I visited Japan without visiting Japan. My Japanese adventure began when I unboxed authentic Japanese snacks and a hand painted home goods gift from Okinawa.
The Sakuraco subscription box I unboxed included an illustrated guide containing fascinating cultural content and product descriptions listing each featured snack’s common allergens and whether or not it is vegetarian friendly.
I learned that Okinawan brown sugar, a staple ingredient in many Japanese dishes and sweets is a minimally processed sugar with a molasses-like taste. Indeed, I did note a delicate molasses-like sweetness in many of the treats, differing from the pronounced sweetness of the refined sugar present in American snacks and candies.
What was in the box? The first treat I sampled was a vanilla cream waffle cookie that tasted a lot like the vanilla cream sandwich cookies sold in American stores. There was a delightful mango jelly snack that I chilled to serve as a light and tasty dessert. There were two Sapin jasmine teabags in the box so I paired an enclosed package of fluffy, sugarcoated Castella sponge cakes with a freshly-brewed cup of Sapin jasmine tea. Yum! Jasmine tea also tastes great over ice.
Although I typically prefer savory flavors over spicy or sweet, I relished the crisp arare rice crackers, flavored with wasabi seasonings and a peppering of sesame seeds. This treasure trove of goodies included a package of crunchy sugar-coated peanuts, a marshmallow-like fish-shaped candy, a small ceramic plate hand painted with goldfish symbolizing, wealth, fortune, and good luck, and additional authentic Japanese snacks.
I thoroughly enjoyed my exploration of authentic Japanese snacks, candies, beverages, and home goods, and am looking forward to exploring additional Sakura boxes in the future.
