EsianMall is a monthly subscription box company that offers Asian snacks (Snack Box) and Asian beauty (Beauty Box).
NOTE: EsianMall has changed their subscription box and pricing since our last review. The Snack Box has become the GGSB, or Geek Gamer Snack Box, while the Beauty Box has become the GCBB, or Geek Chic Beauty Box. The boxes are the same as before except with added collectible merchandise. There is also an additional shipping charge
There are three Geek Gamer Snack Box types: Mini, Regular, and Premium. The Mini contains 5-6 snacks, the Medium contains 8-10 snacks, and the Premium contains 12-14 snacks plus 1-2 geek swag merchandise. The Geek Chic Beauty Box contains 4-5 Asian beauty items.
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.)
This review is of the Premium Geek Gamer Snack Box, $34.95 a month box.
The Subscription Box: EsianMall Geek Gamer Snack Box
The Cost: The Geek Gamer Snack Box is $14.95 per month for Mini, $24.95 per month for Regular, and $34.95 per month for Premium (discount on longer commitments). Shipping rates start at $3 and can be found here.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $3 off your first box!
CODE: geeksnack
The Products: 12-14 Asian snacks and 1-2 geek/gamer items for the Premium box
Ships to: Everywhere. Shipping rates vary per box and can be found here.
Check out all of our EsianMall reviews and the Food Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Along with assorted literature, the info card comes with a little tag that you can cut out and collect to win free boxes in the future.
The info card lists the snacks this month. October's theme is The Walking Dead. Each featured Asian snack is loosely tied to a reference to the show. Since I don't watch The Walking Dead, I didn't understand many of the references. That didn't stop me from eating all the food, though!
Amay's Almond Cookies - Value $1?
These are Chinese almond cookies and a reference to Carol's cookies. The cookies themselves are really tasty! I really like the crumbly texture and the sweet, nutty flavor is delicious too. The info card explains that "Carol's cookies solve problems, so how could they not be included?" To be honest, I was very confused for a while because it sounded like The Walking Dead had featured almond cookies.
Green Guava Candies - Value $0.40?
These are guava-flavored hard candies. I really like these! The candies are in reference to the green suckers that were "Beth's reward in the hospital." I don't really know what guava candies have to do with The Walking Dead other than their green color.
Mango Pudding - Value $0.75?
How nostalgic! I basically grew up on this type of jello. Don't let the name fool you, this is more gelatin than pudding. Also, the info card says this is mangosteen but the label definitely says mango. There are chunks of what I think is lychee inside the cup. I wish the info card gave me more information on what exactly I'm eating.
Cheese Rings - Value $2.50
These are puffy chips coated in cheese. My feelings on this snack are mixed. The light, cheesy flavor is great at first, but there is a weird sweet aftertaste that I dislike. I gladly gobbled the whole bag but I don't think I would eat it again.
Beef Jerky - Value $3
This is labeled "Five Spices Beef Jerky." Five spice is a common spice mix in Chinese cuisine. The jerky has a delicious combination of sweet and savory flavors.
It looks dry but actually tastes soft and chewy! I'm a big fan of this beef jerky.
Black Ramen - Value $2.80
This interesting instant ramen looks blackened. The bag says it is called Non-Fried Bamboo Charcoal Noodles. The bag comes with three packets: spice powder, flavored oil, and dried vegetables.
You make this the same way as regular instant ramen. The dried vegetables turn into their normal size after being rehydrated. The smell of seaweed was overwhelming, so I had to hold my nose at first. However, the noodles and flavor packets were all great! The flavoring was savory and seaweed-y.
Dried Mangos - Value $3
These are dried mango strips. They taste very sweet, likely from lots of added sugar, but I'm totally ok with that. I have become wary of dried fruit recently because most of them are dry and hard to chew. I'm happy to report these are the complete opposite!
Instant Miso Mix - Value $1.20
I didn't know instant miso soup mix was a thing! Other than miso powder, this mix contains dried seaweed, green onions, and tofu, which I thought was really amusing. It is super easy to make: simply combine mix with 2/3 cup boiled water and eat. While it isn't as tasty as restaurant-quality miso soup, this is not bad for a quick craving fix.
Flavored Gum - Value $1.50
I have seen these gum packs in most, if not all, Asian grocery stores! Each pack contains four pieces. My favorite of the four types is Strawberry. The flavor isn't long lasting, unfortunately, but I have come to expect this from all candy-like gum.
Bing Bing Cones - Value $1.61
These are ice cream cone shaped snacks with a cake cone shell and fluffy, spongey strawberry-flavored filling. The light filling melts into cream as soon as you take a bite. I love these! It's a nice reduced-guilt snack without resorting to a real ice cream cone.
Coconut Peanuts - Value $3
These are peanuts coated in a crunchy cracker shell. The shell has a slightly sweet coconut flavor, which is where it gets the "coconut" name from. I'm very obsessed with this snack, it is ridiculously hard to put down after I get a taste. Thankfully this tin contains a lot of peanuts!
Cream Soda - Value $3.50
This is my favorite item of the box! I love cream sodas, and this one was very creamy and sweet. It doesn't have a particular flavor, but it vaguely reminds me of the tartness in Asian yogurt drinks (think original flavor frozen yogurt).
"Don't Open Geek Inside" Hat - $10?
This is the month's geek gamer item! The cap is made of sturdy canvas and the meshing in the back is a great touch. I really like the fun Walking Dead reference but it can probably do without the "created by EsianMall" text.
Verdict: I have mixed feelings about this box. The snacks were tasty for sure, but the Walking Dead theme seemed at odds with the food. I see the potential in weaving a snack curation around a TV show or video game. Right now, though, it feels like EsianMall is making a cursory effort to cater to a popular show's fanbase while connecting the Asian foods to the show is just an afterthought. Also, I think the hat would be better without their brand on it. The estimated total value this month is $34.26, which is lower than the cost of subscription + shipping. Also, some of the prices they list online seem inflated, like the cheese rings, so the actual value might be less if you have a local Asian grocery store that sells these items (I have seen some of these snacks sold at mine).
I think EsianMall should put some more focus on the food they curate. The info card can also be more detailed and not just list the name of each snack in passing. Knowing the snack's brand and full name would be ideal. That way, if I liked what I ate, I would know what to look for in the future. There's definitely potential in this box, I just think it can be improved.
What do you think of the EsianMall Geek Gamer Snack Box?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.