1.
luxury food or drink; indulgence item
Items consumed for pleasure rather than nutrition, such as coffee, tea, tobacco, alcohol, chocolate, and sweets. The term carries no negative judgment — it simply categorizes items enjoyed for taste or stimulation rather than sustenance.
コーヒーは代表的な嗜好品だ。
Coffee is a typical indulgence item.
健康のために嗜好品を控えている。
I'm cutting back on indulgences for my health.
嗜好品にかける費用を見直したら、毎月かなり節約できた。
When I reviewed my spending on indulgence items, I was able to save quite a bit each month.
USAGE:
A somewhat formal category term commonly seen in health articles, nutrition guides, tax discussions, and household budgeting. The classic examples are coffee, tea, tobacco, and alcohol. Chocolate and snacks are sometimes included. The word does not imply moral judgment — it is a neutral classification.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 嗜好品を控える (to cut back on indulgences)
- 嗜好品の摂取 (consumption of luxury foods/drinks)
- 嗜好品税 (tax on luxury consumables)
NOTE ON TRANSLATION:
There is no single natural English equivalent. "Luxury grocery" is too narrow; "indulgence" is close but vague. In Japanese, the term is well-defined and commonly understood.