Once confined to the shelves of Asian grocery stores, these chocolate-coated sticks—stars of manga, anime, and K-pop—have become a global sensation. Pocky, and their Korean rivals Pepero, now come in an endless variety of flavours, making it hard to know where to start. This guide is here to cut through the marketing noise and help you choose the perfect stick to satisfy your cravings.
Before diving into our selection, let's review a few key criteria for finding the chocolate-coated stick that will win you over.
The market is a head-to-head battle between two giants: Japan's Glico, the creator of Pocky, and the South Korean conglomerate Lotte, which produces Pepero. While the concept is nearly identical, purists will tell you there are real differences. Some swear by the crispier biscuit of Pocky, while others prefer the chocolate recipe of Pepero. Ultimately, there's no wrong choice—it's simply a matter of taste between the Japanese star and its Korean competitor.
While milk chocolate remains a timeless classic, the true appeal of these biscuit sticks lies in their incredible diversity of flavours. You'll find the essentials like strawberry, white chocolate, and almond, of course. But for the more adventurous, the taste journey continues with flavours like matcha biscuit (green tea), the famous cookies & cream, or limited-edition seasonal releases. The question to ask yourself is: are you in the mood for something classic and comforting, or are you ready for a surprising new discovery?
When it comes to indulgence, not all sticks are created equal. A simple coated biscuit offers a clean, straightforward pleasure. A double coating, on the other hand, promises a more generous layer of chocolate and a more intense flavour. Finally, versions with inclusions (crushed almonds, cookie crumbles, crunchy bits) add that extra texture that makes all the difference.
Here are a few recommended options, chosen for their distinct flavour profiles and consumer popularity.
Why we love it: For its sheer indulgence. Its double coating of rich chocolate, studded with toasted almond pieces, offers a perfect contrast between creamy and crunchy.
Key features:
Who is it for?: For snackers who find classic versions a bit too tame and are looking for a richer treat with a true interplay of textures.
Why we love it: This "Rich Matcha" version from Glico is a must-have for green tea lovers. The coating, made with high-quality matcha powder, reveals an intense, earthy flavour with that characteristic hint of bitterness, perfectly balanced by the sweetness of the cream.
Key features:
Who is it for?: For adventurous palates and fans of Japanese flavours looking for a more complex, less sugary experience. It's also the perfect companion for a tea break.
Why we love it: The Pepero from Lotte in its "White Chocolate Cookies" version is the very definition of a nostalgic indulgence. The combination of creamy white chocolate and crunchy cocoa biscuit pieces is a timeless classic that's a universal crowd-pleaser.
Key features:
Who is it for?: The perfect choice for those who love sweet, creamy flavours. A comforting snack that will appeal to teens and adults alike.
Our selection is just a taste of what's out there. The world of biscuit sticks is vast! If your curiosity has been piqued, don't hesitate to explore other varieties and coatings.
? Explore our entire collection of chocolate biscuits and find your next favourite.
Pocky is the original brand from the Japanese company Glico, launched in 1966. Pepero is its major South Korean rival, created by Lotte in 1983. The concept is the same: a biscuit stick dipped in a coating. But for fans, the debate rages on: some prefer the texture of the Pocky biscuit, while others favour the Pepero coating recipe.
While they were once exclusive to specialty grocery stores, these snacks are now very easy to find. You can track them down on major e-commerce platforms with an international section, like Joybuy, or on a Japanese online grocery store. The advantage of buying online? A much wider selection of flavours.
Yes, exactly! Mikado, the brand well-known in Europe, is none other than Glico's Pocky, manufactured and distributed in Europe by Mondelēz International. The name is different, but the product is the same. So, Pocky is indeed the original Japanese Mikado.