ZenpPop Ramen + Sweets MIX Pack Review October 2018
ZenPop Ramen + Sweets MIX Pack is a monthly subscription box filled with tasty ramen noodles and yummy treats sourced directly from Japan. It’s then shipped straight to your doorstep with free shipping to most countries. ZenPop currently has multiple subscription plans, including one-time box purchases (no subscription needed). They kindly sent me October’s box to review. So lets dig in!
Subscription Details
Box Details: ZenPop’s Ramen + Sweets MIX Pack is filled to the brim with a variety of delicious ramen noodles that are easy to make at home, as well as yummy treats! Each box contains 2-3 packages of ramen, plus 6-10 various snacks!
Subscription Plans:
- One-time Purchase: $24.50
- 3 Months Prepaid Plan: $70 ($23.33/month)
- 6 Months Prepaid Plan: $137 ($22.83/month)
Shipping: Free Worldwide Delivery
Here’s a closer look at the items I received this month….
The theme for October’s box is Halloween Harvest Pack! The shipment of boxes were delayed for a while because of a tsunami, but this Halloween themed box contains a lot of fall favorites like pumpkin and cinnamon apple pie!
Included in every box is a mini flyer with details, descriptions, and instructions for each item. For most of the items, ZenPop makes note of ingredients that some people tend to have allergies to, and/or other ingredients used in the facilities that processes the items. I think this is so considerate of ZenPop and I really appreciate them going this extra mile for people who may have food allergies.
Pumpkin Potage Soup (Left)
This pumpkin potage soup is the perfect meal for a cold day. It’s super easy to make – just add hot water, stir for 10 seconds, and let it sit for 1 minute before eating. Inside the cup is a bunch of powder and a handful of bread cubes. I didn’t expect much from this, but it turned out to be delicious. The soup was sweet, savory and creamy. There was pieces of pumpkin and the bread really complemented the potage soup. I wish the soup was a little bit thicker in texture and the bread did become mushy if you didn’t eat quick enough, but it was still very yummy.
Rich Tonkotsu Ramen (Right)
One of my favorite types of ramen to eat at restaurants is Tonkotsu ramen. This instant version takes about 4 minutes to make and it was so hearty and delicious! The broth in this was creamy due to the fat that gets added in from the sauce packet. I added in my own veggies and some strips of pork and it seriously could have rivaled the ramen I order when eating out.
Pizza Potato Chips
The Pizza Potato Chips are thickly cut potato chips with ridges. It’s topped with a cheesy powder that was like an explosion of flavor – it felt like I was eating an actual cheese pizza!
Chocolate Taiyaki
I think I just found my favorite Japanese snack of all time (so far). This Chocolate Taiyaki is a fish shaped treat made out of a thin wafer shell and filled with an aerated chocolate. It’s light as air and truly melts in my mouth. If you’ve ever tasted the Bing Bing or Caplico ice cream cone snacks, this one tastes very similar!
Grape Gum
I believe this might be a bonus item in my box since I don’t see listed on the item sheet, but it’s a piece of grape gum! It’s super chewy and soft in texture, similar to Hubba Bubba gum, but the flavor runs out pretty quickly.
KitKat Luxury Every Day Matcha Double Berry & Almond
I LOVE KitKats, especially ones from Japan because they come in such a wide array of flavors that aren’t available in the US. This month’s pack came with 4 miniature, single bar Matcha Double Berry & Almond KitKats from their Luxury Every Day line. Each KitKat is coated in a creamy matcha flavored chocolate and is topped with dried cranberries, raspberries, and crushed almonds. It’s very similar to their regular matcha flavored KitKats, but the dried berries and almonds brings it to another level.
Supplement Pure Gummies
There are 3 different flavors included in the pack of Supplement Pure Gummies: Lemon, Blueberry, and Peach! Each gummy contains different benefits for the skin like hyaluronic acid, collagen, and vitamin C. I haven’t noticed much change in my skin’s appearance, but these taste just like candy!
Halloween Caramel Corn
The Halloween Caramel Corn is a variation item where some will receive the original flavor and others will get the “Pumpkin Pudding” flavor. I was one of the lucky ones and got “Pumpkin Pudding.” With each bite of the corn puffs, I could definitely taste the sweet and creamy caramel “pudding” flavor, but I couldn’t make out any pumpkin!
Halloween Poteco
The Halloween Poteco are a pumpkin gratin flavor that combines pumpkin and cheese together. I’ve tasted these snacks once before and I love them. They’re miniature potato rings that are super crunchy. The potato and cheese flavor was pretty strong, but there was just a hint of pumpkin.
Umaibo Cinnamon Apple Pie
Cinnamon Apple Pie Umaibo tastes exactly like the real thing, except crispy and crunchy! It’s a puffed corn snack that’s coated in a sweet cinnamon sugar. It tastes both sweet and a little tangy, just like apple pie! Sadly, this flavor is a Tokyo area exclusive and I want more.
Zenpop Ramen + Sweets MIX Pack REVIEW October 2018 – Final Thoughts
Even though it’s not Halloween anymore, this box was a huge treat! Despite ‘sweets’ being in the name, they do include a few savory/salty snack options which nicely balances out the box. Both of the instant food picks this month were delicious and I’m already craving more Pumpkin Potage Soup since it’s a nice and easy meal on a chilly day. Overall, I LOVED nearly everything I tasted in this month’s box, especially the Chocolate Taiyaki and the Tokyo-exclusive Cinnamon Apple Pie Umaibo!
There were so many unusual Japanese items included in the box that aren’t available at my local supermarket (at least where I’m from), which is one of the biggest reasons why I’m a fan of Zenpop. I highly recommend giving this box a try if you’re interested in trying out unique snacks, and of course, if you love ramen!
Mary Vu – http://thepointofvu.blogspot.com