Calbee Jagarico - Nikujaga

After that last disappointing Jagarico flavor I tried (Nori Salt Butter), I had to immediately try another flavor. I round this regional flavor - Nikujaga. I'm not sure what region this flavor is from but I know that Nikujaga is a very popular dish in Japanese cuisine. I actually grew up eating this. This dish is mainly composed of meat (niku) and potatoes (jaga). There are also other vegetables such as onions, carrots, and konnyaku mixed in this dish all stewed in sweetened shoyu. It was never my favorite dish growing up, but as I grew older I have come to like it more. 

Looking at the package, the photo they used doesn't really look like Nikujaga to me... maybe because the potatoes kind of look like cut up garlic cloves. 

Looking at the potato sticks, you can see the little orange carrot bits and other darker bits. When opening the package, I was surprised that there wasn't really any smell because the actual dish usually has a very pleasant smell. After the first bite, I couldn't really tell if it tasted like Nikujaga, but after eating more of it the taste started to form. I think the slower I chewed the more umami released from the potato sticks.

I'm glad it wasn't as salty as actual Nikujaga, and the flavor was more subtle, which made me enjoy it more. I'm actually surprised at this flavor, and I think it has to be one of my more preferred flavors from Calbee Jagarico!