A poor whipped melon pan from Pasco

Whipped Melon Pan

Brand: Pasco

Price: 118 yen

Place of purchase: Welcia

Rating:

Pasco’s Whipped Melon Pan has a few redeeming qualities, even if the overall experience didn’t land well. The cream made with Jersey milk is the highlight: light, sweet, and smooth enough to feel like a gentle treat. It adds a nice contrast to the otherwise doughy exterior, and the portion of cream is generous without being overwhelming. The price is also reasonable at 118 yen before tax, making it an accessible option for anyone wanting to try a filled melon pan without spending much. For fans of sweet breads who enjoy mild dairy flavors, the cream alone might be enough to justify giving it a try. But, in my humble opinion, there are better versions of this by other brands that are more worth the yen.

Unfortunately, the bread itself holds this product back. Pasco’s melon pan shell is dry, overly flaky, and has an odd “gone‑off” taste that makes the first bite immediately disappointing. Instead of the gently crispy outside and a soft inside you expect from a 'melon pan' (named for the shape, not the taste), you get an exterior feels brittle and stale and the bread underneath doesn't offer much improvement, tasting way too doughy. While the cream was the best part of this product for me, unfortunately, in comparison to other bakery brands, this cream also tasted inferior or unsatisfactory to me. It isn't as rich, tasty or thick as other whipped fillings on the market and it can't compensate for the poor texture of the bread.