Japan Crate: December 2018

My December Premium Japan Crate arrived today, not even two weeks after I received my ultra-delayed November crate due to the Canada Post Union Workers strikes. I did realize that I would be eating a lot of candy this month because of this, but I didn't anticipate that my December crate would be arriving so soon. I haven't even gotten through half of the last box, so bear with me as I make my way through all the snacks (this is really a great problem to have, though, not gonna lie). This month's theme is (obviously) Christmas and includes the following:

• Tohato Christmas Caramel Corn with Peanuts — "One of our favourite Christmas Japanese treats. These caramel crunchy snacks are a perfect break from all your holiday celebrating, plus are a great bag to share with friends and family."
• Yaokin Chocolate Christmas Umaibo — "Typically a salty snack, this Umaibo is sweet and chocolate-flavoured for the holiday season. Hopefully, it was in time to make it onto the nice list."
• Yaokin Princess' Disappearing Treasure — "This delicious cookie has a hidden secret! Inside, you'll find the Princess' secret strawberry and blueberry jam."
• Yaokin Chocolate Waffle Cookie — "Last minute shopping have you busy? This chocolate waffle is a great pick-me-up that you can carry in your pocket to help get that last purchase right on time."
• World of Stars Konpeito — "Konpeito is a traditional Japanese sweet with a taste similar to rock candy! While konpeito is often multicoloured, these are in a special holiday colour and packaged with fun elf creature on the wrapper."

• Doutor Cocoa Toast — "Doutor is a popular Japanese coffee roaster and is known for having amazing flavours. They made a toast chip out of their famous cocoa flavour. The toast is lightly baked and has just the right amount of choco flavour to make you feel happy."
• Coris Waku Waku Doubutsu Animal Soft Candy — "Make your own animal soft candies this December! Maybe you can recruit some little helpers."
• Yaokin Christmas Brown Sugar Fugashi — "Enjoy this traditional Japanese snack with Christmas packaging. The wrapper says 'Merry Christmas!'"
• Topseika Cola Gum — "While not a traditional polar bear Coca-Cola commercial, this cola gum will give you the same satisfying cola taste without the can (or bottle)."
• Yaokin One Two Strawberry Wafer Biscuits — "Another pastry favourite for the holidays that will have you feeling merry and jolly in no time."
• Dragon Ball Super Gum — "We've heard that the number of chews is your power level. What's yours?"

• Lotte Koala March Nazo Mystery Flavour — "Holidays are often filled with surprises! Koala March is playing along and sharing a secret flavour. You won't know what it is until you try it."
• Morinaga Ootama White Chocolate Peanut Chocoball — "We're dreaming of a white... Chocoball! These chocolate balls are 2.5x bigger than normal and feature white chocolate with a hint of salt and peanuts."
• Yaokin Chocolate Milk Cream Cake — "Every celebration needs a cake! Celebrate this holiday season with a chocolate and milk-flavoured cream cake."
• Tohato Christmas Poteco Pizza Flavour — "Combine the holidays with a pizza party and you get Tohato's Christmas Poteco Pizza flavoured ring chips!"
• Topseika Sumiko Gurashi Gum — "Did you know Sumiko Gurashi likes to sit in a corner alone? Chew this gum in anticipation if you made it on the nice list!"
• DyDo Jelly Sparkling Star Kirby White Grape Soda — "Pop this bottle of Sparkling Kirby White Grape Soda to celebrate the holidays and new year! Then indulge in your whole crate as if you were Kirby."

I'm still making my way through the November crate, but I can say that my favourites so far are the Yaokin Mr. Taro Onion Snacks, the Frito Lay Japan Butter Soy Sauce Dragon Potato Snacks, and the Kabaya Pure & Natural Grape Gummies. Definite duds are the Yaokin Saucy Senbai Rice Crackers (the styrofoam-like texture of the crackers and the thick, tangy BBQ-like sauce just do not go well together) and the Marukawa Orange Fusen Gum (I used to have these when I was little because they come in cute boxes and lots of different fruit flavours, but they lose all flavour in less than five minutes), but as a whole, the November crate has been really good. Way better than the October crate, which was a lot more gimmicky (I don't want a stupid Halloween mask, I just want the snacks). The December crate here looks similarly tasty, though I already know the konpeito candies and the chewing gums are going to be my least favourite (gum is not a fucking snack, y'all). Will report back in January.