This gift is pricey, but we think the quality and the level of craftsmanship warrant the cost. “I’m not a charcuterie person, but these are delicious,” one tester said.
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The research
- Gift baskets for snacking or feasting
- Sweet gift baskets
- Gift baskets for the cook
- Gift baskets for coffee and tea lovers
- Other good gift baskets
- Why you should trust us
- How we picked and tested
A treasure chest of treats: Bokksu Seasons of Japan Snack Box
Our pick
Bokksu Seasons of Japan Snack Box
Supercharged Japanese snacks
This curated snack box is full of shelf-stable Japanese delights. There are longer-term subscription options, but we recommend choosing one month, for a single Seasons of Japan box.
Buying Options
Why it’s great: Bokksu’s Seasons of Japan Snack Box is filled with thoughtfully chosen, individually wrapped snacks in a multitude of dazzling flavors. A booklet explains where each item comes from, its significance, and potential allergens.
A note on ordering: When you place a one-month order, you get the Seasons of Japan Snack Box that we recommend. This is the only buying option that comes with free shipping, an e-gift message, and no receipt.
What’s inside: This box includes 22 Japanese snacks, candies, and teas. It seemed like enough to last one person a week or two or to tide over several people for a few days.
Some standout items included the snappy Edamame Senbei (a salty-sweet cracker dusted with soybean powder), the freeze-dried White Strawberry injected with white chocolate, and Seaweed Tempura Setouchi Sudachi (a citrusy, salty, and earthy morsel of crisped rice clusters and seaweed).
The box also held a few meh snacks. The baked goods were blandly sweet though satisfyingly carby, and green-tea packets were nice but basic compared with the showstoppers.
Potential allergens: wheat, soy, milk, shellfish, eggs, alcohol, peanuts, tree nuts (Bokksu has a disclaimer saying the allergens are translated from the package as a reference, but it cannot guarantee their presence.)
Shipping: free with a subscription
Lots to nosh (both savory and sweet): Zingerman’s The Weekender Gift Box
Our pick
Zingerman’s The Weekender Gift Box
Carby, comforting treats
This ample gift box includes both sweet and salty treats.
Buying Options
Why it’s great: Zingerman’s The Weekender Gift Box is one of the Michigan-based grocer’s most popular items. This solid snacking collection would be appreciated at a gathering or as a treat for someone who needs a pick-me-up.
Zingerman’s is a wonderful gift-basket resource for many occasions, from sending condolences to celebrating holidays. You can even customize a gift.
What’s inside: The Weekender box covers the sweet and savory bases. From the latter group, you can make a meal out of Zingerman’s Farm Bread, Holy Cow Beef Sticks, and Nor’easter Cabot Cheddar. And there’s a generous array of desserts, including the no-nut Black Magic Brownie, Ginger Jump-Up Molasses Cookie, Sour Cream Coffee Cake, and Zingerman’s Peanut Brittle.
We like that this basket packs a lot in—and many of the contents don’t have to be eaten immediately. Though we found the baked goods a little generic, they were still tasty and fresh. We particularly enjoyed the tangy coffee cake and the fudgy brownie, and we appreciate that the latter is nut-free.
The Weekender comes in a colorful, cartoon-printed box with paper confetti, so it feels very festive.
Potential allergens: dairy, walnuts, peanuts
Shipping: free in the US