Sakuraco is a monthly Japanese Snack Box subscription celebrating authentic Japanese flavors. Committed to supporting family-owned businesses, this box features snacks from a 'new corner of Japan' each month. Indulge in artisan treats and learn more about Japanese culture through their flavors and tea.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes).
Sakuraco costs $32.50 monthly with an annual subscription. I received plenty of snacks to try this month, ranging from sweet to savory. This box shipped directly from Japan; everything arrived in perfect condition and didn't take long to get to me.
First Impressions
Once again, the packaging for this box is stunning. ♡ I love the majestic bunny on this month's box!
August's box theme is "Autumn Moon Festival." It wasn't surprising that Sakuraco included a gorgeous booklet; all of their packaging is so impressive! This booklet describes each snack and lists whether it contains any common allergens.
What's Inside:
Yuzu Kinako Mochi Senbei
I always enjoy Sakuraco's melt-in-your-mouth senbei! This one starts with a mild crunch, featuring bright yuzu flavors followed by comforting kinako (roasted soybean). The two flavors combine to create a unique, tangy snack.
Setouchi Lemon Ikaten
This snack reminds me of going to the beach and eating a fresh seafood dinner. I love when the "fishy" snacks in this subscription feature different notes, like this ikaten-it is such a tiny morsel, yet it has so much citrusy flavor that pairs perfectly with the savory squid. The crunch was also very satisfying, but I wish it was a little bigger or came in a package with a few more bites.
Usagi Pon Senbei
Usagi Pon Senbei has an intensely crispy texture that was kind of difficult for my kids to bite into. It is a thick cracker, lightly sweetened with a satisfying hint of soy sauce that balanced the flavors out perfectly.
Grape Jelly
We love getting jellies in this subscription! My kids love to slurp them down, and I was lucky enough to get the first taste this time. Grape is one of our all-time favorites, with bold, juicy fruit flavor in every drop. This jelly was less jiggly than the ones we've had in the past, and I appreciated the firmer texture.
Black Sesame Okoshi
It took me a minute to appreciate the rich flavors in this tiny snack, but I eventually got there. I love a sesame-heavy snack, and while I wish it were just a sesame-and-rice confection okashi, the dried fish aspect gave it a unique taste. I liked the snack, but I wouldn't buy it.
Tsukimi Custard Cake
I loved everything about this little cake. It is airy, spongy, and filled with a rich custard that brought my daughter and me so much joy. We did a little dance with each bite, not gonna lie. It is subtly sweet, as the best treats in this box often are, and my mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Tsukimi Kohakuto
Kohakuto is a sugar candy with a sugar-crystal shell and an indulgent soft center. It is so satisfying to bite into this type of sweet; you're immediately met with the crunchy sugar crystals, and the soft center just melts in your mouth. The booklet says that the rabbits are capturing the quiet spirit of the harvest moon, and aren't they just adorable?
Tsukimi Arare
At first glance, I thought these were dehydrated garlic cloves (uhhh, yum!!!), but alas, they aren't; still, they're deliciously savory and packed with flavor. I loved the intense peppercorn flavor in each bite, and the Japanese glutinous rice gave us such a thrilling crunch.
Tsukimi Rabbit Coaster
This small ceramic coaster won me over immediately. The full moon and rabbit motif captures Japan's folklore surrounding the harvest moon celebrations. When I was little, I used to hear people referring to the man on the moon, but Japanese tradition acknowledges a rabbit pounding mochi on the moon. It is such a sweet story, and I'd like to do more research on this folklore so I can tell my kids similar tales.
Usagi Manju
Pastries like this are my new addiction, and I always hope to find one in this subscription every month. A soft white bean paste infused with peach flavor is nestled inside a pillowy-soft dough. We sampled a similar Usagi Manju last August, but this peach version is my favorite of the two. This snack was hard to bite into because nobody wanted to eat the cute bunny, but after each of us had a bite, we wished we had more cute bunnies to eat.
Sweet Potato Shiruko Biscuits
These biscuits are habit-forming. They are so crunchy and have just the right amount of sweetness. Each cracker has a thin layer of Kagoshima-grown sweet potato paste inside, and one bag was not enough!
Koshian Daifuku
My affinity for bean paste sweets grows every month, and wrapping it in chewy, tender rice flour dough made this irresistible. Each ball is rolled in Hokkaido sugar and is truly irresistible. This subtly sweet, chewy cloud was such a satisfying treat.
Tsukimi Lemon Cream Cake
These cookies were also almost too cute to eat (almost!). This type of thin, crispy cookie always falls to pieces after one bite, but we never waste a crumb. The outer cookies are thinly baked senbei nestling a light layer of sweet lemon cream. We were happy to have two to admire, then share between the four of us.
Golden Roasted Hojicha
I am always excited to try a new blend of hojicha tea. This blend is made from roasted tea stems from Shizuoka. It was a pleasant brew, and I really enjoyed the comforting warmth of the tea paired with half of a Tsukimi Lemon Cream Cake.
The Verdict
Sakuraco's August box had a nice collection of traditional Japanese autumnal favorites. Our favorite snacks this month were definitely the custard cake and bunny pastry, and the peppercorn arare gets an honorable mention. This box is always bursting with authentic Japanese flavors, and I thoroughly enjoy everything from unboxing to taste testing. Discovering new treats and unboxing with the fam makes this $32.50 worth every penny.
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Value – Was This Box Worth It?
The Cost: $32.50. This box ships directly from Japan and includes 14 artisanal snacks and an authentic Japanese ceramic. It is like spending $2.30 per item.
To Wrap Up
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes
What do you think of this month's Sakuraco's box?
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