Mary’s Secret Ingredients is a “culinary surprise subscription box” that ships seasonally and is in partnership with Feed the Children to end world hunger.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: Mary’s Secret Ingredients
The Cost: $34 a box per quarter + free shipping or $108 for a full year (four boxes with free shipping)
The Products: Gourmet snacks and ingredients to inspire your cooking plus one small cooking tool
Ships to: Continental U.S.
Check out all of our Mary's Secret Ingredients reviews and the Food Subscription Box Directory!
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Each box comes with a pamphlet detailing the month’s manufacturers and products.
They call it the "Little Book of Ingredients". I love that the snowman on the cover has spatula hands, haha!
There are plenty of details inside, including anecdotes from Mary on why she included each item.
On the back of the booklet, there's a calendar for when to find recipes that correspond to the items in the box.
Felix Wild Natural Lingonberries, 10 oz. - Value $11.56
I've seen lingonberry products on shelves before, but this is my first time trying them!
Lingonberries are a traditional Swedish food. According to the info booklet, they're rich in antioxidants, which I didn't know. I like finding new ways to add important nutrients into my diet, and this looks like a tasty way to do it!
The jar just says "lingonberries", but this is definitely a jam. There's a bit of chunkiness to it. Like most jams, this one was sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. It also has a fruity tartness to it that's kind of addicting. Yum!
Home Cook's Pantry Za-atar Mediterranean Spice, 1 oz. - Value $5.74
Wow, is this stuff ever good! Za'atar is a blend of oregano, cumin, sesame seeds, and more. It has a delightful heat to it and an herbaceous, aromatic flavor.
This spice blend is super versatile, according to the info booklet. I ended up sprinkling this over a simple bowl of steamed broccoli—all of a sudden, this simple bowl of veggies wasn't so simple!
This spice mix is a real magic ingredient. It's savory, complex, and incredibly flavorful, and it's probably going to be sprinkled on top of every meal I make!
Magisso Cake Server - Value $5.23
I was excited to see this cake server in the box. I'm just starting on my journey to becoming a culinary wiz, and part of this phase is stocking my kitchen with helpful gadgets like this one!
This oddly shaped tool works by surrounding your cake slice on all sides, rather than just on the bottom.
Careful when you use it that you've gotten to the very bottom of the slice before you squeeze (otherwise you'll only nab a chunk). And don't squeeze too hard when you're lifting the slice out—you don't want to squish it!
According to the info booklet, this tool is from a Finnish company. I should've guessed—this simple, clever invention screams Nordic design!
Sfoglini Spaccatelli, 8 oz. - Value $3.50
I'm a pasta gal, so these "priest collars" were my favorite things in the box!
Consider this pasta the fancy, grown-up version of elbow macaroni noodles. They're essentially little rectangles of pasta that have been rolled into tubes. They held sauce beautifully—every bite had a nice distribution of sauce and pasta.
And speaking of the pasta—this is the first pasta I've had in awhile that really made me stop and notice the flavor of the noodles themselves. There was a wheat-y flavor to them, but not the gritty, bitter texture that wheat pasta has. Instead, this pasta is just rich and savory, the way a really hearty Italian bread might taste. So, so, so tasty.
10 Sachets of MerryMint Tea by Stash - Value $2.05
Stash makes such beautifully flavorful teas. I love the fresh, subtly sweet, peppermint flavor of this tea. It's perfect for the holidays and beyond!
The Wine RayZyn in CabernayZyn, 1.6 oz. - Value $4.00
I could never have imagined this wine-inspired snack, but I'm very eager to try it!
These dried grapes echo the depth and fruitiness of wine, but in a bite-sized, "raisin" form. These dried grapes aren't as bold or rich as a glass of wine, but they do have some of the savory-sweet flavor that you'd associate with a cabernet. I like that they provide a luxurious-feeling way to get healthy antioxidants.
The Wine RayZyn in ChardonnayZyn, 1.6 oz. - Value $4.00
This flavor was, like Chardonnay, a bit brighter and sweeter in flavor.
I could see adding these little grapes to a DIY trail mix. It'd make you feel like you're indulging as you enjoy a healthy snack!
Verdict: I really liked the Winter Mary’s Secret Ingredients box! For $34.00, I received around $36.00 worth of high-quality, uncommon items from smaller vendors. The flavors were diverse, vibrant, and covered all sorts of eating occasions (from breakfast to dinner to dessert, and even snacks in between). I'm not an expert cook, but I love food and am eager to expand my palette. This box was a fun way for me to discover new favorites to add to my pantry!
What do you think of Mary’s Secret Ingredients?
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