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.)
This month’s snacks are from Israel!
This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription: Universal Yums
The Cost: $13/month for the Yum Box (6+ snacks) and $25/month for the Yum Yum Box (13+ snacks). Note that this is a review of the Yum Yum Box.
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!
Every box contains an information card detailing the featured items. They also list details and the ingredients of each item on their website.
Falafel Flavor Bissli Snacks (2.5 oz.)- $1.51
When I first saw these, I immediately thought of the Falafel Chips that have been popping up in food boxes recently. These are much different, though. They’re made without chickpeas, and the falafel flavor comes from a blend of spices. I’m not sure they taste like falafel, but I do like them.
Smoky Flavor Bissli Snacks (2.5 oz.)- $1.66
These snacks brought me back to my days in Britain, where chips come in flavors like “prawn cocktail,” “ketchup,” and “smoky bacon.” I’m always intrigued when I come across an unfamiliar chip flavor, so I was excited to try these. I like the crispy rings, and the smoky flavor reminds me a little of BBQ flavored chips.
Bamba Peanut Flavored Snacks (1 oz.)- $1.15
According to Universal Yums, Bamba is Israel’s most famous snack food. It also seems this snack has helped maintain low numbers of peanut allergies in Israel. From the info card: “A recent UK study confirmed that the low number of peanut allergies among Israeli children can be directly associated to high consumption of Bamba at a young age.” Fascinating! I really enjoy the Universal Yums info card, and I’m always impressed with the fun tidbits of information they include.
Bamba Peanut Snack with Hazelnut Cream Filling (2.1 oz.)- $1.75
This snack pairs the classic Bamba with a creamy hazelnut filling. It was developed because Bamba dipped in Nutella became a favorite snack of Israeli soldiers, but they found it to be messy and time-consuming to eat. (Another fun fact- thanks, Universal Yums!) The soldiers were definitely on to something; this is a delicious combination!
Mega Sesame Pretzel Sticks (5.3 oz)- $1.73
These pretzels don’t look all that unusual, but they’re covered with sesame seeds, which gives them a surprisingly nutty aftertaste. I like them, and I think they’re a subtle twist on a classic snack.
Achva Marble Sesame Halva (2.45 oz.)
Halva is a popular Middle Eastern candy made from sesame seeds, sugar, and butter. I grew up with a Lebanese stepfather, so it wasn’t unusual to find halva in our kitchen. I’m a fan of halva’s rich, nutty flavor, and I enjoyed trying this marble version. I think the chocolate swirls are a nice addition.
Elite Milk Chocolate with Popping Candies (3 oz.)- $2.42
(I have to give a shout-out to Rachel, who made a comment about this exact snack in the discussion about last month’s box!) This bar blends creamy milk chocolate with “popping candy” (ie Pop Rocks). It’s an unfamiliar combination, to be sure, but I really like it! I always enjoyed Pop Rocks when I was a kid, and there’s something delightful about a chocolate bar that crackles and pops while you’re eating it. This might be my favorite candy discovery EVER in a subscription box!
Elite Pesek Zman Chocolate Bar (1.59 oz)- $2.50
This bar is milk chocolate and filled with hazelnut cream. I’ve received similar bars in a number of Universal Yums boxes, so I guess it’s safe to say that milk chocolate and hazelnut is a combination popular all over the world!
Kif Kef Chocolate Bar (18.5 g.)
Kif Kef sounds a little like Kit-Kat, and I think they taste pretty similar too.
Elite Hazelnut Chocolate Bar (.63 oz)
This bar is like a Snickers, but with hazelnuts instead of peanuts. Can’t go wrong with that!
Pinuki Cola Dragees (1.16 oz)
I’m a fan of Haribo Cola Bottles, so I reached for these Dragees right away. They’re chewy (with a texture kind of like Mentos) and have an authentic cola flavor. I’m definitely a fan.
Toffee Fruit Chews
I like the flavor of these Toffee Fruit Chews quite a lot. They’re very fruity and a little chewier than traditional salt-water taffy.
On the information card, Universal Yums provides a clue to the next month’s destination. What are your thoughts about the clue? My guess is Mexico!
Verdict: I’m a big fan of the treats that were included in this month’s Universal Yums box. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Israeli treats, but I LOVED the cola candy and the popping chocolate. Because of those treats alone, this might be my favorite Universal Yums box yet! 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 Israeli snacks from this month’s Universal Yums Box?
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