Guide to Hello Panda Biscuits

Many delicious Japanese foods have become iconic worldwide, with sushi and matcha tea being some of the most popular. Likewise, Hello Panda biscuits are ever-growing in popularity around the world, achieving cult status as a snack, and can now be found in many shops in the West. Popular with adults and children alike, Hello Panda biscuits were a childhood classic for many Japanese people. Produced by Meiji, these biscuits have been manufactured in Japan since the 1970s, developing into a well-loved brand with a wide variety of options now available. We take a look at these beloved biscuits and everything you would need to know about them!

What are Hello Panda Cookies?

Hello Panda is a brand of Japanese biscuit that was first released in Japan in 1979. Each biscuit has a shortbread shell, which is filled with a sweet filling. The biscuits are either round or in the shape of a panda face. Every biscuit will also feature the image of a cartoon panda, hence the ‘Hello Panda’ name! The panda will be participating in an activity on each cookie, such as golf, archery or football! Hello Panda will typically be found in hexagonal boxes which will contain about 50 grams worth of panda snacks. However, limited edition packaging and flavours are occasionally released.

What Hello Panda Flavours Are Available?

Hello Panda cookies are available in a wide range of flavours, including chocolate, strawberry, milk cream, vanilla, coconut and matcha green tea. Double chocolate Hello Panda cookies can also be found, which see chocolate filling within a chocolatey biscuit casing for those who want an even sweeter treat. There are also packets produced featuring a mixture of the different flavours for panda-lovers who cannot choose a single flavour!

What Activities Can Be Seen on Hello Panda Biscuits?

The panda on Hello Panda biscuits can be seen participating in a range of physical activities. As well as the activities previously mentioned, these activities include badminton, basketball, fencing, figure skating, cycling, baseball, skiing, sailing, high jumping, snowboarding, hockey, rugby, swimming, volleyball, tennis and surfing.

How Can Hello Panda Biscuits Be Used?

Hello Panda biscuits are the perfect bite-size snack to add into packed lunches or enjoy as a nibble on-the-go. As well as eating them as-is, there are a number of things you can do with Hello Panda biscuits. Why not add these biscuits to an ice cream sundae, dip them in melted chocolate or enjoy them with yoghurt?

Hello Panda Alternatives

Following the success of these panda-shaped treats, many other companies in Southeast Asia began to release their own take on the cute animal-shaped biscuit. Meiji themselves also offer Pucca, a similar bite-sized, chocolate-filled biscuit, which is shaped like fish and octopi. Lotte Confectionery began producing Koala’s March in 1984, and is similar to Hello Panda, except these feature cute Koalas! Here at Oriental Mart, we have an incredible range of Japanese snacks in the UK, including many of our favourite Hello Panda flavours! We currently have Strawberry, Chocolate, Milk, Coconut, Matcha and Double Chocolate Hello Panda biscuits available online and in-store! Image Credit: Sam Howzit