View source for Pocky

{{Short description|Japanese snack food}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2012}}
{{Infobox food
| name             = Pocky
| image            = Pocky-Sticks.jpg
| image_size       = 250px
| caption          = Sticks of original (chocolate) Pocky
| alternate_name   =
| country          = [[Japan]]
| region           =
| creator          = [[Glico]]
| year             = {{start date and age|1966}}
| course           =
| type             =
| served           =
| main_ingredient  = [[Biscuit]] stick, [[chocolate]]
| variations       =
| calories         =
| other            =
}}

{{nihongo|'''Pocky'''|ポッキー|Pokkī|{{IPA|ja|poꜜkkiː|-|Ja-Pocky.oga}}}} {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|ɒ|k|i}} is a Japanese sweet [[snack food]] produced by the [[Ezaki Glico]] food company. Pocky was first sold in 1966,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glico.co.jp/en/corp/profile8b.htm|title=Glico - Confectionery|access-date=2011-11-14|publisher=Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223095100/http://www.glico.co.jp/en/corp/profile8b.htm|archive-date=2011-12-23}}</ref> and was invented by Yoshiaki Koma.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/USD520869S1/en?oq=US+D520869+s|title=USD520869S1|last=Koma|first=Yoshiaki}}</ref> It consists of coated [[biscuit]] sticks. It was named after the Japanese [[Japanese sound symbolism|onomatopoeic]] word {{nihongo|''pokkiri''|ポッキリ}}, which is supposed to resemble the sound of the snack being cracked.<ref name=":0" />
<!-- Varieties -->

The original chocolate-coated Pocky was followed by an almond-coated variant in 1971, and a strawberry coating in 1977. Today, the product line includes variations in the flavored coatings, such as [[milk]], [[mousse]], [[matcha]] (green tea), [[honey]], [[banana]], [[cookies and cream]], [[strawberry]] and [[coconut]], and themed products such as "Decorer Pocky", with colorful decorative stripes in the coating, and "Men's Pocky", a "mature"  dark (bittersweet) chocolate version.

==World distribution==
[[File:Pocky logo.png|thumb|right|180px|Pocky logo]]

Pocky is a very popular treat in Japan, especially among teenagers.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}} In bars, it is sometimes served with a glass of ice water or milk.
<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-pocky.htm|title=What is Pocky? (with pictures)|website=wisegeek.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429155112/http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-pocky.htm|archive-date=2013-04-29}}</ref> It also has a significant presence in other [[Asia]]n countries, such as [[China]], [[South Korea]], [[Thailand]], [[Indonesia]], the [[Philippines]], [[Laos]], [[Malaysia]], [[Singapore]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Taiwan]], [[India]], [[Burma]], [[Brunei]] and [[Vietnam]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thaiglico.com/en/glico_thailand_history |title=Glico Glico Thailand History |access-date=2015-05-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522132350/http://www.thaiglico.com/en/glico_thailand_history |archive-date=2015-05-22 }}</ref> In Malaysia, Pocky was sold under the name "Rocky" for five decades. It was rebranded under the name "Pocky" in 2014, along with a new package design and slogan. Commercials  featuring Malaysian singer [[Yuna (singer)|Yuna]], also began to air in 2015 in order to give brand recognition and a sales boost.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/business/article/japans-ezaki-glico-aims-to-conquer-world-with-pocky-stick-snacks |title=Japan's Ezaki Glico aims to conquer world with Pocky stick snacks - the Malaysian Insider |access-date=2015-05-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108170003/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/business/article/japans-ezaki-glico-aims-to-conquer-world-with-pocky-stick-snacks |archive-date=2015-01-08 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.penanglang.my/?p=6267 |title=Rocky has became Pocky - Penang Lang |website=en.penanglang.my |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092133/http://en.penanglang.my/?p=6267 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Mikado.png|thumb|120px|left|Mikado ([[United Kingdom]])]]

In [[Europe]], Pocky is produced under license by [[Mondelēz International]] and sold under the name "'''Mikado'''" in [[Austria]], [[Belgium]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Greece]], [[Italy]], [[Ireland]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Spain]], [[Switzerland]], the [[Netherlands]] and the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pocky.glico.com/world/mikado.html|title=Welcome to EZAKI GLICO Pocky|website=glico.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714125936/http://pocky.glico.com/world/mikado.html|archive-date=2014-07-14}}</ref> "Mikado" can be found at most supermarkets{{citation needed|date=October 2012}} and many international food stores.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In the [[United States]] and [[Canada]], Pocky can be found in [[Asian supermarket]]s and the international section of most large supermarkets; such retailers include [[Cost Plus World Market|World Market]], [[H-E-B]], [[Wegmans]], [[Kroger]], [[Jungle Jim's International Market]], [[Costco]], [[Walmart]] (in the Asian foods aisle), some [[Target Corporation|Target]] stores, some [[Walgreens]], [[Meijer]], [[Fiesta Mart|Fiesta]], [[Barnes & Noble]], and [[anime convention]] dealers' rooms. In the United States, Pocky is marketed both by [[Lefèvre-Utile|LU]] (in chocolate and [[peanut butter]] flavors), and by Ezaki Glico's American division, Ezaki Glico USA Corporation (in chocolate and strawberry flavors).{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]], it is usually sold in Asian convenience markets, along with other Asian foods and products. Like the [[United States]] and [[Canada]] these are also widely available in the international sections on the Asian food aisles of most supermarket chains. Specialty importers also exist in [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In [[Turkey]], Pocky is produced by [[Ülker]] and Şölen, under Biskrem Bi'stik and Biscolata Stix name.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In 2020, Pocky was certified by Guinness World Records as the "largest chocolate-coated biscuit brand" after hitting over 500 million dollars in sales in the past year. <ref>{{cite web |last1=Glico Co., Ltd. |first1=Ezaki |title=Pocky Certified by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS(TM) as the World's Best-selling Chocolate-Coated Biscuit Brand (*) Bringing Smiles to the World During the Fifth Annual "Pocky day" Global Campaign to Get Underway on Oct. 11 |url=https://www.glico.com/sg/article/Pockyday2020_Guinness/ |website=glico.com |publisher=Glico |access-date=13 October 2020}}</ref>

==Flavors and variations==
{{Unsourced|section|date=August 2024}}[[File:Rocky sticks.jpg|thumb|120px|Original design of "Pocky" prior to 2014 in [[Malaysia]], released under the brand name "Rocky"]]
Pocky can be found in dozens of varieties such as [[chocolate]], [[strawberry]], and [[almond]]. Some of the more unusual flavors include the seasonal flavors of honey (spring) and [[kiwifruit]] [[mango]] (summer). The bittersweet version of chocolate Pocky is known as Men's Pocky. Regional flavors of Pocky include [[grape]] ([[Nagano Prefecture|Nagano]]), [[Yūbari, Hokkaidō|''yūbari'']] melon ([[Hokkaidō]]), giant ''[[mikan]]'' (tangerine, sold in the [[Kyūshū]] region), powdered tea [[azuki bean]] ([[Kyoto]]), Kobe wine ([[Kobe]]), and five-fusion berry ([[Goka]]). Also, flavors such as [[banana]], [[lychee]], [[coffee]], [[caramel (aroma)|caramel]], marble royal milk [[tea]], [[melon]], [[Daim bar]] (sold in the UK), [[milk]], honey and milk, [[cream cheese]], [[berry]], [[sweet potato]], [[coconut]], crush (crunchy cracker pieces in chocolate), corn on the cob, [[pineapple]], [[pumpkin]], kurogoma (black [[sesame]]), kinako ([[soybean]] flour), Brazilian pudding, cherry, tomato, orange, [[mikan]], [[blueberry]], apple yogurt, [[hazelnut]], mixed berry and [[green tea]] are available.

The latest flavors are special editions, 2 two-tone flavors in a larger box than chocolate or strawberry Pocky provides ( Special Editions: 2.47 oz. [70 g], Normal Pocky: 1.41 oz. [40 g]). The 2 newest flavors are [[cookies and cream]] and banana chocolate. Both have brown biscuit sticks (in the chocolate banana Pocky case, the biscuit is the chocolate and banana cream.) The [[cookies and cream]] consists of blended chocolate biscuit cookies with a slight chocolaty flavor of the biscuit.

Special variations of Pocky include Decorer Pocky (which features extra decorative icing) and Mousse Pocky (which features extra-thick, "creamy" mousse-like icing and is more exclusive). Unlike other Pocky variations, Mousse Pocky packages contain only nine per pack, fewer pieces than regular Pocky.

Dessert Pocky features Pocky sticks covered in a generous helping of cream. These flavors include Double Chocolate, Tiramisu, Chocolate Banana, Marron White, Chestnut, Strawberry Shortcake, and [[Orange (fruit)|Orange]]. Dessert Pocky usually comes with five packets in a box with three in each sleeve.

Another variation of Pocky is the {{nihongo|My Calorie Pocky|マイ カロリー ポッキー|mai karorī pokkī}}, which has one-fourth the calories of regular chocolate Pocky.

Other variations include Pocky G (marketed as being "hard and rich"), Giant Pocky (strawberry- and chocolate-flavored; each box contains 20 individually wrapped sticks with real dried strawberry; each stick is about 10" long, and about three times the diameter of a normal Pocky stick), Giant Dream Pocky (box of 20 individually wrapped 10" sticks; each stick is in one of the five featured flavors of melon, grape, green tea, strawberry or standard chocolate), Sakura Pocky (limited edition that is part of the Luxury Chocolatier sub-group; each stick is coated with pink [[cherry blossom]] essenced chocolate sprinkled with a bit of salt), Reverse Pocky (cracker on the outside with the filling in the middle), Fortune-Telling Pocky (each stick contains a "fortune"), and Pocky Cake (a literal cake shaped to look like a Pocky stick. Each cake contains, according to its packaging, [[raisin]]s, chocolate cream, orange peel, and an Italian cake batter).

A recent Limited Edition Pocky is called Otona no Kohaku or "Adult Amber" Pocky, which is bitter chocolate slightly salted, and meant to be used as an aperitif paired with whiskey. These are sold in a cylindrical canister containing six packages.

[[File:Saltsticks.JPG|thumbnail|upright| Party food in [[Japan]], pretzel sticks called [[Pretz|Glico Pretz]] ]]
A product related to Pocky is [[Pretz]], which is an unglazed version of Pocky, featuring flavors like [[tomato]], [[pizza]], and [[salad]], as well as sweet flavors such as cocoa and [[French toast]].

==Glico Morinaga case==
{{main|Glico Morinaga case}}
In 1984, a blackmail group known as [[The Monster with 21 Faces]] threatened to poison confections produced by Glico and by [[Morinaga & Company|Morinaga]], resulting in a mass withdrawal of Glico products from shelves. Subsequently, a man wearing a [[Yomiuri Giants]] baseball cap was caught placing Glico chocolate on a store shelf by a security camera. This man was believed to be the mastermind behind the group. The security camera photo was made public after this incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kotan.org/books/toppamono_04.html|title=Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan|website=www.kotan.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820053733/http://www.kotan.org/books/toppamono_04.html|archive-date=2016-08-20}}</ref>

==Melamine contamination==
{{main|2008 Chinese milk scandal}}
On September 30, 2008, Hong Kong authorities announced that [[melamine]] had been detected in Pocky Men's coffee cream-coated biscuit sticks made in China. Ezaki Glico had no immediate comment on the reported contamination.  The melamine contamination level was found to be 43 ppm (the legal limit is 2.5 ppm).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lipton-milk-tea-powder-recalled-in-asia/|title=Lipton Milk Tea Powder Recalled In Asia|access-date=2008-10-08|date=September 30, 2008|publisher=CBS News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022175606/http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-202_162-4489172.html|archive-date=October 22, 2012}}</ref> On October 17, 2008, Pocky Men's coffee cream-coated biscuit sticks were banned in Sri Lanka by the country's health ministry alongside 59 other products containing melamine.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ftp.lankabusinessonline.com/news/sri-lanka-health-ministry-lists-products-in-melamine-scare/141250784|title=Sri Lanka health ministry lists products in melamine scare|access-date=2017-01-30|date=November 2, 2008|website=Lanka Business Online|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130204202/http://ftp.lankabusinessonline.com/news/sri-lanka-health-ministry-lists-products-in-melamine-scare/141250784|archive-date=January 30, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/sri-lanka-bans-60-food-products-on-melamine-fears/|title=Sri Lanka bans 60 food products on melamine fears|access-date=2017-01-30|date=October 17, 2008|website=Lanka Business Online|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130091517/http://www.lankabusinessonline.com/sri-lanka-bans-60-food-products-on-melamine-fears/|archive-date=January 30, 2018}}</ref>
==The name==
The name of the European version “Mikado” comes from the game of the same [[Mikado (game)|name.]] It is played with thin & long sticks, hence the name.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

==See also==
* [[Pocky & Pretz Day]]
* [[Glico Morinaga case]]
* [[Konpa]]
* [[Pepero]]
* [[Pretzel sticks]]
* [[Pretzel]]s
* [[List of Japanese snacks]]
* [[Cadbury Fingers]]
* [[Toppo (food)|Toppo]]
* [[Yan Yan (snack)]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{Commons category|Pocky}}
* [http://pocky.jp/ Official website] {{in lang|ja}}
* [http://www.glico.co.jp/en/corp/profile4.htm Glico website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922060124/http://www.glico.co.jp/en/corp/profile4.htm |date=2012-09-22 }} {{in lang|en}}

[[Category:1966 introductions]]
[[Category:Japanese snack food]]
[[Category:Japanese confectionery]]
[[Category:Japanese brand foods]]
[[Category:Japanese brands]]