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 theme and flavors.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes!)
About Bokksu
The Subscription Box: Bokksu
The Cost: Classic Bokksu is $39.00 per month + free shipping, Tasting Bokksu is $25.00 per month + free shipping (save with longer commitments!)
LIMITED TIME DEAL: Use code BOGO when ordering a new Classic Bokksu subscription to receive a FREE Tasting box with your shipment!
The Products: Classic Bokksu includes 20-25 Japanese snacks & tea pairing, Tasting Bokksu includes 10-14 snacks & tea pairing—snacks are curated around a monthly theme.
Ships to: Worldwide for free!
Bokksu February 2019 "Love Story" Review
Bokksu always starts out with a quick letter of introduction from their founder, Danny Guo:
This month’s theme, Love Story, helps us kick off the Love Story this February in style with beautiful snacks that shimmer in gold!
The included info booklet is very informative and includes a map referencing the snacks’ origins, plus a lot more information. This month focuses on new year flavors, commonly found in osechi-ryori, or a New Year’s meal!
Each snack is described in detail and Bokksu always clearly cautioned ingredients—very helpful!
To the products!
Japanese KitKat Strawberry Tiramisu Flavor – Estimated Retail Value $10.00 (based on Bokksu price for the Strawberry Cheesecake Limited Edition KitKat)
Hmm... to be honest, I was a little skeptical about strawberry and coffee flavors together. But. First, there's an almost savory creamy white chocolate coating, with a strong, tart strawberry flavor (it's thicker than the original). Then there's the coffee infused wafer-- and KitKat's not doing an artificial coffee candy flavor, it's the real, bitter deal.
I think the flavor combo works because the tang of the strawberry adds to the naturally fruity base of coffee notes, and maybe with the acidity of the coffee? This limited-edition flavor was released to commemorate KitKat's 45th anniversary and was created because it was the top pick in fan votes (and we have a whole bag to enjoy 😉)!
Baked Strawberry Chocolate – Buy 12 pieces for $24.00
We saw a baked white chocolate recently, and now there's strawberry infused in it? Welcome! Strawberry bits and rice puffs are baked into this fluffy chocolate cake-- every bite has this wonderful melting, creamy white chocolate, crunchy bits of rice crisps, and the slight tartness of the strawberries. It has the right amount of sweetness with a lovely crumbly texture - I really enjoyed this with the tea curation!
Chocolate Anpan – Retail Value $3.00
Anpan is a Japanese sweet roll commonly filled with red bean paste (sometimes they include white bean, chestnut, or sesame paste, and if you have a chance, you must try Korean bread filled with red bean paste!!).
This anpan is similar to a brownie with a ganache layer because the middle chocolate infused white bean section is so rich. As I did with the previous snack, I paired this snack with this pan-fried green tea* (beautiful taste, btw). The richness and heaviness of some snacks are best paired with a tea to balance out the flavors.
Pancake Langue De Chat – Retail Value $2.00
Langue De Chat, or cat tongue, is a small, thin biscuit usually flavored with vanilla and paired with a thin cream or chocolate filling. In Japan, these cookies are baked in a square shape rather than a thin 'tongue' like shape. These adorable (crumbly!) hearts are inspired by Japanese pancakes, or hotcakes, and are delicate sandwich cookies with a maple and white chocolate filling! When you first open the snack, there is a very pungent smell of maple syrup. The taste of the filling is similar to the Trader Joe’s maple leaf sandwich cookies, and have a very light, creamy white chocolate flavor. The cookie portion is a bit heavy on the butter, but tasty nonetheless.
Meiji Cubie Milk Chocolate – Buy 10 bags for $30.00
These chocolates are specially crafted to keep chocolates from melting into each other (I do think they went a bit overboard with paraffin wax for these, there wasn't that strong of a chocolate flavor). These bite-size cube chocolates are quite sugary and have a creamy smooth texture, that is unique. I enjoyed sharing it with my friends 😊
Tai Chocolate – Buy 10 pieces for $20.00
These tai fish snacks have been quite popular lately in a lot of Japanese snack subscriptions! Traditionally, taiyaki is a warm pancake batter-made pocket filled with sweet azuki bean paste or custard. It’s made hot with iron molds, a popular Japanese street snack.
I do love this snack quite a bit-- the combination of a light, crispy waffle cone outside and the airy, moussey chocolate (similar to Nestle's Aero Chocolate, which you should most definitely try) is a snack heaven in your mouth. I think it has become a subscription classic! (Note: I was a teensy bit sad Bokksu included this snack, as it's very commonly found in Japanese 7-Elevens or convenience stores, but the snack tasted good!)
Bokksu Exclusive Spicy Mini Heart Senbei – Retail Value $3.00
Ah, the Bokksu exclusive! This assortment of bite-sized senbei rice crackers have a little kick of spice in them from the chili powder. I think this chili powder seasoning is shichimi, a spicy seasoning you sprinkle into your udon (thick wheat flour noodles in a soy sauce based soup, which I also recommend because it's heavenly) for an extra flavor burst.
The flavors included were mustard, aonori (green seaweed), black sesame (goma), and regular. I loved the shapes, the perfect amount of spice, and enjoyed the various flavors. Again, this snack went by too quickly and I was left wishing for more! Bonus points for beautiful packaging, as always Bokksu!
Arigato no Kimochi Senbei – Buy 15 pieces for $5.00
This is a classic senbei, with a crisp crunch and a big heart shape! It has a soy sauce flavor, and I did catch some honey flavors, which helped balance the snack. Nothing else to add here (except I do wish I had more than 2!)
This senbei is named after "thankful feeling" in Japanese, to remind you to take a moment to remember the good things in life while enjoying delicious food. I think that's beautiful.
Beauty Red Herbal Tea – Retail Value $2.00
This month's tea selection wasn't a green tea pairing, a Bokksu familiar, but a fruity tea! I definitely tasted the rooibos and sour hibiscus flavors, with a hint of strawberry. This herbal tea is very fruity and floral and has a beautiful red color when brewed. (PS: Do you like my tea cup? I recently got into bone china, and the designs are beautiful. I thought the magenta cosmos was a nice touch with the pink tea!)
Verdict: Bokksu started off the new year with a golden flavor punch! The seaweed tempura was amazing with the salty savory blue cheese flavor. The buttery golden financier was a delight to eat, paired beautifully with white tea or the lovely Gyokuro matcha. I loved the golden, shiny packaging of the snacks, as well as the beautiful exclusive winter Bokksu box!
I estimated a retail value of $32.87, a little less than the $39 cost of the box, including free shipping. I do count the high-quality packaging and experience as part of the value, but this is my opinion.
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 the February curation. Check out spoilers here!
LIMITED TIME DEAL: Use code BOGO when ordering a new Classic Bokksu subscription to receive a FREE Tasting box with your shipment!
Value Breakdown: This box costs $39.00 + free shipping, which means that each of the 25 items in the box has an average cost of $1.56 for each item included. I estimated a retail value of $37.67, which is very close to the original value. I consider Bokksu’s beautiful packaging and curation as part of the value, but this opinion may be subjective.
Check out all of our Bokksu reviews and the Food Subscription Box Directory!
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What do you think of Bokksu’s celebration of the new year? Are you ready for spring?!
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