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Universal Yums Subscription Box Review – April 2015

Lindsey Morse
ByLindsey MorseApr 22, 2015 | 8 comments

UniversalYums-April-2015-Box

Universal Yums is an international snack subscription box. Every month they send a mix of snacks from one country or region. (A different country or region is featured each month.)

Universal Yums Subscription Box Review – April 2015 Inside

This month’s snacks are from Scandinavia! I love the Swedish tissue paper flag.

Universal Yums Subscription Box Review – April 2015 Flag

This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

Universal Yums Subscription Box Review – April 2015 Contents

The Subscription: Universal Yums

The Cost: $13/month for the Yum Box (6+ snacks) and $25/month for the Yum Yum Box (13+ snacks)

The Products: A selection of unique snacks from a different country each month.

Ships to: US

Check out all of our reviews of Universal Yums!

Universal Yums Subscription Box Review – April 2015 Card 1

Universal Yums Subscription Box Review – April 2015 Card 2

Every box contains an informational card detailing the featured items. (Note that this is a review of the larger Yum Yum Box.) They also list details and the ingredients of each item on their website.

Universal Yums Subscription Box Review – April 2015 Rye

Finn Crisp Rye Snacks (4.6 oz)- $3.69

According to the Universal Yums info card, back in 1800’s Scandinavia bread was baked only twice per year, once in the spring and again in the fall. Crispbreads were popular because they would stay fresh in the months between baking. I love rye crispbreads, so I was very excited to receive these. I’d never had flavored ones before, but I really liked the addition of garlic and herbs. They’re also certified non-GMO, which I’m always happy to see.

Universal Yums Subscription Box Review – April 2015 Nougat

Marabou Chocolate with Nougat (110 g.)- approximately $5

Milk chocolate Marabou Nougat Bars are made with a double layer of nut and almond praline. Marabou is the largest Swedish chocolate manufacturer, and, according to Universal Yums, is considered to be the best chocolate in all of Scandinavia.

Universal Yums Subscription Box Review – April 2015 Gingersnaps

Lars' Swedish Gingersnaps- value $6?

I don’t like receiving snacks without a label (Universal Yums has done this few time in the last several months), but I’m familiar with Lars’ Gingersnaps and very happy to see them in the box. They’re made with cloves, cinnamon, and ginger and are crispy and full of spicy flavor. I think they’re delicious with tea. Without the full original packaging, it’s difficult to determine value. There’s no weight listed, but the box on Amazon looks to have two packets of cookies (for $12).

Universal Yums Subscription Box Review – April 2015  Licorice

Halva Salty Licorice Bar (2 oz.)- $1.25

Panda Blueberry Licorice Bar (32 g.)- $.76

I love licorice, so I was very excited to see both of these items in my Yum Yum box. I’ve tried Panda licorice before, but the blueberry flavor was new to me. I really liked it. It was definitely a mild licorice, and the fruit flavor was subtle.

The Halva, on the other hand, had a very strong flavor. I really enjoyed the saltiness, but I imagine it will be a divisive snack. I think most people will either love or hate it. Luckily, I thought it was great.

Universal Yums Subscription Box Review – April 2015 Candies

Kex Chocolate Wafers (Note that link is for a full-sized bar)

Daim Chocolate Toffee

I love that Univeral Yums sends a good variety of candy every month, and I think it’s so much fun to sample sweets from around the world! I really liked both of these candies. The toffee minis had a crunchy almond caramel center and were covered with milk chocolate. The Kex Wafers were lightly sweet and really good too. 

Universal Yums Subscription Box Review – April 2015 Dumle

Marianne Chocolate Filled Mints

Geisha Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts

Dumle Soft Caramels

The Marianne mints might be my favorite discovery of the box. The candies have a peppermint-flavored hard candy outer shell and are filled with creamy chocolate. It seems strange to mix hard candy and chocolate, but it definitely works.

Geisha chocolates are inspired by “Japonica,” a Japanese pastry. They’re made in Finland and popular throughout the Nordic countries.

In Sweden, Dumle candies are a popular treat for kids. They’re soft caramels coated with milk chocolate and really tasty. There’s a similar candy, called “Plopp,” that Swedish adults prefer, but Universal Yums thought the name might be off-putting for English speakers. Ha!

Universal Yums Subscription Box Review – April 2015 Next

On the information card, Universal Yums provides a clue to the next month’s destination. The land of milk and honey? Sounds like we’re going to Israel!

Verdict: I liked the items Universal Yums selected for the Scandinavian box, but it felt a little lighter than usual. (Or maybe it just seems light after last month’s China box, since that one was packed to the brim!) I wasn’t sure what to expect from Scandinavian treats, but I really liked everything I sampled. I couldn’t determine an overall value (since everything wasn’t available for sale online), but I imagine it’s in line with the value of their previous boxes. Boxes from Universal Yums don’t often have a value that exceeds the cost, but I enjoy their curation and feel it adds value to the subscription. They really excel at introducing new foods and snacks in a fun way, and I love being transported to a new destination each month!

What do think about the Scandinavian snacks from this month’s Universal Yums Box?

Lindsey Morse
Lindsey Morse

Lindsey is a professional baker, cold brew coffee addict, and rosé aficionado who loves writing about food and wine. When she’s not sharing her love of subscription boxes with the world, you’ll find her in the podcasting studio, perfecting her cake decorating techniques, or cursing her way through the New York Times daily crossword puzzle. 


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8 comments

Linden Mary McGilloway

I LOVE this box! I am so LOVING the chance to snack on things from all these Countries that I will likely never have the chance to travel to. And since travel for me means cultural foods and sights, this box has me covered. Thanks to UY I can sit in my recliner, snack on favorites from another Country and look up the sights there on the laptop! I agree that this box seemed a tad lighter and had a lesser number of products than all the others, but the curation and price is AWESOME!

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Jenny

Thos gingerbread tasting cookies were DELICIOUS!! This was out first box, and we love it! Definitely looking forward to Israel!

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Nicole

Hi Lindsey,

Just wanted to say how much I enjoy your reviews. Thanks for munching, drinking, and writing on behalf of curious consumers!

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Lindsey

Thanks for that, Nicole! I’m glad you enjoy them! 🙂

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Nicole C

When I went to Iceland I fell in love with the Marianne chocolate mints and lived on those and the Daims for a week. Great box, I’m jealous of your candy. hehehe.

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Rachel

Ooh, I’m tempted by Israel. Did you know that they have chocolate pop rocks?

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Lindsey

Chocolate pop rocks? That sounds amazing! Mind = blown. 🙂

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heyhey

I buy the chocolate poprocks off of Amazon. I have made truffles and rolled them in the pop rocks for a little (surprising) kick!