I went to the press conference of "Grand Calbee" which can have a long queue even one year from the launch

Gran Calbee's extreme thick potato chips sold only at Hankyu Umida main store "Potato crisp"Has gained popularity such as being able to queue from the morning just about a year after its release. As such a new product of Grand Calby "Potato Fritz"Will be released from Wednesday, April 1, 2015. Prior to the renewal, a press conference and a tasting party were held at Osaka's Hankyu Umida main store on March 20 (Fri), so I went there at once.

News Release "GRAND Calbee Spring / Summer New Product Potato Fritz" | Calbee Inc.
http://www.calbee.co.jp/newsrelease/150320.php

Arrived at Hankyu Umida head office.


The interview took place at the Diamond Hall on the 13th floor.


Reporters are gathering at the venue one after another and the attention level is high.


Newly released potato frits are on exhibition.


At the time the interview started and the explanation of the circumstances that led to the sale of this new product began. At Hankyu Umida head office, we sell cookies that everyone knows, such as Kameda Seiko, Guriko, Meiji etc, with major confectionary makers, and all sweets are popular enough to be out of stock in the evening. This time it seems that the product of Grand Calbee has been renewed to develop products that will become topics of customers.


The new product is potato flitz. It is made to realize a light texture for spring and summer, which is different in shape from the current potato crisp, and it is an unprecedented article that aimed at a crisp texture as it is thick.


Along with this renewal, the spring and summer will be sold with a light texture of "potato fritz of crinkle stick", in the autumn and winter a crisp texture and thick cut "V cut potato crisp" will be on sale. He said that he will release a new flavor that is conscious of seasonal "season" four times a year.


Traditional potato crisp was released "shio" "rich butter" "tomato" "cheese" "japanese bitter chocolate" "NEW scorched milk", but the newly released potato fruits are "shio" "soft fluffy butter "Tomato & Basil" "Camembert Cheese" "Cocoa" "Blueberry" is a regular lineup.


From Wednesday, April 1, sales of new products will start in stores. From May 1st (Friday), the net sales of "6 box gift box" containing all the flavors from the Grand Calbee official page will also start. The net sale is "limited to 300 pieces a day, 3 boxes per person".


I found a potato fritz box. There is one bag of 15 g of potato frit in one box, and the price is 540 yen per box including tax.


Six pieces of gift BOX are sold, and the price is 3441 yen including tax.


I started tasting. "Shiotei" uses rock salt from Sicily, and at the moment when it gnawed, rock salt enhances the potato taste and feels "faint sweetness".


It is a package of traditional potato crisp selling left potato fresh potato frits, right until the end of March.


If you open the two and compare it, the difference is obvious at a glance. Potato Fritz is a gem sticking to Hankyu and Calbee repeatedly prototyping many times while aiming at a light texture while leaving a rugged surface.


Actually eating, while leaving a crispy texture similar to the former potato crisp, the texture has changed so that a light texture is finished. It is a big surprise that impressions are greatly different while using the same raw materials. Especially the taste felt a faint sweetness of potato well.


"Fluffy butter taste" is a dish made using Hokkaido butter 100% according to a light texture.


Before eating "I thought that it would be the taste that it turned out when the butter entered," but the balance is exquisite without leaving butter's flavor and richness but too much.


"Tomato & basil" refers to the flavor that makes the tomato acidity and basil flavor reminiscent of Italian.


The umami of the tomato is considerably stronger than the existing potato chips, the hints of sour and basil's flavor are also working well, the taste seems to be good for snacks. Tomato's taste is strong, so it's especially recommended for those who like tomatoes.


"Camembert cheese taste" of rich taste uses Camembert cheese from Hokkaido at 66%.


The flavor and richness of Camembert are full-fledged, rich in thickness but not excessively rich and finished easy to eat. If you eat it with wine, you will feel a luxurious feeling.


"Blueberry taste" that it was popular in the taste of the shop front staff said that sour and sweet exquisite matches to potatoes.


Before eating, although the combination of "blueberry × potato" could not be imagined, the taste of blueberry matched the potatoes without incompatibility, and a glimpse of Hankyu's and Calbee's challenging spirit of "to make something never before" Eagle dish. It seems that it can be said to be an unprecedented type of sweets that can be eaten lightly in the sense of dessert.


"Cocoa taste" plus a sweet sweet taste in rich cocoa is desert chips for adults reminiscent of chocolat.


Unlike traditional chocolate potato chips, there is little sweetness and taste for adults where the flavor of cocoa was extruded to the front. The faint sweetness of potato matches well with cocoa.


Potato Fritz is sold at Hankyu Umida main store on Wednesday, April 1 and on the Internet from May 1st (Friday). A long line is expected, but it is good news that you can purchase it online as well.

Gran Calbee | Calbee Ltd.
http://www.calbee.co.jp/grandcalbee/