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 The Netherlands!
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 & Canada (Canadian shipping is extra.)
Check out all of our reviews of Universal Yums!
Universal Yums includes a folding card that lists all of the items in the box! They also detail the ingredients of each item on their website.
Van Der Meulen Rusk (3.5 oz.)
These Dutch crisp breads are baked twice to ensure they’re crunchy all the way through. You can eat them plain, but Universal Yums suggests eating them like the Dutch do by topping them with butter and De Ruijter Bread Sprinkles.
And here are the sprinkles! They look and taste just like chocolate jimmies. I’d never think of topping toast with something like this, but I have to admit that it’s really tasty!
I don’t know very much about Dutch snacks, but I am familiar with stroopwafels. The snack consists of gooey caramel sandwiched between two thin waffle cookies. I love the soft and chewy consistency, and the rich flavor is delicious. My only gripe is that Universal Yums didn’t include more than one pack!
Universal Yums included two types of peppermints in this box, apparently because there’s a Duch peppermint rivalry between King and Wilhelmina! King Peppermints have been made with the same family recipe for over 100 years, they’re subtly minty and sweet.
Wilhelmina Peppermints look very similar to King Peppermints. They taste pretty similar too, but I think I’m team Wilhelmina.
Though most of the items in Universal Yums boxes are sweet, I think I look forward to the savory snacks the most. These paprika chips are very similar in flavor to BBQ chips, and I really enjoyed them. The Dutch are known for dipping their potatoes in mayonnaise, so these chips are something of an unusual treat in The Netherlands.
I made the mistake of popping one of these sandwiches in my mouth before reading the description or thoroughly checking out the package. I was expecting a fairly traditional wafer cookie- not a savory cheese biscuit! Once the initial shock wore off, however, I warmed up to this unusual snack. I like the subtle, nutty flavor of the gouda, and I think these are a fun take on cheese crackers.
Dutch Bakery Windmill Cookies
Dutch Windmill Cookies, also known as speculoos or speculaas cookies, are one of my all time favorites. The dough is heavily spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom, and I think they’re fantastic alongside tea and coffee.
Caramel seems to be a popular candy in many different countries, with only slight variations on the basic recipe. Meller Caramels pair chewy and buttery caramel with a filling of creamy milk chocolate. They’re a delicious twist on a classic.
These Dutch chocolate pastilles are most famous for their packaging, which was first unveiled in 1900. (Unfortunately, the pastilles in this box don’t feature the packaging in question, but Universal Yums did include a photo of it on their info card. You can also see it here.) The advertisement depicts a picture inside a picture, which is now known as the “Droste effect.” Here’s a fun example of it.
Advocaat is a drink made from sugar, eggs, vanilla, cream, and brandy. It’s similar to eggnog, and that’s exactly what these chews taste like. They’re creamy and have a nice spice.
Coffee candies are another treat that regularly pop up in boxes from Universal Yums. (Unsurprising, since coffee is popular all around the world!) These Rademaker Coffee Hopjes are sweet with a nice coffee flavor. I’m a fan.
Napoleon Black and White Licorice Balls
Salty black licorice is really popular in The Netherlands and Scandinavia. The flavor is usually a little too intense for my palate, and these black licorice balls are no exception.
These sour raspberry candies, on the other hand, are right up my alley! They’re filled with a fizzy powder, and they’re really tasty.
On the back of the information card, Universal Yums provides a clue to the next month’s destination. When I read this one, I immediately started humming this. I think it’s pretty safe to assume that next month’s box will feature snacks from Korea!
Verdict: I enjoyed this box from Universal Yums, and I had a lot of fun trying snacks from The Netherlands. While some snacks, like the salty licorice, didn’t blow me away, I loved the Stroopwaffels, Advocaat Chews, and Windmill cookies. 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. I’m looking forward to next month’s box, and I’m excited to see what types of snacks will be featured!
What do you think of this month’s Universal Yums box? Did you enjoy your box of Dutch snacks?
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