Vandaag of morgen in huis
Kwaliteit gegarandeerd
Welkomstaanbiedingen ontgrendelen: GRATIS bezorging | Tot 80% korting | Gratis 30 dagen JoyPlus-proefperiode
Download de app
Looking to buy Asian snacks for home, on the go or with your tea? You’ll soon find a wide selection of mochi, dorayaki, taiyaki, sweets, cakes and instant snacks from across Asia. The packaging may look appealing, but it does not always tell you enough about the flavour, preparation or storage requirements.
Products with red bean filling deserve particular attention. Dorayaki, for example, is a soft cake filled with sweet azuki paste, while taiyaki often comes frozen and needs to be heated before eating. This practical guide helps you compare products based on verifiable features rather than marketing copy alone.
“Red bean”, “adzuki” or “red bean” can be used in different ways. So check the ingredients list and the percentage of red bean. According to the product information, Yuki & Love Dorayaki contains 32% red bean paste. The mini dorayaki contains 27.3%. This gives you a clearer picture than the image on the packaging alone.
Also look out for the difference between red bean snacks and products containing only flavouring or a small amount of bean powder. In sweets, for example, the red bean flavour may be combined with milk, sugar and flavourings.
Some Japanese and Chinese snacks are ready to eat and can be stored in a kitchen cupboard. Other products, such as taiyaki and certain rice cakes, must remain frozen. The Khy Taiyaki, for example, states that it must be kept frozen until use and must not be refrozen after thawing.
Check the following before buying:
Asian desserts vary greatly in texture and sweetness. Mochi rice cakes are elastic and sticky, dorayaki is soft and cake-like, while White Rabbit sweets have a chewy, creamy texture. If you are expecting a crunchy snack, you may therefore be disappointed.
So do not just read about the product’s origin. Also look out for words such as “chewy”, “soft”, “frozen”, “filled” and “ready to eat”.
European labelling regulations require major allergens to be clearly stated. Even so, it is sensible to check the full product page and packaging, particularly with Asian cakes and sweet Asian desserts containing several ingredients.
Common allergens in this range include:
White Rabbit Creamy Candy contains milk. Khy Taiyaki contains wheat and soya. Yuki & Love Dorayaki contains soya, wheat and egg, and may contain traces of peanuts, nuts and sesame. Always check the label if you have an allergy or intolerance.
A 55-gram pack is handy for a single snack break, while a 720-gram box containing four mooncakes may be more suitable for sharing or giving as a gift. Individually wrapped sweets and cakes are practical for the office, school or eating on the go, but also compare the quantity in each pack.
Also check the best-before date. With imported products, the remaining shelf life may vary. The date on the packaging is the definitive one.
Instant tteokbokki and other rice cake snacks are convenient when you want to prepare something quickly. According to the product information, the 120-gram Yopokki Ricecake Cup Red Bean is suitable for microwave preparation and can be stored unopened in a cool, dry place. The sweet red bean sauce supplied gives the product a dessert-like character.
Frozen products require more planning. The TCT Glutinous Rice Cake Brown Sugar Filling must be stored at a maximum of -18 °C and, according to the product information, can be steamed or heated briefly in the microwave. Always follow the instructions on the packaging.
Why it suits this profile: The 120-gram portion is manageable, and microwave preparation requires very little effort. It is ideal if you want to try Korean snacks without immediately buying a large pack.
The product information clearly states the portion size, preparation method and room-temperature storage requirements. Still, check the packaging for allergens and the current date.
120 g, microwave preparation and sweet red bean sauce according to the product description.
Why it suits this profile: This Japanese snack consists of five 90-gram portions and combines a cake texture with azuki filling. It is a great choice for enjoying with tea or as a dessert at home.
The packaging states the total weight, portion breakdown and freezing instructions. This makes it clear that it is not a snack for the cupboard.
Five individual taiyaki, 13.9% azuki according to the ingredients information, and suitable for preparation from frozen.
Why it suits this profile: The mini version is conveniently sized and, according to the product description, designed for work, study or eating on the go. The soft cake and red bean paste pair well with coffee and tea.
The size makes portion control easy. The ingredients list also states the percentage of red bean paste and the allergens present.
130 g, mini portions and 27.3% red bean paste according to the product information provided.
Why it suits this profile: This well-known Chinese sweet is ready to eat and individually wrapped. It is ideal for sharing, as a little treat with tea or as a snack to keep in a drawer.
The product information states that the sweets are ready to eat and can be stored at room temperature. However, the packaging lists milk as an allergen.
108 g, individually wrapped, ready to eat and made with edible rice paper according to the product description.
We have put together a complete, up-to-date list of products that fully meet these strict selection criteria and the applicable European safety regulations.
First check the storage method, ingredients, allergens, portion size and preparation method. With red bean snacks, pay particular attention to the stated percentage of red bean paste or azuki beans. Also check whether the product is ready to eat or needs to be heated first.
It depends on the product. Shelf-stable dorayaki, sweets and some cakes should generally be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Frozen products such as taiyaki and certain rice cakes must remain frozen. Always follow the temperature requirements and instructions on the packaging.
They can be, but choose the packaging according to the occasion. A box of mooncakes or a larger pack of sweets is practical for sharing. For a smaller gift, dorayaki, taiyaki or a selection of individually wrapped snacks would be a good choice. Check the best-before date and allergen information beforehand.
