Review Disclosure: I received a free snack box from Sakuraco in exchange for an honest review post. See terms and conditions for details.
I had the privilege of visiting Japan multiple times while living in South Korea between 2015 and 2019. It's been some time since I've gallivanted through Asia, and it goes without saying that I miss the food the most! So when Ichigo, the parent company of Sakuraco, offered to send me one of their Japanese snack boxes for free in exchange for a review, I couldn't say no!
Some of my eye-opening food experiences and favorite travel memories came down to unique regions in every country I've explored. I was given the choice between TokyoTreat and Sakuraco. Ultimately, I decided on the Sakuraco box over Tokyotreat. With every box, Sakuraco highlights a unique Japanese prefecture and culture. Jump straight to the Sakuraco box review by clicking on "Sakuraco Snack Box Review" below.
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What Is Sakuraco?
Sakuraco is a monthly subscription snack box service that delivers local Japanese snacks such as cakes, cookies, and candies to your door. The boxes are themed based on Japanese prefectures or regions. Sakuraco's unique offering is that it works with the local government of each prefecture to ensure that the items in the box represent their area's culture and spirit.
About My Japanese Snack Box
The snack box I received is dedicated to the Ishikawa prefecture, specifically the Noto peninsula and the city of Wajima. These areas were heavily devastated by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake on New Year's Day 2024, and the community has slowly rebuilt itself throughout the year. Sakuraco has partnered with local traditional Ishikawa artisans who have honed their craft for decades to curate this special box.
What Is Inside a Sakuraco Box?
Each Sakuraco subscription box includes a generous number of Japanese snacks from local artisans and one home good, such as a mug. The snacks are plentiful! In my box alone, I counted 14 Japanese candy and snack vendors and one home good item. Some of the snacks came in multiple pieces and various flavors. To say that I was overwhelmed is an understatement!
Aside from the food, there is a frame-worthy postcard with the founder's note about each box. Finally, there is also a thoughtful booklet (that opens from the right like traditional Japanese books) about Ishikawa prefecture's snacks, artisans, history, and background.
Sakuraco Snack Box Review
Now, let's get into it!
Sakuraco Packaging
The box itself is artfully designed and heavy-duty. I was surprised when the DHL delivery man dropped off a box simply wrapped with plastic. I initially worried that some of my snacks must have broken in transit. But when I opened the box, everything was perfectly packed!
Japanese Item
The home good in this month's subscription box was a pair of lacquered chopsticks, reflecting one of Wajima's most essential and traditional industries - lacquerware. According to the website, the chopsticks in the box are either red or black. I was pleased to receive the black pair!
Japanese Snacks
Bowcha (Matcha Stems Tea)
There were two tea bags in their own cute triangle packaging. I made one with 300 ml of water heated to the temperature and steeping time recommended in the booklet. Side note: I enjoyed the matcha from Ippodo in Kyoto many times, and it inspired my matcha tiramisu recipe. So, I like to think I know matcha. Well, this taste was a new one for me! The main flavor profile of these matcha stems is roasted and deep but with a clean finish. This tea was an excellent accompaniment for all the flavorful snacks.
Kaga Shizuku Rice Candy
I read the booklet before trying the snacks, and I was most excited to try this Japanese candy. The recovery story of Yokoi Shoten and its anecdote about the heart of their craft, the iron pot, moved me. The Japanese rice candy is rustic and simple, with a mild roasted fruity flavor that is difficult to achieve.
Kintsuba
A kintsuba is a square Japanese sweet shaped like a hand guard for Japanese swords. It's a block of sweet, nearly gelatinous red bean paste coated in batter that's lightly cooked. This treat is decadent and heavy-bodied, perfect for someone with a serious sweet tooth.
Cinnamon Walnuts
These aren't just any cinnamon walnuts! The cinnamon flavor is subtle, balanced with sugar, and light. But the walnut flavor is also mild while retaining its delightful nutty flavor. I love food that seems simple and common but goes above and beyond my expectations of what it would taste like.
Grape Jelly
I'm not the biggest fan of jellies in general so this was my least favorite item in the box. But I know that Japanese jellies are on another level. I can definitely see someone who enjoys jelly treats savoring this one for its fruity and refreshing flavor.
Earl Grey and Gorojima Cakes
I usually expect Japanese delicacies and sweets to be light and airy. However, these are more like pound cakes—rich, velvety, and decadent! The Earl Grey cake has fragrant, bright floral flavors. My favorite cake is the Gorojima cake, which has a richer texture than the other. Gorojima is a popular sweet potato variety grown specifically in Ishikawa and known for its chewy texture. The cake doesn't just taste like sweet potato; it is mixed with fruit, giving it a more vibrant flavor.
Noto Sweet Potato
This was my favorite snack to open since I had to untwist it like a candy. The outside layer is cinnamon cake, and the inside filling consists of real sweet potato. The very first bite reminded me of a baked sweet potato sprinkled with cinnamon.
Yuzu Senbei
Senbei is a Japanese rice cracker that comes in many shapes and flavors. This Yuzu senbei is one of the more modern versions. They are small rice crackers packed with yuzu flavor. The flavor of each bite starts you at the citrusy center of the fruit and the aftertaste leaves you with a light touch of the rind!
Sesame Senbei
In contrast to the yuzu senbei, this sesame senbei is traditional. Its simplistic round shape and subtle sweet, nutty flavor make it a classic Japanese snack that everyone should try.
Shrimp Flower Senbei
Senbei also come in many flavors. This shrimp senbei is a savory type and is no less yummy than the sweet ones. This baked senbei is extremely crunchy. The flavor is salty, with a hint of shrimp.
Kombu and Shrimp Senbei
Next came more savory rice cake snacks in shrimp and kombu flavors. Kombu is a seaweed used in many Japanese dishes, such as soups and seasonings. The kombu-flavored rice crackers had that umami punch I couldn't stop eating!
Chocolate Pie
These flakey cake pies have a light chocolate flavor. They were the perfect pairing with the hot matcha stems tea. They came in a pair in the box, which is great for sharing.
Cocoa and Plain Ruby Roman Wafers
Ruby Roman grapes are world-famous and come from the Ishikawa prefecture. Like mini water balloons, these gigantic grapes have a fragrantly sweet and candy-like flavor. They are considered the most expensive grapes in the world, and their prices go for well over $100. These crispy wafers represent that famous taste of Ruby Roman grapes. I found the strong notes of the grape surprising!
Hojicha Kinako Mochi
These pillowy mochi balls are coated with kinako, a soft and fine soybean powder. The filling is made with hojicha (roasted green tea) and boasts a bright flavor that complements the mochi's chewiness.
My Favorite Snacks From the Box
There were sooo many snacks to choose from, but I devoured (read: inhaled) the yuzu senbei, kombu senbei, cinnamon walnuts, and cakes. The tea was also so delicious that I looked it up online to see if I could order it, but no luck! I guess I'll have to return to Japan and hunt these down.
What I Liked
I thoroughly enjoyed unboxing the Sakuraco snack box and taste-testing all of the Japanese snacks inside it while reading about Ishikawa and its artisans.
- A Cultural Introduction to Snack Boxes: I appreciate and want to learn about the culture and history behind food. So, this Japanese snack box gave me a great opportunity to sit down and read about a place and its food while trying it. It was a cool experience!
- Plenty of Locally Made Snacks: Not that I'm complaining, but there were almost too many snacks! Some snacks come in pairs and in different flavors, allowing you to taste a variety of the artisan's offerings. It was lovely to taste all the locally-made items that you can't buy from a big box brand or on the internet.
- Travel Opportunities: I recently moved into a home and paused my international travels for the year to settle in. For now, Ishikawa is saved on my Google Maps! The box was most helpful in determining what to eat and where to visit in my future travels. For example, I learned that Ruby Roman grapes come from Ishikawa. If given an opportunity, I'll be sure to visit during their grape-selling season.
- Inside Information: I also learned that Ishikawa is renowned throughout Japan for its traditional customs. Many Japanese residents from other regions visit Ishikawa to gain insight into classic Japanese rural and culinary traditions. This is invaluable information for someone like me who loves off-the-beaten-path travel.
Areas For Improvement
This snack box had many enjoyable treats, but given this is an honest review, there is always room for improvement!
- More Savory Snacks: Don't get me wrong, Sakuraco deserves the ultimate Asian compliment because the sweets are "not too sweet"! However, I found that the ratio of sweets to savory snacks favored the sweet side.
- More Daring Snacks: I assume the items in each box should be able to please the majority of subscribers. So, I found the snacks more on the safe side. Adding an edgy snack specific to the area could be eye-opening to customers. For example, Ishikawa is known for its seafood so it would have been nice to receive something like seaweed or a seafood snack - not just seafood flavored.
- Directions On How To Eat: Most of the snacks in the box are eaten intuitively. So, this is mainly about the rice candy. It would have been beneficial if there were instructions on whether to bite into it or suck on it to get the most out of the flavor.
- Maximum Water For Tea: Brewing instructions for tea are very important. The booklet's instructions regarding temperature and steeping time were very helpful. However, I wish there was information on how much water to use for each tea bag.
How This Box Helps Ishikawa
Sakuraco hosts a photo contest every month. For this month's box, all proceeds from the contest will be donated to help in the Ishikawa prefecture and Noto peninsula recovery efforts .
Other Things To Know About Sakuraco
- Preview Upcoming Boxes: Sakuraco lets you preview the upcoming month's box on their website and Instagram, with details on each snack item. You can also look at previous boxes and their contents.
- Additional Shipping: Be aware that an additional express shipping charge is added to the price of each box. I went through the order steps just short of checking out to confirm this. The shipping price for my U.S. address was $12.50, so the total for a monthly-based subscription would have been $50.00 for me.
- Different Subscription Plans: You can choose between monthly, quarterly, 6-month, or 12-month subscription plans . For multi-month subscriptions, you will be charged for the total number of months upfront. Multi-month subscriptions have some discounted pricing.
- Auto-Renewal: Another heads-up is that once you subscribe, the subscription auto-renews. If you want to cancel, log into your account and cancel from your dashboard.
- Timing of Boxes: You will receive the upcoming box a month after subscribing. For example, if you subscribe in January, you will receive the February box.
Interested In A Box?
I will be looking for interesting upcoming boxes on Sakuraco's website for one-off boxes! I have a few friends who love Japan and will enjoy these as gifts. If you want to try a box, use the discount code "SEESFOOD" for $5 off your first box!
Have you tried a Sakuraco box? Please let me know your own thoughts in the comments below.
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