Facebook PixelJapan Crate Subscription Box Review – July 2015 | MSA
My Subscription Addiction
My Subscription Addiction
Our reviewers research, test, and recommend the best subscriptions and products independently; click to learn more about our editorial guidelines. We may receive commissions on purchases made through links on our site.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – July 2015

Lindsey Morse
ByLindsey MorseJul 22, 2015 | 11 comments

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – July 2015 - Box

Japan Crate is a monthly subscription that sends full-sized, Japanese candy and DIY food kits straight from Tokyo.

Japan Crate sent us this Premium Crate for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – July 2015 - Contents

The Subscription Box: Japan Crate

The Cost: $12 per month for the mini crate (4-6 candies); $25 per month for the original crate (8-12 candies and DIY Kits); $30 per month for the premium crate (10-14 candies and DIY Kits).

The Products: Full-sized Japanese candy and DIY food kits.

Ships to: Worldwide. (US shipping is free. Shipping elsewhere is $10.)

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – July 2015 - Card1

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – July 2015 - Card2

Japan Crate has upgraded from a card to a booklet! It reads back to front and includes a list of the items in the box, item spotlights, DIY instruction, and fan art.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – July 2015 - Card3

The booklet also reveals the month’s “Sugoi Crate,” a large box full of giant Japanese candy and electronics that one lucky subscriber receives every month. Sugoi Crates are valued at over $500, and subscribers are automatically entered to win!

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – July 2015 - Potage

Corn Potage Chips (BONUS ITEM!)

Corn Potage, the inspiration for these chips, is a popular Japanese soup. The puffed chips definitely have a powerful corn flavor. They remind me of corn chowder!

Potekoro Cubes

I always look forward to the savory snacks that Japan Crate includes in their boxes. I like the sweet treats too, of course, but salty snacks are my true weakness. These Potekoro Cubes are flavored with black pepper and are slightly reminiscent of small fried croutons. I like them a lot, and I appreciate the potent peppery flavor.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – July 2015 - Drink

Kids Beer

Not to worry, parents, this “kid’s beer” is really just non-alcoholic apple soda. (Still, I’m not sure a product like this would ever fly in the US!) The information booklet explains that drinking in Japan is full of unique customs (never pouring your own drink and taking the first sip together are two examples), and that this product was created to allow children to take part in the tradition.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – July 2015 - Lemon

Chameleon Candy

Chameleon hard candies all start out a chocolate brown color but change color in your mouth. According to Japan Crate, it’s good luck if you pick a candy that turns red!

Sour Lemon Gum

I love sour candy, but this gum is on another level! It reminds me a little of Warheads- it’s super sour at the start and then the flavor starts to mellow until you’re left with something sweet. After the sour punch wears off, the gum tastes like lemonade.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – July 2015 - Lifeguard

Chu Grape Jelly

Inside the plastic wrapper is a large plastic tube that’s filled with grape-flavored jelly candy. It’s kind of like a shelf-stable Jell-o that you squeeze into your mouth. I think this candy is a lot of fun to eat, and I like the flavor, too.

Lifeguard Paste

The various different forms of candy I receive from Japan Crate amaze me. This paste, for example, is a kind of candy I don’t think I’ve ever seen in the US before! The texture is so unusual (thick and viscous), and it tastes a little citrusy. I’m not sure I love this candy, but I’m happy that I got to try it.

Maken Gummy

Each Maken packet contains a gummy hand that’s shaped into the symbol for rock, paper, or scissors. Japan Crate recommends opening your treat with a fellow subscriber to see who wins!

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – July 2015 - ZBar

Kajiri Chew

This is my favorite discovery in this month’s Japan Crate by far. I love cola-flavored sweets, and I think this chewy cola stick is SO good. The consistency is soft and chewy, a little like taffy, and the flavor is strong and delicious.

Choco Bar Z Kinako

Japan Crate sent out Bar Z in a different flavor a few months ago, and I’m happy to see another one included. Each bar consists of a crispy wafer that’s been soaked in soy flour chocolate. I guess I’m a fan of Bar Z- I really enjoyed both flavors!

Adzuki Mizu Yokan

Most of the time, Japan Crate sends modern Japanese candy; however, Adzuki Mizu Yokan is a more traditional Japanese sweet. It’s a tinned jelly flavored with red bean paste, and, honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about it. I didn’t love my first taste, but, without thinking about it, I continued to sneak little bites. I guess it’s growing on me!

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – July 2015 - DIY

Animal Drawing Sherbet DIY

This month’s Japan Crate booklet devotes a full page to the month’s DIY kit. I always have fun trying to decipher the instructions on the DIY kits, but I think it’s really helpful to have illustrated instructions in English, since some of the kits can be pretty tricky.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – July 2015 - DIYInstructions

This month’s kit allows you to make a frozen treat! Japan Crate’s instructions made this kit extremely easy to follow.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – July 2015 - DIY2

I began by mixing a packet of powder into water and filling the molds halfway. The colors are mixes separately and then added to the mold with an eyedropper. The kit encourages you to mix your own colors, but I liked the look of the standard yellow, pink, and blue together, so I just stuck with those. When the drops were all in place, I froze the candy for 30 minutes.

Japan Crate Subscription Box Review – July 2015 - DIY3

As you can see, my colored dots got a little mixed into the rest of the candy. (I probably should have assembled it closer to the freezer, so I didn’t have to carry it across the room.) Not to worry, though, it was still tasty! I think this is a perfect DIY kit to send mid-summer, and it’s probably my favorite kit to date!

Verdict: Japan Crate is so much fun! I really enjoy trying different kinds of Japanese candy and always have a great time constructing the DIY kits. I can’t do a value breakdown for this box because I couldn’t find most of the treats for sale online, but Premium Crates are always packed with fun and delicious treats, and I feel they’re worth the cost. If you’re looking for a box full of fun and unusual Japanese candy, I can definitely recommend Japan Crate!

What do you think about this month’s Japan Crate? Did you love the frozen DIY snack, too?

Lindsey Morse
Lindsey Morse

Lindsey is a professional baker, cold brew coffee addict, and rosé aficionado who loves writing about food and wine. When she’s not sharing her love of subscription boxes with the world, you’ll find her in the podcasting studio, perfecting her cake decorating techniques, or cursing her way through the New York Times daily crossword puzzle. 


Join the Conversation

Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.

11 comments

Shay

I want to subscribe to this box so badly! My personal trainer would not be pleased though! Decisions, decisions lol.

Reply ButtonReply

EC

I believe the red bean paste in the candy is probably natto. It’s a very popular ingredient in Japanese sweets, which is odd to Americans since it’s fermented red soybean paste. It’s often served on ice cream and is stringy/chewy like melted mozzarella! I tried it. Once. And that was more than enough for me, lol. If they ever include anything with Goya as an ingredient just a head’s up-it’s Japanese bitter melon that tastes a lot like rotten cucumber to me. It’s super bitter and definitely an acquired taste. Our box hasn’t come yet so thanks for the red bean warning!

Reply ButtonReply

Melissa

I’m pretty sure the adzuki paste is just a paste treat made with sweet adzuki red beans. Super sweet and traditionally consumed as part of a tea ceremony. Wonderful paired with something bitter, like beer. Even better as a sweet bun filling (again consumed with beer LOL).

Reply ButtonReply

asagaobalcony

Natto is made from soy beans, not red beans.

Natto: http://www.tofugu.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2575452959_f3d8266a8e_o.jpg

Reply ButtonReply

Jessvii

Looks yummy

Reply ButtonReply

Tamara

Japan must be the only country on Earth that has louder, more in-your-face packaging than the U.S.!

Reply ButtonReply

Erin

You should see what road construction looks like–holy neon flashing signs!! Hundreds of them, literally. Some are even animated people. So you’re definitely warned but equally distracted, lol

Reply ButtonReply

Tamara

Hee! 😀

I’d love to go someday, although I admit that the heavily structured culture makes me afraid that I’d be offending people left and right!

Lura

Oh man, if I didn’t already have a year’s sub to the J-list snack box, I would totally get this. That lemon face on the sour candy! xD

Reply ButtonReply

Catherine B.

I’ve been surprised at how much we look forward to this crate each month! Great

Reply ButtonReply

Lauren

Help me Rhonda! I looooove this!

Only problem: I’m diabetic HA! Karma for eating so much candy as a kid.

Reply ButtonReply