*Note: The Classic Critic was provided these products at no charge by Bokksu. The Classic Critic was not paid for our opinion, the opinions provided are our own.

Bokksu, a Japanese snack box company, was kind enough to supply the Classic Critic with their “seasons of Japan” and “Autumn Kouyou” boxes. Bokksu’s mission is to “bridge cultures through delivering authentic asian food, products, and media,” and it accomplishes that. Every box comes with a beautiful book highlighting each specific item contained in a sleek box that holds all the goodies inside. Besides the beautiful packaging, each month has its own special theme, keeping subscribers refreshed and making each month special. The monthly subscription for the box goes from $50 to $40 depending on which deal chosen. It is a little pricey for the average person but it is worth it for those who are passionate about exploring different cultures and appreciating them through food. 

White Chocolate Strawberry:

To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect when I heard the description for the first time. It turned out to be a freeze dried strawberry with white chocolate infused within. The packaging was simplistically cute, and emits a strong aroma of strawberry when opened. The strawberry had somewhat of a slimy texture, and was incredibly sweet. The aftertaste was similarly strong and a bit overwhelming in the first bite. The sweetness also doesn’t go away while chewing on the strawberry. While it would make a great cookie filling or supplement to another desert, the strawberry was too sweet to be savored by itself. 

Black Sesame Wafer:

The wafer was appetizing, not very sweet but packed with tons of flavor. There were hints of vanilla mixed with the black sesame, a surprising revelation which blended together well. The snack was definitely one of my favorites from those I have tried. 

One-Bite Salted Azuki Mochi Gummy: 

The packaging and gummy looked appealing, but didn’t taste as good as it looked. The mochi bite was firm and not really chewy, despite being a characteristic often associated with mochi. It resulted in a weird texture, which I wasn’t fond of. I also don’t like red bean to begin with, which was what the gummy was flavored after. 

Seaweed Tempura- Setouchi Sudachi Citrus flavor: 

The seaweed tempura smelt like barbeque, however, tasted like salt and vinegar chips. The snack played with my sense of smell and made it strange to taste two different flavors. The initial bite was good, except the aftertaste was incredibly strong and hard to cleanse. I would probably eat it again, but  accompanied with water or tea to help wash the palate. 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the Bokksu experience, and explored a variety of snacks. The packaging was aesthetic, and I really enjoyed how well-rounded the options were. Considering the fact that the Classic Critic didn’t pick the snacks provided in each box, it was a pleasant surprise to try out new snacks.

However, is it worth spending $40-$50 a month for the subscription?

As aforementioned, the boxes are somewhat pricey. However, it may prove worthwhile for those enthusiastic about exploring the world through food, or people curious to try something new from Japan. The snacks themselves are very high quality, and was made obvious that a lot of thought goes into every box. Some people may get tired of the same snacks all the time, so having different themes help people explore different flavors and textures that normally wouldn’t be available to them. In the end, we enjoyed the opportunity that Bokksu has granted us, and consider giving it a try to find some tasty snacks from Japan.