Mantry Subscription Box Review – January 2016

Mantry is a subscription box that describes itself as “the modern man’s pantry.”

Each month they ship gourmet food items in their signature wooden crate.

Mantry sent me this box for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

The Subscription Box: Mantry

The Cost: $75

The Products: Artisan foods for the modern man’s pantry.

Ships to: US only.

Check out all of our Mantry reviews and the Food Subscription Box Directory!

This month’s theme is “Bacon Brunch.”

Each box comes with a fold out card detailing the producers behind the food included and where in the US they’re based.

This box also includes a note from Mantry’s curator.

Broadbent's Maplewood Smoked Country Bacon (14 oz.)- $8.25

This month’s curator’s letter talks about the importance of honoring craft producers who’ve been doing it right for years. In the constant quest to find great new products, I think this is a nice message- it’s important to take a step back and appreciate great products that have stood the test of time. Appropriately, I received Broadbent’s bacon in one of my first ever boxes from Mantry, and I’m pleased to see it featured again. Broadbent’s has been producing ham, bacon, and sausage for over 100 years. Fun fact: in a 2014 charity auction, one of their award winning hams sold for 2 million dollars!

Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Soft-Baked Biscotti (5 oz.)- $6.99 (on sale for $4.99)

It’s a little late in the season for pumpkin products, in my opinion, but this biscotti is so good that I just don’t care. The pumpkin pie spices are sweet and warm, and I like the addition of chocolate chips. The cookies are fine on their own, but they’re excellent when dipped in coffee.

Farm to Table Organic Ancient Grain Oatmeal (16 oz.)- $8.50

Farm to Table’s Organic Ancient Grain Oatmeal is a mix of organic oats, organic Kamut khorsan, organic rye, organic spelt, organic barley, and organic brown flax. I’m not a big fan of oatmeal for breakfast (I prefer eating it as a topping on apple crisp), so I let my husband take this for a test drive. He enjoyed the unusual mix of grains, and he thought the flavor was really interesting.

Next up, he’s planning to follow Mantry’s recipe for Maple Hickory & Bacon Oatmeal.

Chuao Baconluxious Bar (2.8 oz)- $6

I vividly remember the first time I tried bacon and chocolate together. I was blown away by how well the pairing worked, and I’ve loved bacon chocolate bars ever since. Vosge's bar is my go-to, but I also really like this one from Chuao.

Sosu Srirachup (9 oz.)- $7

I love sriracha and ketchup, so this blend from Sosu is a great discovery for me! Mantry recommends using it as a spread for a breakfast sandwich, but I think I’m going to try using it on home fries instead. I like dipping them in ketchup, and I think the spice from the sriracha will add a fantastic kick.

Hickoryworks Pure Brown Country Shagbark Hickory Syrup (8 oz.)- $20

When I pulled this jug out of my Mantry crate, I mistakenly assumed it to be maple syrup, but it seems hickory syrup is something else entirely. From the Hickoryworks website: “Its smoky, nutty flavor is less sweet than maple, more complex, and hauntingly unique.” I tried a little on my finger, and I’m so impressed. I can’t wait to try it on pancakes or waffles!

Verdict: I enjoyed Mantry’s “Bacon Brunch” box. They do a great job curating products around a theme, and their presentation is excellent. (The wooden crates are so much fun!) I’m so pleased to have discovered Sosu’s Srirachup, and the hickory syrup is fantastic. The retail value of the items in this box totals approximately $55. While that falls short of the $75 subscription cost, it’s within the range I’ve come to expect from Mantry.

What do you think of this month’s Mantry? Have you tried any of the items featured in this crate?