When the folks at Monbento asked me to pick one of the colors to test out their new bento box design, I selected the purple one. And as it turns out, I’m quite the color expert. Last week Pantone selected a bright purple named Radiant Orchid as their choice for color of the year, and the color is very close to the color of my Monbento.

The new Monbento Box consists of two airtight containers, one internal separator, a lid, and a thick rubber band to hold them all together. To create the airtight seal for each compartment, the silicone cap must first be pulled up. Then you place the lid on the container, press firmly until it is secure, and then close the silicone cap to remove any remaining air. The cap should also be opened to microwave the box (the manufacturer suggests you keep it under three minutes however).

The most appealing characteristic is a BPA-free, soft-touch plastic coating that makes the Monbento feel like silk. The airtight and insulated lunch box is dishwasher-safe (I tested it and it came out fine on the top shelf), microwave-friendly, and has a 1-liter capacity.

The box sells for $36.00. Available accessories (sold separately) include foldable chopsticks, a cutlery set, sauce cups, and an egg mold. All come in a variety of colors, including the vibrant purple everyone is talking about.

P.S. To see some other new products that are using the color Radiant Orchid you can check out my report on Architects-Toybox.com.

Detail of silicone cap that creates the airtight seal.

A think elastic band keeps the box together.

Images courtesy Monbento and Pantone.