Savor the essence of Japanese spring
Experience Japan's unique spring season with cherry blossoms and tea. Witness the once-a-year scenery and enjoy the exquisite sakura blossoms and the aroma of fresh spring teas. Breathtaking sakura-lined streets turn cities a vibrant pink, while humble tea fields recount ancient stories. A simple joy of traveling where these traditions flourish is to see sakura in many different ways. Our Sakura Box brings the magic of these whimsical cherry blossoms to your doorstep, allowing you to feel the springtime spirit of Japan in your own home.
Revisiting the Meaning of Tea in Modern Times in a City of Traditions
Whether the weather is cool or warm, having a cup of green tea is a favorite pastime of the Japanese. Like sitting under a tree to appreciate cherry blossoms in spring, having green tea with friends is a great reason one can find to chat with one another.
Kyoto Gyoroku Goencha is hoping that people will enjoy tea more through their products. Their product is unique in that it's not just a bag of tea with a brand. It's tea that is personal to the person who receives it because it comes with a message from the person who sent it. Even in sending and receiving the tea there is a warm sense of communication between two people who may be far apart. That warmth continues when the person brews the tea for someone as they can both enjoy it together.
Every Taste and Story, All in One Box
Open the box and discover what you'll find!
A selection of quality products and the stories of where they came from, carefully chosen and curated for you!
Sakura Kudzu Mochi
This is a confectionery made with cherry blossom leaf paste. It has a jelly-like texture with elasticity, resembling both jelly and mochi. 'Kudzu mochi' is a plant-based food made from the starch of kudzu roots.
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Manufactured on the same line as products containing: milk, wheat, peanuts
Labels: Low sodium, No fat
Sakura Arare
These snacks ("arare", pronounced ah-raw-ray) are shaped like cherry blossom petals. The red senbei, colored like cherry blossoms, contains minced shrimp. You can enjoy the crispy texture combined with the subtle aroma of white soy sauce. Placing these on a plate will bring the spirit of spring to your table in no time.
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Allergens: shrimp, wheat, soy
Made in a factory that uses: eggs, milk, sesame, squid
Labels: Low sodium, Low fat
Fu-yaki
Fu-yaki, a type of wheat gluten confection, is made by baking mochi rice and decorating it with sugar patterns. This month, we are featuring cherry blossom petals and spring breeze designs on the product.
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Allergens: eggs
Hyoroku Mochi
This is a type of rice cake that includes roasted soybean flour, matcha, seaweed, and sweet white bean paste. Legend has it there once was a brave young man named Hyoroku. He single-handedly went to defeat a mischievous wild fox causing villagers trouble. This snack is based on this legend.
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Allergens: soy
Manufactured on the same line as products containing: milk
Labels: Vegan, Low sodium, No fat
Ringo Yokan
Yokan is a wagashi (Japanese snack) made of red bean paste, agar, and sugar. It is often enjoyed alongside tea. While yokan typically comes in flavors like red bean or chestnut, apple-flavored yokan is quite rare. The moment you open it, you can immediately smell its fruitiness.
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Allergens: apples
Labels: Vegan
Okara & Rice Sablé
Okara is the leftover part after squeezing soy milk from soybeans during tofu production. It's rich in soy, as well as protein and dietary fiber, making it a nutritious and healthy food. Additionally, this sablé uses rice flour instead of wheat flour, making it naturally gluten free.
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Allergens: soy
May contain: wheat, eggs, milk
Labels: Mottainai product, Additive free, Gluten free, Vegetarian
Anno Dried Sweet Potato Sticks
This is made from Kyushu-grown sweet potatoes, softly shaped into a stick form. It is free of additives such as fragrances and coloring agents, making it safe for even small children to eat. 'Anno-imo' is said to be sweeter than other sweet potatoes.
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Labels: Vegan, No artificial coloring, Fragrance free, Low sodium, Low fat
Suzu Ramune Candy
"Suzu" means "bell" in Japanese. It is not only used as a musical instrument but also in shrines when communicating with gods. The four-colored ramune candies shaped like bells are very cute and are sure to bring happiness. And the potatoes and corn starch are GMO free!
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Labels: Vegetarian, Low fat
Chestnut Anmitsu Jelly
Hitokuchido is an established confectionery shop in Osaka, founded in 1897. The small red beans and chestnuts reflecting within the translucent jelly give the appearance of amber.
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Allergens: tree nuts
Labels: Vegan
Kotoka Strawberry Soft Candy
Unlike regular hard candy, when you put this in your mouth, the outer hard part melts away so you can enjoy a crunchy texture. It uses a unique strawberry from Nara Prefecture called "Kotoka." It is characterized by its strong sweetness.
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Made in a factory that uses: wheat, eggs, milk, oranges, soy, bananas, peaches, apples
Labels: Vegetarian, No fat, No sodium
Sweet & Sour Plum
The plum blossom, along with the cherry blossom, represents spring in Japan, blooming with delicate pink flowers. This is made from Japanese plum fruits, dried into bite-sized dried fruits, with a subtle sweetness and a hint of a tart flavor.
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Labels: Vegetarian, No artificial coloring, Fragrance free, No sodium, No fat
Kaki no Tane (Plum & Wasabi flavors)
"Kaki no Tane" is the most popular snack in Japan to have while drinking alcohol. This time we have procured plum and wasabi flavors, which are rare. The plum flavor has some acidity, so one bite will increase your thirst and make you want to drink more alcohol! The wasabi flavor may even give you a sensation similar to eating sushi!
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Allergens: wheat, milk, soy
Made in a factory that uses: wheat, milk, peanuts, walnuts, almonds
Labels: Low fat
Uji Matcha & Black Roasted Green Tea Chocolate Crunch
Kyoto Rikyu-en is a brand of matcha with a history dating back nearly 400 years. The name "Rikyu-en" is inspired by Sen no Rikyu, who is credited with laying the foundation for the Japanese tea ceremony. The matcha chocolate crunch contains carefully selected Uji matcha.
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Allergens: milk, soy
Labels: Vegetarian, Low sodium
Tarugata Senbei
The design of Tarugata Senbei features branding from a Japanese sake brand produced in Kobe. Fu-yaki, a type of wheat gluten confection, is made by baking mochi rice and decorating it with sugar patterns. The red plum blossoms evoke the arrival of spring.
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Allergens: eggs, wheat, honey
Labels: Vegetarian, Low sodium
Kinfuri - Katsuo Furikake (rice seasoning)
This is furikake made using dried bonito flakes. It can be sprinkled on not only rice but also salads, pasta, pizza, and more. Just a small amount can instantly give your dish a Japanese twist. Hayashi-Kyuemon Shoten has been handcrafting bonito flake products for over 130 years.
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Allergens: wheat, soy, sesame
Labels: Addtive free, No artificial coloring, Fragrance free
Roasted Green Tea
Kyoto Goencha offers a wide range of tea products with commemorative packaging suitable for your Japan trip, boasting over 1000 items. Fitting of the festive cherry blossom season, the package is adorned with the words, "Thank you for everything."
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Labels: Vegan, Additive free
The other day, when I woke up and opened the window, a slightly warmer breeze drifted in. It was a bit different from the piercingly cold wind that blew just a month ago. I dressed a bit lighter than usual and walked down the road to the station, where the once barren street trees had turned slightly pink with cherry blossoms. The cherry blossoms signal the end of the long and harsh winter, quietly blooming and quietly falling. Every year, at the same time, they bring a little joy to our hearts. And at that moment, people can't help but think, "Can't we hold onto this beauty just a little bit longer?"