Universal Yums in 2021
A look back at this past year and our hopes for 2022.
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. I have come to expect a mix of sweet and savory treats from all over the world. Not only has this box satisfied my snack cravings, but it has also proven to be highly educational as well, giving us a little background on every country we encountered, quickly becoming a highlight of our month!
Gallery: Some of our 2021 Universal Yum Deliveries
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About Universal Yums
The Subscription Box: Universal Yums
The Cost: $27 per month + free U.S. shipping (save with a prepaid annual plan)
The Products: 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.
Ships to: The U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, and Israel
What Universal Yums Got Right in 2021
Variety of Snacks
Universal Yums is all about the snacks. Every month you can count on receiving 10-12 items that come from that month's designated country. In the many boxes we received in 2021, we received no duplicates and really no items that I've ever seen while shopping at my usual stores in the U.S. The curation tends to be evenly mixed between sweet and salty snacks, with a few spicy ones thrown in for good measure. While we have enjoyed some months more than others, most snacks have been thoroughly enjoyed with only a small percentage ending up in the "dad's lunchbox pile."
New Sights
Typically, Universal Yums states that they try not to visit countries more than every 1.5 - 2 years, repeating the country but sending mostly different flavors or treats. This year we headed to the Czech Republic, which was a first in the history of this box, so we were extremely excited. Also, newer to their site is the inclusion of YouTube videos with country-specific music - really adding a fun element to our unboxing experience! We are hoping for even more new countries in 2022!
Educational Aspect
I work in education and have found Universal Yums to be a great way to incorporate reading, geography, writing, and FACS class into a hands-on experience. At home, my boys read the brochure, learn about the designated country, try the snacks, fill out the scorecard, and sometimes even create the included recipes. They LOVE this box and look forward to it every single month. From a different perspective, I have shared this box with a group of older elementary students that come in for a weekly lunch meeting, and the excitement on their faces when I pull out this box is priceless. Talk about a perfect gift for those hard to buy for pre-teens and teens!
Family Fun
Universal Yums is fun for the entire family. Each month we find the blue and white box sitting on the doorstep, the kids (and I) squeal in delight. The experience of opening this box, diving into the pamphlet, and lavishly snacking on these delicious treats has become something we look forward to, without having to leave the comfort of our own home. Sometimes we make it extra special by sharing with our neighbors or kids at school, letting them get in on the fun with us. This would be a wonderful subscription to send those hard-to-buy-for people - because seriously, who doesn't love snacks?!
What I Would Like to See in 2022
Universal Yums has really been fantastic this year and holds a special place in my heart. I love the wonderful curations and the perfect balance between savory and sweet treats, and of course, I love the Yum Shop to order more of that deliciousness!
For 2022 I am hoping to continue to see additions to the Yum Shop, visits to new countries, and more holiday-specific selections (did you see how cool the Halloween candy game looked?) - Can you imagine a Universal Yums Advent Calendar?! What would you like to see in 2022?
Our Favorite Snacks from Universal Yums in 2021
Universal Yums has some real winners this year! My faves include Caramel Stroopwafels, Wafers (of any sort), spicy chips, and gummies!
Here are a few items that stood out in 2021:
Caramel Stroopwafels
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From my Netherlands Review:
As a treat from a vendor at work, my husband once received a box of Stroopwafels and thoroughly enjoyed them. As the background information suggests, we heated up a cup of cocoa and set the treat on the steamy mug for a good 3 minutes before diving in, and boy was that a game changer! Moist, gooey, and caramel-infused, this is the perfect addition to a cup of hot chocolate or coffee, and literally melts in your mouth. We were nice and the boys and I shared one while saving one for my husband’s breakfast. I already have a pack added to my Yum Shop cart because they were so very addicting.
Dark Chocolate and Almond Wafer
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From my Ukraine review:
Like the Baked Milk and Dark Chocolate Wafer bar, this dark chocolate and almond wafer was similar, but took it up a notch with the addition of almond. I am a nut fanatic, and the realness of almond made this remind me of a Ferrero Rocher candy on steroids. Coming in at an inch and a quarter, this giant Yum was packed with eleven layers of wafer and dark chocolate with real grated almonds for a naturally delicious flavor that couldn’t be resisted.
Cookie Dough Milk Chocolate Bar
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From my Germany review:
Okay, so this cookie dough milk chocolate bar, more than made up for the cherry cookies. Holy yum! The gooey, doughy inside of this chocolate bar was delicious, and tasted just like a cookie dough ball but smothered in a delicious creamy chocolate. We were all fans of this treat, and had a hard time splitting it up fairly. I definitely need more of these in my life!
Sour Pineapple Gummies – Buy a pack of 2 for $4.00
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From my Spain review:
I thought these sour rings were fantastic. I loved the chewiness of the gummy, the perfect pineapple flavor, paired with the sourness, and the extra sugar on top. Honestly, I feel these are some of the best gummies I have ever tasted, which is surprising because I like pineapple, but it’s not my usual go-to for fruit. I 100% thought my kids would go nuts over these, and while Hank liked them he didn’t go back for a second, and Charlie actually spit his out. Crazy!
Date Ma'amoul Cookies – Buy a pack of 4 for $4.20
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From my Turkey review:
Growing up, if my grandma didn’t have homemade cookies in the cookie jar, she always had a package of Nilla Wafers or Fig Newtons sitting in her cupboard. We had to be really desperate for something sweet to open up the Fig Newtons, but as I have gotten older I have become more fond of the flavor. These cookies look just like the traditional Fig Newton but are stuffed with real dates. There is definitely a difference, and I couldn’t stop eating these. The soft, sweet dough and the fresh, sweet dates really came together for the perfect change of pace, and let’s just say I ate more than my fair share.
Spicy Chicken Corn Puffs - Buy a pack of 4 for $4.00
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From my South Korea 2021 review:
I noticed our next snack is listed in the booklet as “Korean Fried Chicken Balls” which is hilarious, but not as appetizing as the “Spicy Chicken Corn Puffs” title listed on the actual package. Either way, these bites are DELICIOUS! These honestly taste like fried chicken rolled in spicy sweet and sour sauce and I am all here for it. I have never had a snack so addicting and delicious. The kids weren’t impressed with the spice, thinking it was a little too much, but I found these snacks to be perfection. I will definitely be ordering more of these from the Yum Shop because they are that good!
Drizzled Milk Chocolate Wafer - Buy a pack of 10 for $5.00
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From my Greece 2021 review:
I love me a Kit-Kat bar, and this is Greece’s version of just that. Packed with five layers, this chocolate wafer is drizzled with a fancy line of dark chocolate equaling a very tasty treat. This was the only chocolate snack for the month, so you can be sure I savored it as long as possible….about one minute!
Kimchi & Soy Crackers - Buy a pack of 6 for $4.80
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From my Taiwan 2021 review:
I am all for the sweet snacks but pass me a cracker smothered in a little bit of spice and I am here for it. After reading the description, I was a little leery to try these spicy pickled cabbage crackers as cabbage happens to be one of my least favorite foods, but it turns out I like it much better in the form of a crispy cracker! I was definitely welcomed by the saltiness of the soy sauce in the initial taste, but after a moment it turned into a warm and sweet flavor that was utterly delicious. Not being too hot, Hank and Charlie liked these just as much as I did so we already have the 6 pack added to our Yum Shop cart.
Fruity Llama Gummies - Buy a pack of 4 for $4.80
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From my Czech Republic 2021 review:
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?
White Chocolate & Coconut Wafer - Buy a pack of 5 for $3.00
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From my Indonesia 2021 review:
Think Almond Joy + Kit-Kat bar equaling a delicious candy bar that I need more of in my life. The almond coating was roasted to perfection with the tastiest wafer. We all know I am sort of wafer obsessed, but this is seriously one of the best I have ever had! Sorry kids, this little piece of deliciousness was in my belly before they could even blink, not even getting a crumb of this magic.
Who do I recommend Universal Yums for?
Universal Yums is an excellent box for an adventurous someone that enjoys snacks! If you are into sweet and savory treats and have a fascination with other countries, this is the box for you! It would also be the ideal gift for those hard to buy for people or kids that have everything. Our entire family enjoys this, and I bet you will too!
What were your fave Universal Yums products this year? Let me know in the comments!
Did you have a favorite box this year?
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