Manufacturer: Takara Seika
Common Allergens: Milk, Wheat, Soy
Also Contains: N/A
Product of: Kanagawa Prefecture
Snack is: Sweet
Vegetarian: Yes

These butter cookies are a popular gift for tourists visiting Yokohama because each cookie has little vignettes of the city printed on them. More than just being cute though, these cookies are filled with a luscious buttercream that balances the more savory cookies. Takara Seika has been proudly baking in Yokohama since 1946, so many of their cookies feature old-timey symbols of life in the port city.

Manufacturer: Sanyo Bussan
Common Allergens: Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Soy
Also Contains: N/A
Product of: Kanagawa Prefecture
Snack is: Sweet
Vegetarian: Yes

Sanyo Bussan was founded in 1962, and since then has been sharing the history and culture of Yokohama with the next generation through their products. This ring cake is soaked with a caramel sauce which keeps it soft and sweet. After dipping each cake in the caramel sauce, it is brûléed to give it that lovely color on top. To really amp up the caramel flavor, caramel paste and caramel powder are used in the batter. Though some may find this cake a bit too sweet, we recommend pairing it with an earthy or dark tea to balance it out.

Manufacturer: Meito Sangyo
Common Allergens: Milk, Wheat, Soy
Also Contains: Mollusk shellfish
Product of: Aichi Prefecture
Snack is: Sweet
Vegetarian: No

Our favorite chocolate fish is swimming back to us! Chock-full of chocolate goodness, this airy, mousse-filled treat is also full of calcium! This treat is a variation on monaka, a traditional Japanese confection featuring two layers of mochi wafers encasing a sweet filling. This modern update replaces the traditional azuki red bean filling with chocolate mousse. Tai (red snapper) are common around the new year because their red color wards off evil spirits, and “tai” is in the word medetai meaning “celebration”.

Manufacturer: Fujiya
Common Allergens: Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Soy
Also Contains: N/A
Product of: Kanagawa Prefecture
Snack is: Sweet
Vegetarian: Yes

Fujiya’s “Country Ma’am” line of cookies is beloved for their rustic, almost homemade feel. This month we’ve chosen the fragrant vanilla flavor, which has a soft center and a sprinkling of chocolate chips. It’s a classic flavor, which is probably why it’s become one of Japan’s favorite cookies since it’s debut in 1984. Fujiya makes all of the Country Ma’am cookies right in Hatano City, Kanagawa. That, paired with the red and gold packaging (celebratory colors in Japan), makes it a perfect fit for our theme this month.

Manufacturer: Ariheitou Seizou Honpo
Common Allergens: Wheat
Also Contains: N/A
Product of: Kanagawa Prefecture
Snack is: Sweet
Vegetarian: Yes

These beautiful gold candies are made for chewing! Don’t be scared to bite into one, the texture is almost flaky, like no other candy we’ve had before. This type of candy is called ariheitou and has been made for over 500 years! Ariheitou Seizou Honpo brought back this tradition. Every candy is handcrafted with carefully selected ingredients like the Shonan Gold citrus that flavors this candy. Shonan Gold is unique to Kanagawa prefecture and its sweet, fragrant flavor makes this crispy candy very addictive.

Manufacturer: Yamato Seika
Common Allergens: Wheat, Soy
Also Contains: Alcohol
Product of: Nagasaki Prefecture
Snack is: Savory
Vegetarian: Yes

Shaped like a tai (traditional Japanese red snapper fish), these puffed crackers have a complex flavor that is balanced by a light sweetness. The snap to this snack goes further than just the tai though! Each tiny fish is puffed to perfection and is wonderfully crispy to bite into. They’re glazed with a sweet coating that will have you polishing off the bag before you know it.

Manufacturer: Iwai No Goma Abura x Minoya Arare
Common Allergens: Wheat, Soy
Also Contains: N/A
Product of: Kanagawa Prefecture
Snack is: Savory
Vegetarian: Yes

These rice crackers don’t play around when it comes to sesame. The rich scent of sesame oil wafts from the bag as you open it. Each crunchy cracker is 100% glutinous rice and is coated with both soy sauce specially brewed for Minoya Arare, and Iwai no Goma Abura’s specialty sesame oil. They’re just hot enough to keep you warm in winter. The combination of soy and sesame makes these crackers deeply savory and extremely delicious. I guess that’s why they won a gold medal at the Monde Selection Award in 1967!

Manufacturer: Imoyoshi Yakata
Common Allergens: Milk, Wheat, Soy
Also Contains: N/A
Product of: Kanagawa Prefecture
Snack is: Savory
Vegetarian: Yes

Imoyoshi Yakata opened in 1986 in Kamakura to bring back the tradition of imokan, traditional sweet shops that made sweets with sweet potatoes. Imoyoshi Yakata highlights the purple sweet potato in particular, making a variety of sweets from their prized ingredient. But this month, we’re highlighting one of their delicious savory options. These potato sticks are like crisp french fries coated in a cheddar cheese powder. Not exactly traditional, but that’s why we love them!

Manufacturer: Kamakurayama Rusk
Common Allergens: Milk, Wheat, Soy
Also Contains: N/A
Product of: Kanagawa Prefecture
Snack is: Sweet
Vegetarian: No

This twice-baked baguette slice has a stunning berry-pink swirl in the center. The white swirl is plain while the pink carries the berry flavor, making the taste as delicate as the texture. It’s finished with a brush of butter and a sprinkle of sugar on top to bring out the sweetness. To create the distinctly crispy texture, Kamakurayama Rusk lets the bread rest for a day between then first and second bake.

Manufacturer: Yaokin
Common Allergens: Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Soy
Also Contains: Alcohol
Product of: Tokyo
Snack is: Sweet
Vegetarian: Yes

Just like a delicious tiny pancake, the maple filling on the inside will make you feel like you’re eating a fresh breakfast. Hotcakes (ホットケーキ) in Japan are sweeter and softer than their Western pancake counterparts. This distinction is clear as soon as you bite into the soft cake. No need to add any additional syrup though, as the filling between these two honeyed cakes is plenty sweet.

Manufacturer: Ash Food Entertainment
Common Allergens: Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Soy
Also Contains: N/A
Product of: Hiroshima Prefecture
Snack is: Sweet
Vegetarian: Yes

We will never say “no” to a waffle. This waffle is a bit on the denser side, which is good for a richer flavor like this. It is sweet and has a lovely lemony and almost aromatic flavor that lingers. It is made with Setouchi lemons, which are known for being sweeter than most lemons, making them great for baking. While we enjoy this waffle just as it is, we also suggest heating it gently in a toaster or microwave and adding a little syrup for an elevated treat.

Manufacturer: Petite Fleur
Common Allergens: Milk, Eggs, Tree nuts, Wheat, Soy
Also Contains: N/A
Product of: Kanagawa Prefecture
Snack is: Sweet
Vegetarian: Yes

This cake features a citrus unique to Kanagawa: the shonan green lemon! The zest of the lemon is mixed directly into the cake batter for a super citrusy flavor. This maker is based in Yokohama and developed this cake to celebrate this regional ingredient. This cake is one of our favorite examples of how Petite Fleur combines the traditional with the new in their French-inspired treats. We’ve never had a cake so deliciously lemony before, and the wonderful crumb of this cake keeps it just subdued enough to still be sweet.

Manufacturer: Ryumon Shoji
Common Allergens: Fish, Wheat, Soy
Also Contains: Mollusk shellfish
Product of: Kanagawa Prefecture
Snack is: Savory
Vegetarian: No

Ryumon Shoji originally began as Yokohama Chinatown’s first Sichuan restaurant “Jukei Hanten” in 1959. The restaurant still exists today, but Ryumon Shoji also now makes snacks so customers can bring the flavor of the restaurant home with them. This fried rice cracker highlights their signature spicy mala sauce. You’ll crunch into this snack only to find your mouth tingling with flavor from the capsicum. Don’t worry, the spice isn’t too overwhelming to the point of not being able to enjoy the other treats in this month’s box after this snack!

Manufacturer: Kanagawa Ken Noukyo Chagyo Center
Common Allergens: None
Also Contains: N/A
Product of: Kanagawa Prefecture
Vegetarian: Yes

These teabags feature a famous print of akafuji, a phenomenon known in english as Diamond Fuji where the morning sun lines up with the peak of Mt. Fuji and turns it red. This black tea is a blend of leaves from local Kanagawa tea makers chosen for their fine quality. The flavor is bold and a bit fragrant, almost floral. It’s also quite smooth and is less astringent than some other black teas. .