This is the Glico Karu Edamame, an extruded non-fried snack made with edamame.
The product presented in elongated hollow pipe-like forms measuring approximately 10 cm in length and 0.5 cm in diameter. The surface carried a pale green hue with light browning along one side and was heavily coated in fine salt crystals. The structure appeared light and aerated. Aroma opened with savoury soybean notes strongly reminiscent of steamed edamame.
Initial contact delivered an immediate hit of saltiness closely resembling salted steamed edamame beans, alongside a highly crisp fracture that broke apart easily with minimal resistance. The hollow structure produced a light crunch rather than a dense snap, establishing a delicate but persistent crispness from the outset.
Through the mid-palate, prominent edamame notes developed with a distinctly green and beany quality. Texture remained consistently crisp as the extruded structure dissolved rapidly across the palate without becoming oily or pasty. The seasoning stayed relatively simple and restrained, allowing the soybean flavour itself to remain central rather than functioning merely as a carrier for salt.
Towards the finish, mild sweetness gradually emerged and integrated with the edamame profile, recalling the natural sweetness of younger edamame or lightly sweetened zunda. Aftertaste saw the sweetness receding while lingering beany soybean notes remained prominent. Residual oiliness was notably absent, contributing to a clean and light finish despite the assertive salting.
Overall, an extruded savoury snack with a layered edamame flavour progression and light cohesive textural development, resulting in a crisp and highly snackable product that effectively captures the sweet-savoury character of salted edamame.
This Glico Karu Edamame contained 36 g. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2026.