Universal Yums is a snack subscription box that sends out snacks and candies from a different country each month. The contents of the boxes change each month as they 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 are included in this box. Choose from the Yum Box for $16.00 per month, the Yum Yum Box for $27.00 per month, or the Super Yum Box for $41.00 per month.
This review is of the Yum Yum box, which is $27.00 per 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.)
First Impressions
I've been reviewing Universal Yums for quite some time now, and I am excited to share that this month we traveled to a place that Universal Yums has NEVER gone before: the Czech Republic! Typically this box lands in a country once every two years (sometimes a little sooner) but adding new treats and trivia, so I was thrilled to visit somewhere totally new. Fun fact: my great-grandma Albe, whom I had the pleasure of knowing for twelve years was born in Czechoslovakia! Anyways, read below to find out what new treats we discovered this month!
What's Inside The Box
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Every month we receive a fun, illustrated map that usually shows where our Yums are coming from. This month's map of the Czech Republic included fun facts and trivia about Prague, Blansko, Louky, Rohatec, and Chodova Plana. Did you know that Czechia's original "beer spa" is found in Chodova Plana? Yes, you read that right, they actually have spas where you go soak in a warm tub of water, beer, and grains from the beer fermentation process. Apparently not only is it beneficial to your skin, but very relaxing. Interesting! On the opposing side, we have the "Yum Scoreboard," which includes a list of the box's treats and an area for you to score each of them. Also included is a scavenger hunt and Yum Shop suggestions based on items you enjoyed from this box.
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Hooray for this little piece of advertising! Two years ago, Universal Yums came out with a Halloween Box that took us to six different countries. We received a box that folded into a candy server with six small bowls and the option of giving these out to trick-or-treaters and I have to say, that was my favorite box ever. This year it looks like they have changed it up a bit, offering a Treat or Trick Halloween Party Game. Available in the Yum Shop, this looks super fun and really tasty. I'm definitely going to have to try this out.
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We all know I'm all about the snacks, but a really cool aspect of this box is the trivia-packed booklet that is included each month. While we receive necessary information like nutritional and allergy warnings, they also include real-life photographs, recipes, information about traditions, and a bit of the language as well. The kids and I enjoy reading through this as we eat our way through the country, learning new and exciting facts along the way.
Raspberry Pressed Candies - Buy a pack of 6 for $4.80
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When I was a little girl, my dad worked midnights at the paper mill. A staple to help him get through those 12-hour shifts were fruity flavored Certs. I remember him always having a roll in his T-shirt pocket and his lunch pail, and he would always share. I haven't thought about those candies in forever, so it was a bit nostalgic to receive these raspberry pressed candies. In a foil ended roll similar to those old fruit mints, these definitely were not as firm in texture. I would liken these to a large, raspberry flavored Smartie, with a lovely mix of sweet and tart. A perfect snack to relieve a hankering for something sweet.
Caraway Pretzel Bites - Buy a pack of 4 for $4.00
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Pretzels are a staple in our home, but I have to admit, ours happen to be of the Dot's variety I have mentioned in my reviews before. I was interested to try these caraway flavored bites after reading the summary printed in our pamphlet. Noticing large caraway seeds in each bite, I was a little worried these would be a little too strong flavored for my liking, but that was totally not the case. Nutty and licoricey, these pretzel bites were perfectly crunchy and salty with a warmness that just left me wanting more. I just ate these by themselves, but I am imagining them with a little bit of jalapeno cheddar beer chip dip for a real Oktoberfest-like treat.
Rosemary & Pepper Potato Crisps - Buy a pack of 4 for $5.20
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Holy rosemary is all I can say after my first taste of these babies. Containing fresh, aromatic rosemary and pepper, these potato chips are crunchy, salty, and savory, just in a very potent way. I am all for this spice, and enjoy it in moderation on roasted potatoes and other vegetables, but it was a little strong on these chips. My kids too thought the rosemary was a bit overpowering and said they would rather have some Lay's Originals, but we enjoyed the entire bag anyways.
Roasted Onion Pretzel Crisps - Buy a pack of 3 for $5.10
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Here we have another pretzel variety, but this one is flat in shape with a roasted onion flavor. Perfect for pairing with artichoke dip, these pretzel chips are amazing on their own, (as long as you don't mind onion breath) but would be fantastic with dip. Our entire family enjoyed this bag of pretzels, and while similar to brands we have tried in the past, maybe a bit more potent than anything we have had before.
Puffed Rice Cake with Apricot Yogurt - Buy a pack of 6 for $4.80
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Rice cakes have never been very high on my list of snacks I enjoy, but that may have changed after trying this version dipped in apricot yogurt glaze. Underneath is your typical crispy rice cake, but on the top is a lovely sweet, yet tart apricot glaze that adds just the right amount of flavor to this usually bland snack. I am impressed as I typically don't like anything flavored with apricot, and am happy to say I enjoyed both discs with a cup of tea.
Chocolate Dipped Oat Cookies - Buy a pack of 3 for $4.50
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Last month I mentioned that I was hoping for a bit more chocolate in this box as cooler temps are finally upon us. My wishes were granted with these oatmeal chocolate cookies. Thin, crispy, and coated with chocolate these oatmeal wonders were just what I was craving. I found the oatmeal texture to pair really well with the chocolate flavor, and the boys and I finished these up with a glass of milk more quickly than I'd like to admit.
Fruity Llama Gummies - Buy a pack of 4 for $4.80
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It's no secret that we love gummies, and fun shaped ones like these are our favorites. Seriously, who can resist a llama gummy? Super sweet and packed with flavor, these multi-colored, multi-shaped little treasures are as good to eat as they are to look at. I preferred the pink ones, while Charlie liked the blue. Hank thought they were all delicious, and now we have a 4 pack in our Yum cart. Funny how that happens isn't it?
Sea Salt & Cocoa Corn Cakes - Buy a pack of 3 for $5.70
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After discovering a rice cake that I enjoyed, I was intrigued to give this chocolate-covered corn cake a try. Similar in shape and texture to our previous treat, these corn-based cakes were (dare I say) even better! Crispy, sweet, and chocolatey, these discs almost taste like a Kix cereal ball dipped in chocolate, and I am all here for it. Charlie was a fan as soon as he saw the corn cob on the packaging, and Hank thought they were pretty good too. Yay for another win!
Tangy Tomato Ghosts Potato Snack - Buy a pack of 2 for $6.20
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No movie night would be complete without a bag of ghost snacks! Hank and Charlie were allowed to pick a treat to share while snuggled in for our weekly movie night, and they of course chose the spookiest of them all - the tangy tomato ghosts potato snacks! Coming in a large package, these adorable little ghosts are crunchy yet dissolvable, kind of reminding me of the texture of a pork rind. The tomato flavoring wasn't too overpowering, and it tasted a bit more smoky than ketchup-y, which I was happy about. The kids loved these for their shape and flavor and found them to be a really fun treat to eat, already packing their leftovers in little baggies to bring to snack at school tomorrow.
Apple & Cinnamon Strudel Gummy Sticks - Buy a pack of 3 for $4.80
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The nostalgia continues with these apple and cinnamon-flavored gummy sticks. Back when I played volleyball, we would take the bus to away games, always stashing snacks for the long ride. One girl always had some sort of sugary gummy sticks, and while I don't remember the brand name, they looked very similar to these. I distinctly remember a blue raspberry flavored string, and how sour it was, which wasn't that appetizing to me. Tossing that memory aside, these strudel sticks are pretty much amazing. Honestly, they taste like a stick of apple pie, and you can bet my kids loved them! Sugary, sweet, and warm, these truly were a delight.
The Verdict
I'm not sure if it's because my family lineage is from here, or if they just got lucky, but I have to say this Czech Republic Universal Yums box hit the nail on the head. My family discovered all sorts of new and exciting snacks this month and enjoyed them all! Now I do wish there would have been more chocolate (is there ever enough?!) But even so, this may be my favorite box yet. I am a little bummed there was no Yum Yum bag of goodies because it's always fun to see the cute, individually packed candies, but I appreciated the larger-sized snacks, and the delightful variety. I can't wait to see where next month takes us. Any guesses?
Scorecard Picks:
- Best Yum: Fruity Llama Gummies
- Runner-up: Caraway Pretzel Bites
- Worst Yum: None!
- Most Unusual: Puffed Rice Cake with Apricot Glaze
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Yes, sign up now and choose to start with either the Czech Republic, Taiwan, or Turkey box.
Value Breakdown: This box is $27.00 per month (including shipping). I received 10 individually wrapped snacks which average out to $2.70 per item.
Which Universal Yums snack would you most like to try?
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