Mitten Crate is a monthly subscription box that delivers a carefully curated selection of delicious food, crafted in small batches by independent food producers from around the great state of Michigan. Every month you’ll receive 5-6 local artisan foods to sample and enjoy.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: Mitten Crate
The Cost: $35/month with free shipping
ACTIVE DEAL: Get your first box for $24!
CODE: msa24
The Products: Small-batch, artisan food locally made in the state of Michigan.
Ships to: the continental U.S.
Check out all of our Mitten Crate reviews and the Local Subscription Box Directory for more locally-sourced boxes!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
For every Mitten Crate purchased, they donate to Gleaners Food Bank in Southeastern Michigan.
Mitten Crate also includes a card with information about all the brands and artisans they feature in that month’s box. Being from Michigan myself, it’s so much fun to find out about these businesses that are right near me!
Ann Arbor Tortilla Factory Stone Ground Tortilla Chips, Chili Lime flavor, 8 oz - Value $2.50
These chips are fantastic. They’re naturally gluten-free, non-GMO, have no preservatives, no colorings, no trans fats, nor artificial flavorings. The ingredients label is simple and real food (soybean oil and corn, water, salt, citric acid, lime and cayenne pepper). The flavor of these chips is savory, with tangy lime, and finishes with a little heat! These are a great new find for me, and my husband loves them too. Chips and salsa/queso are a standard snack in our house!
Little Diablo Salsa Seared Pineapple and Ginger, 16 oz - Value $5.95
Of course, I was glad they included salsa with the tortilla chips! This is a new flavor from Little Diablo salsa: Seared Pineapple and Ginger. At first, I wasn’t sure what to think about the ginger in the salsa, but the flavor is all subtle enough that it’s just a nice complimentary heat. The pineapple is subtle too – it just adds some sweetness and slight citrus profile. I’m not sure I would have guessed the flavors from a blind test, which is fine with me because the flavors still all blend together so well into a sweet and savory mix that we really enjoyed. I’m thinking about ordering more and trying it in cooking – they recommend using it with pork or fish tacos!
Nikki’s Original Ginger Tea, 16 fl oz. - Value $4.50
I think I’ve tried tea from this brand before, but a Ginger Apple flavor, not straight-up ginger only. I was a little hesitant on just pure ginger juice tea, but it was okay! I don’t think I could drink this whole bottle on its own because the flavor is really strong, but I think it’d be great to add into my hot teas, like a lemon or green tea.
Vitaperk Energy Nutrient Coffee Enhancer Packets, 3 packets - Total Value $2.14 (buy a 30-pack for $19.99)
These packets are like fortified dry creamer for your coffee (though you can also put it in ice coffee, hot cocoa or smoothies). All are naturally flavored and only 5 calories. They’re also supposed to help prevent a coffee crash, but I don’t tend to have problems with that so I can’t speak to the effectiveness of that claim. I like them, but I still use my regular cream and sugar, too.
Lush Nuts Dark Cocoa Chili Peanuts, 5 oz - Value $6
I’m not usually one that loves chili and chocolate together, but the chili is subtle enough with these that I like it! It comes out as more of a slight heat aftertaste. The flavor itself is mostly just dark cocoa coated peanuts, which is of course delicious. The texture is great, too – they have a very satisfying crunch. The ingredients list is also simple – Spanish peanuts, cane sugar, dark cocoa powder, sea salt, and chili powder. Their website has some interesting pairing ideas: on top of vanilla bean gelato or with red wine!
Nakee Butter iQ in Cacao Peanut, 2.12 oz. – Value $3.99
I actually received this in my August Mitten Crate. While I don’t mind repeats of brands and variation of flavors of products, I’m underwhelmed with this identical repeat. It will be eaten, though, so at least I’ll use it.
This is a squeeze pouch of cacao peanut butter, meant to be a meal replacement. One squeeze pouch is 290 calories (190 from fat) and made with agave fiber (a low-glycemic carb), plant protein, fair trade cacao, and coconut oil. It’s also raw, dairy-free, gluten-free, and GMO-free. It tastes good, too! A whole pouch was a little much for me to eat on its own in one sitting/meal, so it is probably best (for my tastes, anyway) to split it into snacks or use it on crackers or toast.
Verdict: This was a good Mitten Crate for me! My favorite discoveries, in case you couldn’t tell already, were the chips and salsa. I’m definitely thinking of ordering more. Everything in this month’s crate is something we will eat (or have already polished off)!
The value adds up to $25.09 – lower than the cost of the box, which I’m a little bummed about but I have come to expect a value around breaking even or a little less from Mitten Crate. Food boxes are generally the lowest value subscriptions out there, so I think it’s really up to each individual if retail value alone is what they’re looking for in a food subscription. For some, I know that the curation and discovery are well worth the difference, especially if you find that you consistently like most everything the subscription sends, and also tend to go order more of your favorite discoveries. While I’d always appreciate a higher retail value, I fall into that category myself. I’ve gone and bought full orders from many companies I’ve found through Mitten Crate, and usually, order more of one or more items per crate. That’s something I really can’t say for many subscriptions I’ve tried! Plus, I’ve had fun learning more about my local food businesses and get excited when I see brands I know from Mitten Crate as I walk nearby Farmer’s Markets.
What do you think about Mitten Crate?
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