Sequential Planet just received its first box from TokyoTreat, an adorable company that brings some of the best Japanese treats to the United States. This box’s theme is Konbini Snack Surprise. Japanese convenience stores (Konbini) are famous for their excellent selection of snacks and drinks. This month’s theme is inspired by konbini, and there are some wonderful exclusive treats here. We had a few bites (and sips of everything you will find in this month’s TokyoTreat box to help you decide if next month’s box might be for you.
Curry Udon
Marcus: A mild flavor but delicious broth makes this a nice lunch that won’t blow the senses. I enjoy the Ichiban brand of cup curry more, but this is still a solid choice.
Hannah: It feels like basic cup ramen. The flavor is mild, yet good. I recommend using the pro-tips provided to enhance the flavor
Fanta Iyokan Citrus
Marcus: It’s not as sweet as an American Fanta, but the carbonation and slightly sour attributes make this a delightful drink. It has a lot in common with alcoholic ciders (Without the alcohol obviously).
Hannah: I absolutely love the feeling of carbonated drinks and this one is no different. From the satisfying pop when you break the seal to the explosion of flavor that never disappoints. This particular one feels quite light and to me almost like a strongly flavored carbonated water. As far as the Iyokan flavor, it felt very much like a slightly less sour mandarin orange.
Sour Paper Candy Apple
Marcus: I’m a sucker for sour gummy candy. Add in apple flavoring, and you have one of the best fruit-flavored sweets you can get. If you are a fan of sour straws, this is a must-try.
Hannah: With the similar flavor of a new apple jolly rancher the flavor once again is what stands out. Overall though, it felt very much like any sour gummy strips you can get here.
Sour Soda Surprise Gum
Marcus: The sour interior is an absolutely nice surprise. I eat tons of sour candy so it isn’t an overwhelming sour, but that doesn’t stop this from being a wonderfully intense, yet short experience.
Hannah: The sour gum was a fun little treat but honestly wasn’t anything super special. The flavor was nice but not something I see myself dying to get my hands on again.
Saquette
Marcus: Despite being a packaged pastry, this tastes like something that you bought fresh in a bakery. The flaky texture is a delight, and the chocolate filling doesn’t taste cheap or artificial.
Hannah: This might be my favorite treat in the box so far. The crust is surprisingly very light and flakey. The sea salt pairs nicely with both the sweetness of the chocolate filling and the buttery-ness of the crust. 10/10 would eat the whole bar.
Yamato Aji Curry
Marcus: I was hoping for a little more of a spicy kick, but this is still a chip that feels light and flavorful.
Hannah: I was expecting more of a spice. These feel similar to pork rinds in flavor. When you first take a bite, there is a moment where it feels like it will be spicy, but the snack never delivers. Still, I can easily eat the entire bag without realizing it.
Umaibo Mentai
Marcus: The seafood flavor is subtle and is mostly a slight aftertaste. The spicy elements are here, but again, this is a low-key snack that doesn’t shove tons of flavor into your mouth.
Hannah: This is another really good light corn snack with a lot of flavor, although I was a bit disappointed with its spice level since it is listed as a slightly spicy treat.
Pandoro Butter Cookie
Marcus: This is another snack that doesn’t differ much from what you have tasted before. It’s a butter cookie through and through. It comes in an adorable shape and has a nice crunch too it, making the texture as satisfying as the buttery taste.
Hannah: Butter cookies are such a delightful and nostalgic treat. The flavor is sweet yet subtle and tastes exactly how you would expect a good butter cookie to taste. Plus who doesn’t love Pandas?
Seito Salt + Yuzu Senbai
Marcus: This is a slightly buffed rice cracker. The salt goes well with the citrus flavor, yet neither one overwhelms. The snack is crunchy all the way, with every bite being satisfying. Anyone who wants rice crackers that taste a bit like a chip will enjoy this one.
Hannah: The first thing I noticed about this snack was without a doubt the smell. I don’t think I even have an American snack or scent to compare it to. As far as flavor, it comes in strong but not overwhelming and leaves you will a nice subtle taste. To me, it once again felt somewhat similar to a pork rind.
Carrot Arare
Marcus: A nice airy snack that feels a lot like rice krispies cereal without the snapping, crackling, and popping. It’s not my favorite thing in the box, but that didn’t stop me from eating these quickly.
Hannah: The packaging is super cute! My first impression was that it taste like you mixed rice krispies with honeycomb cereal. Its very light and airy but has a very light sweetness on the outside.
Osampo Cotton Candy
Marcus: Now this is the snack for me. I’ve loved cotton candy since I was a kid. While I didn’t find anything particularly special about this, it was nice to just open the bag and be hit with nostalgia. The strawberry flavor lasts in your mouth much longer than cotton candy does too.
Hannah: Very much just feels like traditional cotton candy. The flavor wasn’t as present as I would have liked it to be but overall not a bad snack.
Umaiwa Cheese
Marcus: Really, this tastes like a sweet Cheeto. I’m not a huge fan of cheese puffs so this wasn’t for me, but I can definitely still see the appeal.
Hannah: Imagine a Cheeto puff drizzled in honey. That’s what this snack tastes like. The powder feels a little creamier than a cheese puff. If you like Cheese puffs, this is it.
KitKat Choco Banana Pouch
Marcus: The banana is so strong in this KitKat and I am so grateful for that. The chocolate exterior isn’t the best chocolate I’ve ever had, but the banana flavor is what sits in your mouth the longest. This is a delicious little candy that I wish I had more of.
Hannah: I have yet to have a flavor of Japanese Kit Kat that disappoints and this is still not that. From the first bite, you can taste the overwhelming flavor of both the banana and the chocolate. To me, the chocolate outside just tastes like a normal Kit Kat chocolate so not super impressed or excited about that flavor but the banana was very satisfying.
KitKat Melon
Marcus: I’m used to tasting honeydew melon flavored things from Japan, and those never disappoint. Up to this point though, I haven’t had the pleasure of tasting a cantaloupe melon flavored snack. These KitKats taste just like a crispy cantaloupe, which is way better than it sounds.
Hannah: Once again Japanese KitKats NEVER disappoint. The flavor is fantastic and very light. You almost forget that you are eating chocolate.
Mini Melon Pan
We got too excited and ate this snack before we took a picture (Sorry!)
Marcus: I miss melon pan a lot. It’s been three years since the last time I was in Japan and had melon pan from a convenience store. I miss this snack so much I tried and failed to bake it myself. This doesn’t completely scratch the itch, but it’s a solid band-aid and yummy take on melon pan.
Hannah: Of course, nothing compares to fresh melon pan from Japan but these were a nice little reminder of how much I love them. The bread was surprisingly soft and the cream in the middle was subtle and added a nice little sweetness to the bread.
