My September Sakuraco box finally arrived!
Sakuraco is a monthly premium Japanese snack box subscription program. It's not a cheap subscription, so I decided to do six months to start, which ends up being approximately $60 CAD per box after shipping costs. (I want to note that they do use DHL to ship, but there are no extra taxes or duties upon arrival.) Each box is supposed to include 20 items — including a tea, traditional sweets, seasonal treats, baked goods, and one home item — all centred around one specific region in Japan. Sakuraco just changed their shipping schedule for September, so going forward, all monthly boxes will be available from the 15th of every month to the 15th of the next month.
September's theme is "Kyoto Moon Festival," focusing on Japan's cultural capital, Kyoto, as well as celebrating Tsukimi. This month's box was made in collaboration with the Kyoto Prefectural Government and Kyoto Chuo Shinkin Bank. Instead of being packaged in Sakuraco's regular tan box with a cherry blossom design, September's box is black with a golden moon design featuring a rabbit and a pagoda silhouette.
This box comes with a beautiful postcard featuring the artwork, Rabbits and the Moon by Utagawa Hiroshige. On the back is a message from the founder of Sakuraco about why she chose to feature that particular region of Japan for the month. Every box also contains a "snack guide," which includes an introduction and a brief history of the featured region, and information on the region's signature tea and foods. Of course, the guide also showcases every single item included in the box, with detailed descriptions and allergy warnings. Included in my "Kyoto Moon Festival" box are:
- Soba Boro by Taniguchi (Kyoto) — "Boro is the Portuguese word for cake and gives a hint to the origin of this buckwheat treat. One of Japan's very first 'Western-style Japanese sweets,' boro are light cookies with a biscotti-like texture, perfect for an afternoon tea snack. Boro made with buckwheat like these are a Kyoto specialty and a popular souvenir."
- Matcha Cream Senbei by Seki Confectionery (Kyoto) — "In business since 1918, Seki Confectionery are specialists in manufacturing senbei rice crackers. Inspired by gaufrette wafers, they use their crisp senbei to sandwich Uji matcha cream."
- Gion Tsujiri Houjicha by Gion Tsujiri (Kyoto) — "Gently roasted fromt he inside through a sand oven, this houjicha has a strong aroma but light flavour. Pairing well with both sweet and savoury snacks, it is the perfect palate cleanser."
Bottom (left to right): Kyoto Houjicha Latte Pudding and Kyoto Moon Viewing Gaufrette
- Mangetsu Pon Ama-Kara Soy Sauce by Matsuoka Confectionery (Osaka) — "This rich, soy sauce-flavoured senbei has been a favourite of young and old for a while. With its round shape reminiscent of the full moon, the auspicious rabbit was chosen for its cute retro packaging."
- Tsukimi Plate by Dibajon (Kanagawa) — "Kyoto's Yasaka pagoda is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. Towering over the picturesque wooden houses of the Higashiyama district, it offers the perfect foreground for the Tsukimi festival. Working with a local ceramist, we decided to bring this Tsukimi feeling to you with this exclusive plate."
- Kyoto Houjicha Latte Pudding by Morihaku Confectionery (Gifu) — "Mixing traditional and modern, this pudding combines the rich aroma of Kyoto houjicha with a gentle sweetness."
- Kyoto Moon Viewing Gaufrette by Gion Tsujiri (Kyoto) — "Gion Tsujiri began growing their prized matcha [in Uji] in 1860, with their time-consuming method of stone-grinding unchanged since then. This Sakuraco exclusive sandwiches rich Uji matcha cream between two crisp wafers branded with a Tsukimi theme."
- Yuzu Dorayaki by Suzuya Ginkakuji (Kyoto) — "Highly particular about sourcing only the finest ingredients, Kyoto-based Suzuya are focusing only on the highest quality doriyaki. Combining pastry made with Mie Prefecture-grown wheat with refreshing yuzu grown in Ehime Prefecture, they certainly succeeded with this one."
- Yatsuhashi by Shogoin Yatsuhashi (Kyoto) — "Unchanged since its conception 330 years ago, this traditional confectionery is made using only rice flour, sugar, and nikki, Japanese cinnamon. Baked into the shape of a Japanese zither called koto, it is dedicated to famous composer Yatsuhashi Kengyo."
- Satsumaimo Bread by Tokyo Bread (Toyama) — "Japan's satsumaimo sweet potato has a notably sweeter taste to its Western counterparts. Taste its rich flavour with this fluffy bread."
- Retro Animal Yochi Cookies by Shimura Kaseido (Saitama) — "These classic sugar-glazed cookies in the shape of animals and auspicious symbols are bound to unleash nostalgia in anyone biting into them. With their satisfying crunch followed by a light sweetness, they are perfect for spicing up a cup of tea."
- Kinako Mochi by Iwatsuka Confectionery (Niigata) — "Arare, despite its crunchy rather than chewy texture, is also a type of mochi. This one is sprinkled with kinako soybean flour and wasanbon, an extremely fine-grained Japanese sugar."
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