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.
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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February's theme is Kit Kat Love! This is a limited edition curation that features a unique variety of Kit Kat flavors found in Japan.
According to Bokksu, Kit Kats are given out as a good luck charm, especially to people taking exams. Since their introduction to Japan in 1973, they have exploded in terms of flavors, with lots of limited, seasonal, and region-specific editions. This month is all about trying some of those unique Kit Kat flavors.
Original "Otona No Amasa" Kit Kat
"Otona No Amasa" means "sweetness for adults" and this type of Kit Kat was specifically made for adults who enjoy rich, natural flavors without too much-added sweetness. This Original Otona No Amasa Kit Kat tastes similar to the classic Kit Kat that we have in the States but with a dark chocolate shell instead of milk chocolate.
There are four Kit Kats total.
Cranberry and Almond Kit Kat
This is a "luxury edition" Kit Kat, which has higher quality ingredients and a serving size of one bar instead of the standard double bars. Each bar has a layer of almond and cranberry bits on top, which adds extra crunch and a bit of tartness to the chocolate wafer.
There are four Kit Kats total.
Matcha Kit Kat
The Matcha Kit Kat has quickly developed a cult following here in the States, and I am one of its shameless devotees! I think this is one of the more popular flavors outside of the classic chocolate one. This Kit Kat is infused with grounded Uji Gyokuro tea leaves, which adds an aromatic matcha bitterness to the otherwise sweet, creamy chocolate.
There are four Kit Kats total.
Strawberry Kit Kat
This is the Adult Edition Strawberry Kit Kat. The strawberry cream chocolate is sweet and creamy with a little bit of tartness as an undertone. The flavor is almost like strawberry jam. This one is truly addicting!
There are four Kit Kats total.
Sake Kit Kat
This flavor launched in June 2016 and contains 0.8% alcohol. While chewing I detect a subtle whiff of liquor, and it is most noticeable on the back of my mouth. Other than that, this Kit Kat tastes primarily like white chocolate.
There are four Kit Kats total.
Rum Raisin Kit Kat
This flavor is sold only in the Kanto region in Japan and it contains 0.056% alcohol. I don't detect any of the rum, but the tart raisin flavor is pretty salient. This Kit Kat is kind of like a mix of grape juice and crunchy chocolate!
There are three Kit Kats total.
Hojicha Kit Kat
This flavor is sold only in the Kansai region in Japan, and it is a collaboration between Kit Kat and an artisanal Kyoto tea maker. Hojicha, or roasted green tea, is infused into the chocolate, producing a grainy, roasted tea undertone. It's not as delicious as the Matcha Kit Kat, in my opinion, but it does come close.
There are three Kit Kats total.
Wasabi Kit Kat
This interesting Kit Kat flavor has wasabi kneaded into the white chocolate. I can't stand wasabi so this is my least favorite snack in the box. That said, the wasabi flavor is very mild, and the sweet creamy white chocolate masks most of that taste, which is fine by me.
There are three Kit Kats total.
Satsumarche Benifuuki Black Tea
Benifuuki is a Japanese tea plant specially cultivated in Makurazaki City in Kagoshima Prefecture. They're harvested, stored, and fermented for 3 months, resulting in high catechin content.
This black tea has a sharp, rich flavor with a mix of gentle bitterness and sweetness. It is definitely one of the stronger teas I've tried.
Verdict: This month's Bokksu was a blast! I love Kit Kats in general so getting to try these unique Japanese flavors was a wonderful experience. Even the ones that aren't as tasty, like the Wasabi ones, would still make for good conversation pieces. There are 32 snacks total for a cost breakdown of $1.22 per snack. Considering the time and effort spent curating these special edition flavors from different regions of Japan, I would say the cost is understandable. Similarly, I only have access to Matcha Kit Kats locally, so it's reasonable that I get all these rare flavors at a premium. Overall, this was an exciting, worthwhile box for a Kit Kat fan, but of course, I wouldn't mind getting more value out of my boxes in general.
What do you think of this limited edition Bokksu?
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