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
Holy mackerel people, we are already into February. Is it just me, or did January blow by in the blink of an eye? 2023 is my year of happiness and positivity, and though I had a bit of a stressful week last week, I've been staying pretty true to that, finding this month's Universal Yums box helpful in getting me through a particularly hard day in an uplifting (and tasty) way! Read below to see what we discovered from Brazil!
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 Brazil 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 Brazil via trivia, recipes, photography, and activities. Delicious AND educational!
Pepperoni Cracker Puffs - Buy a pack of 3 for $4.20
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Though this bag reads "Brazilian-Italian" fusion, Universal Yums assures us that this airy snack is 100% authentically Brazilian. Utilizing Brazil's native calabresa peppers, their version of pepperoni was born, and that is the flavor of these deliciously crunchy puffs. Tangy and addicting, these cracker puffs were one of our families favorites, and have already been added to my Yum Shop cart.
Brazilian Sweet Popcorn
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For me, nothing goes better with a movie than popcorn, and though I prefer that of the butter and salt variety, I did find these sweet puffs pretty good. With a slight styrofoam texture, they are a little softer and airier than a typical kernel, but hold the flavor of sugar. My kids could take these or leave them, but I found a 5 butter to 1 sweet kernel the perfect ratio for a sweet and salty snack!
Fruity Yogurt Sticks - Buy a pack of 3 for $5.40
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Honestly, my kids were super excited to give these fruity yogurt sticks a go, but they had a bit of a cheese smell to them that turned them off. Because they contain yogurt, I can understand the dairy-like aroma, but also didn't care for these. Chewy and fruity, with a soft center, I would definitely rather just eat a container of yogurt, but it was fun to try!
Soft Peanut Candy
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I am all about everything peanut, so I couldn't wait to try this soft peanut candy. Though it crumbled apart almost instantly, the flavor was like that of a good peanut butter fudge. Sweet, chewy, with a little crunch from the peanuts, I loved this snack and am really disappointed they aren't in the Yum Shop.
Brazilian Choco Birthday Cake - Buy a pack of 4 for $4.00
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Pre-packaged cakes can be touch and go for me as most tend to be dry and stale, but this Brazilian version was fantastic. Soft and moist, with a delicious chocolate cream inside, my family loved this little treat and had a hard time dividing it up evenly. And did you see it even has sprinkles on top? Yummy!!
White Choco Passionfruit Bites - Buy a pack of 3 for $4.50
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One of the most interesting flavor combinations of the month was hosted in this package of white chocolate passionfruit bites. Crispy cookies filled with tropical creme and dipped in white chocolate just don't sound that appealing, but boy did my taste buds like them! Crunchy, chewy, and fruity with a touch of chocolate is a flavor combo that seems like too much but works really well. Easy to eat and store in my lunch pail, I have been super impressed with this month's curation so far!
Banana & Caramel White Chocolate - Buy a pack of 2 for $3.50
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Bananas have their place in my life, but I wasn't overly excited to read the white chocolate, banana, and caramel description on this huge candy bar. Typically I find banana flavor additives unappetizing, but this was actually really good. Not only did the banana flavoring taste like that of an actual banana, but it was really mild, with the caramel pulling most of the flavor weight. I can honestly say, I would be happy to receive this treat again.
Onion and Parsley Peanuts - Buy a pack of 3 for $5.40
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I wish I would have caught my boys' facial expressions on camera when I dumped these little green BB's out on the plate. To describe, there were wide eyes and nose wrinkling! I love peanuts, but can say I have never experienced such green ones in my life. Covered in onion and parsley, these very green guys were fantastically crunchy and salty. The kids quickly overcame their distaste and tried them - actually falling in love with them.
Mini Provolone Crackers - Buy a pack of 2 for $6.20
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At first glance, these mini crackers look like they would be similar in taste to a Ritz cracker, but they sure don't! After opening the bag, there was a blast of cheese scent in the air, and I was worried it was going to be too strong. Turns out, it was just right and the provolone added a really nice flavor to an otherwise ordinary tasting cracker.
Lime Tartlet Cookies - Buy a pack of 2 for $4.00
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I am quite surprised I am saying this, but I think these lime tartlet cookies were my favorite item in the month's box. Not only was it a large sleeve of cookies, but the shortbread-like tartlets were perfectly sweet and filled with a tangy lime cream. The flavor combo was perfection, and they were so pretty!
Pineapple Creme Wafers - Buy a pack of 3 for $5.70
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Reminding me of my grandma, the last item we received was a large package of pineapple creme wafers. While the wafers themselves are quite plain, the pineapple filling adds a delicious tang to an otherwise simple wafer. My family found these very enjoyable, as did a group of students at my lunch group. Looks like I have another item to add to my Yum Shop cart!
The Verdict
After a bit of a rough week, I have to admit, seeing the bright blue Universal Yums box sitting on my doorstop cheered me right up. Receiving eleven treats this month, our family enjoyed all except one, which is pretty darn fantastic. With a perfect mix of sweet and savory snacks, this might just be one of my favorite boxes as of late. 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 March. Where do you think we will be headed next?
Scorecard Picks:
- Favorite: Lime Tartlet Cookies
- Runner-Up: Pepperoni Cracker Puffs
- Worst Yum: Fruity Yogurt Sticks
- Most Unusual: Onion & Parsley Peanuts
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 Brazil box.
Value Breakdown: This box is $33.00 per month (including shipping). I received 11 individually wrapped snacks which average out to $3.00 per item.
Which Universal Yums snack would you most like to try?
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