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, but 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 $19.00 per month, the Yum Yum Box for $33.00 per month, or the Super Yum Box for $51.00 per month. (You also have the option to save by purchasing a 3,6-, or 12-month plan.)
This review is of the Yum Yum box, which is $33.00 per month.
Author's Note: This box had a price raise in recent months.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we review boxes.)
First Impressions
Bring on 2023! With 2022 behind us, I am all about the happiness, health, and positivity the New Year is about to bring. Because the boys and I are still on our holiday break, we have really slowed down and enjoyed our time together. With extra time off, we were able to lazily linger through this month's Universal Yums and were totally impressed with the amount of chocolate it contained! Read below to see what we discovered.
What's Inside the Box
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Every month we receive a fun, illustrated map that shows where our Yums are coming from. This month we received a map of Austria packed with fun trivia. The backside hosts the usual Yum Scoreboard and scavenger hunt. Also included in this box is a helpful pamphlet that guides you through a typical day in Austria via trivia, recipes, photography, and activities. Delicious AND educational!
Dark Chocolate Banana Bar
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The Big Banana is actually a treat our family is familiar with. It looks like the last time we visited Austria was back in October 2019 and while my kids enjoyed this sweet and sour fluffy banana foam coated in chocolate back then, they commented it looked like a piece of scat 4 years later. Maybe it's just that age, but as an adult, I have to admit, they aren't wrong. The flavor is quite eccentric and just wasn't one of my favorites. How did you feel about this treat?
Paprika Pea Crackers
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Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect when I read the "Pea Cracker" label on this bag of puffed crackers, but you know what? This was probably our favorite inclusion in the box. Yes I know, that is extremely odd for a chocolate loving family, but I think the fact that we overloaded on sweets over Christmas weekend really had us craving something salty, and this was it. Flavored with paprika, these were puffy and spicy, and truly addicting!
Cheesecake Wafers - Buy a pack of 2 for $3.43
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Another one of our favorites this month was a package of cheesecake flavored wafers. We have tried cheese wafers before, and found the sharpness a little too strange when paired with wafers, but this sweet cheesecake variety was right on par. Sweet and salty, with a pretty neutral flavor, we munched right through these, and loved every bite.
Crispy Caramel Milk Chocolate Bar - Buy a pack of 2 for $3.43
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The wrapper on this candy bar cracked me up because we just spent an entire weekend with a fella named Bobby that really sort of looks like the guy on this packaging. Being very fun to look at, the kids couldn't wait to dig into this bar, but found it a little too rich for their liking. I personally enjoyed it with a cup of black coffee, as it is quite rich, but really tasty.
Chocolate Tree Stumps
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My niece made a Yule log for our Christmas celebration, and these chocolate tree stumps looked quite familiar to the display she created. With a pretty chocolate filling, and bark like texture, this treat is packed with a mega cocoa punch. With a thin wafer coating, the chocolate inside is pretty intense, and while good, very rich. The kids and I enjoyed this dessert, but one wafer was plenty for the three of us to share.
Cheese & Turmeric Breadsticks - Buy a pack of 2 for $5.30
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Really the only other savory item in this box, these cheese and turmeric breadsticks aren't packed with as much flavor as I was expecting, but were a great change of pace from all of the chocolate in the box. Cheesy and a little spicy, these little logs reminded me of the hard pieces that are mixed in a bag of Gardettos and would be great on a salad or with soup. Fine by themselves, they offered the perfect amount of crunch, and the kids enjoyed them as much as I did.
Coconut Rolls - Buy a single pack for $4.52
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I loved the packaging of these coconut rolls, and the Neapolitan colors had me really excited for a fun flavor combo, but I just found them overly sweet, a little fake tasting, and just not my cup of tea. The kids agreed that this treat just wasn't for them, so we stuck them in daddy's lunch pail to see how he felt about the little guys.
Chocolate Covered Apricot Jellies
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This was one treat that actually surprised me. I opened this bag completely convinced I would really dislike these chocolate covered apricot jellies, and you know what, I actually really enjoyed this strange flavor combo. I've encountered orange and chocolate pairings in the past, but apricot and chocolate was new to me, and I was impressed. Chewy, juicy, extra sweet, and a tiny bit tart, this was a surprise, but definitely a good one.
Milk Chocolate Cappuccino Bar
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As a coffee and cappuccino lover, you can bet these beautiful little squares were right up my alley. Paired with a cup of hot black coffee, this was the perfect addition and added a little pick me up to a typical morning. Because you can definitely taste the cappuccino in these chocolate bars, Hank was out, but Charlie was full-on in. Looks like I have a future coffee drinker on my hands!
Dark Chocolate Marzipan Bar - Buy a single pack for $3.98
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The last item I received was a large dark chocolate marzipan bar. Made from dark chocolate and filled with a creamy marzipan, this too was very rich and chocolatey. Our family was torn on our thoughts of this bar. I thought it was a bit too sweet, while Hank really liked it. And that folks, is why this box is so much fun. You just never know what you might like - or not!
The Verdict
Like I mentioned above, the New Year is here, and I am ready to fully enjoy 2023 and leave all of my negativity and stress behind. Sorting through the January 2023 Universal Yums Austria box was a great way to welcome the New Year, and we discovered some really tasty treats along the way. Being very heavy on chocolate this month, I typically would enjoy that, but after a little too much during Christmas, I could have used one or two more savory snacks. Overall, this box was delicious and created an enjoyable and educational experience for my family. We already can't wait to see what's in store for February. Where do you think we will be headed next?
Scorecard Picks:
- Favorite: Paprika Pea Crackers
- Runner-Up: Cheesecake Wafers
- Worst Yum: Coconut Rolls
- Most Unusual: Chocolate Covered Apricot Jellies
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 you can choose to receive the Holiday Everywhere, Spain, South Korea, South America, India, Italy, or Austria box.
Value Breakdown: This box is $33.00 per month (including shipping). I received 10 individually wrapped snacks which average out to $3.30 per item.
Which Universal Yums snack would you most like to try?
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