It’s Japanese week at Lidl: these are the products you’ll definitely want to put in your basket
Now available at Lidl: a trip to Japan! Not literally, of course (wouldn’t that be something), but it is a little journey for your taste buds. With its own brand Vitasia, Lidl is launching no fewer than 100 Japanese products. So it’s Japan week, and we’re all over it. These are the products we’ll definitely be putting in our basket.
Lidl takes us on culinary journeys around the world all year round. Every year, for example, they also organize American weeks, Belgian weeks and Spanish weeks. Japanese week comes around every year too, but we have the feeling that the selection is bigger than ever this time. Way to go, Lidl!
1. Sushi Onigiri
It doesn’t get much more Japanese than this. Onigiri are a kind of rice sandwiches in various shapes, usually triangles. The rice is seasoned and covered with a sort of blanket of toppings, such as seaweed or sesame. Lidl sells teriyaki, surimi and tuna onigiri. One onigiri costs € 1.99. It’s completely Japanese-style too, with that anime-like character on the packaging.
2. Gyoza
After Albert Heijn’s gyoza, Lidl obviously couldn’t be left behind. You can now pick up a large bag of gyoza in the supermarket’s freezer section. Because you simply don’t always feel like making gyoza yourself. Right? There are three varieties: chicken and pork, spicy vegetables and tofu (vegetarian), and shrimp. Steam them briefly and fry them in a pan, and you’ll have a delicious Japanese snack in front of you.
3. Japanese-style cream cheese
Soft cheese spread sounds more American than Japanese to us. Still, this ‘Japanese-style’ cream cheese fascinates us enormously. What does ‘Japanese style’ mean in this spread? The flavors of ginger, yuzu (a Japanese citrus fruit) and cilantro. I have absolutely no idea whether this is actually tasty on a sandwich, but I simply have to try it. Who knows, maybe this will be the new Philadelphia or Heksenkaas. And at € 1.49, I’m definitely not going to hesitate.
4. Organic matcha powder
The packaging makes it look as though you’ve got a tub of protein powder in your hands. The kind of powder all extremely dedicated athletes have at home (not me, obviously). But no, it’s matcha powder! Matcha is Japanese green tea in powdered form, made from ground tea leaves. It has an intense, slightly bitter flavor and—as you can see—a bright green color. Matcha has been hugely popular among Gen Z for quite some time now. Without matcha, you’re not completely part of the crowd, and Lidl gets that. For € 3.99, you get a 40-gram jar. The real deal is many times more expensive, but you can make fun baked goods with it, such as matcha cookies. Or how about a Matcha Martini?
5. Kombucha
Another drink we can’t ignore: kombucha. This fermented, lightly sparkling tea with a sweet-and-sour taste has both fans and haters. We’re firmly in the first camp. Kombucha is not only delicious, but also incredibly healthy. A good batch of kombucha contains probiotics, antioxidants and acids that can support digestion, among other things. I don’t know to what extent that applies to this Lidl kombucha, but it’s worth trying. Available in natural and lemon flavors for € 1.99 (330 ml).
Again, this is only a small selection. In total, there are 100 Japanese-style specialties on the shelves. You can also find everything you need for sushi, edamame beans, tempura shrimp, miso paste, mochi… Which Japanese products will you be taking home?
Also read:
- Recipe: how to make the Japanese pancake Okonomiyaki in the Air Fryer
- Seven things you shouldn’t do when you’re in Japan but probably do anyway
- Going on vacation to Japan: these 11 things you really shouldn’t do
Image: Lidl
