Pocky

Pocky (Japaneseポッキー, Pokki, [ pok ː i ː ] ) is a confectionery product, which is manufactured by the Japanese company Ezaki Glico. For the first time in 1965 sold under the name Chocoteck. Pocky consists of thin biscuit sticks which are coated with chocolate. The name Pocky refers to the onomatopoeic Japanese word pokkin (ポッキン), which is to describe the sound made when you bite off the Keksstäbchen. There are now Pocky in numerous flavors, including: almond, strawberry, milk, mousse, green tea and coconut.

Pocky is marketed in many parts of Europe and North America, as well as in some Asian countries. In Europe and thus also in Germany, Austria and Switzerland Pocky is sold under the name Mikado. This name refers to the game Mikado, interestingly, it means in Japanese but also Divine or creator and refers in this sense to the Japanese Emperor, the Tennō.

While the product Pocky is very well known and popular in Japan, you do not get it in the U.S. in any store that carries sweets and his reputation there seems mainly influenced by the Japanese origin. In Europe, Germany, respectively, the equivalent Mikado is available in almost every supermarket.

Mikado is a product of Générale Biscuit Glico France SA under license from Ezaki Glico. The product is manufactured in France by LU, a division of Kraft Foods. The European distribution is carried out by Kraft Foods. The range of flavors that can be found extended in Japan or the United States, is limited in European countries of distribution mostly on milk chocolate and dark chocolate, starting in 2011 with white chocolate.