I guess the first post did pretty well because Sakuraco and TokyoTreats came back to me with new subscription snack boxes to try. While both are filled with Japanese snacks, the branding and snack contents are made for slightly different audiences. Both boxes are the same price points for all subscription levels and guarantee the delivery of authentic Japanese for your friends and loved ones. Join me in my discovery of both boxes this cherry blossom season to see what's inside.
Sakuraco
Sakuraco (starting at $32.50 USD/mo for 12 months) specializes in a refined snack experience. This month's theme was "Beauty of Sakura". We're talking sakura tea, sakura shiruko biscuits, and straight up Japanese chinaware. This box would be ideal for somebody who loves savoury snacks or enjoys a Japanese tea with their Japanese snacks. In my box, I received the following:
- Sweet Sakura Tea
- Sakura Shiruko Biscuits
- Sakura Mochi
- Kinako Senbei
- Okoge Shrimp Arare
- Shoyu Okaki
- Sakura Arare Tetra
- Sakura Dorayaki
- Sakura Donut Bou
- Sakura Honey Kuzumochi
- Sakura Candy
- Strawberry Caramel Okashi
- Anko Castella Cake
- Neko Sakura Dish
Out of the snacks above, I most enjoyed the Sakura Mochi which to my delight was squishy and fresh-feeling despite being shipped all the way from Japan.
I was most surprised by the Sakura Shiruko Biscuits. These chips had a fun blend of sweet and saltiness that I've never had in a Japanese biscuit from an Asian grocer here in Vancouver.
If snacks had an aesthetic value, I would place the Sweet Sakura Tea. These were fresh tea leaves which had a ton of bloom when paired with hot water. Even though the flavour was subtle, I thought this was the most fun to watch brew.
TokyoTreat
Next I opened the TokyoTreat (starting at $32.50/mo USD for 12 months) box and this month's theme was "Sakura Snacktastic". We're talking pear tarts, spring senbei crackers, and other sweet treats. This box would be ideal for somebody who loves festive snacks, sweet surprises, or wild variations of their favourite KitKat sticks. In my box, I received the following:
- KitKat Matcha Latte
- Spring Senbei Cracker
- Sakura Castella Cake
- Sakura Shortbread Cookie
- Pure Potato Honey Butter and Rock Salt
- Strawberry Black Thunder
- Pear Tart
- Mitsuya Cider
- Ichico Cream Collon
- Sakura Leaf Senbei
- Sakura Mini Cookies
- Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen
- Maken Gummy – Grape
- Okonomiyaki Corn Puffs
- Mini Fried Squid Cracker
Out of the snacks above, I most enjoyed the Pure Potato Honey Butter & Rock Salt chips. These were wonderfully thick-cut chips that didn't overload on the grease. I wish more North American brands could take note for their thick or wedge-cut chips.
I was most surprised by the Pear Tarts. Generally, surgary fillings in North America are very sweet and I have to be careful how much I eat because the sheer amount leaves a sticky residue on my teeth. These tarts still had all the cream but a more tolerable amount of sweetness. Perhaps that is because the TokyoTreat curators know I could eat like 5 of these.
Subscription Options:
Both TokyoTreat and Sakuraco boxes can be had for as low as $32.50/month, but if you're not ready for that kind of commitment, 6, 3, and 1-month options are also available. For gifts, I like to give the 3-month subscription because you get to see how the snacks rotate through the seasons and your recipient gets to reminded of your great gift-giving skills 3 different times.
Compared to other subscription boxes I've tried, both TokyoTreat and Sakuraco go an extra mile by providing a little booklet describing the goods inside and share holiday or seasonal travel guides based on the theme of the month. There might be 2-4 fewer overall snacks inside but I also appreciate the price point being lower than competitors. It's a fair tradeoff and I think you get 95% of the joy.
Final Thoughts:
One-liner: Sakuraco and TokyoTreat offer different vibes of subscription boxes filled with a variety of treats and Japanese lore for you to eat your way through every Japanese season
Highlight: Sakuraco snacks
Price per box: Starting from $32.50 USD a month for 12 months
To order your own Sakuraco or TokyoTreat box, head on over to the links below:
