#Japanese Snack Subscription Box

[anielskaaniela]

29 Best Japanese Snacks: Top Treats and Where to Find Them

In this post , you will learn on 29 best Japanese snacks. Check out my japanese products [here]. If you’re a fan of Japanese culture or just curious about the diverse and delectable world of Japanese snacks, you’re in for a treat. Japan’s snacks are a harmonious blend of traditional flavors and modern innovations, making them irresistible to taste buds worldwide. Whether you’re exploring the…

[j-exclamationmark-l]

Hey!

I don't really like to ask anything of my followers but would anyone be interested in checking out this project I've been working on with two friends? We'd really appreciate if you checked it out because we're still really small and just starting out.

We're sending boxes of Japanese snacks and toys abroad to anyone who is interested. We'd appreciate any feedback or sharing this link 😊

[bokksu-vs-sakuraco]

Sakuraco Box #2 Review: Autumn Moon Festival

Theme: Autumn Moon Festival - same as Bokksu!

Arrived: September 27

# of Unique Snacks: 12 + 2 teas

Household Item: Tsukimi dish

Similar to Gliss, there's a special place in my heart for the Autumn Moon Festival, so I was very excited for this box! Let's get right into it.

Shipping timeline for this box:

September 14 - Shipping Email Received

September 20 - Box Arrived in US, West Coast

September 27 - Box Received in Mail, East Coast

The box arrived just in time for me to enjoy these snacks leading up to the Moon Festival (September 29th). It shipped around the same part of the month as last time, so it looks like I should expect boxes to arrive towards the end of the month in general.

Pre-Opening the Box

I was a little weary when I saw that the box was packed like this again

but I was actually pleasantly surprised when the label peeled off cleanly without any lifting or damaging of the box!

I think a major difference this time is that there's no additional packing tape on top of the bag? But maybe the box itself is a bit higher quality too because there's no semi-circle of lifting where I took off the sealing circle of tape.

I know I'm putting a lot of attention on this, but since saving and displaying these boxes was something I was greatly looking forward to, I really appreciate having that small boost in quality. Not to mention that I love the design of this month's box, and was hoping that I would be able to show it off!

Now let's take a look inside!

Taking everything out of the box and seeing so many cute rabbit snacks just made me more and more excited. Not only is it really fun to look at, but it also made me curious about what the unique character of each snack would be. (Note: There are 18 individually packaged snacks for a total of 12 unique snacks, and two teas)

The booklet is 23 pages and has information about the snacks and the traditions of Japanese moon viewing. I forgot to mention this last time, but the paper of the booklet is pretty nice, with a feel similar to a quality magazine.

Opening the flat white box in the back reveals a cute Tsukimi (moon viewing) dish!

The dish has a diameter of about 12 cm or just under 5 inches. It says it's both microwave and dishwasher safe.

Incidentally, if right now you're confused why rabbits play such a strong theme in this box, the booklet tells us it's because of a Japanese folktale, Tsuki no Usagi (Moon Rabbit), which the booklet goes on to share with us.

—

Ok, it's time to taste some snacks.

With Gliss's glowing comments about her White Chocolate Strawberry, when I saw this in my box I knew I would have to try it first. Opening the package, you get a fragrant aroma just like a ripe strawberry's; however, after taking a bite I found that the texture is more like chocolate. The smooth white chocolate flavor hits first and then the strawberry flavor joins in soon after. As a whole, I'd say the flavors are well balanced without being too sweet.

Next I thought I'd try the Usagi Pon Senbei.

Each package had 2 senbei in it. They had that classic umami flavor (from soy sauces), but ran a bit on the salty side.

Personal preference, but I've found that I enjoy lighter, crispier senbei more than the kind that's hard to bite into. In this one you can see how it's more light while still preserving that crispiness.

At this point, I had to open the Peach Jelly. I'd been eyeing it this entire time and couldn't resist any longer. (The Sakuraco boxes having jelly was a pretty big selling point for me. I didn't really try any during my recent trip to Japan because jelly was actually pretty expensive in comparison to other snacks.)

The two layers sort of separated when I popped it out of its container, but I don't mind. The clear layer of jelly was on top, and it had these little jelly leaves which I loved looking at. The darker layer with the red beans in it was on the bottom. The top layer had a refreshingly sweet, somewhat fruity taste, while the bottom layer was a bit thicker and more starchy, with a more pronounced fruit flavor. I'm saying "fruit" here because at first I thought it was maybe apple or pear, so I was a bit surprised to read that it's peach.

I could just be wrong, but mine also looks different from the picture, so I'm not sure if the jelly came in different designs or if I got a different jelly altogether? Either way, it was quite tasty.

Afterwards I went to the Black Okoshi.

It's a little like an Asian granola bar. There's some peanuts, karinto (deep fried puff) and black sesame seeds in here, all coated in an Okinawan brown sugar glaze. Crunchy, with a good ratio of peanuts to puff. A bit too sweet for me, but the serving size was small enough that I didn't grow tired of it before I could finish.

At this point I'd like to talk about the teas. Yes, plural! Last time we got two packets of the same type of tea, this time it's two different packets of tea.

The left one was like a barley tea while the right one was like a green tea. I think the green tea was this month's 'surprise', along with the next snack below. I don't usually drink tea so all I can say here is that they were pretty good, no complaints. I do want to point out though that in this month's booklet, they included brewing instructions!!

I did leave some feedback on their website last month that it would be nice if they included this, so it's really cool to see that they took that feedback seriously. Following the instructions, the tea didn't get bitter at all, letting me properly enjoy it while it's flavor was at it's best.

Ok let's continue with the snacks.

I didn't see this one in the booklet but scanning the QR code to check out this month's list of surprise snacks, I found it kind of looks like:

...Mame Mochi? Or at least this looked like the closest snack by far on the list. Reading the description made me slightly confused because I'm not sure I would describe the snack in my box as 'soft and fluffy'. It was more like puffed and crunchy. Biting down you get some crunch before the snack quickly disappears in your mouth and you hit those small black soybeans (?). It really was like eating a pocket of air and then finding you have some grain in your mouth.

Moving on, I was very excited to try the Black Sesame Mochi:

They came in a tray of 6, and were very cute. Although, after eating one I understand what Gliss was talking about when she said it was like tang yuan or the Chinese black sesame soup dumplings. (*Note: Bokksu had the exact same package of this snack in their box.) The black sesame mochi were bite sized and had the soft, chewy texture of mochi, with some smooth black sesame paste in the center. The main difference between the mochi and the soup dumpling is that the latter has way more filling and a thinner outer layer, whereas the mochi had a lot more rice cake. It was still pretty good, but my personal preference leans towards having more filling.

Going to another cute snack, the Usagi Marshmallow has a way of grabbing one's attention.

You can't really tell from this photo, but it actually has strawberry jam filling. If you've had marshmallow candy, then it basically tasted like that, plus some strawberry jam. Sweet and fluffy.

Continuing, below is the Chocolate Cream Danish.

This doesn't really seem like a traditional Japanese snack in any way.. But it sounded good so I was still interested in trying it. The pastry somewhat reminded me of a croissant, and the chocolate was very rich, like the coating you might find on top of a brownie (and of course, it was pretty sweet). The overall experience with this one was sort of a "huh, ok" for me.

At this point I really needed something salty to balance things out, so I decided to try the Peanut Arare.

And I'm really glad I did! Wow! Just one bite and I thought to myself "this is REALLY good." It had the perfect amount of crunch, a satisfying texture that was a little flakey and kind of melted in your mouth, as well as a savory flavor with some depth. The peanut didn't come through that strongly (at first I thought it tasted a bit more like a corn chip except less salty), but in retrospect it actually checks out that the depth came from the nuttiness of the peanuts. All aspects of this snack were a hit for me, and even when I finished what was given, I found myself wanting more!

The Anko Dorayaki was like a pancake with red bean paste filling.

The pancake part came through more strongly than the filling, but I like that they used yam flour in the dough to subtly add some more flavor. It was more light than I expected, and a tiny bit dry. Overall, I'd say this is the type of snack that pairs very well with tea.

Next, the Full Moon Cookie.

It tasted more or less like a vanilla cookie; thin, with a firm crunch that wasn't hard. It's not exactly a stand out snack in terms of taste (although fans of vanilla cookies would probably be delighted), but the design is indeed captivating and it wasn't too sweet.

Lastly, the Full Moon Soft Chew.

You can probably tell by now that I'm not a huge fan of candy (or anything that's too sweet). Not to mention that the designs on these are so cute that I would be ok with just setting them aside to look at them occasionally, but I should probably taste one for this blog.

They're definitely sweet, although I was surprised by the texture. It didn't really stick to my teeth and it had this granular quality to it that made this "ksh ksh ksh" sound while I chewed. This would definitely be a fun one for candy lovers.

—

Final Thoughts

So this box definitely leaned harder to the sweet side, with only 3 salty snacks and 9 sweet. Of the sweet ones, my favorite was definitely the jelly because of how unique it was and how it harmonized appearance, flavor, and texture to make an eminently enjoyable snack. Some of the other sweets might've not hit quite all the marks for me, but that's just personal preference.

Buying a service whose goal is to cater towards a wide variety of snackers, I'm content that so far each box hasn't had anything that I outright disliked, and even had a couple snacks that I absolutely loved (my favorite salty snack, or maybe even overall snack so far is definitely the peanut arare!).

Still, I think this box was very fun to open and explore, and it probably left a stronger impression on me over the previous box because of its theming (I'm an especially big fan of when Sakuraco does unique box designs! I feel like it sets the mood from the start). I do appreciate how the Okinawa box had a more balanced sweet/salty ratio, though I understand that it's probably more challenging curating salty snacks to have as much variety as the sweet ones.

I would say something along the lines of 'see you next month' here, but this month Gliss and I will be writing another blog that does a more in depth comparison between how Bokksu and Sakuraco handled the Moon Festival theme (since they happened to choose the same theme this month).

So, see you soon!!

—June

[sewgeekmama]

How to Enjoy Your Japanese Snack Box

[bogkeep]

THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING... i got the clear mug from keats & co, the tea and coffee part of Good Store, which gives all of its profits to charity and focus on ethical worker conditions and suchlike. did you know good store has a sock subscription. i was so excited to learn about sock subscription. look at these

these are designed by palestinian illustrator aya ghanameh and i think they are so charming

maybe there is such a thing as """"""too many mugs"""""""" but have you considered. i am a victim to the aesthetics

[angelicguy]

we gotta bring monthly boxes back. remember that trend in like 2015 every company had a subscription service where theyd send you a box of crap every month like one was japanese snacks one was deadpool for 300 dollars a year. absolute dogshit

[sevarix-blogs]

i get a Japanese snack subscription box and it had these sesame soy rice crackers and they were so good except. they were a tiny bit spicy. which for me is too much spicy. i am suffering. i ate them all.

[cryptidsurveys]

Monday, June 23rd, 2025.

My Esther-shrimp. <3 So how are you today? I am doing pretty well. A baseline mood of contentment, but with my usual nagging thoughts and anxieties.

Do you like to eat eggs? I like to eat eggs, but I don't really like to cook eggs because the lingering smell on the dishes grosses me out for some reason.

When was the last time you had a cup of tea? I had a chai latte type of thing at the animal shelter earlier.

Do you have a tapestry in your bedroom? There's a misty mountain tapestry on the wall behind my bed.

Have you ever been to London? I haven't.

Do you enjoy going to the library? It was something I greatly enjoyed as a child, but not so much as I've gotten older. I guess I'm just spoiled by the ease of buying books for Kindle. Plus, I don't have to worry about making the effort to return them.

If you went to NYC (or if you’ve been), what are your favorite things to do there? I have never been to NYC and don't have any real interest in visiting, but I think I would appreciate the food scene most of all.

Who’s the most recent person on your Facebook feed? I don't use Facebook, but the most recent person on my Instagram feed is Emily.

When (if ever) was the last time you saw that person? We have never met in person.

Do you know anyone who has a pet bunny? I don't, but River has a pet guinea pig.

Can you play the violin? I cannot.

What’s the last movie you watched? It was still Wicked. Hopefully, I will have another answer soon because I might be seeing a movie with my mom this Wednesday.

Did you enjoy this movie? I did. I never saw the Broadway musical so I didn't go in as a fan or have anything to compare it to, but I enjoyed it all the same.

What store or website would you most like a gift card for? Maybe something for a Japanese snack box subscription. I'm still kicking around the idea of getting one of those.

What’s something you’re looking forward to? Volunteering tomorrow, as well as having two days off following that. There's also a mandatory meeting for cattery next Saturday. I'm a weirdo, so I'm kind of looking forward to it, but I'm also kind of nervous!

Name your top 3 favorite musical instruments. Guitar, violin, and harp.

What was the last book(s) you bought at a bookstore? I don't remember the last book I purchased from a bookstore, but my mom bought me one of the James Harriot books the last time we went to Barnes & Noble.

Does the song you’re listening to/last heard evoke any emotion for you? I don't remember the last song I listened to, but it would have been something classical on the way home from the shelter.

Do you use Pinterest? I don't.

Are you wearing earrings? I'm not.

Do you know any sign language? I don't.

Have you ever seen the musical Ragtime? No.

Do you have a favorite poem? One of them is Wild Geese by Mary Oliver.

Do you like Indian food? I think I've only had Indian food once, maybe twice, but it was delicious.

Describe your favorite scarf, if you have one. I should eventually see if I can find some of the scarves I knitted several years ago. There was this coral-orange-ish one that I really liked. I made it extra wide and extra long, and I would consider wearing it again during the colder months.

Do you have a dog? Nope. Two kitties named Esther and Karenna.

Have you ever read the Little House on the Prairie series? I think I've read most of the books.

Do you have any homework? I'm not in school.

Have you ever gone on a service trip to an underprivileged country? I haven't.

Do you need to do laundry? I will have to throw a load in tomorrow evening.

Do you enjoy going out for breakfast? Going out to eat is difficult for eating disorder reasons, but those aside, I think I would enjoy going out for breakfast the most out of all the meals.

Have you ever performed in front of more than 100 people? I'm not sure exactly how many people were present, but I've been in school plays and piano recitals.

Do you like muffins? Yum.

When was the last time you went to church? Many years ago.

Have you ever heard the singer Audra McDonald? I haven't.

What’s a quote you think is really powerful? I can't think of anything at the moment.

Should you be doing something else right now? Not right this second, but I will be making dinner before too much longer.

[meep9898]

chubbykanmuses Let's just hope she doesn't get any food sponsorships too...

You know those Japanese snack-box subscriptions? One of them wants to sponsor them...

[honshew]

can't believe we're already almost done with september, the 18th, 2023

i met the owner of my cat friend! turns out my cat friend is named raider bc they thought she was a male at first, and she was born in my neighborhood and has roamed around since before her owner took her in. the other cat that usually is with her is actually her son named miko! raider's 8 and miko is 4.

you may have noticed i started playing baldur's gate 3. i didn't think i'd enjoy playing it but i was wrong. i stayed up until almost 5a a couple days ago playing, and you might think 'well as long as you can sleep in' but i can't, i have to wake up when the sun is up, so i only got 4 hours of sleep. when i got up i played more bg3. so it's fun!

i got my first sakuraco box! i don't like subscription services much, but jun's kitchen did some sponsored videos with sakuraco, a japanese snack box subscription that curates a teatime experience with artisan snack makers around a theme. he went to visit some of the companies that partner with sakuraco, even meeting the founders who used to make their product by hand before machines became more commonplace and accessible. i think getting to meet the 92-year-old chairman who still works on the line at his confectionery got me to try it......also the cute autumn moon festival-themed ceramic plate LOL

[kyuutonatsu]

✨ Use my code KYUUTONATSU to get $5 off for your first TokyoTreat & Sakuraco!

Thanks TokyoTreat and Sakuraco for sponsoring me! I genuinely and sincerely appreciate this fantastic opportunity. Sampling your amazing snacks was a truly enjoyable experience! 😋🍫🍰🧃💝

[bokksu-vs-sakuraco]

Bokksu Box #4 Review: Hokkaido Wonderland

Theme: Hokkaido Wonderland

Arrived: November 16

# of Unique Snacks: 15 + 1 tea

Key takeaways: They have been using this theme every December box for the last three years and it shows, for better or worse.

The Shipping: Nov. 6: Shipping label created → Nov. 9: Made it the U.S. → Nov. 16: Made it to my house!

The Contents: 15 unique snacks (19 total individually packaged snacks) and one green tea pairing + the usual culture guide and postcard. I weighed the food myself this time, and for the curious, Bokksu's ingredient information applies to only single packages of the snacks. That means this box had 439 grams of food.

——❄️——

On the Theme...

Hokkaido Wonderland refers to Hokkaido, the northernmost prefecture of Japan, known for high quality dairy products. They also have hot springs and snowy winters, thus making them a reasonable choice for a winter-themed box. Now, I knew these details just from talking to June about Japan, but this is what the culture guide told us about Hokkaido:

Pretty neat.

They also seemed to slip in a lot more specific regional facts into the food descriptions this time, including:

Hokkaido milk is considered the best in Japan.

Hokkaido produces the most milk in Japan.

Langue de chat cookies are one of Hokkaido's most popular souvenirs.

The Ainu are an indigenous people of Hokkaido.

The haskap berry, a native fruit of northern Japan, is named from the language of the Ainu.

Since this is the first Bokksu theme I've gotten that focuses on a specific region of Japan, I appreciate the diversity of details provided and that they committed to making 7/15 snacks from Hokkaido. It's not that much more expansive than their previous culture guides, but I still did learn something new.

As for flavors, this box stayed solidly within the typical bounds of a Bokksu box while meeting the theme i.e. it was mostly sweets (only three savory snacks) with an overall cohesive flavor profile. The flavors this time were cream, white chocolate, and tart berries. As you may know from my sweets basket review, I'm not a huge fan of white chocolate so that wasn't my ideal utilization of the Hokkaido milk flavor, but it had its benefits, as we'll discuss below.

——❄️——

Snack Review

What's interesting is this box had a number of repeat snacks from previous boxes, just with flavor variations. That has its pros and cons, but one thing's for sure is that it helps to tell you what you may or may not like. If you haven't read the previous reviews, you can check them out here. But to mix up the review structure this time, I wanted to make some direct comparisons between these familiar snacks with my updated thoughts.

New Flavors of Old Snacks

Repeat #1. Tsukisamu Anpan: Kabocha Pumpkin / Previous showing: Bokksu Box #1 Review: Seasons of Japan, Tsukisamu Anpan Chocolate

I wanted to have this one first because frankly the last anpan we had was so mid, I wanted to get this out of the way while we still had liquid to down it with.

Luckily, this Japanese-pumpkin-white-bean-paste filling anpan was a significant improvement over the first "brownie" anpan we had, if only because it wasn't absurdly dry and completely overwhelming in bean paste flavor. The pumpkin flavor still didn't really come through (probably because anything mixed with bean paste will turn into a bean paste flavor), but it did make for a simple pastry bun snack. My opinion of the anpan improved this time around.

Repeat #2. Ginza Rusk: White Chocolate / Previous showing: Bokksu Box #2 Review: Full Moon Rising, Ginza Rusk: Chocolate

The fancy cube wafers are back! Only this time, instead of Ghanian cacao beans, they're flavored in white chocolate made with Hokkaido milk. The quality of milk in white chocolate is quite critical, given that white chocolate literally is just milk, sugar, and cocoa butter. Done wrong, white chocolate tastes like boring creamy sugar with a funky aftertaste. Thank goodness Ginza Rusk delivered yet another high quality cookie snack. Fragrant milk essence infused every bite with light but rich flavors, and the Hokkaido milk did not disappoint in its quality. For a snack that had the potential to be very basic, these have now twice been elevated by the high quality of the simple flavors they deliver.

Repeat #3. Hokkaido Haskap Gummy / Previous showing: Bokksu Box #3 Review: Cha Cha Tea Time, Nanko Ume Plum Gummy

This one raised my eyebrows in that we literally had this same brand of gummies in the previous box—but they were also a top-ten-ranking snack overall, so I'm not actually complaining....

No seriously, these are the superior gummies. Whatever they got going on with the texture, gumdrops makers across the world need to adopt ASAP. The flavor this time was haskap berry, "a native fruit of Northern Japan... known for its distinct aroma and sourness." I'm not usually one for sour stuff but hell yeah, I could eat a bag of these!

(I didn't though, my mom ate them all first, like I blinked and they were gone 😐)

Not An Exact Repeat: Hokkaido Haskap Langue de Chat (upper left)

3/4 of the boxes have had Japanese langue de chat cookies in them, and I got even more langue de chats in the sweets box earlier this year. So yeah, I've had a lot of langue de chats. They're probably among my favorite snacks to receive though because:

They're reliably good in their simplicity

Their variations standout from each other

The beauty of the langue de chat is that you can make many variations where a different center filling or cookie flavor still really pops, and yet you can still fall back on the reliable crisp double cookie with white chocolate base filling for an above average biscuit. These haskap berry flavored cookies used the tartness of the filling to contrast nicely against the buttery cookies.

——❄️——

Return of the Hokkaido Favorites?

Like I said before, Bokksu has done a Hokkaido Wonderland theme every year for their December box since at least 2020. Sakuraco did something different in 2022 but otherwise, has also been using Hokkaido for winter boxes, including their upcoming end of 2023 box. (Expect another comparison blog next month.) But focusing on Bokksu for now, I think this is the only theme where they don't mix it up with different angles on a similar theme (ex. Otsukini vs. Autumn Harvest), and thus we get some exact snack repeats. Here's the repeat snack types+makers we have from previous years:

Hokkaido Shimaenaga Milk Bouchée / 2022: exact same as 2023

Hokkaido White Raspberry / 2022: Snow Mimosa Cookie / 2020: exact same as 2023

Sekkasei Cookie: Rich Strawberry / 2022: Sekkasei Cookie (this brand is from Hokkaido)

Hokkaido Umami Cheese Potato Chips / 2022 & 2020: Potato Chips: Hokkaido Rich Butter

Just to be clear, I'm not knocking this repetition by pointing it out. There's something to be said for tradition, especially during the end of year, when traditions are a major part of food and celebration. But for people who may be thinking of renewing subscriptions for multiple years or maybe buying the December box as a gift, it's something to know, since they seem to generally avoid such explicit repeat themes during other months.

Now for a rapid review of the apparent Hokkaido favorites!

Hokkaido Shimaenaga Milk Bouchée: A dry twinkie. Would not have again. Cute packaging tho.

Hokkaido White Raspberry: The white chocolate and dried raspberry coating was not nearly as generous as pictured, but the puffy rye cookie was sweet & salty between the airy layers, and unexpectedly good! Would try again.

Left: 2023 cookie / Right: 2022 cookie. The description bragged that "Cosine Universe utilizes four kinds of Hokkaido milk products to produce a snack that will disappear on your tongue in twenty seconds!"

Sekkasei Cookie: Rich Strawberry: They were not kidding about the "melt in your mouth" texture. It's like if you bit into a super soft and dense shortbread cookie, but then half the thing dissolved into air on your tongue before you could get to chewing it. A little confusing but tasty once you get used to that. The real problem was the artificial strawberry flavoring that tasted like what they put in dental toothpaste. Would try the white chocolate flavor.

Hokkaido Umami Cheese Potato Chips: They smelled extremely cheesy, like a strong gouda, but the taste itself did not have that distinct cheese or milk flavor — that is, until you finished chewing and were left with a sweet yet somewhat buttery aftertaste. As the only cheese item in the Hokkaido box, I wish it went heavier on the cheese, but it's still a good snack. Also, the bag is huge but only comes like half full, probably to keep the extremely thin-cut chips from turning into dust before opening. Would have again.

——❄️——

The Remaining Snacks!

Left: Soft Sakura Mochi: I've always wondered what sakura flavor is supposed to be, and uh, I guess it is just the floral scent paired with sugar, huh? That said, we are still not mochi people.

Right: Sapporo Coffeekan Cafe Latte Chocolate: Mmm, like eating warm coffee ice cream with coffee nib sprinkles. If only it were more than a one-inch square.

(Anyone in the US interested in a similar, slightly darker chocolate should try the Kyoto Style Cold Brew Chocolate of the Chocolates of the World brand. I only say this because I happened to get a bar the next day and they're similar enough that it fills my desire to have a whole bar of these.)

Left: Koganeimo Golden Sweet Potato Cake: At some point, you have to ask why you're not eating an actual sweet potato instead of this oily imitation.

Right: Hokkaido Azuki Dorayaki: This "sweet red bean paste sandwiched between two pancakes" tastes exactly how it sounds, except slightly drier than you'd want.

Left: Curry Cashew Nuts: There were six fucking nuts in that bag. For a featured snack, I have to say: seriously? At least they didn't taste too special, just cashews coated in good curry powder, but god, you're not allowed to show a whole cup in the pictures and then provide six fucking cashews.

Right: Black Thunder: Shifuku no Butter: Good chocolate, good cookie, great "cultured butter from Hokkaido and France" which helped the whole thing melt into your tongue as you chewed. I would love a box of these!

——❄️——

And finally, one of the most memorable snacks of the night: Onigiri Senbei: Ginshari

"Oh but Glissando," you might be thinking, "I thought you weren't a 'senbei' person. You keep comparing them to Quakers' boring ass rice cakes but crunchier."

And I stand by that! For the previous senbei at least.

But these senbei, well, they were actually really good. A solid 8/10 from both me and my friend. Not only were the two senbei per package presented in an appealing triangle shape, they had depth to their outer saltiness that benefitted from the plain center, and the ratio of plain to seasoning was balanced enough to make you want to keep chewing and reach that perfect blend of warm rice taste.

Finally, I see the appeal of the senbei!

But you know what the most memorable part of this snack was i.e. the part that will ingrain it into my brain forever?

THIS FUCKING SPOT-THE-DIFFERENCE GAME ON THE SNACK PACKAGING.

Can you spot the three differences between the two images??? Because after staring at this triple-layered polypropylene under shitty cafe lighting for 15 minutes, my friend and I only came up with two differences and after checking the answers on the back of the bag, I am still pissed we did not get that last one on our own.

THE END

——❄️——

jk I still have the tea.

We didn't have the tea with the snacks this time because, ya know, one bag of tea served at 160ml, as per the Bokksu instructions, is not enough for two people to eat 15 snacks with. But I did end up having the Hon no Kimochi Green Tea on my own later and it was perfectly nice if you like green tea. It had that classic bitterness with a refreshing aftertaste that turned just slightly sweet by the end. It pairs nicely with sweets.

In my opinion though, this was definitely enough tea leaves to make a whole pot of tea. Steeping it in only one cup, as per Bokksu's instructions, made for an extremely strong flavor.

——❄️——

Final Notes

The stuff I usually put here, I already spread out through the rest of the review, so. Um. That's all, I guess.

See you next time 👋

—Glissando

[sewgeekmama]

Traditions and Snackations with Tokyo Treat and Sakuraco

Our June Tokyo Treat and Sakuraco boxes have arrived from Japan, both packed with up to 20 authentic Japanese snacks! This month Tokyo Treat takes you on a Snackation, while Sakuraco shares the traditions of Tokyo. Tokyo Treat and Sakuraco are monthly Japanese snack boxes, but you can order single boxes to try them out! However, you will probably want more, and the best deals are on the…

[robyn-weightman]

New video - Do you remember the japanese snack subscription box Matt got me for my birthday?

[lashesgoldcoast]

Sustainable Christmas Gifts: Ideas for an Eco-Friendly Holiday

The holiday season is a time of joy, but it can also contribute to waste and environmental strain. Choosing sustainable Christmas giftsis a wonderful way to celebrate the season while caring for the planet. From eco-friendly materials to gifts that promote sustainability, this guide offers practical and meaningful ideas for green gifting.

Why Choose Sustainable Christmas Gifts?

Sustainable gifting reduces environmental impact by:

Minimizing waste and plastic use.

Supporting ethical and eco-conscious brands.

Encouraging the use of reusable, recyclable, or biodegradable materials.

Promoting thoughtful consumption instead of overindulgence.

When you choose sustainable gifts, you’re not just giving a present - you’re making a positive contribution to the environment.

Top Sustainable Christmas Gift Ideas

1. Reusable Home Essentials

Bamboo utensils, beeswax wraps, or silicone food storage bags make great gifts for anyone looking to reduce single-use plastics.

2. Eco-Friendly Fashion

Opt for clothing made from organic cotton, hemp, or recycled materials. Brands like Patagonia and Tentree focus on sustainability.

3. Plants and Gardening Kits

Indoor plants or DIY herb garden kits are gifts that grow and contribute to a greener planet.

4. Upcycled and Handmade Items

Support local artisans who create unique items from recycled materials, such as jewelry, furniture, or artwork.

5. Sustainable Beauty Products

Gift organic skincare, shampoo bars, or refillable makeup. Look for cruelty-free and zero-waste packaging.

6. Subscription Boxes

Consider eco-friendly subscription boxes for organic snacks, sustainable fashion, or environmentally friendly cleaning products.

7. Digital and Experiential Gifts

Digital books, music subscriptions, or online courses make clutter-free and sustainable presents.

Experiences like a cooking class, spa day, or outdoor adventure create lasting memories without waste.

8. Solar-Powered Gadgets

Solar chargers, lanterns, or power banks are practical and planet-friendly tech gifts.

9. Reusable Coffee Cups and Water Bottles

High-quality options from brands like KeepCup or Hydro Flask encourage a zero-waste lifestyle.

10. Charitable Donations

Make a donation in the recipient’s name to an environmental or social cause they care about.

How to Wrap Your Sustainable Gifts

Even the way you wrap your gifts can be eco-friendly!

Use recyclable wrapping paper or old newspapers.

Try fabric wrapping with the Japanese Furoshiki method.

Decorate with natural elements like dried flowers, pinecones, or twine instead of plastic ribbons.

Shopping Tips for Sustainable Gifting

1. Choose Local

Buying locally reduces transportation emissions and supports your community.

2. Check Labels

Look for certifications like Fair Trade, GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), or B Corp.

3. Avoid Over-Packaging

Opt for brands that use minimal or eco-friendly packaging.

4. Think Long-Term

Select gifts that are durable, reusable, or biodegradable.

5. DIY Gifts

Homemade gifts, like baked goods, candles, or knitted scarves, add a personal and sustainable touch.

Benefits of Sustainable Christmas Gifts

Eco-Conscious Choices: Reduce your carbon footprint during the holiday season.

Lasting Value: Sustainable gifts often emphasize quality over quantity.

Support for Green Businesses: Encourage brands and artisans prioritizing ethical practices.

Spread Holiday Cheer Sustainably

This Christmas, let your gifts reflect the spirit of love and care - not just for your loved ones but also for the planet. By choosing sustainable Christmas gifts, you’re embracing a greener holiday season that aligns with your values.

Make a difference this festive season - give gifts that matter for the world and its future.