But boy were they wrong.
The little balls of batter filled with octopus we’ve all come to know as takoyaki have gone through various modifications to satisfy our taste buds. Whether it’s black “ninja takoyaki” or blue “octopus planet takoyaki”, their flavor always seem questionable at first but are surprisingly tasty once you’ve tried it.
The latest attempt sees Japanese candy maker Chojudo Keika converting the savory aroma of Osaka’s famous batter balls into candy, a move which had everyone shaking their heads in disbelief.
▼ Holy sweet takoyaki balls!
Popping a candy in your mouth results in an explosion of takoyaki flavor, which isn’t really all that different from eating the real thing if you think about it. The real problem is that it has an awkward sweetness that doesn’t balance well with the savoriness, and the decision to turn it into a confection was one that Chojudo Keika thought would tarnish its proud 60-year tradition of confection making.
Worried whether humankind was actually ready for this abomination, the makers started producing the little devils in tiny batches, no doubt privately cursing the person who came up with this idea.
▼ “Are they seriously going to sell this?”
Distributing them to several stores in Namba and Dotonburi in Osaka as samples, it wasn’t long before Chojudo Keika received feedback from customers saying that the takoyaki candy samples tasted terrible but the concept was amazing. Most of all, an overwhelming number of consumers couldn’t stop themselves from having more!
Still unsure if the responses were a result of typical Japanese politeness, Chojudo Keika began manufacturing the sweets in small volumes, only to discover they flew off the shelves as soon as they were available. Reorders were quickly piling up, and the production line was constantly in a state of panic in an effort to increase volume.
Store staff said the takoyaki candy’s sudden popularity stemmed from its sheer weirdness and low price, making it a popular choice among tourists.
▼ And it’s just 216 yen (US$1.90) for a pack of eight.
Takoyaki isn’t yet available online, and unfortunately we’re not sure if it ever will be. If you want some of the so-bad-it’s-good takoyaki candy for yourself, the only way to currently get it is by hitting up a CHojudo Keika store in Osaka.
As for the person who came up with this brilliant idea, no doubt he or she should have received a standing ovation and a box full of takoyaki candies. Given its potential at surprising people, I’d say it’s the perfect souvenir for friends and co-workers, right up there with dessert chocolate takoyaki.
Source, top image: @Press
Insert images: @Press, Pakutaso
[ Read in Japanese ]