Snakku – June 2018 Review

This month, Snakku proves that you can never have too much green tea!  Yes, we are exploring an oldie but goodie in one of Japan’s most traditional flavors.

Snakku has two subscription styles:

The Signature Box ~ available for $38.95/month including free international shipping (and in 3 and 6 month prepaid plans with a slight discount).

The Tasting Box ~ available for $15.75/month including shipping, but only in the US.

Each of Snakku’s Signature Boxes comes wrapped in a beautiful furoshiki, or traditional washi wrapping cloth.  They vary occasionally from month to month, although I believe I have received this pattern before.

For June, Snakku is all about green tea, focusing on two varieties in particular: matcha and hojicha.  While both come from the same plant, matcha is grown under different conditions and is ground into a fine green powder to produce a fresh, bitter flavor.  Hojicha is roasted to reduce the caffeine content, which gives it an earthier flavor and a darker color.

Matcha Latte

This instant green tea latte comes from a famous traditional tea shop that has been in Kyoto since 1952.  The green tea is hand ground and lightly sweetened, and can be enjoyed hot or cold according to the information card.  I tried it hot in lieu of my early morning coffee, and it was a bit sweeter than I had anticipated – more of a dessert drink to me.  I still enjoyed it though, and am eager to try the second packet cold (perfect for summer heat!).

Matcha Waffle

These waffle sandwiches hail from a snack shop that has been open since 1836!  They’re infused with matcha and twice-baked to the perfect crisp texture, and have a smooth matcha cream filling.  I couldn’t taste the green tea as much as I wanted, but as a snack it was still delicious.

Hojicha Langue de Chat

These langue de chat cookies from Kyoto are an interesting twist on a traditional treat.  The cookies are made with soy milk and flavored with roasted tea, while the chocolate inside has also been infused with hojicha.  The smoky flavor from the tea balances well with the sweetness of the cookie so that the sugar is subtler and not overwhelming.  I’m intrigued!

Hojicha Kit Kat

First of all, I apologize for the distinctly unappetizing photo!  All of my KitKats melted in the summer heat, and the unfortunate combination of melted chocolate plus the color means that this treat tastes much better than it looks.  The traditional KitKat chocolate has been infused with hojicha from a famous tea shop, giving it a slightly savory earthy flavor on top of the crisp of the wafer.

Traditional Uji Candies

These little hard candies are from Uji, a region in Kyoto.  There are four different flavors included: Kyoto maple, matcha powder, gyokuro matcha, and hojicha tea.  I don’t think I’ve tried them all yet, but the Kyoto maple and matcha powder might be my favorites.  They’re both sweet hard candies, but there is something distinctly refreshing about both of those flavors as well.

Hojicha Sable

These cookies are made with hojicha from a region called Saiyama.  They’re buttery and crisp, with a hint of that distinct earthy flavor.  The smooth richness of the buttery cookie plus the richness of the darker tea complement one another surprisingly well.

Matcha Caramel Corn

These little corn puffs are sweeter than the kinds we’re used to here in the States (think like a cheese puff, but dessert).  They’re flavored with matcha from Kyoto and caramel from Hokkaido, an area known for its rich cream.  The caramelized outside give each puff a bit of a crunch, followed by a light airy inside.  I wish the snacks had a touch more matcha flavor, but I do still appreciate the delightful sugariness.

Strawberry Biscot

The second you open this package, you’re hit with a delicious strawberry-jam scent.  These sandwich cookies are popular with children, and contain vitamins, calcium, and probiotics.  The outside has that buttery Ritz cracker/English biscuit texture, and the filling is a sweet strawberry cream.  Slightly artificial for my tastes, but I still ate the whole package so clearly that’s not a complaint!

Choco Matcha Swirl

Look at that gorgeous pattern on top of this cookie!  Each one is twice-baked for a crisp flaky texture, and infused with two types of matcha powder.  The pattern is drawn on in rich dark chocolate.  This dessert cookie is as yummy as it is beautiful.

Fukkura Okoge

These senbei are made with full rice grains, so it’s almost more like a puffed rice snack than the typical cracker I’m used to.  They’ve been drizzled with a light soy sauce for a salty flavor with just a hint of sweetness, and baked in a clay kiln for extra crunch.  An interesting take on the traditional senbei!

Overall this was a delightful take on a very traditional theme.  Not everything was matcha/hojicha related (I’m looking at you, strawberry biscuits and senbei), but the products that did include the different kinds of tea were varied enough that I was surprised by all the forms available.  My favorites were probably the hojicha langue de chat (so unique!) and the choco swirl cookie (so smooth!), but I would probably eat any of these snacks again if I had the chance!

 

PR sample.  All opinions are my own.  No compensation was received for this review.  This post may contain affiliate links.