This is the Asahi Mintia Pudding, a limited edition twist on the mints that evokes a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of the kissaten, or traditional coffee shops, that flourished during Japan’s Shōwa era when coffee gained popularity. This particular flavour took inspiration from the classic ‘pudding,’ a beloved kissaten offering featuring a smooth custard complemented by a caramel sauce.
The packaging design was a not to the presentation of pudding in those shops.
The mints were a circular shape with dimensions of approximately 7 mm in diameter and 3 mm in height, and had an opaque off-white appearance featuring subtle brown hued flavour chips of crushed caramel candy.
Upon opening the package, a sweet and rich aroma of vanilla and eggs immediately emerged, reminiscent of a creme caramel pudding. Upon tasting, the mints began with an intense sweetness before an eggy flavor surfaced, gradually transforming into rich notes of dark caramel as the flavour chips melted in the mouth. The bold flavour of the mints receded swiftly in the finish to leave a clean aftertaste, without discernible bitterness from the blend of artificial sweeteners.
Overall, these mints remarkably resembled the flavour of pudding. Yet, while more enjoyable than the melon soda flavour in the same series, which were dominated by sweet milky notes from the vanilla ice cream-flavored candy chips, this pudding flavor would not be our preferred choice over mint or fruit.
This Asahi Mintia Pudding contained 7 g (50 pieces). It was produced in Japan and purchased in Tōkyō, Japan in 2023.