Bokksu Review March 2017

Bokksu is a premium subscription service for people to discover delicious snacks and teas from all over Japan. Having lived in and snacked through Japan, Founder Danny Taing curates a gourmet box for subscribers every month filled with authentic Japanese snacks and tea pairings. They kindly sent us this box for review.

Ummm….did you see last month’s Bokksu review!! If not, you MUST check it out, you can find it HERE. It was one of the best snack boxes I have received in the 4 (almost 5) years I have been reviewing subscription boxes. It will go down in history as one of my all-time favourite subscription boxes.

But enough about that, let’s talk about this month’s box. The theme for the March box is Snacks Over Flowers:

March is the most highly anticipated month of the year due to the blooming sakura and delicious Spring foods. The Japanese idiom Hana Yori Dango roughly translates to “food is better than flowers” and advises one to prefer substantial items such as food over decorative items such as flowers. We absolutely agree with this old idiom, which is why we’ve curated a blossoming assortment of sakura, strawberry, and plum snacks to help you celebrate the upcoming Spring renewal!

I have to say, I absolutely LOVE the themes Bokksu comes up with. It’s one of the reasons I get so excited about this box.

Sakura Rusk by Tokyo Rusk

Twice baked in the oven with sakura butter, you will enjoy the mild hint of cherry blossoms in this delicate baguette slice. Salted sakura petals are mixed into the butter, which is why you can see the small sakura flakes on top!

Good to Know: A cherry blossom is the flower of any of several trees of genus Prunus, particularly the Japanese cherry, Prunus serrulata, which is called sakura after the Japanese.

I love crispy snacks. I like to have an assortment in the pantry at all times.

Taste Test: I made myself a cup of tea after writing the review and decided to do a little taste test. These are light and crispy and buttery, with just a hint of sweetness. SO GOOD!!

Sakura Saku Saku Senbei by Tsuboya

Sakura leaves are perfectly layered into this thinly baked senbei. Don’t be fooled by the pretty pink color though, the secret ingredient of chili pepper gives this senbei a slight but pleasant kick. 

Good to Know: Senbei are a type of Japanese rice crackers. They come in various shapes, sizes, and flavors, usually savory but sometimes sweet. Senbei are often eaten with green tea as a casual snack and offered to visiting house guests as a courtesy refreshment.

I’ve had senbei many times before and these little rice crackers are definitely a favourite. I love the flavor they have included in this month’s box. These will be my little afternoon treat alongside my cup of tea.

Taste Test: I thought I was going to love these but they are actually my least favourite snack in the box. That doesn’t mean they aren’t good though. I just LOVE all the other snacks a lot more.

White Strawberry by Qua

Each strawberry is first freeze-dried and then soaked in white chocolate, giving it the perfect balance of soft and crunchy. Enjoy the delicious combination of sweet and sour with each bite. 

Ummm…..how good do these look! I’ve never received a Japanese snack like this before. White chocolate isn’t for everyone, but I happen to LOVE it. I rarely have it in the house so it feels like a special treat.

Taste Test: I am officially addicted to these!! They are ten times better than they look! They are tart and sweet and decadent, all at the same time. But not overly sweet. I could easily eat an entire bag of these in one sitting.

Pocky Midi Strawberry Fromage by Glico

Pocky Midi Strawberry Fromage is a luxurious and seasonally limited Pocky. This beautifully chunky Pocky has a thicker, creamier coating of strawberry cheesecake and chocolate on a shorter cookie stick. 

Good to Know: Pocky is a Japanese snack food produced by Ezaki Glico. Pocky was first sold in 1966, and consists of chocolate-coated biscuit sticks. It was named after the Japanese onomatopoetic word pokkin.

You can NEVER go wrong with Pocky! Never, ever, ever! The strawberry cheesecake flavor combo sounds absolutely perfect!

Taste Test: I never should have tasted one of these. They are AMAZING. I can’t stop eating them. Definitely my new favourite Pocky flavor.

Rufeel Baked Jam Biscuits by Bourbon

Baked with a layer of strawberry jam, this tasty biscuit opens with a tart strawberry freshness and ends with a delightful buttery aftertaste. 

Taste Test: The biscuit bottom is buttery and not too crunchy. It’s a little like shortbread. The jam layer balances it out nicely.

Languly Strawberry by Ito Seika

This crumbly butter cookie infuses your mouth with a perfect blend of white chocolate and strawberry. 

The strawberry and white chocolate flavor combo they have going on is making me very happy.

Taste Test: This one is right up there with the Pocky. I’m tempted to say I like it better. The cookie to white chocolate ratio is perfect. Not overly sweet. Amazing with tea!

Ume Sable by Shoeido

Compared to regular cookies, Sable are made to be more buttery and crunchy. This ume flower-shaped sable contains finely chopped plum and shies (perilla) leaves. The fruity sourness of the plum compliments nicely with the sweet taste of the butter cookie. 

Good to Know: Ume are a Japanese fruit that have a distinctively sour taste. They’re similar to an apricot or a plum. The ume plays an important role in Japanese culture because it’s the first tree to bloom each Spring.

Taste Test: Yup, love these ones too! They are the perfect afternoon treat. Not very sweet at all. More buttery than sweet.

Tea Pairing: Ume Kobucha

Ume Kobucha Tea is a traditional Japanese Spring tea that combines plum harvested from the beautiful Wakayama Prefecture. Due to the slightly sweet and savoury combination of plum, shiso leaves, and kelp, it can be served either as tea or soup. Disolve one packet of tea grains in about 3-4 oz of hot water. 

I love, love, love that Bokksu includes a tea pairing in every box. I actually forgot about it when I was doing the YouTube unboxing and thought these little packets were some sort of sugar. They really do create an experience with their snack boxes.

Bokksu Review March 2017 – Final Thoughts

I have to say, I really and truly am loving my Bokksu boxes. They are so much fun to unbox. I love the process from beginning to end. And this is coming from someone who typically doesn’t like Japanese treats. I think they have successfully turned me into a Japanese treat addict. I thought that last month’s box was maybe an exception and that I wouldn’t love any other Bokksu boxes as much as that one, but I have to say, this month’s box is almost as perfect as last month’s box. The packaging is gorgeous, the product card is easy to follow and descriptive, and the Sakura themed treats are absolutely perfect. I love the mixture of sakura, strawberry and plum flavours this month. When I opened the box and saw a sea of pink treats staring back at me I was overcome with happiness. I can’t wait to see what other themes they come up with this year.

XOXO