Reviewed by
Mary
Bokksu is the only Japanese snack box that sources directly from snack makers in Japan, so many of our artisanal products cannot be found anywhere else. Start your cultural journey through Japan by subscribing to Bokksu and receiving a curated box of premium Japanese snacks and teas delivered to your door every month.
They have two levels of subscription: the Tasting, which is smaller, and the one I have received, The Classic. Subscriptions are prepaid for one, three, six, or twelve months. For the Classic box they work out at $39 (around £30), $37, $35 , and $33 per month. As usual, they are priced in dollars, so GBP conversion is according to today’s exchange rate. Obviously this will vary, but it gives you some idea of cost.
In honour of the approaching summer, Bokksu is travelling to the tropical island of Okinawa for the Tropical Travels box.
This month’s goodies all feature something unique from this southern point of Japan.
The menu has plenty of information about each item, including a very useful allergy guide, and you can also find out more about this unique geographical location.
Marui Chinsuko: Pineapple, Karu Choco Corn Puffs, and Marui Chinsuko: Beniimo
Chinsuko are a traditional cookie from Okinawa. It’s rather like a little round shortbread, and it comes in many different flavours. On the left is a pineapple version, for a delicious sweet and slightly tart tropical taste, and on the right the purple chinsuko is flavoured with purple yam. This is considered a superfood and has a wonderful earthy flavour.
The light and crunchy chocolate corn puffs are made with a hint of salt to contrast with the sweetness of the chocolate. The salt comes from sea salt that is collected exclusively from a region of Okinawa.
Curry Kamensen and Zeitaku na Gummy
Kamensen are little curry flavoured rice crackers, and their name means turtle, as they are shaped rather like the shell of sea turtle.
Watermelon always makes one think of sunshine and beaches, and these gummies are made from watermelons that come from Kumamoto prefecture, which is famous for it’s exceptional fruit.
Sawawa Chinsuko Black Sesame & Kinako and Yuzu Monaka
Another chinsuko cookies here, but while the style of cookie is traditional, this more unusual flavour of black sesame and roasted soybean is much less common for this treat. The nutty flavours combine perfectly with the crumbly texture of the cookie.
Monaka is another traditional Japanese cookies and is a thin mochi outer shell filled with a sweet red bean paste. This version gives a tangy citrus twist with a filling made from white bean and yuzu fruit.
Brown Sugar Caramel Macchiato Sandwich Cookie and Kabosu Nuts Sable Cookie
Kokuto, a special dark brown sugar, is a speciality of the Okinawa region. This delicious sandwich cookie is filled with an espresso cream for the perfect flavour of a sweet coffee.
Kabosu is a citrus fruit native to the Oita prefecture, and it’s sourness is often used like vinegar in cooking. It also works very well combined with sweetness, and is used to great effect in this lovely buttery cookie, with some chopped nuts added for extra texture.
Shima Togarashi Rice Crackers and Peanuts and Okinawa Salted Shiquasa Fried Kakinotane
The combination of crunchy mini rice crackers with peanuts is perfectly seasoned with the spicy red chili which comes from Okinawa. This lovely savory snack has a real kick, and goes beautifully with a cold beer.
Kakinotane are little crescent-shaped senbei, very popular as a snack. These have been deep fried for extra crispness and lightness. They’re flavoured with the deep sour taste of the shiquasa citrus fruit, with a sprinkling of salt to bring out the taste even more.
Yuki no Yado: Kokuto Black Sugar Milk Rice Crackers and Higa Granny’s Sanpin Jasmine Tea
Another kokuto snack here, with the beautiful dark brown sugar flavour given a little extra nudge with a little salt. These light crisp rice crackers go beautifully with the jasmine tea, which blends the floral notes of jasmine with green tea.
