Snakku Subscription Box Review + Coupon – October 2016

Snakku is a Japanese snack subscription box that sends a mix of hand-picked, authentic snacks you can only find in Japan as well as more familiar selections. Subscriptions help sustain local Japanese snack shops, some of which have been around for hundreds of years. Plus, it's easy to pause, skip, or cancel.

Snakku has two subscription sizes: the regular snack box ($38.95/month) and the Tasting Box ($15.75/month).

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the r eview process post  to learn more about how we review boxes.)

This is a review of the regular, $38.95 a month, box.

The Subscription Box: Snakku

The Cost: $38.95 per month + free US shipping (discounts for 3 or 6-month subscriptions), and the Tasting Box is $15.75 per month.

ACTIVE DEAL: 5% off
CODE: First box

Products: A mix of authentic Japanese snacks only found in Japan and more familiar/classic snacks.

Ships to: USA (free shipping), Canada ($5 shipping), and Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK ($15 shipping)

Check out all of our Snakku reviews and the Snacks Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

If you have a 3 or 6-month subscription plan, each box comes wrapped in traditional Japanese furoshiki wrap. I recently discovered from Snakku's blog that I have been unwrapping it incorrectly the whole time! Instead of needing to pick at the knot, it's tied in a way so you can simply pull it to one side to slid it right off.

The October box features three popular fall foods of Japan: persimmon, chestnut, and kabocha (Japanese pumpkin).

Toyama Persimmons

These are sun-dried organic persimmons from a small town in the mountains of Toyama. There are no sugar additives so I was pleasantly surprised by how sweet they were. The taste is reminiscent of dried dates or the fig part in fig newtons. Each piece is tiny but honestly, they're so packed with flavor any more would be too much.

Kuriko Momiji

This is a seasonal snack from a Hiroshima snack shop called Yamadaya, which has been making snacks since 1930. I am in love with this pastry. "Momiji" is Japanese maple, which is fitting since it is shaped like a maple leaf. The cake part is soft, moist, and the perfect amount of sweetness, while the dense filling is made from roasted chestnut and sweet bean. The flavor is rich but not overwhelming, if that makes sense. I really really need more of this pastry in my life.

Kuri Senbei

These are called senbei but I think of them as sweet, crispy cookies. Each packet contains two. They're made by a snack shop near Mount Fuji, which has apparently been doing so for hundreds of years, with a mixture of egg, sweet white bean paste, local chestnuts, and water from Fuji River. Each bite of the cookie is loud, crunchy, and satisfying. The taste is great for the most part, but there's also a weird, underlying fishy flavor that has me scrunching my brows. Maybe I received a bad batch?

Pumpkin Arare

These are a Halloween-themed assortment of puffy rice crackers made with kabocha. Each bag contains a mix of mildly sweet, mildly salty, and flavorless puffs. It feels like this snack is still trying to figure out its own identity-- the mix of flavors isn't bad per se, but I would have preferred it focusing on one flavor at a time.

Pumpkin Pudding KitKat

KitKats aren't Japanese, but Pumpkin Pudding is strictly a Japanese flavor only available during October! I love KitKats so I'm not complaining. I like the white chocolate and pumpkin-flavored exterior.

Butter Soy Jagabee

I first tried this snack from the June EsianMall Snack Box. These are crunchy French fry-looking chips glazed with soy sauce and butter. They taste similar to real French fries, which is also why I find them so addicting!

Niigata Senbei

These senbei are made in Niigata. They are topped with sea salt, dried green laver, and shaved bonito flakes (fish flakes). The senbei itself is thin and crunchy. I taste predominantly the seaweed and sea salt. The fish flakes are more of an aftertaste to me.

Choco Pie

Choco Pies were inspired by Moon Pies but have since become very popular on its own. These are made by the company Lotte. Each one has a soft chocolate layer covering two crumby cakes with whipped marshmallow cream in the center. Now, I don't want to be a Choco Pie snob but I prefer Orion's version (which is the original) to Lotte's version, but if you offered me any Choco Pie I would not turn it down.

Matcha Chocolate Crunch

If you like Rice Krispies and matcha cream, then you're sure to enjoy this snack. Made from rice from Gifu, chocolate from Hokkaido, and matcha green tea from Nagoya, these truffle-sized snacks are creamy and crispy and delightful. I'm so addicted!

Roasted Coffee Candy

These are charcoal roasted coffee candies. They really taste like a cup of coffee, and I even get coffee breath from it!

Verdict: October's Snakku was great. I think the curation is always amazing, and it feels nice to support local Japanese shops that have been around for a long time. I counted 21 snacks total. If I count the coffee candies as one item (so calculating for 19 snacks), the cost breakdown would be $2.05 per item. It is not high on value but this subscription is definitely more about discovery and curation. If you're looking to try authentic Japanese snacks, this is a great way to do that.

What do you think of Snakku?