Sakuraco Japanese Snack Box: April 2023 — Arrival of Sakura

So, my April Sakuraco box actually arrived just as I was coming back from Japan.

For those who don't know, Sakuraco is a monthly premium Japanese snack box subscription program. I decided to do six months to start and accidentally subscribed for another six months, which ended up being approximately $65 CAD per box after shipping costs. (I want to note that they do use DHL to ship. Out of the 9 boxes I've received, I only got charged for duties on one box, but I want to be transparent about additional fees.) It is not a cheap subscription, but the snacks have proved to be quite unique (and I say this after coming back from Japan). Each box includes 20 items — including a tea, traditional sweets, seasonal treats, baked goods, and one home item — all centred around one specific Japanese region or theme. All monthly boxes are available from the 15th of every month to the 15th of the next month. 

Sakuraco April 2023 "Arrival of Sakura" Japanese Snack Box
April's theme is "Arrival of Sakura," which celebrates sakura, or cherry blossom, season. For this box, Sakuraco stated, "As the tapestries of pink and white begin to develop across the country, the hearts of many become filled with a sense of fascination and joy. This breathtaking landscape is mostly celebrated with hanami, a tradition of admiring flowers while picnicking under the blooming trees... This month, we want to share the beauty of sakura with you through a selection of hanami-inspired sweet and savoury treats and tea. No matter where you are in the world, the magic of sakura season is waiting to be discovered." 

Sakuraco April 2023 "Arrival of Sakura" Greeting Postcard
Sakuraco April 2023 "Arrival of Sakura" Snack Guide
Sakuraco April 2023 "Arrival of Sakura" Snack Guide — Introduction
Sakuraco April 2023 "Arrival of Sakura" Snack Guide — Discover Japan and Maker Highlight
Sakuraco April 2023 "Arrival of Sakura" Snack Guide
This month's box comes with a postcard featuring hanami-inspired artwork. On the back is a message from the founder of Sakuraco about why she chose to feature this particular theme this month. Every box also contains a "snack guide," which includes an introduction and a brief history of a particular maker, snack, and prefecture, as well as information on the the month's selected tea and snacks. Of course, the guide also showcases every item included in the box, with detailed descriptions and allergy warnings. Included in my "Arrival of Sakura" box are the following items:

Clockwise from bottom left: Sakura Castella, Sakura Warabimochi, Sweet Sakura Tea x 2, Sakura Mochi, and Sakura Konpeito

• Sakura Castella by Serri Daikokudo (Osaka) — "Serii Daikokudo craftsmen carefully bake each cake on by one in a kiln to create this fluffy castella. Its sweet and slightly sour flavour results from the sugar-pickled cherry blossom petals blended into its cherry blossom paste."
• Sakura Warabimochi by Tsuuruya Confectionery (Osaka) — "This soft traditional Japanese dessert crafted by the makers at Tsuruya Confectionery brings a floral burst of elegance to your palate. Infused with the sweet taste of cherry blossom honey, each refreshing bite is a reminder of breezy spring days."
• Sweet Sakura Tea by Nihon Ryokucha Center (Tokyo) — "Experience a small taste of hanami during your afternoon tea. This slightly sweet tea contains real cherry blossoms that bloom in hot water, creating a gorgeous bouquet for all the senses."
• Sakura Mochi by Marusan Tamakiya (Nagano) — "This chewy mochi is lightly sprinkled with an iridescent powder, making it glisten in the light. The sweetness of these pieces, combined with the floral notes of the cherry blossom, creates a harmonious balance of flavours and textures."
• Sakura Konpeito by Matsumoto Confectionery (Osaka) — "The pink hue of these konpeito is inspired by the delicate petals of the sakura flower. The crisp, crunchy texture and gentle sweetness of each piece make for the perfect treat to enjoy during a picnic."

Left to right: Sakura Karinto, Sakura Shortbread Cookies x 2, Sakura Soft Chew x 2, and Sakura Donut Bou x 2

• Sakura Karinto by Kimura (Kumamoto) — "This crunchy confection crafted with delicate cherry leaves brings a gentle and sweet flavour to your palate. The aroma of cherry blossoms ads to its charm, offering a sensory experience that is both tranquil and delightful."
• Sakura Shortbread Cookies by Nakayama Seika (Tochigi) — "These shortbread cookies are filled with a warm-coloured pink sakura jam. The cookies are expertly kneaded with margarine and cocoa, making the crunchy outside the perfect sweet cradle."
• Sakura Soft Chew by Sugiura Confectionery (Shiga) — "Embrace the ethereal beauty of sakura season with this namagashi, or traditional Japanese sweet. The artisans at Sugiura Confectionery have artfully crafted this soft chew in the shape of a cherry blossom flower."
• Sakura Donut Bou by Fujibambi (Kumamoto) — "The crispy fried dough of these donut bou is soaked in honey and plenty of cherry blossom syrup, resulting in a fresh, spring flavour. Crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, these treats are perfectly paired with a warm cup of tea."

Left to right: Shiso Senbei, Sakura Cookies, Sakura Leaf Senbei x 2, and Ume Shio Rice Cracker x 2

• Shiso Senbei by Sakurado (Niigata) — "These bite-sized pink rice crackers are dipped in premium Japanese sugar and shiso before being finished with a Nanko pickled plum powder. The fresh aroma of shiso leaves wonderfully compliments the crackers' sweet and sour taste."
• Sakura Cookies by Shoeido Confectionery (Hyogo) — "These crisp and crunchy cookies are carefully made with cherry blossoms and Hokkaido wheat, giving them sweetness and a golden brown colour with hints of pink."
• Sakura Leaf Senbei by Kato Confectionery (Aichi) — "These rice crackers are kneaded with salted cherry blossom leaves, giving them the soft aroma of sakura blended nicely with hints of shrimp and salt."
• Ume Shio Rice Cracker by Kuriyama Beika (Niigata) — "This crispy and soft rice cracker is made with Seto Island salt, or Seto shio. Its deep flavour is balanced with a refreshing plum flavour with a hint of bonito."

Sakura Springtime Dish

• Sakura Springtime Dish by Bloom (Gifu) — "The surfaces of these dishes serve as the perfect backdrops for the soft cherry blossoms. The pink petals seemingly float across each dish's surface, freezing the beauty of sakura season in time."

I was actually in Seoul during the prime of cherry blossom blooming, and also managed to catch some late-blooming sakura while in Kyoto as well, and let me tell you, it is really a glorious sight to see in real life. The cityscapes do look magical, and everyone's moods are just lighter and happier. That having been said, though, I've never been a huge fan of sakura in food — sakura-flavoured snacks and desserts were literally being sold everywhere while we were in Japan, even McDonald's, and even though they look pretty (the food and the packaging), they're still, you know, floral. So we'll see how I fare with April's snacks. But the plate is really, really cute.

Now, my picks from March's box: the Hitoiki Cafe Cream Cake (imagine a Twinkie meets those little vanilla cupcakes from the Chinese bakery — nostalgia at its finest!), the Yatsuhashi (it's like Big Red gum in cookie form, but it works), the Salted Caramel Nut Sable (sweet, nutty, and buttery, maybe the tastiest packaged cookie I've ever had), the Lightly Spiced Mayo Crackers (exactly as described — it somehow tastes creamy while giving a spicy kick — and super addictive), and of course, the Sencha (this one from Ujicha Gion Tsujiri has an amazing aroma and deep flavour).

Finally, a reminder to those who have decided to subscribe to Sakuraco: Sakuraco will auto-renew your subscription if you do not cancel before your previous subscription ends. Remember that any amount paid is final and non-refundable. So always double-check when your subscription will end so you don't get surprise charged.