(CNN) –
Many of us are still working from home, which we all learn comes with some pros and cons. You don’t have to travel, but you are finding it difficult to log off your computer at the end of the day. You can wear sweatpants to work, but you can’t fall asleep because your brain has interpreted your bed as your new office. We adapt to many new things, but if there is a dangerously tempting habit of working from home that we just can’t get out of, it’s pinching.
At that point, the 3pm snack attack became more or less a daily ritual. But if you’re like us, boring fries or a can of peanut just won’t do. Switching to healthier snacks is a good way to mix things up, but if you’re the most adventurous type and love the sound of snacks from the other side of the world delivered to your door every month, we have what you need: Bokksu
PHOTO: Kai Burkhardt / CNN
Black sesame Taiko and organic tea from Genmaicha
Bokksu is a signature snack box that helps you explore Japan’s culture through the country’s fun, exciting snacks and sweets. The process is simple: all you need to do is sign up for one of the subscription plans, which are available for $ 49.95 a month (there are also gift subscriptions if you want to send snacks to someone else), so just wait until your box arrives and snack outside.
Each box has a theme, the first box always being the “Seasons of Japan” box, which has different snacks according to the seasons. After that, you will have a different theme each month. Some previous themes were Sweet Love, which included a strawberry sandwich cookie, baked chocolate and more, and Winter in Hokkaido, which had white raspberries, real milk tea and more.
PHOTO: Kai Burkhardt / CNN
Bokksu
In addition, if you get a snack that you absolutely love and want more, Bokksu has an online marketplace where you can buy individual treats, teas and more. You can browse by category or even previous box themes so you can stock up on all your favorites.
The packages are filled with snacks, but they also come with a booklet that explains what each snack is and for whom it is made, in addition to some common allergens. Thus, Bokksu highlights small businesses that make delicious products from all over Japan. You can also learn more about these companies on the Bokksu website, where there are profiles of artisanal manufacturers from all over Japan.
PHOTO: Kai Burkhardt / CNN
Bokksu
We love the idea of Bokksu so much that we sent the Bokksu “Seasons of Japan” starter box so we could try the snacks ourselves. After days of chewing and chewing on our box, we were amazed not only at the amount and variety of small treats that were packed in the box, but also at the overall delicacy of the snacks.
There were sweet and savory snacks, from an edamame biscuit and plum-flavored chips to a strawberry-infused chocolate cake and matcha chocolate. There were flavors and textures that we have never tasted before, like Funwari Meijin Mochi Puffs, which were deliciously fresh and crispy at the same time. We are happy that there are no popular Japanese snacks that you could find at the supermarket, such as Pocky or Hi-Chew. Instead, each package was a whole new experience and we never really knew what to expect next.
All goodies were packed well and neatly in the box, and they escaped unscathed during transport. Some of the more delicate snacks were cracked, but nothing so strong that we tried to eat a bag of crumbs.
PHOTO: Kai Burkhardt / CNN
Bokksu Booklet
We also really liked the booklet that came with the shipment, as it explained what each snack was, which was not always easy to decipher at first sight, since most of the packaging is in Japanese. The booklet explains how each snack fits the theme, which for our box means an overview of the celebrations and flavors commonly found in Japan throughout the seasons. For example, there were Mocchan Dango Mochi, which are small mochi balls normally eaten when you see flowers in the spring, and Dondon Yaki, which are small fries named after the sound of taiko drums that you hear during a summer festival.
Some of our favorite snacks were the Aomori Apple Caramel Yakkoi Sable, which was a soft, chewy cookie; the Uni Rice Crackers, which had a delicious umami flavor of sea urchin; and Puku Puku Tai: Chocolate, which was a fish-shaped cookie filled with a light chocolate mousse.
PHOTO: Kai Burkhardt / CNN
Puku Puku Tai: Chocolate
With the Bokksu subscription, you not only get a cascade of delicious and exciting snacks, but you can also learn more about Japan’s traditions and culture with every bite. So while you can’t travel to the land of the rising sun right now, with Bokksu you can turn your snack break into your next big adventure.
Bokksu is available in monthly subscriptions for $ 49.95, or you can save by buying longer subscriptions in advance, such as the annual subscription for $ 479.40, which saves $ 120 compared to having a standard monthly subscription for a year.