If you throw a stone on Kokusai Street, you'll hit a "Chinsuko"... Yes, this "ultra-classic" Okinawan souvenir is now in an era of fierce competition.

Are you tired of Chinsuko because it's such a classic?
No, no, you just haven't encountered your "destined chinsuko" yet...!

So this time, we tried comparing different types of Chinsuko, a traditional Okinawan confection! From long-established Chinsuko shops to promising newcomers, we tried a whopping 24 different kinds.

Wishing you the best Chinsuko (Okinawan shortbread) of your dreams, let's begin the review.
(Please note that this taste test review is based solely on the author's personal opinions and biases.)

1. Arakaki Kami Confectionery Co., Ltd. | Traditional Handmade Ryukyuan Confectionery Chinsuko
2. Arakaki Confectionery Co., Ltd. | Arakaki Chinsuko, a famous Ryukyu confection
3. Nanpudo Co., Ltd. | Yukishio Chinsuko (2 types)
4. Miyagi Confectionery Co., Ltd. | Ishigaki Salt Chinsuko
5. Miyagi Confectionery Co., Ltd. | Ganju Chojuso Chinsuko
6. Okashi Goten Co., Ltd. | 6 types of traditional Ryukyuan sweets, Chinsuko
7. Nangoku Confectionery Co., Ltd. | 8 types of "Memories of the South"
8. Nanto Bussan Co., Ltd. | 4 types of Nanto Chinsuko
9. Summary

【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★☆☆
Sweetness: ★★☆☆☆

This crispy chinsuko (Okinawan shortbread cookie) has a distinctive, fragrant sugary sweetness reminiscent of cotton candy.
For those who think, "Chinsuko isn't worth going out of your way to buy...", this is a highly recommended item that you should definitely try at least once. It's a simple, old-fashioned Chinsuko.
Available for purchase at the direct sales store inside Shuri Park or at LEQUIOS Kokusai-dori store.

【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★★☆
Sweetness: ★★★★☆

Arakaki Chinsuko, affectionately known as "Arachin" in its yellow packaging, is characterized by its cookie-like flavor and crunchy texture. Because it's quite sweet, the lard flavor is less pronounced, making it a good choice even for those who don't like lard.
If you see this product with its yellow packaging, you can't go wrong buying it.

3. Nanpudo Co., Ltd. | Yukishio Chinsuko (2 types)

■Snow Salt Chinsuko

【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★☆☆
Sweetness: ★★★★★

Yukishio Chinsuko has become a firm favorite. As you eat it, you gradually lose track of whether it's salty or sweet, but for some reason, it's an addictive treat.
(If you give in to your desires and eat too much, you'll get incredibly thirsty afterward.)
Chinsuko is a super popular cookie that can be found in most souvenir shops at airports and on Kokusai Street.

■ Yukishio Chinsuko (Snow Salt Chinsuko) - Milk Flavor

【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★★☆
Sweetness: ★★★★★

This is a milk version of Yukishio Chinsuko (a type of Okinawan cookie).
The moment you open the bag, you're hit with an amazing milky scent that's almost like vanilla. Both the taste and the aroma are sweet!
I was eating it and thinking, "This tastes familiar..." when it hit me. It was the nostalgic "Suzu Castella" (bell-shaped sponge cake).
It's similar in scent and sweetness! I have no basis for this, but I think people who like cheap candy will like it.
This is a slightly rarer item compared to the regular Yukishio Chinsuko.

【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★★★
Sweetness: ★★★★☆

These chinsuko cookies have a wonderfully crispy texture and a lingering sweet and salty flavor.
The product description says it's "low in lard and sugar," but perhaps because of the saltiness, it tastes quite sweet. It's an irresistible treat when enjoyed with a strong cup of coffee.
It's relatively easy to obtain, as it's sold at many stores, including the Ishigaki Island antenna shop.

【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★☆☆
Sweetness: ★★☆☆☆

This is another "unusual" chinsuko (Okinawan shortbread cookie) made by Miyagi Confectionery.
"Ganju" means "sturdy" or "healthy" in the Okinawan dialect. It contains ingredients such as Peucedanum japonicum (known as the herb of longevity), chlorella, and sesame.
It's a crispy, fragrant sesame-flavored snack with a hint of saltiness and a mild sweetness. It has a similar aroma to mugwort mochi. People who like this kind of flavor will absolutely love it.

■プレーン
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★☆☆
Sweetness: ★★★☆☆

It features a distinctive sesame aroma. It has a cookie-like texture, and the aftertaste is a savory sweetness of peanuts.

■ Purple sweet potato
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★★☆
Sweetness: ★★★☆☆

It has a more natural sweetness than the plain version, with a subtle purple sweet potato flavor. The aftertaste is definitely sweet potato.

■ Brown sugar
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★★☆
Sweetness: ★★★☆☆

It features the aromas of sesame, peanuts, and brown sugar. The brown sugar aroma when you open the bag is excellent.

■ Coconut
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★☆☆☆
Sweetness: ★★★★☆

It's crisp on the outside, but melts in your mouth. The crunchiness when you bite into it is probably from the coconut. The aftertaste is distinctly coconut and delicious!

■ Island chili peppers
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★☆☆
Sweetness: ★☆☆☆☆

It's crumbly and sweet when you put it in your mouth. I thought it was just plain chinsuko (Okinawan shortbread), but then my tongue started to tingle a little... By the time I finished one, my mouth was quite spicy.
If you eat it expecting a sweet chinsuko (Okinawan cookie), you'll be disappointed.

■Salted sesame
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★★☆
Sweetness: ★☆☆☆☆

This dish offers a delightful change in flavor: saltiness → saltiness + sesame aroma → a hint of sweetness → sweet and salty.
It's less sweet than Yukishio Chinsuko.

■Overview
Okashi Goten, famous for its purple sweet potato tarts, offers a treat that isn't quite like traditional chinsuko, but its universally appealing and easy-to-eat nature is truly impressive!
The flavors are generally robust, with a sweetness reminiscent of Western confectionery. There's no hint of lard. The variety is impressive, making it fun to choose! If you want to enjoy chinsuko (Okinawan shortbread), this is the place to go.
You can usually find them in major souvenir shops, such as those on Kokusai Street and at Naha Airport.

■ Purple sweet potato
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★★☆
Sweetness: ★★☆☆☆

The sweet potato flavor is surprisingly strong. But the aftertaste isn't cloying; it's a gentle sweetness.

■ Shikuwasa
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★★☆
Sweetness: ★★☆☆☆

It has a refreshing, yuzu-like aroma even before you eat it. That said, it's not sour; the real enjoyment comes from the fragrance.

■ Brown sugar
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★★☆
Sweetness: ★★★☆☆

The moment you open the bag, you're greeted with a fragrant, sweet aroma reminiscent of maple syrup. The rich flavor is like eating pure brown sugar.

■ Coconut
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★★☆
Sweetness: ★★★☆☆

This one also has a coconut aroma from the moment you open it! The texture is also delicious, with the crunchy feel of coconut.
The mellow sweetness and aroma of coconut are outstanding.

■Chocolate Chips
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★★☆
Sweetness: ★★☆☆☆

It's a simple chocolate flavor, but it's really delicious. The sweetness is also subtle.
It's great when something is just plain delicious, isn't it?

■プレーン
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★☆☆
Sweetness: ★★☆☆☆

This is the reason why Nankoku Seika's products are so delicious! The taste is truly satisfying. It has the fragrant sweetness characteristic of chinsuko, with a hint of lard in the aftertaste. But it's not an overpowering sweetness, so you'll find yourself eating it again and again.

■ Bitter melon
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★★☆
Sweetness: ★★★☆☆

It doesn't have the bitterness of bitter melon; it tastes like you're drinking sweet vegetable juice. It's very easy to eat, and even people who don't like bitter melon should be fine with it.

■ Pine
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★☆☆
Sweetness: ★★★☆☆

It truly tastes and smells like the tropics! It's sweet like pineapple juice with no sourness, and despite being chinsuko (Okinawan shortbread), it's somehow juicy.

■Overview
The chinsuko itself was incredibly delicious, with a crumbly texture that melted in your mouth. On top of that, each flavor was distinct and fantastic!
They're all so delicious that personal taste preferences might vary. It might be fun to buy them as souvenirs and share them with friends while discussing them.

■プレーン
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★★★
Sweetness: ★★★★☆

A firm, hard-baked type of chinsuko (Okinawan shortbread).
It has a strong nutty aroma, but it's not listed in the ingredients. The source of the aroma is a mystery, but it tastes good, so that's not a problem. It's a Western-style confection, like a shortbread cookie, and goes well with coffee.

■ Purple sweet potato
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★★★
Sweetness: ★★★★☆

It looks and tastes intense (it was the most purple sweet potato flavored in this taste test)! The more you chew, the more it tastes like purple sweet potato! A must-try for purple sweet potato lovers.

Brown sugar
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★★★
Sweetness: ★★★★★

This one is also rich. After the aroma of brown sugar, a rich sweetness spreads throughout your mouth. Combined with the texture, it gives you a strangely satisfying feeling.

■ Nuchimaasu (salt)
【evaluation】
Crispness: ★★★★★
Sweetness: ★★★★★

It's exactly like a butter shortbread. It's like a concentrated version of Morinaga's "Choice" cookies, familiar from the yellow box, but in the size of a chinsuko (Okinawan shortbread cookie). The subtle saltiness and rich sweetness are addictive. Be careful not to eat too many!

■Overview
The overall texture is firm and crispy, and as a result, the flavor is intensely concentrated.
Of all the varieties I tried, this one was the closest to a Western-style confection. Each flavor is rich and perfect for a snack time treat, and pairs well with coffee or tea.
You can often find mini packs containing all four varieties not only in souvenir shops, but also in convenience stores and supermarkets.

It goes without saying, but the chinsuko cookies we were able to introduce in this taste test represent only a small fraction of the chinsuko cookies you can buy at souvenir shops.

The fun part is that even though they're all called "chinsuko," they're completely different depending on where they're made. Their greatest appeal lies in their freedom from being confined to the framework of traditional confectionery.

While preserving tradition, Chinsuko continues to evolve, with new flavors being sought every day!
See? Doesn't it suddenly make you want to eat Chinsuko now?

Please make your hotel reservation here.

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