Waffles. Curry rice. Hamburgers. All and more in miniature candy form. But the best part? You get to make them yourself. And then eat them all up.
In Japan, this type of candy is referred to as "intellectual development candy" (知育お菓子 or "chiiku okashi"). The term is actually a registered trademark held by Japanese confectionery company Kracie, but people also use it to refer to similar D.I.Y. sweets from other candy companies, like Meiji.
Kracie began selling these D.I.Y. candies in 1978, and the "intellectual development candy" moniker means just that: this candy is supposed to help kids develop (as opposed to other types of candy which children simply eat).
There's a whole process in making these sugary treats that is far more involving than regular candy, which is by its very nature passive. Obviously, if the kids are really small, these are difficult to do by themselves. Still, there's something enjoyable about making treats like this with (better yet, for) your kids.
Below, you can see some of these D.I.Y. Japanese candies. Some of them, you might have seen before. Others, maybe not. Have a look.
Photo: takahiroaoki100, MarimoMarshmallow
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