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 has introduced new packaging this month, and I’m loving their new boxes!
This month’s snacks are from India!
I’m glad to see that Universal Yums is still including a tissue paper flag in each box!
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!
Universal Yums has upgraded from a flat information card to a larger folding card! All of the items in the box are listed on the card, and Universal Yums also lists details and the ingredients of each item on their website.
Just a quick digression before I get started. I usually try and list the product weight for each item in my reviews, but I had difficulty finding them printed on some of the items in this box. It’s possible I’m overlooking them, but my guess is that Indian law doesn’t require food weights to be listed on packaging. This is pretty interesting, since calorie information is listed “per 100 g,” but it’s unclear how many g. are in each bag. As someone who almost always checks calorie information, I find this pretty incredible! Of course, this also makes it difficult to estimate product cost, since I can’t confirm the product I’m looking at online is the same size as the one in my hand. Anyway, I’ve done my best to estimate item costs when I can, and I’ve listed product weights when possible.
KurKure Chili Chatka - $1.97
KurKure is one of India’s most famous snacks, and Universal Yums has included two different flavors to sample. The first flavor, Chili Chatka, is incredibly spicy. It’s probably the spiciest chip flavor I’ve ever tried. I like it, but I think it would be great with a (cooling) yogurt dip!
Lay's Masala Magic- $1.65
Masala Magic chips have hints of ginger and coriander and the flavor definitely reminds me of curry. They’re a little spicy but seem very mild when compared to the Chili Chatka!
KurKure Naughty Tomato- $1.99
The second flavor of KurKure is Naughty Tomato. This flavor is milder than the Chili Chatka, but there’s still some good heat. Interestingly, Universal Yums mentions that, in India, KurKure is more than just a quick snack. It’s also often added to recipes and eaten alongside chai tea.
Chillz Spicy (25 g.)
This is another spicy snack (I’m sensing a trend…), and Univeral Yums recommends having a glass of water on hand before digging in. They’re definitely spicy, but the flavor is delicious. I’ll admit that I did have to take a break after eating a few to drink something. I love spicy foods, but it seems my tolerance for spice is much lower than the average Indian snacker!
Bansi Crushed Peanut Chikki (100 g.)- $1.99
According to Universal Yums, Chikki is a popular snack eaten throughout India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh. It’s similar to peanut brittle, but it’s made with jaggery instead of white sugar. Jaggery is a form of unrefined cane sugar that is culturally significant to many Hindus. It’s often consumed for luck or in celebration.
Parle Kreams Bourbon Chocolate Cream Biscuits (2.64 oz.)- $2.99
Bourbon Cream Biscuits are a popular British snack that gained popularity in India during the British Colonial Rule. They’re made with two chocolate cookies and chocolate buttercream, and they contain no actual bourbon.
Britannia Mango Creams (36 g.)
India consumes more mangos than any other country in the world, so it’s no surprise that the fruit finds it’s way into the country’s snacks. These cookies are delicious, and the filling actually tastes like real mango!
Britannia Date Roll Cookies (90 g.)- $1.25
These cookies look similar to Fig Newtons, but they’re crumblier and are the filling is made with dates. They’re made in Oman, and I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve ever tried a snack from there!
Jelly Amrood (20 g.)
Universal Yums describes these gummies as “the perfect blend of sour, sweet, and… pepper.” With a description like that I wasn’t sure what to expect, but they’re surprisingly delicious. I’ve never had anything similar before, and I doubt I’ll be able to find these locally. I might have to sour the internet to find more!
Chili Mili (20 g.)
The description of these candies on the Universal Yums card is too good not to share. “Whoever thought to mix a gummy snack with chili pepper was either a genius or a masochist… Good news, if you like these, you probably won’t have to share them.” I don’t know. You might have to share with me- I like them!
Nestle Smarties (38 g.)
Smarties are one of my favorite British candies! They’re similar to M&M’s, but they’re larger, flatter, and somehow taste better (to me, anyway). Most of the candy shells taste the same, but orange Smarties are flavored with orange.
Mango Ripe (4 candies)
According to the info card, I should have received Mango Mood candy instead of Mango Ripe. I’m assuming they had to substitute these in for some reason, but I’m not complaining - Mango Ripe is pretty yummy!
On the back of the information card, Universal Yums provides a clue to the next month’s destination. Usually, the clues are pretty easy, but this one seems more vague than usual. I’m stumped. Looks like it’ll be a country with famous coffee, beaches, and music. Does anyone have any ideas?
Verdict: This month’s Universal Yums box was a big hit for me! I’ve never tried Indian snacks before, but I discovered some really delicious (and unique) new treats! It was also fun to see some familiar British treats in the box. I think Universal Yums does a great job of curating treats from a different country each month, and I have so much fun discovering new foods from around the world. As usual, it’s difficult to determine an overall value for this box, but I’m happy with what I’ve received. Universal Yums excels at introducing new foods and snacks in a fun way, and I love being transported to a new destination every month!
Did you love the Indian snacks in this month’s Universal Yums box? What are your thoughts on next month’s theme?
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