Tokyo Banana, the ideal souvenir
Tokyo Banana. We've seen the pictures on Instagram, we've heard friends raving about it (not family, because how could your family not share it with you!) but what exactly is this delectable snack that everyone keeps raving about?
For starters, Tokyo Banana is a novelty snack that you can only buy in Japan (as if the word Tokyo in the name wasn't enough). They are essentially banana-flavoured versions of Twinkies, as they are yellow sponge cakes filled with banana custard that resembles a miniature banana. They come in a box of four, eight, 12 or 16 pieces, and are often THE souvenir of choice to be given out as gifts by friends who have recently visited Japan.
Tokyo Banana also comes in various flavours such as chocolate, caramel, banana shake and strawberry. The company behind Tokyo Banana also produces other snacks such as Tokyo Banana Baumkuchen and Tokyo Banana Baum Brulee, but these are not as popular as Tokyo Banana.
Original Tokyo Banana is filled with banana custard.
Before you go nuts and start ordering from the Tokyo Banana official online store, bear in mind that there is a reason why these delectable and delicate snacks are not sold in Malaysia: they have a shelf life of SEVEN DAYS starting from their date of manufacturing.
We can't make you feel better by offering to buy Tokyo Banana for you, but we can let you enjoy these oishii-looking pictures of Tokyo Banana!
A limited edition of Tokyo Banana, Banana Shake.
This limited edition is only sold at Tokyo Station and is actually called Tokyo Banananohana, which is a combination of the words "banana" and "nanohana". Nanohana is a type of yellow rapeseed flower that is common in Japan, which is printed on the Tokyo Banana.
A look at the Tokyo Banananohana.
On the official website, Tokyo Banananohana is described to be made of "milk-flavored banana custard cream gently wrapped in a vanilla-scented sponge cake". Although the banana shake flavour is still banana, reviews specify that the flavour is less mild than the original Tokyo Banana.
A limited edition of Tokyo Banana, Banana Roar.
This limited edition is only sold at Tokyo Station as well, although it has been quite some time since it was out. Tokyo Banana Roar is filled with caramel and the sponge cake is accented with stripes instead.
Tokyo Banana: Banana Caramel Custard Cream.
A more common option, Tokyo Banana Caramel Custard Cream can be bought in major convenience stores, Narita and Haneda Airports. Unlike Tokyo Banana Roar, the filling is banana caramel custard.
Tokyo Banana Chocolate Banana Cream.
This limited edition bears different spots from Tokyo Banana Caramel Custard Cream and can only be bought at Tokyo Sky Tree.
Tokyo Banana Caramel.
For their 20th anniversary, Tokyo Banana came up with a special flavour, Tokyo Banana Caramel. Instead of just having a caramel filling, the sponge cake is caramel-flavoured and coloured light brown.
The Strawberry Cake from Ginza.
The Strawberry Cake from Ginza or Ginza Strawberry Cake is more like a cousin of Tokyo Banana rather than a sibling. Manufactured by the same company, Ginza Strawberry Cake is slightly rounder than Tokyo Banana, and a strawberry on top marks the sponge cake. The sponge cakes are filled with strawberry cream and custard cream.
