Costco is selling Kewpie Japanese Style Mayonnaise and it has been creating a lot of buzz on the Internet. I picked a bottle at my local Costco warehouse and have it a try.
The short version of this review is, “The Kewpie Mayonnaise at Costco is delicious but nothing to get too excited about.”
What Makes This Mayonnaise Different?
There are three main things that differentiate Kewpie mayo from brands like Hellman’s.
- Kewpie uses only egg yolks and not whole eggs in the mayonnaise which gives the mayo a slightly richer flavor.
- Kewpie uses rice vinegar and white balsamic vinegar that provides a different “twang”.
- Most importantly, Kewpie uses MSG as an ingredient to provide a deeper umami flavor profile.
Honestly, I think the biggest difference is that it says “Japanese Style” on the label and that just makes some people feel it is special.
How to Make the Most of the Mayo
It took me a few minutes to figure out the best way to showcase this mayonnaise but I finally settled on an Old School Classic, a Tuna Melt!
I started with some great tuna (Wild Planet Albacore Tuna) and threw in the standard cast of characters.
- 1 can Wild Planet Albacore Tuna
- 2 tbls Kewpie Mayo
- 1 tbls Sweet Pickle Relish
- 2 tsp Dijon Mustard
- 2 tsp Fresh Minced Parsley
Mix everything up and chill for 30 minutes.
Next, take two pieces of bread and coat one side with the Kewpie Mayo. We are using the mayo instead of better because it makes a beautiful browned toast with a delicious mayo twang.
If you don’t feel like making a tuna melt then you can do this to transform a simple grilled cheese sandwich into something sublime.
Heat a pan over medium heat and assemble the sandwich in the pan.
- Place one piece of bread, mayo side down, into the pan.
- Add a slice of American cheese.
- Top the cheese with the tuna salad.
- Add another slice of American cheese.
- Top with the other slice of bread with the mayo side up.
Toast each side for 3-4 minutes until browned and the cheese has melted.
I will go on record as calling this the World’s Best Tuna Melt!
This sandwich tastes incredible but not much different than when I have made it using Hellman’s mayo.
Calories and Nutrition
One tablespoon of this mayo is a single serving and has the following nutritional information:
- Calories: 100
- Fat: 12g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
- Sodium: 115mg
- Carbohydrates: 0mg
- Protein: 0g
No big surprises here as this stuff is is basically oil and eggs.
Price
The Kewpie Mayo is Item Number 1710454 and is found in the non-refrigerated grocery aisles with the other mayos, dressings and sauces.
I bought the 24 ounce bottle of mayo for $6.49 which comes out to a cost of about $0.27 per ounce. This is a little more expensive than buying Hellman’s mayo at Costco but overall is a very reasonable price.
If you are a massive mayo fan then it is probably worth picking up a bottle just to give it a try. You won’t be overpaying and you might pick up some subtle flavors that you enjoy that I missed 🙂
Final Thoughts
I think the Kewpie Mayonnaise is perfectly fine but doesn’t live up to the hype that I have been seeing online.
If you want to try some other Japanese style condiments that are pretty tasty then let me suggest the Bachans Japanese Style BBQ Sauce as well as the Kewpie Roasted Sesame Dressing.
The one big advantage this mayo has is that it comes in a very reasonably sized container which is rare for something at Costco.
