A Japanese Sweets and Tea Gift Box You Can Build Yourself
A gift box is easy to assemble from three things: something to drink, something sweet, and something savory. Here's one built from Japanese brands, with prices from $17 to $60.
Marukyu Koyamaen Aorashi — a ceremonial-grade matcha from Uji, Kyoto
Marukyu Koyamaen is a matcha producer in Uji, Kyoto, and Aorashi is one of its ceremonial-grade matcha blends, sold here in a 40g tin. At $60 it's the biggest gift in this box, and it's the one to buy for someone who whisks matcha properly rather than blending it into a latte.
Eitaro Sohonpo Yokan — small bean jellies in five flavors
Yokan is a traditional Japanese sweet made from sweet azuki bean paste, and this box from Eitaro Sohonpo has ten small pieces in five flavors: shozu, ogura, Okinawa brown sugar, matcha, and houjicha. The listing says it's made in Japan with no additives. It's an easy gift to give, and a sweet that goes well next to the matcha above.
Kameda Seika Kakinotane — wasabi rice crackers with peanuts
Kakinotane are small crescent-shaped rice crackers mixed with peanuts, and Kameda Seika's is the version most associated with the snack in Japan. This is the wasabi flavor, in a set of four 182g packs. It rounds out the box with something savory.
Building the box
Put the matcha and the yokan together and the box covers tea time. Add the rice crackers for the person who prefers savory. Prices change often, so check each before you order. For a lower-priced matcha, see our tea and incense article.
More Japan-sourced picks, verified available on Amazon.com, are on the Japan Finds page.