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 $17.00 per month, the Yum Yum Box for $29.00 per month, or the Super Yum Box for $45.00 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 $29.00 per month.
Author's Note: The cost of this box increased last year, but now has gone back to the original prices!
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
An August review in September you ask? Well, my August box took a wrong turn at the post office and ended up lost, so I just received my replacement box. Because of my appreciation for this box, I can surely say I missed my Universal Yums while lost in transit, so I was quite excited to see the blue and white package sitting on my doorstep.
As we are now back to school, my students were thrilled to get to join in on the tasting fun, and discovered some new favorites. Not only is this subscription a wonderful tasting experience, but it's educational too. Keep the treats for yourself or share, either way, you are sure to love this box. Read below to find out what we discovered this month.
What's Inside the Box
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Each and every month we receive a fun, illustrated map that shows where our Yums are coming from. This month we received a map of Greece packed with fun trivia. The back side 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 the Greece via trivia, recipes, photography, and activities. Delicious AND educational!
Oregano Potato Chips - Buy a pack of 3 for $2.25
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Chips are one of my many snacking weaknesses, and this version pulled out all of the stops for me. Between the ripples, the perfect blend of salt and oregano, and the delicious crunch, I just couldn't get enough. Hank was also a fan of these chips and was excited to find out that they are actually on sale in the Yum Shop. What a way to start the box!
Almond Baklava - Buy a pack of 2 for $4.60
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As you see here, Hank also very much enjoyed the Almond Baklava. I could barely get the wrapper off and he was diving in! With the flaky, caramely, nutty, deliciousness, this has a slight potica resemblance, but in an even better way! We've tried a few varieties of this special treat, and this particular brand was by far our favorite. Yum!!
Dark Chocolate Orange Oat Cookies
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Orange and chocolate is a flavor combo that not everyone can get behind, but because it reminds me so much of the chocolate oranges my grandma used to give us kids at Christmas, I really enjoyed this particular soft cookie. Made with oats, orange, and chocolate chunks, the flavor was so nostalgic for me and I savored every bit (expect the one Hank took and spit out because he is one of those people that can't get behind a fruit/chocolate mixture).
Pomegranate Jelly Candy - Buy a pack of 2 for $4.00
Gummies are always a hit in our house, so these pomegranate fruit jellies were very much welcomed. Both Hank and Charlie enjoyed the super sweet flavor coated in extra sugar. Soft, and chewy these little sweet treats are the perfect afternoon pick me up and a great way to incorporate a pomegranate flavoring!
Mastic Rosé Toffees - Buy a pack of 2 for $4.40
While I enjoy a fruit and chocolate combo, a floral one was a little off my radar, and I just couldn't quite get on board with it. Tasting exactly like a very fragrant rose would smell, this was too confusing to my brain to actually enjoy. With a taffy like texture, the idea of this candy was good, but I just didn't care for the flavor.
Basil Pesto Breadstick Bites - Buy a pack of 3 for $4.80
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Hank was extremely excited to dive into this month's Greece box because his all time favorite favorite basketball player "Giannis Antetokounmpo" hails from there. While I generally think of breadsticks as Italian, we all agreed this pesto, basil flavor was the best. Small in size, but packing a big flavor punch and crunch, this yum was definitely a winner.
Cream-Filled Croissant - Buy a pack of 3 for $2.40
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Croissants are another snack I don't generally think of when I think of Greece, but this cream-filled version featured a little twist I'm not used to! Filled with cream and being oh so sweet, the dough was fluffy and light, and really tasty for a pre-packaged pastry. Another win for this month's box.
Almond Kourabiedes Cookies - Buy a single pack for $4.60
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Almond flavored anything is welcome in my house, so we all were intrigued by the large rectangular box upon arrival. Stuffed with four large almond shortbread cookies, we couldn't wait to dive in. Covered in powdered sugar, be warned - these cookies are MESSY. I literally had to change pants and sweep the floor after munching on one of these guys. Sweet and crunchy with the perfect combination of almondy buttery shortbread flavor, these were fantastic and one of our very favorites.
Prickly Pear Loukoumi - Buy a single pack for $6.00
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While prickly pear is a flavor I enjoy in alcoholic beverages, this soft candy smothered in powdered sugar was just a little too sweet for me. Packaged beautifully in this large box, the kids were a little overwhelmed by the sweetness as well, and decided to share these with the kids at school. What did you think of this concoction?
Mediterranean Bruschetta Bites - Buy a pack of 2 for $4.00
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Perfectly suited to the Greece theme, we received a larger package of Mediterranean Bruschetta bites. These bites are similar to a crouton but feature a lovely tomato, basil, olive flavoring that would pair wonderfully with a soup or salad. The kids enjoyed these bites by themselves, and while I did also, would prefer them in a salad alongside some Italian dressing.
Greek Alphabet Flashcards - Retail Value $4.50
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The last item we received was a a really fun one! While I have English flashcards in my room, I do not have ones featuring the Greek Alphabet. Guess what?! Now I do! While I knew a few of the letters, my kids did not, so this was a really cool way to expose them to other languages. Neat!
The Verdict
Universal Yums is one of our favorite subscriptions of all time, and this box curation was a really good one. Overall, we enjoyed the mix of sweet and savory snacks, and really didn't find anything we absolutely disliked. I am also really excited about the inclusion of the flashcards, as it adds another layer to the education portion of this box. While this box is darn tasty, it also created an enjoyable and education experience for my family. We already can't wait to see what's in store for September. Any ideas of where we might be headed next? Scorecard Picks:
- Favorite: Oregano Potato Chips
- Runner-Up: Dark Chocolate Orange Oat Cookies
- Worst Yum: Mastic Rose Toffees
- Most Unusual: Prickly Pear Loukoumi
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, as of this review's publication, if you sign up now you can choose to receive the Czech Republic, Greece, or Indonesia box.
Value Breakdown: This box is $29.00 per month (including shipping). I received 17 individually wrapped snacks which average out to $1.71 per item.
Which Universal Yums snack would you most like to try?
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