Universal Yums is a snack subscription box that sends out snacks and candies from a different country each month. Choose from the Yum Box for $14 a month, the Yum Yum Box for $25 a month, or the Super Yum Box for $39 a month. This month’s box takes us to Italy!
This review is of the Yum Yum box, which is $25 a month.
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.)
About Universal Yums
The Subscription Box: Universal Yums
The Cost: $25 a month + free US shipping
The Products: The contents of the boxes change each month as they to highlight the best snacks from each featured country. However, you can always expect a mix of flavors: salty, sweet, spicy, fruity, and more. Only authentic snacks from the featured country.
Ships to: U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, and Israel
Universal Yums "Italy" February 2019 Review
This is my first box from Universal Yums, and I must say I am thrilled to be reviewing it! I am definitely not a traveler, and although I would love to experience other countries and cultures, I am perfectly happy staying home. That being said, I love the idea of getting to experience other parts of the world through their authentic snacks!
Upon opening this box, you will find a map of Italy with fun illustrations and facts about the country. On the backside, you will find “The Official Yum Awards” ballot, where you are able to cast your vote for your favorite, and least favorite snacks! If you upload your ballot on social media and tag @Universalyums you’ll have a chance to win more of your favorite snacks!
Included in this box is a detailed guide book with info for each of the items, (including ingredient lists in English) Not only is there information on each snack, but they also include facts about tourist attractions, trivia, recipes, and even a little guide to speaking Italian!
Let’s experience Italy!
Sorini Gianduiotti Hazelnut Chocolates
I decided to start with the smallest yum in box, so I started with these delicious Sorini Gianduiotti hazelnut chocolates. They are trapezoid shaped chocolates wrapped in gold foil, and taste like Heaven! They are so smooth I didn’t get much texture of the hazelnuts, but they tasted divine! We received 4 of these babies, and I think I am going to hide them from my kids!
Cappuccino Sorini Cappuccino Cream and Cereal Truffles - Buy a 1lb. bag for $12.60
Next up were these cappuccino flavored truffles. I am not a big coffee drinker, but boy were these good! They did have a definite cappuccino flavor but were also crunchy, smooth, and delicious. We also received 4 of these, which will also go in my secret stash!
Orange-Carrot Buondolce - Italian Carrot Cake with Orange Cream
This treat is a light carrot cake infused with orange flavor. It is drizzled with a light vanilla icing on top and a thin layer in between the cakes. It is very elegant looking! These were tasty, but I didn’t pick up on the carrot flavor as much as the orange flavor. It was nice to get 2 cakes, so I was able to share with my family - my 4-year-old loved these!
Moretta Tiramisu - Chocolate-covered Cake with Coffee and Custard
This was another elegant looking cake that featured a tiramisu flavoring that was delicious. It was a light cake with a thin custard layer in the middle with a light chocolate coating. There was a slight coffee flavor, but just enough for even a non-coffee drinker to enjoy. My husband really enjoyed these, so it was nice to get 2!
Effervescenti Fizzy Candies - Orange
I am in love with these candies! These orange hard candies are about the size of a cough drop, but are so tasty! They are sweet orange flavor, and if you bite into it, you will find a bubbly powder that makes them fizz in your mouth! They are so much fun and so delicious. I wish there were more in the box!
Effervescenti Fizzy Candies - Lemon
Yay more fizzy candies! These were the same size and looked identical unwrapped, but these ones featured a sweet lemon flavor. Upon biting into them, you will find the same bubbly powder that makes them fizz in your mouth.
Cuorenero Nocciole - Milk chocolate with hazelnuts
Another one of my favorites in this box was this delicious chocolate bar. Chocolate and nuts may be my two favorite foods in the world, and when you combine them I am in heaven! I love the chopped hazelnuts sprinkled on the back and the beautiful design of the bar itself. The chocolate is so smooth it melts in your mouth. This truly is high quality!
Amarettini Cookies - Crispy Almond Cookies
These cookies are tiny, cute, airy, crisp, and pack a VERY strong almond flavor. They are very crunchy in texture, but honestly, they were just too strong in almond flavor for my liking. My kids really enjoyed them though!
Froletti Al Limone Cookies - Lemon cookies
These are small, shortbread-like cookies with a slight lemon flavor. The flavoring wasn’t overpowering at all, and the package size was perfect for a snack! I definitely would eat these again!
Rustichelle al Rosmarino - Rosemary Crackers
I really enjoyed these crackers! These are small cracker-like crisps packed with a rosemary punch. It was a very welcome switch to a savory snack! I love rosemary so these were a win for me, but my husband didn’t care for them.
Alfredo’s Truffle Chips - Potato Chips with Black Truffles
This chip has the taste of a classic potato chip with a slight mushroom flare. I am not a fan of mushrooms but these taste pretty good. On the contrary, my husband loves mushrooms but disliked these chips. Hank was the tie-breaker, and he liked them so much he took them to school as part of his lunch!
Taralli Limone e Pepe - Lemon-pepper Flavored Wheat Snack
Upon opening the bag, I smelled a faint lemon scent. And when I poured them out, to my surprise they look like tiny bagels! They are so cute! The taralli are very crunchy and savory like a cracker with a bit of spice of pepper and a slight lemon taste. I wouldn’t have purchased these before trying them, but I really like them!
Anello Gusto Pizza Rings - Pizza-flavored Corn Snack
First off, I want to say thank you for the big bag!! This was 40 grams of goodness! It was the only snack that didn’t fit on my saucer for the photo. There was a definite pizza scent upon opening the bag. The rings are very light and airy and crunch like a Cheeto puff, but with a salty marinara/pizza flavoring. They are so good you can’t eat just one! These did not last long!
Cuorenero Mediterranei - White Chocolate with Saffron
The last item in the box was a HUGE yummy white chocolate bar with saffron flavoring. It was very smooth chocolate with small specks of saffron. I have never had anything with saffron, but felt very special eating this since saffron has the reputation for being the world’s most expensive spice! I love the heart design on this bar, and will be rationing it because it is so delicious!
The Verdict: This was such a fun box! I loved everything about it! My kids and I read the entire booklet and learned about Italy, and then we sampled all of the snacks. To us, this wasn’t just a snack box, but an entire experience! We really enjoyed the mix of savory and sweet snacks, and can’t wait to see where we get to learn about next.
Score card picks:
- Best Yum: Cappuccino Sorini
- Runner-up: Effervescenti Fizzy Candies
- Worst Yum: Amarettini Almond Cookies
- Most Unusual: Taralli Limone e Pepe
To Wrap Up:
Can I still get this box if I sign up today? No, Each month they ship your box no later than the 15th day of the month. The first month you will receive a box varies based on availability and may depend on the size that you order.
Value Breakdown: This box is $25.00 a month (including shipping). I received 25 individual snacks, which averages out to $1.00 per item.
Check out all of our Universal Yums reviews and find similar boxes in the Snack Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Which Universal Yums snack would you most like to try?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.