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.
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 Bokksu
The Subscription Box: Bokksu
The Cost: $39.00 per month + free shipping
The Products: 20-25 premium Japanese snacks including a tea pairing.
Ships to: Worldwide
My Review
This box always starts out with a quick intro to the monthly theme from their founder, Danny:
This month is all about Halloween treats and flavors! Turns out apples, pumpkins, and caramel are also synonymous with 'fall' in Japan too!
The included info card is really nice and includes a map referencing where this month's snacks are from, plus a lot more information.
Each snack is described in detail and common allergens are clearly listed– always helpful!
There are 12 different treats to try this month, so let's dig in!
Halloween Poteco Pumpkin Gratin
These are SO cute! I am not a pumpkin fan but these really didn't have a strong pumpkin flavor. They were salty and crunchy and really surprisingly delicious. The packaging was adorable but these treats come in super small portions. I would gladly snack on these again.
Osatsu Snack - Retail Value $2.00
These were one of my favorite snacks in the box this month. Who would have thought that sweet potato chips would be so remarkable? They are super light but packed with flavor. These would be a really great alternative to potato chips. They are very lightly salted but also sweet, which is always a winning combination for me. Can anyone suggest anything similar we might have here in the US? I need more in my life! The size of this bag was very much the same as a snack size of chips we are used to getting in our lunches as kids.
Sweet Potato Galette - Total Retail Value $2.50 ($1.25 each)
This was the only major miss for me this month. These are sweet potato flavored but kindof smell fishy? I couldn't figure this snack out. There was nothing sweet potato tasting about it and the aroma made it really hard to eat. It was just such an unfamiliar combination to find in a cookie. It is super cute that the cookie itself is designed to look like a sliced sweet potato. I still have one left over so I might reattempt to try this at a later time. Maybe I was having a weird tastebud day?
Saku Saku Panda Halloween - Buy 8 packs for $8.00
These win the cutest snack award this month. Some were smiling, some were scowling, and all were adorable. They are made of white and milk chocolate on a pretty traditional tasting snack cookie. These didn't taste totally unfamiliar, and I feel like we have some super similar snacks here at home. Chocolate+cookie+cute= a total win.
Shiitake Mushroom Chips - Buy 6 bags for $18.00
When I first saw this bag I was immediately intrigued. I have only really ever had apple chips or bakes sugar snap peas in terms of veggies or fruits in chip form. These were light and crunchy, and lightly seasoned. I loved them! I wish the bag had been bigger. This tiny sample was certainly not enough. I could eat these every day. They would also make incredible toppings in a salad.
Handmade Persimmon Candy- Retail Value $3.00 or buy a 12-pack for $30.00
This is the first ever candy created exclusively for Bokksu and they hit it out of the park! In addition to being absolutely beautiful, they have a mild but sweet persimmon taste that I just loved. They are the color of a ripe persimmon and have the cutest little green stripe on each candy! If I could change anything it would be a slightly stronger flavor and a bigger bag.
Apple Butter Financier - Buy 15 for $30.00
These have the cutest little apple shape! They are similar to a traditional French Financier but filled with apple butter instead of browned butter. These were sweet and flavorful, and heavier than some cakes. They are really a perfect snack for those crisp fall days while you are out picking apples at your local orchard.
Fried Ginkgo Nuts - Buy 13 Packs for $10.00
When I first tried these I hated them. They left a weird aftertaste that I couldn't stand. I always try a new food or snack more than once if I can, and I am glad I did with these. The second time I tried them I really liked them! They are crispy like chips and really earthy tasting. They come from the beautiful Ginkgo tree and make for a tasty and unique snacking experience.
Gudetama Custard Chocolate Halloween - Buy 18 for $9.00
I was so amused to see Gudetama, the lazy egg, make his way into this box. I have seen this guy all over the place! As far as the chocolate goes, it is delicious. The custard inside is solid but still very custard-y and rich. I enjoyed these while laying on my couch being useless, just like Gudetama!
Apple Caramel Yakkoi Sable - Buy 10 for $20.00
I could easily see these cookies being sold here in the fall at a coffee shop. They have a very familiar caramel apple flavor that is easily found everywhere int he fall. The cookies were chewy and even softer in the middle, where the caramel sauce is the strongest. There is also apple butter in this cookie. I enjoyed it with some hot green tea one morning for a sweet mini breakfast.
White Chocolate Raisin Sandwich Cookie - Buy 5 for $7.50
I feel like this is the Japanese version of a Fig Newton but with a white chocolate filling. It was a really mild treat that went well with a glass of almond milk. It was a messy snack, but I generally don't tend to mind that too much if the taste is good!
These cute little ghosts on the packaging really made me smile. This is a black tea with grape flavoring, which tastes exactly like you would imagine! I didn't care for it hot, but when iced it was really yummy. The tea also has a slight pink tint to it which was lovely. I sweetened it with some simple sugar syrup and would absolutely try it again!
Verdict: Even though I don't generally love fall flavors, I had a lot of fun with this month's Bokksu box. It had a ton of variety and a good mix of sweet and savory. I absolutely loved the exclusive persimmon candies and hope that Bokksu continues to make new candy creations for us to enjoy. I tried some really unique things in this box that I've never heard of and I appreciate the beautiful packaging and detailed info for each snack.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? You must order by the 25th of the month to receive the following month's box. Order today to receive October as your first. Check out the most recent spoilers here.
Coupon – Use code ADDICTION to save $5 off your first box!
Value Breakdown: At $39.00 for this box, and a total of 23 items, you're paying approximately $1.70 for each single item included.
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What did you think of Bokksu's October box?
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