My Review: Getting a Sweet Taste of Tokyo Delivered by Japan Candy Box
Have you ever wished you could get your hands on delicious Japanese candy, snacks and soda without boarding a 13 hour flight to Tokyo? Well I‘m here to share my first-hand experience getting a taste of Japan‘s vibrant food culture delivered right to my door thanks to an awesome subscription box service called Japan Candy Box.
An Overview of Japan Candy Box
Japan Candy Box specializes in sending authentic Japanese candy and snacks every month to customers around the world. They curate popular products and funky flavors from Tokyo along with exclusives you won‘t find anywhere else.
As someone who loves trying unique snacks from Asia, I was intrigued by unboxing videos I saw on YouTube of past Japan Candy Box deliveries. Everything inside looked so colorful and different than what we have here in American grocery stores, plus the packaging was really cute.
What‘s Inside a Japan Candy Box
Each monthly subscription box from Japan Candy Box contains around 10 surprise snacks and candies total. Most of the treats they send are sweet flavors, but you‘ll also find some savory chips and puffs inside too.
Here‘s an example rundown of what arrived in my first delivery:
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Kit Kat Mini Birthday Cake flavor – This limited edition mini Kit Kat bar had a sweet aroma of vanilla cake batter. The crispy wafers tasted like they were dipped in frosting!
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Baked Corn Pretz stick snacks – Sort of like a cheese puff but with an intense corn taste. They were super crunchy and dusted with this savory seasoning.
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Choco Baby Fuwa Mallows – At first I thought they were marshmallows but the panda bear shapes are actually made of a soft chocolate cake-like material. They have a creamy milk chocolate bottom too. So cute!
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Ramune Marble Soda – This fizzy soda bottle had a glass marble stopper I had to punch down into the bottle neck. It made a very satisfying popping noise! The drink itself was sweet cherry flavored.
Along with photos of each snack, Japan Candy Box also includes info cards describing flavors and ingredients. It‘s a nice personalized touch.
My Taste Test Experience of the Snacks
Over the years, I‘ve watched countless YouTube videos showing hauls of Tokyo snack foods. But this was my first chance at actually trying Japanese candy for myself to see if the flavors live up to the hype. Spoiler alert: yes, yes they do!
The Kit Kat stood out with its playful candy-like vanilla frosting flavor blended into the signature crispy wafer layers. It was super sweet but hard not to keep grabbing more squares. I can see why Kit Kat releases 300+ flavors exclusively across Japan. Their R&D knows how to keep snackers hooked!
While chocolate definitely seems popular among Japanese candy brands, a few of the other treats took me by surprise. The Pretz stick had an intense corn aroma and reminded me of a hot, buttery popcorn. It didn‘t taste artificial or overly salty which I liked.
Without a doubt, the bouncy panda marshmallows (called Fuwa Mallows) stole my heart and my Instagram likes. Just look how adorable they are:
I expected their texture to be like conventional American marshmallows. But instead, these marshies have an incredibly airy, feather-light chew closer to sponge cake. And that velvety milk chocolate bottom? Chef‘s kiss!
Between curiously popping open a Ramune bottle to munching on cocoa panda bears, sampling Japan Candy Box felt like getting a backstage pass into Tokyo‘s vibrant snack scene. If cute packaging and exotic flavors are your thing, I definitely recommend giving them a try!
Japan Candy Box Pricing Breakdown
Japan Candy Box offers a few subscription plan options:
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 Month | $30 per box |
| 6 Months | $168 upfront ($28 per box) |
| 12 Months | $300 upfront ($25 per box) |
All plans include free shipping worldwide!
Considering a single Kit Kat bar can cost $3+ in stores around me, getting 10+ full sized candies and snacks for just $30 a month feels like an awesome bargain. Japan Candy Box pricing beats out competitors too.
For the curious snackers out there wanting to just try one box, going month-to-month is nice. But the 12 month plan gets your per box cost down to only $25 USD which is a steal when you calculate how expensive it would be to import all these straight from Japan yourself.
Walkthrough of Ordering to Delivery
Signing up on Japan Candy Box‘s website was quick and painless. I simply picked my plan length, entered my delivery address, email and payment info. Boom – I had my first Tokyo taste test box on the way!
Japan Candy Box ships worldwide from Japan using postal mail services. They sent me a tracking number within 48 hours but cautioned me deliveries can take 2 to 4 weeks depending on customs checks.
I‘ll admit I was antsy knowing my box of Japanese candy was floating somewhere over the Pacific. But surprise, surprise – it arrived in less than 14 days! I even got an email from Japan Candy Box confirming my order was delivered. Opening my mailbox to find that magical parcel shipping label directly from Tokyo felt like Christmas morning.
From personalized order confirmation to delivery email, the whole process with Japan Candy Box felt well organized and easy. Now bring on those monthly candy cravings!
The Final Verdict: Is Japan Candy Box Worth It?
If you like discovering new funky flavors, can‘t resist adorable packaging, or have always wondered just what green tea Kit Kats taste like straight from Japan – yes, absolutely try out Japan Candy Box!
What I loved most, beyond the actual snacks themselves, was getting to unbox a totally personalized assortment of surprise candy each month. It satisfied my inner child going crazy in the candy aisle while appealing to my adult curiosity for authentic Japanese cuisine.
For less than $1 per tasty treat shipped fast from Tokyo, you simply can‘t beat the convenience and value of a monthly Japan Candy Box subscription. It delivers the perfect sampler for novices and Japan junk food fans alike. Now if you‘ll excuse me, I have more Variety Kit Kats to devour!
