Bokksu is a premium Japanese snack subscription service. Each box includes an assortment of authentic Japanese snacks as well as a tea pairing chosen to complement and enhance that month's flavors.
The snacks are selected around a cultural theme, and each box contains a Tasting Guide that describes the items and how to best enjoy them.
Bokksu recently upgraded their packaging to this sturdy gift box. It's beautiful and totally reusable!
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: Bokksu
The Cost: $39.00 per month + free shipping
The Products: 18-20 premium Japanese snacks including a tea pairing.
Ships to: Worldwide
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April's theme is Gluttonous Osaka, featuring an assortment of snacks found only in Osaka, Japan.
Osaka Caramel Cake
This is a delicately wrapped caramel-flavored sponge cake. The flavor is surprisingly aromatic and rich for such a small piece of cake! I love the initial warm caramel flavor, and later it transforms into a smooth aftertaste. I wish it was a tad moister, but overall this is one of the tastiest sponge cakes I've ever had.
Rich Baked Chocolat
This snack is like a mix between chocolate cake and brownie: it is soft and airy but still packs a rich, chocolatey punch. The portion is just right too. It would taste great with coffee or espresso. As a self-proclaimed brownie enthusiast, this is one of my favorite snack discoveries from Bokksu, ever!
Takoyaki Corn Puffs
Takoyaki is a street food made from flour-based batter and diced octopus, which is then pan-fried into balls. This snack aims to recreate that flavor. I love the light texture of each corn puff but the flavor is just ok. These very much recreate the taste of takoyaki sauce (which some say tastes similar to Worcestershire sauce) but I wish it had more of the savory octopus flavor that makes takoyaki so delicious.
Okonomiyaki Senbei
Okonomiyaki is a grilled Japanese savory pancake made from shredded meats, vegetables, and other toppings. These senbei take the best of okonomiyaki and condense it into a small but flavorful cracker. Bokksu included two flavors: mayo and cabbage. Unfortunately, my senbei came in pieces, so it didn't look like a mini okonomiyaki. However, the taste is surprisingly close to the real deal. I love the freeze-dried toppings on each piece! They add texture, savoriness, and creativity to what would've otherwise been a plain-tasting senbei.
Osaka Cheese Stick
These are sponge cakes infused with cheesy goodness and topped with camembert cheese. They taste very similar to plain cheesecake. The texture is super fluffy and moist, and the sweet, creamy flavors don't disappoint. I love the warm cheesecake aroma as well. The bits of camembert cheese on top heightens the savory undertones.
Osaka Chocolate Egg
These are cake bites shaped into eggs. Each one is made with a soft white chocolate shell, moist cake in the middle, and white bean paste in the center. This is such an addicting combination! White bean paste has a milder and creamier flavor than red bean paste, so it works wonderfully well with the white chocolate. The cake layer acts like glue to hold the pastry together but tastes deliciously sweet on its own. The chocolate to cake to filling ratio is on point, too!
Mayo Okaki
Okaki are traditional Japanese rice crackers that taste similar to senbei. These Mayo Okaki are only available in Osaka. They're made from Japanese mayo, which is a popular condiment in a variety of Japanese foods. I love how satisfyingly crunchy each cracker is! I love mayonnaise in general, so naturally, this snack is an automatic win in my book.
Glico Caramel
These are heart-shaped soft caramels that contain Vitamins B2 and D.
The box comes with a small mystery toy. I received a painted wooden alligator. For such a simple bauble, I'm actually quite impressed with the paint job!
Each chewy caramel comes individually wrapped. They taste like other soft caramels I've had but the shape and presentation make it seem fancier than it is!
Genmaicha Green Tea
Genmaicha is a blend of roasted brown rice and green tea. This one in particular also contains matcha, which gives the tea a vivid green color. I didn't think I would like this blend but I was pleasantly surprised by the complex flavors. It has a unique mix of nutty and bitter tones, but it isn't as full-bodied as pure matcha. I wouldn't mind drinking this regularly.
Verdict: I loved the April box. First off, the curation was very impressive this month. I really feel like I got a small taste of what Osaka has to offer. My favorites are the Rich Baked Chocolat and Okonomiyaki Senbei. Also, I appreciate the mix of sweet and savory snacks. While I never tire of sweets, it's nice to have a balance of flavors as well. There are 20 snacks total for an average cost of $1.95 per snack. While Bokksu isn't a high-value subscription, it delivers a high-quality snacking experience every single time.
What do you think of this month's Bokksu?
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