A new month means new boxes from Sakuraco and TokyoTreats for imported snacks from Japan. While both boxes 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 to celebrate the traditional and snacktastic seasons.
Sakuraco
Sakuraco (starting at $32.50 USD/mo for 12 months) specializes in a refined snack experience. This month's theme was "Autumn Moon Festival". We're talking snacks inspired by tsukimi, the splendor of the annual festival. 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:
- Usagi Manju
- Tsukimi Gokokucha
- Tsukimi Cookie
- Usagi Soft Chew
- Tsukimi Mikan Cream Cookie
- Tsukimi Yunomi
- Koshian Daifuku
- Salt Truffle & Cheese Arare
- Sesame Senbei
- Cheese Jari Mame
- Usagi Pon Senbei
- Japanese Pudding Dorayaki
- Shio Kenpi
- Blueberry Tart
Out of the snacks above, I most enjoyed the Blueberry Tart which had a ton of blueberry in its little tartlet and felt like a fancier version of a North American Peek Freans biscuit.
I was most surprised by the Japanese Pudding Dorayaki. These were intensely moist for a doughy treat shipped from Japan and were one of those "one deserves another" feeling.
If snacks were judged on their aesthetic value, I would rank the Tsukimi Mikan Cream Cookie highest. These were a pleasant surprise to look at with a fresh print of a lunar rabbit printed on each cookie.
TokyoTreat
Next I opened the TokyoTreat (starting at $32.50/mo USD for 12 months) box and this month's theme was "Snacktastic Moonfest". We're talking snacks also inspired by the Harvest Moon Festival, but in a more fun and tasty seasonal snack vibe. 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 Mont Blanc
- Moontastic Pudding Mochi
- Fall Butter Biscuit
- Carrot Crunch Rice Puffs
- Seaweed Salt Potato Chips
- Fall Fruits Jelly
- Sweet Potato Wafer Rolls
- Mini Matcha Baumkuchen
- Choco Dream Star Bites
- Honey Butter Puffs
- Harusame Full oon Egg Soup
- Hartwarming Harvest Cookie
- Crispy Seaweed Bites
Out of the snacks above, I most enjoyed the Crispy Seaweed Bites. These had a ton of salty and savoury crunch in an unmistakably cute package and full of umami goodness.
I was most surprised by the Harusame Full Moon Egg Soup. Toktyo Treat typically includes a pack of instant noodles with its snack boxes but this time we got an egg soup which tasted a lot better than I was expecting for an instant-made meal. Leave it to the Japanese to innovate on convenient foods.
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:
