Umaibō facts for kids
Umaibō in a variety of flavors
|
|
| Type | Snack |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Japan |
| Created by | Riska |
Umaibō (うまい棒) means "delicious stick" in Japanese. It is a popular puffed corn snack from Japan. These snacks are shaped like small cylinders. Riska makes Umaibō, and Yaokin sells them.
Umaibō comes in many different flavors. You can find savory ones like salad, spicy fish roe, takoyaki, and cheese. There are also sweet flavors like cocoa, caramel, and chocolate. New and fun flavors often appear for a short time. This keeps things exciting and makes people want to try them all!
The mascot for Umaibō is a round-headed, earless cat. It looks a bit like the famous character Doraemon. This mascot is thought to be an alien. It was born on September 13, 1978, on a faraway star. The mascot does not have an official name. People sometimes call it Umaemon, which is a funny play on Doraemon's name. Other nicknames include Doyaemon and Umai BOY.
Umaibō is famous for being very cheap. It used to cost only 10 yen, which was about 9 US cents in 2022. This low price made it very popular. For over forty years, the price stayed the same. But in January 2022, the price went up to 12 yen. This was the first price increase since the snack started in 1979.
The Story of Umaibō
Umaibō is a new version of an older corn puff snack called "Umaimai Bar." It first came out in July 1979. The snack was sold for 10 yen per piece. It was first made for kids and young people who did not have much money. You could usually buy it in candy stores.
Soon, Umaibō became very popular. It was sold everywhere, not just in candy stores. You could find it in Japanese convenience stores (konbini) and supermarkets. Later, bigger bags and bulk packs were made. Many different flavors have been released over the years, more than 60! The most popular flavors are corn potage, cheese, and mentai (spicy fish roe).
In 2007, most Umaibō snacks were made a little smaller and lighter. In 2022, Yaokin had to raise the price to 12 yen. This was due to problems with getting ingredients and rising costs.
Because Umaibō is so well-liked, Yaokin also sells other products. These items are not snacks but feature the cute alien mascot. They include lip balms, bath salts, and stationery. There is even a themed pachislot game. In 2017, Yaokin said that Umaemon would have a little sister. Her name is Umami-chan. She was promoted for a short time that year.
Umaibō Flavors
Flavors You Can Find Now
- Mentai (Spicy Fish Roe)
- Corn Potage
- Nattō (Fermented Soybeans)
- Cheese
- Teriyaki Burger
- Salami
- Vegetable Salad
- Chicken Curry
- Tonkatsu Sauce
- Shrimp and Mayonnaise
- Takoyaki (Octopus Balls)
- Chocolate
- Nori (Seaweed)
- Beef Tongue
- Sugar Rusk
- Rice Dumplings Zongzi
- Yakitori (Grilled Chicken)
Flavors Only in Special Areas
