Picture this: you’re walking home from work or school, cold, tired, and peckish when you see a sign for freshly made steamed pork buns outside a convenience store. Now, imagine holding one in your hands and feeling its warmth, its fluffy white exterior beckoning you for a taste of its juicy ground pork, shiitake mushroom, and cabbage filling, with a dab of mustard on the side if you prefer. (Have we succeeded in making you hungry yet?)

Steamed pork buns make a wonderful snack during the colder months! Besides being affordable, they’re also easy to eat with one hand, making them the ideal snack to munch on while biking home (though, for the sake of road safety, we strongly advise against doing this). Other variations include steamed pizza buns and red bean buns, which are equally tasty, even if lacking in the juiciness department.

Today, we’ve rounded up drawings of characters munching away happily on this warm and comforting snack. Feel free to live vicariously through them, but we take no responsibility if you become hungry!

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At times when the weather outside is cold and dreary, one great way to perk yourself up is to have a nice warm drink. These days, you may even be able to find vending machines capable of dispensing not only your favorite hot drinks, like coffee or hot cocoa, but also some that can dispense various kinds of soups!

Lumine (from Genshin Impact) seems to be keeping herself warm with a nice warm cup of something as she enjoys the cold outdoors. 

Have you warmed up to any of the illustrations below?

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Mikan oranges are a beloved fruit in Japan, especially in the winter when they're in season. Their small size, thin rinds, and juicy flesh make them a quick and easy snack for those on the go or just for lounging around under the kotatsu heated table. Full of nutrients, mikan oranges are a good snack to get hooked on for sure!

Nami (from One Piece) looks delighted as she holds up a mikan orange that almost perfectly matches her iconic hair.

Have you come around to the appeals of mikan oranges yet? If not, see if you can't be tempted by the amazing artwork below.   

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While coffee knows no seasonal boundaries, doesn't enjoying a cup on a cool autumn morning just feel a bit more luxurious? Its rich and stimulating aroma alone can perk some up enough to face whatever the day may bring.

Okita J Souji (from Fate/Grand Order) seems to be warming herself inside and out with a nice cup of java.

Have a look at the robust illustrations below and see if any are to your tastes. 

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In the bitter cold of winter, there’s nothing like sipping your favorite hot beverage to warm yourself up. Some people go for tea or coffee, but hot chocolate or even just a cup of heated milk will do the trick!

What’s your favorite hot winter beverage? Do you see it pictured in any of the illustrations below?

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Have you ever seen an illustration of food that’s so masterful that you immediately want to eat the real thing? On pixiv, works like these are tagged 飯テロ (meshitero, translated as “food porn” on pixiv). There’s no limit on what you might find, from a full English breakfast to ramen!

Mitsuri Kanroji (from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba) and Mejiro McQueen (from Uma Musume Pretty Derby) both looked pleased with their feasts. After looking through this compilation, what do you want to eat most?

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In Japan, steamed buns (chukaman 中華まん) are a beloved winter food that’s available just about everywhere. They come in a wide variety of options, from the more typical pork bun (nikuman 肉まん) to the pizza bun (pizaman ピザまん) - all the way to the sweeter red bean bun (anman あんまん).

Have you ever had steamed buns before? If so, what’s your favorite type?

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