It's Tasty and Educational Learning Japanese with Japan Candy Box!
I recently received the October box from our friends over at Japan Candy Box. I’m happy to share my thoughts on this fun experience with you!
For those that don’t know, Japan Candy Box is part of the Kawaii Group’s subscription box service. Each month, customers will receive a unique box with a monthly theme. October’s theme was, of course, all things Halloween! Inside, there are ten snacks you can only get in Japan. These snacks range from savory to sweet, gum to chocolate, so there is something for everyone in each box! The treats come in individually-wrapped sample sizes so you aren’t getting too much of one thing, and so you get to try as many snacks as possible each month! If there is a particular snack you loved in one of the boxes, you can find everything available at their store, Japan Candy Store.
Along with each box of snacks, you will also get an adorable little guide that will teach you about each snack while you munch! The snacks are labeled “Savory Snack,” “Chocolate Snack,” “Assorted Gum,” “Dagashi,” etc, so you know what they are before tasting.
The guide also comes with a word of the month! October’s word of the month is こわい (Kowai) meaning scary, which was very fitting for the box’s theme! It also includes “Event of the Month” and gives details about a special event going on in Japan each month. October’s Event of the Month is Kurana no Hi Matsuri (or the Kurama Fire Festival). I loved these little tidbits added so you can learn about Japanese culture while getting to experience it through snacks!
Japan Candy Box has included many popular brands in previous boxes, including Meiji, KitKat, Hi-Chew, Glico, and Milky. So you know you are going to get some high quality and delicious treats! You can even see sneak peeks of the upcoming box--see the theme and some of the brands included to get you excited!
Now onto my experience!
The boxes ship before the first of each month so that they will arrive on time. Because they are coming from far away, it can take one to four weeks for customers to receive their boxes. It took about two weeks for mine to arrive after receiving the shipping email. All the snacks were still fresh and delicious and definitely worth the wait! The box came and I was thrilled!
It looks so cute and everything was packed very well inside--no fears of crushed chips for me!
1. Baby Star Halloween Chicken Noodle Snacks
The first snack I pulled out of the box was chicken flavored noodle snacks by Baby Star. I don’t know where these have been all my life but I am so glad I got to try them now! This is a popular savory snack in Japan, made from crispy ramen noodles. The noodles included were chicken flavored. However, they come in a variety of ramen-related flavors that I’m eager to try sometime! Something I love about Japan Candy Box is getting to try snack foods that I wouldn’t have access to otherwise! It’s great to try new things and see what else is out there!
2. Koris Monster Gum
Next was Koris’s Monster Gum. As explained in Japan Candy Box’s guide, there are three pieces of gum included. Two have a sweet center and one is super sour--so these treats definitely have a trick! They fit the Halloween theme perfectly and are so fun!
3. Umaibo Halloween Corn Potage Puff Stick
This Umaibo (corn puff stick) is classified as だがし (dagashi). Dagashi are inexpensive and individually-wrapped snacks. They often feature mascots on the packages and colorful wrappings that kids love. This dagashi pays homage to a classic Japanese meal: コーンポタージュ (otherwise known as corn potage or Japanese corn soup). It really did taste just like corn, I was in awe! Corn potage is definitely a unique flavor that I had never seen in a snack before. That’s one of the fun things about Japan Candy Box; discovering one-of-a-kind snacks from Japan, a country filled with unique foods.
4. Sanritsu Genji-Pie Crispy Pumpkin Snack
The next snack is a classic in Japan: genji pie. These little treats are made of a flaky soft crust and come in adorable heart shapes! After tasting the previous snacks, this genji pie was a nice little respite. The pumpkin flavor is fitting for the box, but it’s not overpowering. Like many snacks in Japan, the flavor is subtle and the consistency is very light.
5. Tahato Halloween Caramel Corn
This next treat is a classic for fall--caramel corn! However, this snack is not the common caramel corn you are thinking of, but corn pops with light caramel! They weren’t too dense or too filling as caramel corn can be. I enjoyed the light airy quality of these that isn’t common in our American version. There are even a few ghost-shaped pieces included for an added bit of fun and spookiness!
6. Fettuccine Mickey & Minnie Halloween Gummies
Next are the Fettuccine Gummies. These get their name from their shape: short, flat strips, like small pieces of fettuccine! As you can read from the label, these are オレンジ (orange) flavor. They taste like the Orange Slices gummies we have here in the US, but more sour tang to them.
7. Kajyu Halloween Fruit Juice Gummies
The next treat is a small pack of grape flavored gummies by Kajyu. Kajyu is owned by Meiji, one of the biggest candy companies in Japan. Kajyu comes from the Japanese word for fruit juice kajū (果汁 or かじゅう) and is a fitting name for these gummies. Kajyu’s gummies are made from concentrated fruit juice to really pack in the flavor. These gummies smelled exactly like grape juice--and they were delicious! I’ve never been a fan of grape-flavored candies, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed these! I think I might be a grape-flavored fan now--so long as it’s Kajyu!
8. Apollo Halloween Chocolates
Japan Candy Box’s guide has this next treat labeled under “Popular Candy” and they are correct! If you are a fan of Japanese candy, you have seen these before: Apollo Strawberry Chocolate Candies. I learned from the guide that these delicious strawberry and chocolate candies got their unique shape from the Apollo 11--the spaceship that brought us to the moon! The candies came in an awesome pyramid-shaped wrapper that I loved almost as much as the chocolates inside!
9. Furukawa Mysterious!? Witch Gum
Next is our second gum treat. I can see Japanese children having fun with this Halloween candy. The package features a spooky witch on the front, and she has mixed all the gum flavors together into one bag! There is orange, apple, soda, yogurt, and a mystery prank flavor! The back comes with guide on what flavors to mix to make new flavors. And if you eat every flavor together, the prank flavor will disappear! Definitely a fun Halloween candy! Something else I love about Japan Candy Box is being able to practice my Japanese by reading the wrappers. This one was especially fun to read as there was so much included!
10. Black Thunder Halloween Chocolate Bar
Last, but definitely not least, is the Black Thunder chocolate bar! The bar is a small piece of chocolate shortbread cookie with rice puffs, all covered in a layer of chocolate. As a bit of a chocoholic, I’m always happy to try new chocolate bars, and Black Thunder did not disappoint. It’s light but chocolaty and had a delicious flavor from the cookie. It was a wonderful way to end my box tasting!
Favorite Snack Included?
Baby Star chicken noodle snacks! They were delicious and I was so glad they were included so I could try them for the first time! They are flavorful and crunchy and feel like a better alternative to potato chips.
Most Unique/Memorable?
Umaibo Halloween Corn Potage Puff Stick, no doubt! I’ve never had a snack that tasted like this but really enjoyed it!
So the verdict?
Japan Candy Box is awesome and exceeded all expectations! It was a wonderful way to practice my Japanese and experience Japanese culture, while also getting to try some new treats! There was a great mix of snacks, from sweet to savory, so anyone would love this box, regardless of their preference. The box is packed full of snacks, not too many that they will go to waste, but not too few that they will be gone too quickly. It is the perfect amount to keep customers happy until the next box arrives!
This box has been especially welcome since travel to Japan is currently restricted. It’s like getting to experience the country from home and getting to have a little piece of it with you. I recommend Japan Candy box to anyone who loves Japan, who wants to try new things, or anyone interested in a unique way to practice their Japanese.
Japan Candy Box was a fun and one-of-a-kind experience! There wasn’t a single treat I didn’t like. Getting to learn more about Japan and the kind of snacks eaten over there was so fun! Plans range from $24.90 to $29.90. No matter what plan you choose, you will be receiving plenty of high quality and delicious snacks!
Now please excuse me while I go to Japan Candy Store and buy more Baby Star noodle snacks.