Yoku Moku

[albear_garni]

If you know me, you know I love Japan, and (most) things Japanese.  It's become an informal tradion at Christmas to go to Needless Mark-up, and buy a box of  Yoku Moku Christmas Cookies.  A tin is made up of what they call "cinq délices" - there are 5 kinds of cookies inside the box.  The cookies are the same year round, just the packaging changes.

Thes cookies embody so much of what I like about Japanese products - design, aesthetics, authentic taste, and the packaging.  Neiman Marcus, of course, places the tin in their own box.  The tin itself is encased in a removable cellophane sleeve, and then the tin top has a removable adhesive strip securing it to the tin box bottom.  The Christmas art on the tin changes from year to year, but is always the same artist.

Inside, there is a layer of bubble wrap, with a name tag and an anti-dessicant package (not for eating!).  Each of the 5 kinds of cookies are then individually wrapped, each with a differnt design. Each individual cookie package has a notch at the corner for easy opening.  Although they are "simply" butter cookies made with no additives, preservatives or any chemicals of any kind, the packaging is intended to keep them fresh for a long, long time.

Actually, they are some of the best French patisserie style butter cookies I have ever had.  The chocolate enrobing on the cookies is absolutely the best, in fact, it will melt on your fingers if you hold them for too long (easily remedied).  Some cookies have macadamia nuts, some have almonds; they all seem to be mostly made of butter and sugar, with just enough flour to hold them together.  Honestly, one or two satisifes me.

We usually make Dave's mother's sugar cookies every year, but as we're both travelling over Christmas, these will have to suffice.  In fact, they've been on sale at Neiman Marcus, I may have to buy another tin!