Seasonal Satsumaimo Snacks!

The other day, I went shopping and was excited to find some limited-time sweet potato-flavored snacks. In Japan, it’s a fall tradition for snack makers to release special seasonal editions featuring satsumaimo (Japanese sweet potato). Today, let’s check out five delicious satsumaimo snacks I picked out to share with you!

Welcome to From Japan with Flavor! This is where I share unique Japanese foods, historical food culture, food trends, and whatever I’m currently exploring—all straight from Japan!

1. Pretz (プリッツ)

Pretz is a popular crunchy, stick-shaped snack. The classic flavors are savory ones like “Salad” or “Tomato,” but in autumn, you’ll find a sweet potato version like this. This edition combines Pretz’s signature crisp bite with a mild roasted sweet potato flavor.

2. Picola (ピコラ)

Picola is a long, rolled biscuit with a creamy filling inside. The standard flavors are chocolate and strawberry, but this limited-edition version features a sweet potato cream. It’s made with Anno-imo, a type of Japanese sweet potato known for its rich sweetness and fragrant aroma.

3. Caramel Corn (キャラメルコーン)

Caramel Corn is a fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth puffed snack with a sweet caramel flavor. This seasonal version is made with Anno-imo, a Japanese sweet potato variety known for its rich, sticky sweetness.

4. All Osatsu

All Osatsu is a fall edition of All Raisin, a long-selling soft cookie! The word osatsu is a cute way of saying sweet potato in Japanese. In this edition, soft cookies are baked with bits of sweet potato mixed right into the dough.

5. Karusatsuma (かるさつま)

Karusatsuma is another snack from Glico, the same maker as Pretz. Unlike Pretz, these sticks are lighter, crispier, and hollow inside, giving them an airy crunch. This seasonal version features purple sweet potato flavor.

My Personal Favorite

I tasted all five of these snacks to find my personal favorite. And my pick is… Sweet Potato Pretz! I love the crunch, and that little bit of salt makes the sweet-and-savory flavor totally addictive.

Watch the video where I open the packages and do a taste test! At the end, my daughter joins me for a fun taste-test party, and together we pick our #1 favorite.

Where to Find Them

These snacks are only available for a short time in the fall, so check Japanese supermarkets like Mitsuwa or H Mart. You can also sometimes find them through online stores.