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Pakubox, who kindly sent me this box, was to be a monthly subscribing service providing 4 to 5 full-sized made-in-Japan products specially curated and shipped straight to your door each month, however, they have decided to go in another direction and will be launching “TakoKen”. TakoKen, launching in January 2014, is a lifestyle company and will include a shop with the hottest items in Japan along with weekly cultural content. It doesn’t sound like it will be a subscription service, however, I will keep you posted if that changes. So basically, this is the first (and last) PakuBox.
PakuBox shipped via USPS Priority Mail and was one of the many many packages I received last week. And I have been busy testing out these goodies since.
I loved the origami birds (?) and B and I were trying to make them fly, but I don’t think we were doing it right. Regardless, they are gorgeous and there is no way I am tossing them.
Ohh, I was loving the second look. I didn’t recognize anything, which I love. There was no information card, however, TheMamaPaku, did an unboxing and discussed all of the items in the box, which I should have watched before I tried my items ;). Here’s what the box included:
~Glico Midi Pocky Biscuit Potteri Green Tea: Based on the picture I thought this was some sort of kale chocolate combination, but it was actually green tea. I was hoping it would taste more chocolate like than green tea like, but no. And it had quite the after taste. L and I were not fans (he did like the green color though).
~Burbon Baked Wheat Biscuit – Cafe Latte: Mmmm, I think all biscuits like this should have coffee in them. L had a bit and wasn’t a fan (because it tasted like coffee), but I loved them!
~Pocky Almond Crush: These are exactly what you’d think. Little almonds on a stick covered in chocolate. They are delicious. L and I were both huge fans of these. I’d buy more if I ran into them at the store. Not if they came in a pack with the green tea ones though…
~Kasugai Candy (Throat Candy with Fruit): Some of the flavors are a little different on these (it’s not like just plain cherry and orange and lemon), but I quite enjoyed them. This is another thing that if I ran into them at the store, I would grab more of.
~Amehama Coffee Soft Candy: Ahh, I was most scared of these coffee balls. LOL. I opened the package and found that they were wrapped individually, which I was not expecting at all. But happily they were. They have an odd consistency and when I bit into it I instantly regretted it. However, as it got chewier, it turned out they weren’t so bad at all. I wouldn’t say they were amazing, but I didn’t want to immediately toss the entire bag out either.
I didn’t do a cost breakdown on this box (it was set to cost $24.99/month) since this subscription is no longer, but if these kind of items interest you, for sure check out TakoKen when they launch (it’s just a blank page now).
And if you have ever tried any of these snacks, what’d you think?
You may be able to find Pocky at some of your local grocery stores or if you have a super walmart. It may just be the plain biscuit and chocolate but it is still good! You can also find Pocky at World Market. They will have a larger variety of flavors. I had actually never seen the green tea ones before. They have a strawberry one that is almost like a yogurt covered stick that is awesome!
I think I have actually seen the plain ones at my Kroger! I had WB try the green tea ones tonight. Not a fan either ;).
Those paper birds are cranes.
I love the box, but I don’t think it worth $24.99. I have seen most of the content in Asian markets here in the US. I could get everything for about $15 to $18
Good to know! Thank you! I could NOT think of what they were at all!
Have you seen Skoshbox? It’s cheaper and you get a lot more stuff!
I did a review on them a few months ago. PakuBox isn’t even a subscription anymore though. I’m not sure if they took subscriptions anywhere other than their kickstart (?) page?
I could totally get you more Pocky! I like the chocolate, chocolate almond, and strawberry flavored ones. This store by me has like 10 different flavors. Never seen the green tea ones. They scare me a little, and I love tea.
Be scared!!!! I think my grocery store has the regular chocolate ones. I will look next time and let you know. Thank you!
I’m scared of trying all the Japanese goodies now (I sub to Skoshbox) after I tried eel jerky! Omg it was SO awful!
We had to read the book “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes” in elementary school and as a class made a thousand of origami cranes. Those look similar to the ones we made and if they are the same type, you can make them “fly” by holding the front bottom section and then pull the tail thing. It should make the wings flap as you pull it in and out. Might help to push the wings down a bit first. The book was about the terminal effects of the atom bomb on a young Japanese girl and definitely one of the books that stick with you into adulthood.
Thank you!!! I am testing this out ASAP!!!
I work down the street from San Jose Japantown so I’ve tried all different kinds of Pocky (our love of Japanese treats is why I subscribed to Skoshbox). I must look for those coffee flavored biscuits!
I hope you can find them!