ZenPop Ramen + Sweets Mix Pack is a monthly subscription from Zenmarket that sends unique Japanese ramen + sweets handpicked by their staff in Japan.
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.)
About ZenPop Ramen + Sweets Mix Pack
The Subscription Box: ZenPop Ramen + Sweets Mix Pack
The Cost: $24.50 a box with free worldwide shipping. Save with longer commitments.
The Products: 2-3 variations of noodles and 6-8 Japanese snacks, candies, or goodies
Ships to: Worldwide
ZenPop Ramen + Sweets Mix Pack March 2018 Review
This box comes with an info sheet that explains everything included, and I really appreciate having the English translation for what I was I was about to eat.
Assari Shoyu Ramen
This ramen blew my mind. Before trying all of this my ramen had been watery, salty, and bland, and this delicious cup was savory and had a great depth of flavor. The light corn flavor from the included corn added the occasional hint of sweetness that was perfect with the savory broth. I wasn't a big fan of the big seaweed pieces, but it was easy to scoot around those. I wish I knew how to buy more of these delicious bowls.
Moyashi Miso Ramen
This triple miso ramen wasn't as delicious as the first one, but it was still a lot tastier then what I remember ramen tasting like when I was younger. This broth was a bit one-note for me and would benefit from a squirt of hot sauce. Even though it had corn in it, I didn't get the same sweetness the way I did in the first ramen. I ate this as a midmorning snack at work, and it was comforting in a cold office.
Saya Crisps
I have seen snow pea crisps popping up in some grocery stores nearby, so I was a bit more familiar with this compared to some other snacks in the box. The crunch was delightful, but I do wish they came with just a touch more salt. Other than that, I could eat a lot of these.
Hi-Chew Yamagata La France Pear
In a recent swap I completed, the swapper sent some Hi-Chews, stating that was her families favorite candy. That was the first time I had tried a Hi-Chew, so I was excited to see this flavor! The pear taste was delightful and refreshing, and overall this treat reminds me of a softer and chewier starburst.
Otona Kiniki-No-Yama
“Otona” in Japanese means “adult,” so when the snacks include Otona in the name you know this is a snack designed for adults. These cute mushroom shaped snacks are made from a darker chocolate compared to the kid's version of this snack, and the stalk of the mushroom is a pretzel. I loved the uniqueness and the salty + savory + sweet that the pretzel and dark chocolate provided.
Otona Ebi Crunch
These rice crackers were probably the most unique snack in the bunch as they are flavored with curry and shrimp, and they are a supposed to be a great pairing with a cold beer. I could see how this snack would go great with a cold one, but this snack was just a bit too out there for me.
Choco Bar White
Hands down, this was my favorite snack in the box. This is a corn puff snack soaked in white chocolate, and it tasted similar to a salty white chocolate rice crispy treat. This was soft to bite into, and I need to find the brand name for this treat so I can buy 100 of them. SO good.
KitKat- Otona Sweet
I was so excited to see this— I know Japan can get some really unique KitKat flavors! With my high expectations, this was a bit of a letdown because it really is just a dark chocolate KitKat. It was still delicious, but I hope a future box includes a more unique KitKat flavor (peach! matcha! purple sweet potato! edamame!).
Black Thunder Volt
This is a chocolate bar comprised of chocolate, nuts, cookie chunks, and coffee. So, unsurprisingly, it was delicious. The crunch of the nuts added nice texture and the coffee flavor wasn't too overpowering (I am not a big coffee fan, which is unheard of among law students). This was a good balance of all the flavors and made for a tasty treat.
Ca+Fi mysterious treat.
I am not sure if this was a bonus item or not. This treat was not included in the description on the info sheet, but it is in all the photos ZenPop has shown of the March box. This is like a thick churro that had a light chocolate taste, and its texture was similar to the Choco bar. I am sure there are flavors in this that I’m not picking up, but it’s hard to taste everything when I don't know what I am looking for. Either way, still yummy.
Verdict: I was SO excited when I saw this package delivered, and ZenPop did not disappoint! I had been wanting to try Japanese snacks, but I like knowing what I am going to eat before I eat it. I appreciate the detailed info sheet that ZenPop included in the box. The mix of treats and ramen was the perfect mix of sweet, salty, and savory, and I am really looking forward to next month!
To Wrap Up:
Can I still get this box if I sign up today? Yes, it looks like the March box is still available!
Value Breakdown: At $24.50 for this box you are paying $2.45 per item.
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