This month, we asked our staff to try out the products from two leading Japanese snack subscription services: Sakuraco and TokyoTreat. Keep reading to see our first impressions, favorites and rankings from one to ten.
Sakuraco: Mochi & Fruit Marvels
1. Ajiko Mochi Crackers
Caroline Yu, staff writer: Good – it’s got a crunch! I’d rate it a 7 out of 10.
2. Kabosu Nut Sable
Francis Ray, lead video editor: Oh, it’s like a cracker! Mmm, oh yeah. 10 out of 10.
3. Shine Muscat Jelly
Emily Chung, editorial intern: It tastes pretty good! I’d rate it an 8 out of 10 … just because of messiness.
4. Momo Kibidango
Samantha Galang, marketing intern: Peach mochi … Mmm! I’d rate it a 9 – one point off because I wish it was filled.
5. Ichigo Mochi Manju
Patrick Zhang, marketing intern: I don’t know how to describe it … I’d rate it a six. It’s kind of dry.
6. Melon Gaufrette
Jasmine Nguyen, managing editor: You know what it tastes like? Cream wafers. 9 out of 10. It’s not too sweet.
7. Lemon Vinegar Arare
Charles Gray, digital content director: It’s like a giant corn puff. 8 out of 10.
8. Hana Moyou
Joyce Chang, video editor: This is really pretty. I’ve had these before. 8.5 out of 10; pretty good!
9. Lemon Pie
Joshua Gong, video editor: It’s a nice crunch with some sugar. Really dry. I’m going to have to give it a 2 out of 10.
10. Honey Apple Mochi
Audrey Ryu, creative director: I like the texture!
Florence Lo, junior creative: I do, too.
Audrey: I don’t like the flavor, though [laughs].
Florence: I would rate it 6 or 7.
Watch the full taste test:
@charactermedia rating the snacks we got in this month’s @Sakuraco box 🫢 #Japanesesnacks #charactermedia #foodtok #foodie #japan #japanese #snacks #asian #tastetest #mochi #rating #sakuraco #tokyo #osaka #traditionaljapanesesnacks #asiansnacks ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
TokyoTreat: Osaka Snackation
1. KitKat Chocolate Orange
Caroline: That looks good!
Emily: Very interesting.
Jasmine: Smells like an Orange Dreamsicle.
Emily: It kind of tastes like those little orange jaffa cakes.
Caroline: I love this! … I think this gets a 10 out of 10.
2. Potato Fry Snacks
Samantha: Oh, they’re skinny!
Joyce: She’s skinny!
Samantha and Joyce: Bella Hadid!
Samantha, Patrick and Joyce: Cheers!
Samantha: It tastes like a french fry.
Joyce: It’s exactly what you would expect. I’d rate it a 9.
Patrick: I’ll give it a 9. I feel like I could eat a lot of those.
Samantha: A 9 as well.
3. Banana Man Marshmallow
Francis: It’s interesting! … They remind me of those Easter bunnies.
Charles: Yeah, Peeps! They’re like Peeps.
Francis: I’d rate it maybe a five.
Joshua: For me, this gets a big fat donut. It’s a 0. [Laughs] I don’t like banana.
Charles: I guess a 6.
4. Takoyaki Flavored Snack Mix
Florence: It’s like octopus balls.
James Ryu, publisher: It’s a little tangy flavored.
Audrey: That sour taste is the mayo. Really mayonnaise-y. … [I’d rate it] a 6?
James: It’s good! Like, 8?
Florence: I would give it a 7.
5. Mike’s Popcorn Ume Flavor
Francis: You know in church, they give you the communion wafers? That’s what it tastes like.
6. Peach Pastilles
Audrey: They’re like gumdrops. Really, really hard. It’s like, you would snack on it at your desk. 9 out of 10.
Florence: It’s a little too hard for me, so I would give it like a 6.
James: Flavor’s good, but it’s taking a long time to chew this thing.
Audrey: Actually, I’ll go down one point. The chewiness – it loses the bouncy chewy and turns to like the Swedish fish chewy.
James: I’ll give it a 9.
7. Osaka’s Delaware Grape Gummies
Caroline: I really like it!
Emily: It’s just really tough.
Caroline: I think there’s a jelly center.
Jasmine: You expect it to be all jelly…
Caroline: The outside… there’s definitely a chew factor there…
Jasmine: That you don’t expect.
Caroline: 7 out of 10.
8. Osaka Takoyaki Senbei
Samantha: It’s like a dried up takoyaki ball. It has a lot of seaweed.
Joyce: I think if you like takoyaki, you’ll like it.
Samantha: I’ll give it a 6.
Joyce: I’ll give it a 7.
Patrick: I give it an 8. … I think it would be good in a mix — like an Asian chex mix.
9. Chocolate Bread Bites
Joyce: It kind of looks like there’s chocolate inside. There’s a cute little baker guy on it. I really like the design of it. They have a little sesame on top.
Samantha: I was expecting a cracker, but it’s bread.
Patrick: It’s kind of dry.
Samantha: The flavor is there; the texture isn’t.
Joyce: I’ll be honest, I don’t mind it! I feel like it’s literally just a Hello Panda but with actual bread.
Samantha: I give it a 4.
Patrick: A 5.
Joyce: I’m going to still give it a 7.
10. Lifeguard Soft Candy
Jasmine: It tastes like Play Doh.
Caroline: Play Doh is salty! I like this though.
Emily: It doesn’t feel like something I should consume.
Jasmine: It’s like Smarties.
Caroline: It does taste like Smarties!
Emily: 3 out of 10.
Jasmine: 3.
Caroline: I’m going to go 6.
11. Melon Panda Cookie
Audrey: It’s literally a butter cookie but melon flavor. I think it’s good! 8 out of 10.
Florence: Yeah!
James: 8 out of 10.
12. Retro Corn Puffs
Charles: This one’s actually really good! It’s a little salty and sweet.
Francis: It kind of has a burnt marshmallow aftertaste, but like a good burnt marshmallow.
Joshua: It tastes like the smell of curry, but it doesn’t taste like the taste of curry.
Charles: I’ll give it a 9.
Francis: Probably a 7.
Joshua: This is the best one so far.
Watch the full taste test:
@charactermedia finding out if Japanese snack boxes are worth it so you don’t have to—part 1! 😋 Which snacks from this month’s @TokyoTreat box looked the yummiest? #japanese #snacks #foodtok #food #charactermedia #japanesefood #candy #kitkat #chips #takoyaki #foodie #asian #asiansnacks ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
@charactermedia finding out if Japanese snack boxes are worth it so you don’t have to—part 2 😜 @TokyoTreat came through with the cool treats! #japan #japanesesnacks #tokyotreat #asianfood #charactermedia #foodie #foodtok #asiansnacks ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
@charactermedia finding out if Japanese snack boxes are worth it so you don’t have to—part 3 😮💨 which treat from this month’s @TokyoTreat box would you try first? #japanesefood #japanesesnacks #foodie #foodtok #snackideas #asianfood #asian #japan #charactermedia #tokyotreat #tastetest ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
