My July Sakuraco box arrived a couple of weeks ago, and this is the very last box in my subscription.
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 sometimes use DHL to ship. Out of the 12 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. 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.
July's theme is "Heritage of Nikko," which features the city of Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. For this box, Sakuraco wrote, "Nestled in majestic mountains, Nikko embodies the essence of the revered Edo period. The region is home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Toshogu Shine, dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the most powerful man in Edo period history... Experience the captivating allure of Nikko's rich heritage and indulge in these sweet and savoury offerings that honour its history."
This month's box comes with a postcard featuring the artwork, Sacred Bridge, from the series, Twelve Views of Famous Places in Nikko, by Hasegawa Chikuyo. 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 this month's "Heritage of Nikko" box are the following items:
- 88th Night Shincha by Hagiri (Shizuoka) — "Translating to 'new tea,' shincha refers to the first harvest of green tea. This tea, meticulously plucked on the 88th day after the first day of spring, holds a profound historical significance. Imbued with the promise of good health and longevity, it has been revered as a lucky elixir since ancient times."
- Hinohikari Senbei by Ishidaya (Nikko) — "Ishidaya's time-honoured dough recipe for this crunchy senbei has been passed down for generations. Shaped like the sun, the soy sauce-based sauce embodies simplicity and depth."
- Seven Flavour Senbei by Ishidaya (Nikko) — "Delight in the colourful shapes of Seven Flavour Senbei, a stunning array of bite-sized rice crackers with seven distinct flavours. From the smoothness of salted butter to the whimsy of colourful sugar and shrimp senbei, each piece offers a unique taste and texture."
- Waka Ayu Marshmallow by Yachiyodo (Osaka) — "In Japan, the ayu, or sweetfish, holds a special place as a symbol of summertime. This sweet, shaped like the iconic ayu, is not only a treat but a symbol of the season and its cultural traditions."
- Chigiri Kusamochi by Seiki (Ehime) — "Kusamochi, a Japanese sweet with roots tracing back to ancient Japan, is a traditional treat that captures the essence of yomogi, Japanese mugwort. These bite-sized mochi pieces unveil a harmony of flavours, as their velvety coating of black sesame kinako imparts a deep and aromatic taste."
- Kuzukiri by Nakaki Foods (Aichi) — "Kuzukiri is a summer delicacy known for its smooth, chewy texture. This version is adorned with rich black honey and can be enjoyed on its own or elevated with seasonal fruits. Indulge in its refreshing allure, a perfect treat for warm days."
- Skyberry Waffle Cookie by Nagatoya (Tochigi) — "Skyberry strawberries from Tochigi are known across Japan for their exceptional quality and exquisite flavour. The strawberries impart a delight scent and essence when used in this crispy cookie, adding a touch of fruity bliss to the thin and crispy baked cookie."
- Sesame Anko Donuts by Motohashi Seika (Tochigi) — "Motohashi Seika has crafted anko donuts with their tried and true recipe for over half a century. Here, these fluffy donuts feature sesame-filled sweet bean paste, offering a unique, nutty flavour. Enjoy with milk for a truly delightful experience."
- Nikko Rusk by Nisshodo (Tochigi) — "With its crispy and light texture, this sweet rusk is carefully baked by the makers at Nisshodo with milk from Tochigi. Embodying attention to detail and dedication to experience, it perfectly represents Nikko's cultural heritage and natural beauty."
- Sesame Tetra by Uchiyama Tosaburo Shoten (Niigata) — "Witness Ichiyama Tosaburo's meticulous artistry as a single sesame seed is delicately coated with batter and adorned with an outer layer of sesame seeds. Their satisfying crunch is followed by the rich nuttiness of sesame flavour that lingers on the palate."
- Thousand Samurai Procession Manju by Fukado (Tochigi) — "Delve into the velvety embrace of milky white bean paste nestled within a tender dough. Adorned with its namesake on the packaging, this treat is sold as a souvenir gift at Toshogu Shrine."
- Soy Sauce Okogemeshi by Fujiya (Osaka) — "Traditionally, rice was cooked in heavy iron pots called kama or kettles over an open flame. As the rice simmered, the water would evaporate, and the bottom layer of rice would toast and develop a fragrant and crispy texture. This layer, called okoge, turned into a deliciously crunchy treat. This senbei captures the essence of okoge with a flavour profile reminiscent of the special culinary treat."
- Salt & Pepper Yuba Chips by Nikko Foods (Tochigi) — "Yuba is made from the thin film that forms on the surface of heated soy milk. This thin film is carefully harvested and dried, resulting in thin sheets of yuba. Nikko is known for this velvety smooth delicacy. Crafted from 100% domestically grown soybeans, these chips boast a rich flavour mixed with the familiar tastes of salt and pepper."
- Patchwork Furoshiki by Nishio (Osaka) — "Furoshiki, a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth, carries a rich history that dates back centuries. The furoshiki was initially utilized in temples to wrap and transport sacred objects as far back as the Nara period (710-784). This versatile wrapping cloth doubles as a handkerchief, bandana, or bento box wrap."
This month's box includes more savoury snacks, making it the perfect last Sakurco box for me, since I prefer salty snacks over sweets. It also includes a furoshiki as this month's "household item," which they also included in last December's box. I remember being so disappointed when I first got one of these, partially because I don't consider it a household item, but mostly because I wouldn't use such a beautifully designed cloth to wrap anything in. But I've since discovered that it makes a gorgeous bandana and a pretty purse accessory, so I'm not even mad that this isn't really a household item.
As this is my last Sakuraco box, I waited until I finished most of these snacks to actually make this post so I could pick my favourites: Seven Flavour Senbei (I love the variety of rice crackers here; most senbei are salty, so it was delightful to get some different flavours in the mix), Nikko Rusk (my god, this might be my favourite snack from all the Sakuraco boxes I've gotten — buttery and subtly sweet like a croissant, but in crunchy toast form — and I could easily eat at least 12 in one sitting), Sesame Anko Donuts (I love Japanese donuts because they're not as sweet as their North American counterparts, and these ones are like deep-fried versions of my favourite black sesame tangyuan); and Soy Sauce Okogemeshi (okay, you'd be hard-pressed to find an Asian who doesn't love the crispy bottom layer of rice when it's cooked in a stone pot, and this senbei is based off of that but, like, crunchier with more flavour).
Now, my picks from June's box: Lemon Pie (it's like a Passion Flakie but way crispier and filled with lemon jelly — my favourite item in June's box), Momo Kibidango (peach-flavoured mochi that isn't too sweet and has the perfect chewy texture — I shared this one with my colleagues, and it was a huge crowd-pleaser), Kabosu Nut Sable (sable cookies are one of my Top 5 favourite cookies, and this one has an amazing citrus aroma, like a lemony butter cookie), and Melon Gaufrette (one flavour that I think the Japanese do especially well is honeydew melon, and it's really tasty in these thin wafer cookies — especially refreshing for summer).
I have decided not to re-subscribe to Sakuraco after two consecutive six-month subscriptions. It's been a great experience and I do think that they offer a great variety of interesting Japanese snacks and teas, but at $65 CAD per box after international shipping fees, it's just not worth it for me at this time. (Note that Sakuraco charges their fees in USD, so if you live in the US, it will be more worth it to you as it's $46 USD per box after shipping. But as someone living in Canada, the value diminishes significantly after the currency conversion.) 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.
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