Japanese Snack Review: Pringles Xtreme, Extra Pepper

 

Packaging/Concept: This product hits most of the EXTREME foodstuff packaging clichés nicely: extreme is misspelled beginning with an uppercase “x”, it has a grunge aesthetic, there’s faux stenciling in the background, all that stuff.

But two things about it struck me as not being particularly EXTREME. First is the flavor itself, pepper. When I think extreme flavors, kiwi or jalapeño or whatever come to mind, but pepper? That’s a stretch.

But if they’re going to go with pepper, couldn’t they come up with a more extreme name than “Extra Pepper”? Something like “Pepper OVERLOAD!” or “PeppORGASM!” (Y’know, like a pepper orgasm. Tell me that’s not gold.) In the very least, they could have spelled it “Xtra Pepper”, am I right?

But I have to give credit where credit is due: they have created the most EXTREME PEPPER GRINDER I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. Just look at it–it’s literally blasting out peppercorns like a goddamn shotgun!

 

Granted it doesn’t seem to be doing any actual grinding, as the peppercorns seem to be coming out whole… but maybe they shatter on impact when they smash into something at a hundred miles an hour.

Your dinner will never know what hit it. SUCK ON IT, food.

Taste: Very peppery.

  • truly extreme. Stateside, we’ve been “enjoying” the World of Warcraft Mtn Dew Game Fuel editions (Horde Red & Alliance Blue).

    today’s BIG news is the release of Shiso Pepsi! PLZ REVIEW!

  • Lars Martinson

    Hey, how do you know about the release of Shiso Pepsi? Do you have a Google Alert set up for the release of new Pepsi products in Japan or something?

    I tried it the other day, actually. When you first start drinking it, you’re like “This is… okay…” but the taste just gets more and more cloying. I couldn’t finish my bottle in one sitting. It’s not horrible with a capital ‘h’, but I probably won’t buy it again.

    Pepsi Nex still reigns supreme!

  • sexy honey

    so funny!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Lucia Ressi

    I’m writing from Italy to ask if someone could tell me how much a can of Pringles costs in Japan. I need to know it because I’m doing a reaserch for my university, but unfortunately I cannot find the price anywhere…thank you!

  • Lars Martinson

    Hey Lucia:
    What size can?
    I guess I could check at the convenience store next time I’m there (if I remember).
    Lars

  • Lars Martinson

    I walked by the grocery store this morning and checked it out. A standard tall can (i.e., a can about twice as tall as the one pictured in this entry) is 238 yen. Hope that helps!