Sakuraco Japanese Snack Box: May 2023 — Moonlit Sakura

My May Sakuraco box has arrived!

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 10 boxes I've received so far, 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 May 2023 "Moonlit Sakura" Japanese Snack Box
May's theme is "Moonlit Sakura," which, like April's box, celebrates sakura, but more specifically, yozakura, which are cherry blossoms that are lit up at night. For this box, Sakuraco wrote, "Sakura, or cherry blossoms, symbolize renewal, hope, and fleeting beauty. While breathtakingly beautiful during the day, the moonlight dances off the petals at night, taking on a whole new level of enchantment... This sight, which is mesmerized Japan for centuries, has inspired many across Japan to come together after the sun sets to celebrate this natural phenomenon." 

Sakuraco May 2023 "Moonlit Sakura" Greeting Postcard — Cherry Blossoms at Night on Naka-no-chō in the New Yoshiwara by Utagawa Hiroshige
Sakuraco May 2023 "Moonlit Sakura" Snack Guide
Sakuraco May 2023 "Moonlit Sakura" Snack Guide — Introduction
Sakuraco May 2023 "Moonlit Sakura" Snack Guide — Discover Japan and Maker Highlight
Sakuraco May 2023 "Moonlit Sakura" Snack Guide
This month's box comes with a postcard featuring the artwork, Cherry Blossoms at Night on Naka-no-chō in the New Yoshiwara, from the series, Famous Places in the Eastern Capital, by Utagawa Hiroshige. 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 "Moonlit Sakura" box are the following items:

Clockwise from top left: Sakura Ame, Mini Plum Mochi, and Sakura Cream Gaufrette x 2

• Sakura Ame by Amesho Sawahara (Kyoto) — "Indulge in the delicate essence of Japan's iconic cherry blossom with these pink sakura hard candies. This Sawahara premium candy recipe is specially infused with cherry blossom powder using traditional direct flame cooking. Let each bite transport you to a night of sakura in full bloom."
• Mini Plum Mochi by Fuji Confectionery (Aichi) — "These old-fashioned plum mochi candies have been sold in treat shops in Japan for decades. Slightly sour yet addictive, these tiny pink gems transport many across Japan back to childhood memories of frolicking amongst the blossoms while snacking."
• Sakura Cream Gaufrette by Itokawaya Confectionery (Mie) — "Treat your senses to this gaufrette, a seasonal cream sandwich adorned with a beautiful cherry blossom pattern on its surface. Experience the perfect balance of sweet and floral with each bite of cherry blossom cream inside."

Clockwise from top left: Rich Ogura Bread Loaf, Hana Warabimochi, Tetra Pon x 2, and Genji Pie x 2

• Rich Ogura Bread Loaf by Tokyo Natural Yeast (Saitama) — "Ogura is an azuki bean jam found across Japan. With the aroma of freshly baked bread and the taste of creamy ogura paste, this snack perfectly captures the essence of a blooming spring day."
• Hana Warabimochi by Yukio (Kyoto) — "Warabimochi originated in the Kansai region of Japan during the Edo period and was initially made as a offering to the gods at Shinto shrines. Delight in the exquisite taste and texture of salted cherry blossoms nestled in this bouncy warabimochi, the perfect snack to enjoy under the night sky."
• Tetra Pon by Matsumoto Confectionery (Osaka) — "Adorned with charming cherry blossom packaging, each colourful bite of these Tetra Pon evokes the freshness and beauty of spring."
• Genji Pie by Sanritsu Confectionery (Shizuoka) — "Baked to perfection with a glossy sugar finish, these classic biscuits feature a light crispiness that compliments their deliciously sweet taste. As indicated by the shape, these biscuits are sure to be as heartwarming as the sun shining on a warm spring day."

Clockwise from top left: Sakuraco Tea Glass, Peach Hibiscus Tea x 2, Mame Mochi x 2, and Ume Salt and Vinegar Senbei

• Sakuraco Tea Glass by Ishizuka Glass (Aichi) — "We proudly partner with Ishizuka Glass to bring you this intricately crafted tea glass. Its rounded contours are designed to nestle perfectly in your palm, evoking a sense of serenity with each sip."
• Peach Hibiscus Tea by Maruyama Seicha (Shizuoka) — "We partnered with Maruyama Seicha to craft a tea that captures the beauty and essence of Japan's cherished cherry blossom season. This delicate blend of green tea and hibiscus, infused with the luscious flavour of white peach, creates a stunning pink hue."
• Mame Mochi by Fujiya (Osaka) — "Crafted with the utmost care and precision, this soft and fluffy mochi is accented with a subtle hint of saltiness and features the rich, earthly flavour of black soybeans."
• Ume Salt and Vinegar Senbei by Sanshu Confectionery (Saitama) — "Slow-pickled Nanko plums from the verdant fields of Kishu form the base of the seasoning, lending their rich flavour to a crispy, deep-fried rice cracker. The refreshing sourness of vinegar pairs perfectly with the umami essence of pickled plums, creating a unique and satisfying taste experience."

Clockwise from top left: Sakura Sweet Potato, Sakura Uiro, White Soy Sauce Sakura Arare, and Ichigo Roll

• Sakura Sweet Potato by Nagata Foods (Ibaraki) — "This bite-sized snack captures the subtle flavour of Ibaraki-produced Beniazuma sweet potatoes and combines it with sakura bean paste to create a complex yet delicate taste profile. Infused with the warmth of brandy and the richness of egg yolks, these snacks are baked to perfection."
• Sakura Uiro by Matsuya Foods (Aichi) — "Enjoyed initially by the wealthy  classes in the Edo period, uiro has since evolved into a beloved snack an dessert cherished by people of all backgrounds. This sakura uiro features a delicate cheer blossom flavour that perfectly complements its soft and chewy texture."
• White Soy Sauce Sakura Arare by Sakura Confectionery (Niigata) — "Crafted with 100% Niigata glutinous rice, this exquisite snack features a luscious blend of shrimp kneaded into the dough and white soy sauce. Expertly baked using artisanal techniques, the ultra-thin arare delivers a satisfyingly crisp and delicate crunch that perfectly complements its delightful taste."
• Ichigo Roll by Serii Daikokudo (Osaka) — "Soft and tender sponge dough, tinted in shades of red and white, is expertly crafted into a stunning mosaic pattern. Rolled up with sweet and tangy strawberry cream, each bite of this exquisite confection celebrates the season's joys."

Frankly, the cherry blossoms in Japan are long gone by now — in fact, most of them were gone by the time I was there in early April — so I think Sakuraco is just taking advantage of the fact that sakura-themed snacks are rampant in Japan right now. Still, sakura is so fleeting that I get why so many people in Asia celebrate its blooming — once they're gone, you have to wait a whole year for the next bloom. That having been said, I'm not a huge fan of sakura in food, so I thought we'd be free of that this month, but alas, we have another box of almost exclusively sakura-flavoured snacks. We shall see if any of them are actually any good — or rather, better than their non-sakura-flavoured counterparts. On that note, this month's household item is a tea glass that cannot be microwaved, put in the dishwasher, or be used with hot liquids. So basically, the tea glass is not meant to be used, but rather just looked at. And even then, it's not a particularly nice design, either — it's literally Sakuraco's logo. Colour me disappointed.

Now, my picks from April's box, in which most of the snacks are sakura-flavoured but I did find some gems: Sakura Karinto (I've always loved karinto so they're almost always a win for me, and these didn't taste like sakura as the brown sugar flavour overpowers everything), Sakura Donut Bou (again, I didn't taste any kind of floral flavouring at all in these; they were just like old-fashioned donuts with a hint of honey and, therefore, were delicious), and Sakura Cookies (butter cookies that aren't too sweet and again, no floral taste that I could sense — these were a crowdpleaser at work). Basically, if it doesn't taste like flowers, I'm good to go.

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.