Let’s talk subscription boxes. I absolutely love them. There’s something slightly magical about receiving a box of surprises through the post. It kinda brings out an inner child excitement when you open up the box and discover what treasures await inside. I’ve reviewed a few subscription boxes over the years but I’ve never had the opportunity to review a Japanese snack box. Until now that is… because the lovely people at Sakuraco have sent me one of their luxury Japanese snack boxes to eat, enjoy, and share with you all. Well, I’ll be sharing my opinions, but I certainly won’t be sharing the snacks – this girl does NOT share her snacks!
So, come with me as I excitedly open the lid on this month’s Sakuraco Japanese Snack Box:
What’s The Sakuraco Japanese Snack Box All About?
Sakuraco is a monthly authentic Japanese snack subscription box that supports local Japanese snack makers. And what I love is that it’s not just about the snacks, it’s about learning the culture, traditions, and ceremonies of Japan too.
Each box is themed around a different area of Japan. For example, the August Japan snack box, is called the ‘Journey to Okinawa Box’ and focuses on the Okinawa region of Japan. Okinawa is a collection of over 160 islands (as well as being the name of the main island in this group) in the East China Sea and is known for its subtropical beaches, its unique culture, and it’s longevity. Yep, that’s right, the people of Okinawa have exceptionally high life expectancies and low rates of chronic diseases. Perhaps we should all be eating more Japanese snacks!
Anyway, I’m going to talk more about the snacks in a mo, as I’m going to give you all a little taste test review of each product included in this month’s box. But do you know what, there’s more to the Sakuraco Japanese snack boxes than the snacks. You see, this is an experience. A journey into Japan to explore the heritage, the traditions, and the culture of the area.
Sakuraco works with a variety of Japanese family-owned businesses who have been Japanese snacks, treats, teas, and delicacies for generations. We’re literally talking centuries old traditions, so this is about as authentic as it gets outside of Japan.
What Can You Expect To Receive In Your Sakuraco Japanese Snack Box?
As well as a load of snacks (more on those later!) every box comes complete with a special item of Japanese tableware – in this instance a small ceramic Minamikaze bowl, which is very traditional to the Okinawan islands. It’s a truly beautiful bowl and as you can see from the pictures down below, this blue wave patterned bowl is just the right size for serving your Japanese snacks in.
So, yeah, back to the snacks. There’s a lot of them. Like they are seriously packed into this box. I opened it up and I couldn’t believe how many items I kept pulling out. Layer upon layer of snacks, all in brightly coloured packaging, and a lovely mix of both savoury and sweet treats to try out. In the box I had, I counted 19 snacks in total, some of which were duplicates as they were smaller, but 13 unique products. And this was a mixture of large savoury packets, teabags, and smaller individually wrapped biscuits and other sweet Japanese candy.
I’ve decanted them into bowls for you to actually get a good look at the products, because it’s all well and good you seeing the packaging, but really you wanna know what they look like, right?
And as you can see, they look delicious. But what do they taste like? Well, that’s what I’m going to move onto next.
Taste Testing The Snacks From The Sakuraco Japanese Snack Box
I’ve travelled around a fair bit, but I’ve never been to Japan, so I’m not going to claim to be some expert here. BUT I do love snacks. Snacks are so my thing. Snack I know. So, I’d say that I’m fairly well placed to offer my honest opinions on the snacks in this box. To make it easier, I figured it’s best to just tell you the name of the product, describe it and then let you know what I thought of it. So, let’s do this!
Kokuto Karinto
Despite these looking like mini cocktail sausages they are actually deep-fried wheat snacks that are coated in a deep, dark, sweet syrup. They’re crunchy, intensely sweet, and have a sesame seed after taste that helps take away some of the sweetness. Quite a unique texture, but these are up there with some of my favourite snacks from the box.
Kokuto Cinnamon Peanuts
Okinawa is famed for its Kokuto brown sugar and these peanuts are encased in a crispy shell and then mixed with this brown sugar and some cinnamon. The result is a beautiful sweet but salty snack that’s crunchy and nutty and beyond yummy.
Kokuto Almond Mix
There are two packets of these in the box and they’re kind of like a Japanese trail mix. It consists of almonds, dried banana pieces, small chunks of dates and pumpkin seeds all coated in Okinawan brown sugar. A really great combo and would be great as a run snack if you’re a runner and looking for some nutritious fuel for your runs.
Okinawa Baked Chocolate
At first glance, this looks like a chocolate cookie, and I must admit I had to do a double take when I read ‘baked chocolate’ because who even knew that was a thing. But yeah turns out it is, and turns out it’s yummy. So, the texture is kinda like a peppermint cream – a bit crumbly and drier than a cookie but there’s a smoothness there too. And the flavour is intense and very rich. It’s infused with Okinawan salt so if you love the whole sweet and salty thing, you’ll love this. You get two of these bad boys in the box and even though they look small, the richness of them means you really don’t need any more in one hit.
Black Pepper Cheese Kakinotane
Kakinotane are crescent shaped rice crackers that are coated in a flavouring (in this case black pepper and cheese seasoning) to create a yummy savoury snack that is perfect for pre-dinner nibbles. They’re just the right level of salty and I could honestly sit there grazing on them all day.
Gorgonzola Nori Ten
These were my faves. Honestly, so good I would have been happy if the box had just contained 13 packets of these. Like crazy, crazy good. Crunchy, salty, slightly sweet, cheesy, umami, all the good stuff packed into one bite. Nori Ten is a traditional Japanese snack made by deep frying seaweed in a thin tempura batter and then in this instance has been mixed with gorgonzola and a mild creamy cheese seasoning. It should be illegal, it’s that good!
Beni Imo Pie
This was the big surprise. I read ‘made from purple sweet potatoes’ and thought hmm not gonna like this. I mean come on, purple sweet potato in a sweet pie??? But don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it because seriously this was incredible. Soft, flaky pastry, filled with a smooth sweet filling, it was everything and more. Just incredible, and a massive reminder that you should never judge something before trying it. Talking of which…
Honey Plum
This is unlike anything I have ever put in my mouth. I mean you’d think it would be sweet, right? After all, it’s called a honey plum. But no, oh my goodness no. This was a shocker. Maybe it’s a Western palate thing, but I just couldn’t get my head around it at all. And I actually got my husband and son to try it as well, just in case it was just me. But no, they didn’t like it either. It was sour, sticky, salty, savoury, like seriously how on earth do you even get a plum to taste like that?!!
This is an experience though, right? And it sure was an experience. Not for me, but I’m glad I tried it none the less. And I tell you what, if you fancied switching out the olive in your martini, this would make an incredible cocktail garnish!
Okinawa Almond Caramel Cookie
This cookie is more like a little tartlet with a caramelised nutty crunch on top. It’s very sweet – there seems to be a theme here – and quite dry so I think it’s best to have with a drink alongside. Tasty, just not wow tasty, but tasty nonetheless.
Mango Jelly
This mango jelly is lovely and light and juicy and great as a palate cleansing dessert after a heavy meal. The texture is different to the jelly we’re used to in the UK, in that it was more liquidy and runnier, so that did take a little bit of getting used to. But the flavour was lovely, really sweet and slightly floral like.
Mango Agar Candy
You get two of these mango agar candies in the box and honestly I wish there were a few more because they were delicious. Made with real mango puree, they have a sugary coating and a very subtle natural mango taste that is really refreshing and light. I had one and my daughter had the other and we both loved it. Delicious, but yeah more of them please!
Chinsuko
Chinsuko is a traditional Okinawan biscuit that’s very similar to a shortbread biscuit but lighter and more crumbly than the one’s we have here in the UK. It was originally enjoyed by the aristocracy as a teatime treat and I can totally see this being a biscuit that needs a drink to accompany it as it is quite dry.
Sanpin Tea
Listen, I’m not gonna beat around the bush here. I am not a tea drinker. I have tried over the years to make myself like it, I mean I’m English, surely all English people are born loving tea. But nope, not happening, not for me. So, I’m not going to even try and pretend that I tried this tea, because I didn’t. All I can do is tell you what I know. You get two tea bags of Sanpin tea, which is a type of jasmine tea that is well-loved in Okinawa. Unlike other jasmine teas, the leaves are fermented for Sanpin tea which supposedly gives it a more intense floral taste. I don’t know, you will have to try it yourself.
Should You Try The Sakuraco Japanese Snack Box
Well, there’s the big question. So, look here’s why you should try the Sakuraco Japanese Snack Box.
If you:
- Love snacks
- Love Japanese snacks
- Love Japanese culture
- Love Japan
- Love trying new subscription boxes
- Love getting exciting things in the post
If you love all those things, then honestly it’s a no brainer. Do it. You’ll love it.
But I know what you’re all thinking… how much does it cost?
Well, you’ve got options. You can order online and they will deliver worldwide, so that’s not a problem, although obviously shipping costs will vary and you would need to find that out at checkout to see how much it affects the overall cost. As for subscription costs, you’ve got the following choices:
- 12 months – $32.50 a month
- 6 months – $33.50 a month
- 3 months – $35.50 a month
- 1 month – $37.50 a month
The 3 month, 6 month, and 12 month subscription plan also comes with an additional free gift e.g. ceramics, glassware, or a featured snack and there is also the option to add on $10 a month for a Japanese tea pairing to further compliment your snacks.
So look, let’s be honest, this isn’t the cheapest subscription box you’ll have ever signed up to. But we’re talking luxury and we’re talking authentic. And these are all products that have been curated, handpicked, and shipped directly from Japan. Plus, you can pause and cancel your subscription at anytime, so like I said, you have options.
I personally, loved the snacks, the experience, and I really loved the little bowl – it’s nice knowing I have something to keep even after all the food has gone. If you want to find out more about Sakuraco snack boxes visit their website – https://sakura.co/
*Product gifted for review
What are your favourite subscription boxes? Tell me all about them.
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Author Bio
Becky Stafferton is a full-time content creator, web publisher, and blogging coach. She continually strives to promote a realistic, sustainable and positive image of how to lead a healthy life. When she’s not writing she can be found running through muddy puddles, making lists of lists, having a good old moan, talking in funny voices to her dog, renovating her house in the country, and teaching others how to make money from their blogs.
