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Crunch and Munch: Iconic Cookie Brands

by Bokksu Staff

Every culture has its own versions of the baked snacks known as cookies in some regions and biscuits in others. Whether they are sweet or savory, hard or soft, crunchy or buttery, cookies have become the most eaten type of snack in the world and are sold by some of the biggest food brands. There’s no better place to enjoy these treats than in Asia, thanks to the vibrant cookie culture in the region. In fact, most global brands have had to tailor their cookie offerings for the Asian market by introducing a variety of new flavors. This post will explore how top brands like Oreo, Hershey’s, and Meiji dominate the Asian snack market.

Oreo in Asia: More than Just Black and White

Oreo is the most famous sandwich cookie brand in the world. It’s owned by Nabisco, a subsidiary of American confectionery giant Mondelez International. Oreo cookies have been around since 1912. They consist of two circular chocolate or wheat biscuits pressed against a cream filling. This filling is typically flavored with sweet cream but may include other flavors like strawberry or peanut butter.

Pile of Oreo Cookies

Oreos are advertised as the perfect companion for a glass of milk. If you watch one of their iconic ads, you will see slogans like “milk's favorite cookie” and “twist, lick, dunk.” Today, the cookie is available in more than a hundred countries. It entered the Asian market in the 1990s through China and India. However, sales suffered until the brand embraced localization of flavors. Research revealed that people in the region preferred cookies with less sugar, more fruity ingredients, and more flavor complexity. By innovating with Asian-specific flavors like matcha green tea, cherry blossoms (sakura), wasabi, peach oolong, mango, and red bean, Nabisco was able to match the unique tastes of Asian consumers. By 2006, Oreo had become China’s best-selling cookie. To discover the available Oreo Asian flavors, check out our recent post: Oreo: A World of Asian Flavors to Savor

Oreo cookies imported from CN

Hershey's Chocolate Cookies: A Sweet Twist in Asia

No one does American chocolate better than The Hershey Company (AKA Hershey's). This brand was originally founded as a subsidiary of a caramel company in 1894. However, its first product, a milk chocolate bar, was so successful that the owner sold the caramel company and focused his resources on Hershey's. This decision proved to be a smart one, as Hershey's went on to become the biggest chocolate manufacturer in the United States. Popular chocolate treats like Reese’s, Kit Kat (the U.S. only), Almond Joy, Rolo (the U.S. only), and Kisses are owned and distributed by Hershey's.

Hershey's Chocolate bar

Although the company’s main markets remain in the U.S. and Canada, it began expanding into Asia in the late 2010s. After several acquisitions and partnerships with established confectionery companies in Asia, Hershey's successfully adapted its cookie line to suit the regional market. Their best Asian releases include the chocolate chip cookies and mandarin orange waffles, both available in Bokksu Market even though they are rare outside of Asia. The former uses a chocolate chip cookie recipe that appeals to people in Korea. Unlike that of the classic version, its chocolate chip cookie dough is made of dark brown sugar with unsalted butter, baking soda, and dark chocolate chunks, creating semi-sweet chocolate chips. The most common Hershey brands in Asia are Hershey's Kisses and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Hershey Waffles Mandarin Orange

Meiji’s Cookie Craftsmanship

Meiji Group occupies a unique position in any discussion regarding global cookie powerhouses because, unlike most, it originated from Japan. The brand was founded in 1916 as Tokyo Confectionery Company. It started off selling caramel and biscuit products but switched to chocolate and dairy-based treats in 1926 with the release of Meiji Milk Chocolate. Today, its chocolate-covered cookies are some of the most popular snacks in Japan and the company has become the country’s leading chocolate manufacturer.

Meiji Chocolate bar

Meiji Group sells cookies in Europe, North America, and Oceania. However, its largest market is in Asian countries like Japan, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India. The most popular Meiji cookie is a product line called Hello Panda, which is a Japanese biscuit invented in 1979. It has a fun and appealing package with the picture of a cartoon panda depicted doing various comical activities. Each piece in a pack is made of a hollow shortbread filled with cream. The cream may be flavored with a variety of ingredients. Hello Panda variations range from traditional Asian flavors like matcha green tea to modern flavors such as chocolate and strawberry.

Meiji brand Hello Panda Biscuits with Choco Cream Filling

Chips Ahoy Sets Sail to Asia

Chips Ahoy! Is one of the kings of chocolate chip cookies, not just in the United States but also worldwide. The brand is under the ownership of Nabisco, the same company that brought us Oreos. Compared to the other cookie brands we’ve mentioned so far, chocolate Chips Ahoy! came late to the party, having been established in 1964. However, the chocolate chip cookie brand has grown in popularity over the last six decades. You’ll find it in Asia, North America, Europe, and Latin America. There are several variations of this crunchy and chunky delight. Some of them use flavors that cater to Asian preferences, such as rose and pink salt, coconut latte, grape, and red velvet.

Nabisco Chips Ahoy cookies

The Art of Japanese Cookies by Meiji and Others

Western cookie brands may control a sizable share of the Asian markets, but the region also has a number of top native brands producing quality baked treats, many of which come from Japan. The following are the top Japanese cookie brands:

  • Meiji: The Meiji Group or Meiji Holdings, is one of Japan’s biggest cookie brands. Although they are more famous for their chocolate bars, their Hello Panda cookies are beloved by millions of people worldwide. 

Sale
Meiji Hello Panda: Strawberry

This snack is for the whole family: delicious, cute, and perfect material for imaginative games. That’s because around each smooth strawberry cream is a thin biscuit shell, and on each crispy shell is printed the wide-eyed, tufted-haired Hello Panda mascot. Each box is filled with pandas performing various panda (and non-panda) activities. Pick one and pass it to the person to the right. Which panda did you get?

Common Allergens: Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Soy.

Sale $1.49 Regular $2.49 40% OFF
2.1 oz

  • Ezaki Glico: Glico is a multinational food company famous for creating Pocky, the best-selling chocolate-coated biscuit sticks in the world. Pocky is so loved in the country that November 11 is an unofficial Japanese holiday known as Pocky Day.

Pocky brand of chocolate sticks
  • Bourbon: When it comes to premium Japanese cookies, look no further than Bourbon. The company is considered the best Japanese cookie brand by consumers within and outside the country. Bourbon cookies, such as the famous Everyburger, don’t use artificial chemicals or coloring. 

Bourbon Every Burger Chocolate Cookies

These burger-shaped cookies are as cute as they are delicious. Made by legendary Japanese maker Bourbon, they're crispy cookies sandwiching a rich milk chocolate cream.

Common Allergens: Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Soy.

Sale $2.09 Regular $3.49 40% OFF
2.32 oz

Korean Cookies on the Rise

Cookie manufacturers in South Korea are known for producing local snack flavors that blend traditional ingredients with modern baking techniques. The following are the top Korean cookie brands:

  • Lotte: This is a household name in Asian when discussing confectionery and snack food. They make incredibly delicious pies and cakes like Mother Hand Pie and Mongshell. Their hard biscuits include Chic Choc and Binch.

LOTTE brand Koala's March Chocolate cookie
  • Haitai: This Korean company is famous for selling a chocolate-coated cake known as Oh Yes. It’s also responsible for Homerun Ball and French Pie. 

  • Crown: Although it is Haitai's parent company, Crown has its own set of popular Korean cookie products, such as Choco Heim and Couque D'asse.

A box of Couque D'asse white torte cookie

Taiwanese Delicacies: Cookies with Local Flair

Taiwan also has cookie brands with unique offerings that blend local tastes with global appeal.

  • Kuai Che: This company sells different kinds of jerky, nuts, candied fruits, and snacks. Their crispy almond pork chips are beloved in Taiwan by locals and tourists.

  • Chia Te: If you’re craving Taiwanese pineapple cakes, Chia Te is the best place to get these delicious snacks.

Chia Te Pineapple Pastry original from Taiwan

Pairing Cookies with Asian Beverages

Let’s say you get your hands on these crunchy Asian delights and it’s time to enjoy them. There’s no better way to do so than to pair the cookies with popular beverages in the region. We recommend pairing your fruity-flavored biscuits with Asian green or black tea. Nearly all kinds of cookies pair well with coffee, including chocolate snacks. Feel free to combine vanilla and chocolate cookies with traditional alcoholic beverages such as sake. You can also create your own chocolate chip cookies recipe by combining dark chocolate chips with warm milk. There’s no limit to what you can do with a chocolate chip recipe. All you need are basic items like a baking sheet or cookie sheet and parchment paper.

Japanese Green Tea

The Best of Bokksu Market: Curated Cookie Collections

Next, we’ll showcase a curated list of top cookie brands and their best-sellers available on Bokksu Market. Enjoy!

  • Glico Pocky: The chocolate-coated sticks are top sellers in any online store, including Bokksu Market. Shoppers especially love the Chocolate Banana, Crunchy Strawberry, and Cookies & Cream variations.

  • Oreo Thin Cookies: These lighter versions of the classic Oreos are popular among people who love to pair their snacks with a glass of milk. Matcha & Fig and Sweet & Sour Strawberry are the two most beloved flavors.

Oreo Thin Cookies: Matcha & Fig

The best part about these Oreo Thin Cookies? They feature a unique matcha and fig cream center. With a crunchy outside and creamy center, you'll love this yummy snack. Try these special edition Oreo cookies while you can!

Bonus - Oreo thins are less crumbly and messy than the original cookies. That means you can take these cookies nearly anywhere! 

Common Allergens: Wheat, Soy.

$6.99
3.35 oz

  • Meiji Chocolate Biscuit Cookies: These addictive chocolate biscuits from the Japanese brand sell out fast when available. Consumers love the mountain mushroom and bamboo shoot versions the most.

Tasting Notes: Reviewing Asia’s Favorite Cookies

We tasted the most popular Asian cookie flavors of the four main brands featured in this article. Here’s what we discovered:

  • Oreo (Green Tea): It had the smooth, creamy, earthy, and slightly bitter taste of matcha. We would say it offered the perfect balance between sweet and sour.

Oreo Green Tea
  • Hershey’s (Mandarin Orange Waffles): It combined the zesty citrus flavor with a rich chocolate taste and crispy waffle texture.

  • Meiji’s Hello Panda (Green Tea): Perfect with tea, this product offers a perfect balance by blending light sweetness with the bitter taste of matcha.

  • Chips Ahoy! (Rose and Pink Salt): Although they offer some of the best chocolate chip cookies in the world, we decided to review their Asian flavor. It tasted savory and flowery - perfect for people who don’t like sugary treats.

How to Purchase: Getting Your Cookie Fix on Bokksu Market

To start your own collection of global cookies with Asian flavors, go to the “Sweets” category on Bokksu Market and select “Cookies.” You can sort the results by brand, flavor, and target country. It’s best to select as many as you would need in the next few months to take advantage of the free shipping offer on orders over $59. We ship nationwide to the United States. Available brands include Hershey’s, Meiji, Oreo, Lotte, and Glico. We keep track of these brands and others as they continue to innovate in their bid to cater to the Asian market. So, you can trust Bokksu Market to always bring you their latest offerings.

 


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Crunch and Munch: Iconic Cookie Brands

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