A summer trip to Hawaii might be a near-impossible hope for most this summer. Thankfully, the fine folks at Family Mart have a new line of limited-time goods out meant to provide some imagined tropical escapes more in line with our wallets.
The chain's "Hitokuchi De Hawaii Kibun!" ("Taste Hawaii In One Bite!") series offers konbini takes on foods from the island. These include a variety of Spam-featuring rice balls — although these have actually been available in Okinawan outposts of Family Mart for a long time — alongside a loco moco and garlic shrimp offering. That's all great for conjuring up images of grub enjoyed in Waikiki, but it's the sweeter side of this promotion that delivers a true five-star experience.
While malassadas originally came from Portugal, the fried-dough sweet has been a staple in Hawaii since the late 19th century when workers from the European country brought the treat with them to the islands while working on sugar plantations. The Family Mart interpretation isn't all that different from most of its donut offerings when it comes to texture, offering a puffier pastry with one half covered in chocolate. The luxury comes with the macadamia cream filling, boasting a sweet and slightly bitter flavor that is a rarity for the konbini sweets section. A highlight of the summer speciality offerings, and something worth indulging in (especially, hey, you aren't heading to Honolulu anytime soon).
