My wife and I recently signed up for a monthly Japanese snack subscription box called Bokksu, after reading about its creator’s experience with Japanese snack foods while living abroad. We’re pretty big foodies, and the chance to sample snacks from the other side of the world that would never be available to us any other way was something we couldn’t pass up.

I wanted to share our experience here, because so far we have loved every. damn. snack. that came in the box. It’s a reaaaalllllly lucky thing that most of the treats Bokksu delivers come in twos or are made to share, let me tell you!

What’s in the Box?!

For starters, let’s talk about the first box all Bokksu subscribers are given. Every first-time subscriber starts off with something called the “Seasons of Japan” box, with an assortment of snacks that are themed according to each of the four seasons.

Right off the bat, I’ll say that the unboxing experience was spectacular. The box itself was beautiful, and there were more snacks contained in the thing than my wife and I could count at first.

The Bokksu (which, by the way, is a phonetic spelling of the Japanese pronunciation of the word “box”) also came with a beautiful pamphlet that outlines each of the snacks within the box. For each snack, it gives information on the flavour profile, the maker (most of whom are small Japanese artisans, by the way), a map of where in Japan the snack originates, and common allergens. Everything is gorgeously laid out, and it only adds to the experience and enjoyment.

The Bokksu Snacks

Alright, so I know what you’re wondering: ok Jason, the box was pretty and the marketing was on point. But how did the snacks taste??

Well, I’ll say this… there were 16 different types of snacks in the box. We’ve now tried every single one, and, while I have my favourites (I’ll get to that), there wasn’t a single treat I didn’t love in the box. For a collection that is so wildly different from the treats we’re used to here in Canada, I’m actually surprised at how well-curated the Bokksu assortment was. Everything was just incredible.

In fact, digging into the treats with my wife was something of an exercise in mindfulness. By definition, you get snack-sized portions of each treat, meaning that the experience and enjoyment that each one provides is fleeting. You’re either there in the moment to savour every single bite, or you miss it. Mindfulness at its best, and that alone is probably worth the price of admission, to be honest.

If you held a gun to my head and asked me to pick three favourites that stood out, I’d say the Pear Langue de Chat (part-cracker, part-cheese, part-pear and part-chocolate… together, frikkin’ fantastic), the Don Don yaki (savoury cracker-type treats), and the matcha chocolate cake. These were borderline religious experiences for me.

One Small Gripe

I do have one minor complaint about the first box: it skews a little toward the sweeter side of things with many of the snacks. I’d like more of a balance in flavour profiles, but again: everything was so damn tasty that I can’t even call it a real complaint, because I’d have missed out on some real gems otherwise.

What does a Bokksu subscription cost?

Well, as far as monthly subscription boxes go, it isn’t exactly cheap. You can subscribe for anywhere from 1 to 12 months. Prices per month range from $50 if you go month-to-month, down to $40 if you prepay for a full year.

To save a few bucks, you can use this referral link (you need to live in Canada) to get $15 off your subscription. Whether you use it or not though, I personally consider the boxes worth the price of admission. You get a crapload of snacks, all of which are delicious, and many of which support small Japanese artisans and businesses.

Wrapping it Up

Time will tell whether all Bokksu shipments are as well-constructed as our first experience, but we’ve been extremely impressed with our initial shipment, that’s for sure. If you’re looking for a monthly subscription box that will lift your spirits and spark a little joy during this pandemic, Bokksu might be just what you’re looking for.