also available in Korea, it doesn't seem to be as heartfelt as in Japan. There are fewer varieties, and the taste and texture are standardized.

As Koreans became more interested in pudding, various cafes started offering pudding on their menus. However, cafe pudding can be expensive, and sometimes you might be disappointed if it doesn't live up to your expectations despite the high price. That's why I'd like to recommend two types of Japanese pudding that offer a variety of options and great value for money. Today, I'll recommend the puddings that I've personally tried and found to be delicious.

Jersey Milk Pudding (ジャージー牛乳プリン)

The first one is Jersey Milk Pudding (ジャージー牛乳プリン).

Jersey (ジャージー) refers to a breed of cow, and the pudding is made with their milk. This is available at Lawson convenience stores, as well as Seven Eleven. Made with high-quality milk, it has a rich milk flavor and a perfect level of sweetness, making it one of the popular items that perfectly suits Korean palates. It was a new pudding style for me, with a very soft, almost silken tofu-like texture rather than being jiggly. However, it wasn't overly sweet, and the milk flavor was prominent, allowing me to enjoy it without feeling overwhelmed. It's a pudding that's not commonly found in Korea, so I highly recommend it. It has a slightly yogurt-like appearance and feels like you're smoothly enjoying a high-protein milk drink.

If you were expecting a jiggly texture, you might be slightly disappointed as it's a soft and smooth pudding.

Smooth Pudding (なめらかプリン)

The second one is Smooth Pudding (なめらかプリン). Na Meraka (なめらか) means smooth, apparently.

The portion is really small, but it feels like the flavor is concentrated. Like the Jersey Milk Pudding, Na Meraka also has a milk flavor reminiscent of milk ice cream. It has a caramel flavor and a rich, high-calorie feel. It's not very jiggly, and it has a slightly yogurt-like consistency, but it's packed with flavor and delicious. While Jersey Milk Pudding is simply reminiscent of milk, Na Meraka is a little less so, allowing those who don't like milk to enjoy it without feeling overwhelmed.

In addition to these, there are others that I haven't personally tried, but are highly recommended for their deliciousness, such as Baked Pudding (焼きプリン), Takeya Milk Pudding (TAKEYA Milk Pudding), Morinaga Milk Pudding (もりながミルクプリン), and Tamago Pudding (たまごのプリン)!

That concludes my convenience store pudding recommendations!