Reviewed by
Mary
Bokksu is the only Japanese snack box that sources directly from snack makers in Japan, so many of our artisanal products cannot be found anywhere else. Start your cultural journey through Japan by subscribing to Bokksu and receiving a curated box of premium Japanese snacks and teas delivered to your door every month.
They have two levels of subscription: the Tasting, which is smaller, and the one I have received, The Classic. Subscriptions are prepaid for one, three, six, or twelve months. For the Classic box they work out at $39 (around £30), $37, $35 , and $33 per month. As usual, they are priced in dollars, so GBP conversion is according to today’s exchange rate. Obviously this will vary, but it gives you some idea of cost.
As it’s December, what better theme for this month’s box than Hokkaido Holidays! This northern region of Japan gets much colder weather than the rest of the country, and it is often a winter wonderland at this time of year.
The menu booklet tells you lots about what’s inside with an extensive menu plus allergy list, language and culture guides.
Yubaru Melon Langue du Chat, Kinako and Black Sesame Soft Candy, and White Peach Kibi Dango Mochi
Langu du chat are a favourite cookie in Japan, though they are a little different from the traditional French version. These are very thin with a delicious layer of cream filling, and in this version the cookies sandwich a lovely fruity melon cream.
Kinako is roasted soybean flour, whicih has an amazing nutty taste. It pairs perfectly with black sesame, and then the candy is made from Hokkaido milk for a wonderful almost toffee-like candy.
Kibi dango is a soft mochi made with millet. Peach is a very popular flavour in Japan, and these really taste of the soft fraggrance of a peach.
Mike Popcorn Butter Soy Flavour, Toukibi Corn Chocolate
Mike Popcorn brought popcorn to Japan, and has extended into many wonderful flavours. This butter soy flavour has just the right balance of sweet-salty soy and creamy butter for a really lovely moreish snack.
The corn chocolate snack is delicious puffed corn mixed with corn flavoured white chocolate. It sounds odd, but as corn has a sweetness itself it actually works very well.
Funwari Meijin Mochi Puffs Hokkaido Milk, Fujiya Milky Mochi, Yaki-Imo Sweet Potato Cookie
Mochi puffs are one of my favourite ever things in Bokksu! These incredible mochi are made by a special process that makes then perfectly crisp and light, melting in your mouth. There have been several different flavours, and these are coated in chocolate made from Hokkaido milk. One of the most perfect snacks ever.
Another milky treat here, these mochi are made by Pujiya Milky which is a yummy chewy milk candy that is incredibly popular in Japan. The mochi are filled with marshmallow and condensed milk, and while they’re certainly sweet, the flavour is fantastic.
Sweet potato is a great cold weather flavour, and these crispy cookies capture it perfectly. You can really taste the sweet potato, and they work extremely well with a cup of tea.
Wasabey Yama-Wasabi Rice Cracker, Jagga Pokkuru
Yama Wasabi is a specialty of Hokkaido, and it flavours these crunchy rice crackers with peanuts. A great spicy snack to enjoy with a beer.
The Jagga Pokkuru look like french fries but they’re actually crispy like crisps! Salty and delicious, they’re another lovely beer snack too.
Jaga Choco Potato Chips White Chocolate, Toukibi Courn Tea, Hokkaido Yoichi Apple Gummy
Yes, those really are crisps with chocolate! It sounds strange, but salty crisps really do go beautifully with creamy chocolate.
Corn tea is a special product made in Touyako Town, and it really is made with a special kind of sweetcorn. It’s actually a really incredible flavour, deep and slightly sweet, and the single bag makes enough for two cups. I never would have thought I’d like corn made from tea, but it’s a great discovery!
The apple gummies are made from apples grown in Hokkaido, and they taste like the real thing
