A year ago I was lucky enough to receive a box from Japan Candy Box. I do love trying new kinds of food and this wasn't any different.
This year I was invited by Blippo Kawaii Shop, who owns Japan Candy Box to do a review of their latest box. Of course, I said yes because ... candy!
The Japan Candy Box is a subscription kind of a box which contains 8-10 unique Japanese snacks and candies. They change from month to month and I'm reviewing the September box.
It costs between $18.20 to $19.90 a month. It depends on how long you subscribe. Also, the shipping is free which is always a bonus with such boxes. It's not the cheapest box out there, but it's quite a unique concept and a box which should every Japanese enthusiast try at least once ;).
In the span of a year, they have improved their boxes a lot. I am really digging the print on the cardboard and the "Tips".
This box consists of 10 different brands of snacks which I was really excited to try. Let us begin!
#1 Kracie Dodotto Octopus Eggs DIY Kit
Yummy gummy octopus eggs, anyone? This yet another crazy and funny DIY set from Kracie will blow you away by it's uniqueness! Mix two different liquids in two separate dishes, and by using the squeezy octopus dropper, suck in the liquid and drop the eggs in the other candy liquid by squeezing the octopus! Now you have yummy grape-flavored octopus eggs that can be eaten with a fizzy candy pulver also included in the package. Surprise your friends with this adorable octopus egg dessert! So funny and gummy!
This is the set that I was the most excited about. The step by step instructions were quite easy to understand and I enjoyed creating the candy. The end result was this fluffy creamy candy (looked sort of like a yogurt) with colored sugar specks inside. Delicious!
#2 Kabaya Mixed Fruit Bottle Candy
This bottle by Kabaya includes small but tasty hard star shaped candy balls! The bottle has three different flavored candies inside: apple, grape and orange! The bottle is illustrated with funny animal picture! So cute and sweet!
These candies were hard and cute. I like the container as it's easy to use and to put away. The flavors are grape, apple, and orange but I liked the best the apple flavor. The candy wasn't too sweet as it's usual in our Western versions of hard candy, so I am pretty impressed. Not my favorite, but it was fine. -
#3 Calbee Vegetable Snacks
Calbee is famous for their exciting snacks! This set includes a package full of different flavors of tasty vegetable snacks. Try for example the delicious flavors of bell pepper, carrot and tomato. Bring these treats to a movie night or offer them at your next party - so tasty and cute! No extra fat or oil added, so these delicious snacks are healthy too!
I think that these look fun because of the heart shape. I tried all the flavors and I liked the most the bell pepper flavor. One thing I noticed is that they aren't really salty. Here it's usual that chips or similar snacks are extremely saturated with salt, but these were lovely. I want to repurchase them.
#4 Kanro Pure Mini Gummies
Japanese people love sour candies! These juicy sour gummies by Kanro are made from 100% fruit purée with no artificial colors or flavors! The cute snack sized packages contain 4 different flavours:apple, grape, lemon and strawberry. The fruit gummies are covered with sour powder and will make you make faces while eating these candies! Choose your favorite flavor or try them all with your friends and family!
I was expecting these candies to be less sour and more ... I don't know. But the sugar and crystals have a nice sour taste which I liked. What I didn't like is the flavor of the candies. They are grape flavored but to me, they mostly taste like must (the "juice" you get when you squeeze fresh grapes that are to become wine).
#5 Tohato Caramel Corn
Tohato has made these famous caramel corn treats since 1971 and they are popular for a reason! The light delicious taste of caramel and the crispiness of the corns together make these a perfect snack for any occasion! The set includes 4 packages and each package includes a funny instruction on how to enjoy these goodies - PakuPaku, munch at your snacks; MoguMogu, chew a mouthful; PoiPoi toss and Perori, eat up! Try out these funny Japanese snacks with your friends and family!
Are you a fan of peanut puffs? Well, I am and I was shocked when I tried these. They are sweet but with a smokey aftertaste (because of the caramel). I didn't enjoy them, but my kid loved them.
#6 Doraemon Ramune Squash Soda Bubble Gum
Ramune is a popular citrus flavored soda drink in Japan. Now you can enjoy this famous beverage in a form of gum! This sweet package features the beloved Doraemon character and contains 5 individually wrapped bubble gum bars. Keep these yummy bars to yourself or have a blast with friends by blowing big gum bubbles together!
I am not the biggest fan of chewing gum but I am always open to trying new things. These gums are individually wrapped with Doraemon drawings (?) and have very gentle taste. Not too sweet and slightly of some sort of lemons? They were nice.
#7 Popin' Cookin' Oekaki Animal Candy Land DIY Kit
Kracie DIY sets are a fun and interesting way to make your own sweets. This is a Do-It-Yourself set for creating your own multi-colored soda-flavored gummy animals. Mix the materials to create your own color combinations! Each set comes with 4 different moulds such as penguin, panda, rabbit and giraffe etc. The package includes all the necessary ingredients, tools and instructions - just add water and creativity. This set is great fun for children and adults alike.
The thing is that I wanted to try these in like forever. Now I finally had the chance and I can say that I do like the idea of creating them, but a bit less the steps it takes to get to the candy.
The kit comes with three colors and two gum/soft candy pastes. The colors don't really have any flavor but the gum pastes are tasty. I liked it but the hassle was just too much.
#8 Coris Soft Centered Grape Gum
These soft grape flavoured gum balls have a soft cola paste centre. The bubble gum balls come nestled in a small plastic tray. Beware! One of the three tasty bubble gum treats is actually a super sour flavour sweet in disguise. Try your luck!
Soft grape flavored gums that don't have much of flavor. One of the three comes with a sour center and since I didn't get it (I tried 2) I guess my kid did. Hah! A fun idea, but I wish it would have a better flavor.
#9 Coris Gum Gum Chewing Gum
Coris does not only make delicious Horadekita DIY kits, but yummy chewing gums also! This package comes with 5 little boxes of colorful and funny chewing gum. The 5 boxes come in 5 different flavors - apple, banana, grape, fruit mix and soda. Chew some gum!
These were cute small chewing gum with nice flavors (I am not sure which ones, but I did enjoy them). Sadly you can't create a nice bubble with them and they loose the flavor pretty quickly. But otherwise it's a nice sort of a gum.
#10 Lotte Pokemon Ramune Candy
Lotte Pokemon Soda (ramune) 5-Pack Candy has 5 amazing flavors, each having their own individual Pokemon character and bag. Now you can enjoy either pineapple, melon, cola, soda or grape flavors. The candies are round and super tasty - just place one in your mouth and the candy will start to fizz. Exciting!
You know what seems to me? That the theme of this box was yet again grape. With a little variation. I don't know what I am not a fan of grape flavored candy. Maybe one, but more than one? Nah, won't happen. Anyway, I didn't know this was a Pokemon so I was quite surprised to learn about it. The candies have little flavor and remind me of those energy candies that you can buy in stores.
GIVEAWAY
If you are a fan of Japanese Candies and snacks you can enter to win your very own Japan Candy Box!
The giveaway is open internationally and the winner will be picked by the company organizing it (Blippo) on 9th November.
