Just in time for the holiday season, TokyoTreat offers up an authentic Japanese snacking experience! With a subscription, each month will send a variety of unique and limited edition items, available only in Japan for a very limited time. For their Christmas-themed box, TokyoTreat sent Josh and Allison some tasty delights. As with any subscription box of this kind, each treat will either delight or disappoint, dependent of course on one’s personal preferences. The company provided us with a sample box, complete with a booklet of English translations. Whether blind-eating or deep-diving, TokyoTreat has a little something for almost anyone. Don’t miss our breakdown of this month’s items after the jump, where we “sleigh” or “nay” each treasure in our boxes!
Here are each of the items in TokyoTreat’s December 2024 Japanese snack box:
Cozy Caramel Corn Puffs & Nuts
(Written by Allison Brown) Cozy Caramel Corn Puffs & Nuts are infused with a rich peanut butter aroma, reminiscent of Israeli Bamba interspersed with added nuts, making them particularly appealing to fans of that snack. The lighter caramel corn flavor is not at all sticky and avoids being overly indulgent. With a melt-in-your-mouth texture and a perfect balance of caramely sweetness and peanutty richness, each bite offers a satisfying sweet and savory experience.
Verdict:
Festive Foamy Fizz
Tasty and light, this strawberry-flavored drink mix-in can spruce up any glass of water. If it may be a little on the bland side, there is still a special quality to the flavor that makes it unique from its American counterparts. Artificial-tasting flavors are quite off-putting to me in my 30s, so I was surprised to actually enjoy this “foamy fizz.”
Verdict:
Fudgey Festive Choco Pie
(Written by Allison Brown) Fudgey Festive Choco Pie has the artificial chocolate flavor and creamy filling of a cheap snack, with a lingering metallic aftertaste that is hard to ignore. With a similar flavor profile to Snackwell’s Devil’s Food Cookie Cakes, it may appeal to fans of those treats, but it quickly loses its appeal, resembling a bland, middle-of-the-road gas station snack. Ultimately, it left me wondering if it was worth finishing or just tossing.
Verdict:
Ghana Holiday Truffles
(Written by Allison Brown) Ghana Holiday Truffles deliver creamy richness and a satisfying crunch, accented by a touch of salt and a subtle caramely undertone. Reminiscent of an elevated malted milk ball, they may not be groundbreaking, but they’re undeniably delightful. A timeless, understated sleigh.
Verdict:
Jolly Cola Chew
This one has a very strong carbonated soda taste, and a texture that recalls gum more than any kind of chew or taffy. It feels a bit strange to chew the stick and swallow rather than just spit it out like a piece of gum.
Verdict:
Merry Mentaiko Mayo Chips
The second I opened these unique chips, I was immediately hit with a strong shrimpy smell. They are perfectly crunchy, but the weirdness of the aftertaste left me feeling ambivalent towards them. Perhaps seafood lovers will like them more.
Verdict:
Mistletoe Mochi Donut Gummies
Mochi donut gummies sound practically transcendental, so these were the first item I decided to try within the box. Unfortunately, they taste extremely artificial. They lean into the strawberry flavor, coming across super sweet. Their texture is a bit pleasing though, leaving these gummies more of a mixed bag than anything else.
Verdict:
Seaweed & Sauce Christmas Crunch
These crunchy puffs certainly have a nice texture and mouthfeel. However, as someone who really does not much care for a fishy flavor profile, I could not stomach them. They have that distinct seaweed taste, punctuated by a vinegary zest.
Verdict:
Silent Night Sesame Crackers & Sleigh-bell Salted Cheese Cookie Sandwich
These crackery items were two of my favorites included in the box. The sesame crackers have an intense sesame seed flavor with a punch of sweetness, making them a perfect light snack. On the other hand, the salted cheese cookie sandwich is yummy and salty, with that classic cheese and cracker combination. For those who prefer a saltier option over a sweet one, both of these items should satiate that craving.
Verdict:
Snowy Chocolate Crepe KitKats
These seasonal Kit-Kats are heavy on the white chocolate taste, and carry that distinct Kit-Kat crunch. The description says that they use “crispy chocolate crepe” in these surprising concoctions. For chocolate lovers, this may sound basic, but these snowy chocolate crepe Kit-Kats may just be their favorite item of them all.
Verdict:
Warming Tom Yum Pretzel Sticks
The spiciest item of the bunch, these pretzel sticks have an altogether pleasing flavor, with notes of hot soup. It probably helps that the aftertaste is nice, too. Texture-wise, they are quite similar to the Japanese Pocky Sticks, only trading the standard sweetness for a savory taste.
Verdict:
Winter Wonder Waffle Chips
While it may seem easy to choose the KitKats as my favorite item offered in the holiday box, I have to give that honor to these crunchy delicious chips. Flavored as “sour cream and onion,” they carry only a hint of their description. Instead, this mildly salty delight fulfilled my crunch craving and then some. I cannot speak highly enough of these deliciously addictive waffle chips, so maybe save them for last!
Verdict:
Yuletide Yakisoba
(Written by Allison Brown) Yuletide Yakisoba delivers an almost sweet, slightly fishy flavor reminiscent of teriyaki but leans more toward subtle fish sauce than true fish. The thin noodles and underwhelming sauce create a bland, lo mein-like experience, though a sprinkle of chili oil and sesame seeds brings it back from the brink. In the end, it’s a sleigh, but nothing to write home about.
Verdict:
A merry Snackmas to all, and to all a good month!