Hattendo Japanese Chilled Cream Buns and why would you freeze bread?

I had no intention of buying any Japanese Chilled Cream Buns but then they said "free samples" and here we are!

A smattering of people came more out of curiosity than anything else. Then they'll stay for the free samples. Then you get hit with the price. 118 Php for two buns. By then you're too invested and almost forced to shell out that money for two pieces of bread with cream fillings.

My girlfriend and I were heading to Tim Ho Wan for a light dinner when we passed by this kiosk. It's strategically placed as it's in the entrance to the fashion mall nearest to the ATM's. That was exactly what happened to us. We got two Matcha buns so as to have something to munch on while waiting. 

I guess you're supposed to eat them right away?

"Don't Refreeze". They were frozen!

The line was not particularly long this evening so we were able to get seated in about five minutes. This gave me a chance to take pictures of the buns while waiting for the toasted buns. It was a night full of 'effin buns!

I do not get why these cost so damn much. Okay, I kind of get it. It's the cost they incurred from flying all these from Japan. But why? It may have been fresh and good when it was baked in Japan but what we get here is a shriveled and cold piece of bread. And it looks like a pan de coco you can get from any local bakery. Seriously.

It looks like a pan de coco. I swear!

The pan de coco - uhurm... Japanese Chilled Buns admittedly are quite good. The bread is soft and kind of fluffy (it was a little soggy after being frozen) itself tasting slightly sweet and milky. The matcha filling did not have the overpowering taste of grass. Rather, it a balance of sweet, cream, and matcha all held together by the tasty (soggy) bun. The green tea, according to their website, is "gyukuro" from Fukuoka. I have no idea how that is supposed to taste like in its original form but it worked here.

I liked it. So did my girlfriend. Oh, and a couple beside us at Tim Ho Wan was also eating Hattendo and liked the whipped cream flavor. They parked inside the mall, went to withdraw, and passed the kiosk on the way to the restaurant. Strategic position I tell you. And I am very tsismoso.

I just don't think it's supposed to cost so damn much. And I don't care that it got flown over from Japan. I'd prefer buying them if they were made fresh from here. It's one thing chilling them. It's another if they got frozen and thawed. Who does that to bread?