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Universal Yums Subscription Box Review – August 2017

Taryn Lowman
ByTaryn LowmanSep 4, 2017 | 6 comments

Universal Yums Columbia August 2017 0001

Universal Yums
4.3 overall rating
43 Ratings | 33 Reviews

Universal Yums is a snack subscription box that sends out snacks and candies from a different country each month.

Universal Yums August 2017 0002

This month's box takes us to Colombia!

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.)

Universal Yums August 2017 0003

This review is of the Yum Yum, $25 a month, box. 

Universal Yums August 2017 0004

The Subscription Box: Universal Yums

The Cost: $14/month for the Yum Box, $25/month for the Yum Yum Box. Free shipping to the U.S.

The Products: "The contents of the boxes change each month as we try to highlight the best snacks from each featured country. However, you can always expect a mix of flavors: salty, sweet, spicy, fruity, and more. Only authentic snacks from the featured country."

Ships to: U.S., Canada, U.K., and Israel

Check out all of our Universal Yums reviews and find similar boxes in the Snack Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

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As soon as you open your box, you will see a piece of thick paper covering the contents of the box and letting you know the country from which your snacks have come. You will also find that there is a list of all the products featured with a grid where you can rate each snack. This is such a fun interactive way to enjoy this snack box with your friends! 

Universal Yums August 2017 0007

Universal Yums August 2017 0008

The pamphlet included in each box includes a list and a fun description about each snack. I found this to be extremely helpful while tasting and it was extremely interesting! Since each month features a new location, the pamphlet always provides fun facts about Colombia, a trivia game, and a puzzle!

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Universal Yums August 2017 0010

Cassava Strips, 1.75 oz - Value $2.43 (Buy a pack of 2, 4.5 oz. bags for $12.50 on Jet)

These taste like a potato chip, but these are not made from potato! Instead, this is made with Cassava which is a shrub! The chip itself is extremely thin and crunchy, nothing greasy or fried tasting about this snack. I got hints of the light sea salt with each bite. I absolutely loved this 'not like a potato chip' chip! 

Universal Yums Columbia August 2017 0011

Universal Yums Columbia August 2017 0012

Columbian Arequipe, 1.7 oz - Value $1.37 (Buy 8.7 oz for $6.99 at Walmart)

This little snack is called a caramel pudding, but it is thicker than a typical pudding would be. It is almost like caramel you would eat in a candy bar. It is sweet but not overwhelming and just so creamy! Unlike most caramels, this pudding is made with condensed milk and sugar. I could have eaten so many more of these! 

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Universal Yums Columbia August 2017 0014

Supercoco Candy - Value $0.33 (buy a pack of 50 for $4.18 on Amazon)

If you have read my other snack reviews, you will know that I am not the biggest coconut fan. This little hard candy is a sticky caramel treat that is filled with coconut. It was very sweet from the caramel, but the coconut was a little overpowering for me. Luckily though, my Mom loves coconut so I was able to share this lovely candy with her! 

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Universal Yums Columbia August 2017 0016

Yupi Rizadas Picanticas, 0.99 oz - Value $1.99?

I wasn't able to find this brand of chips anywhere online for sale so I am estimating the value based on similar sized bags of chips. These crinkle chips were thick and crunchy! Even though the pamphlet listed these as spicy, I didn't get an overwhelming spice, which I loved! Instead, you get a mixture of the vinegar and lime making these chips a little sweet and a tiny bit spicy. 

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Universal Yums Columbia August 2017 0018

Yupi Rizadas Mayonesa, 0.99 oz - Value $1.99

I absolutely loved these chips! They were thick crinkle cut chips with lots of crunch like the other Yupi chips. The mayo flavor made the chips creamy that tasted very similar to a honey mustard sauce. According to the pamphlet, dipping chips in mayo is very common in Colombia which is why Yupi developed this particular flavor. A must try! 

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Universal Yums Columbia August 2017 0020

Bianchi White Chocolate Bar, 2 pieces at 0.92 oz - Value $2.00?

I wasn't able to find this candy bar for sale so I am estimating the value. The only way I can describe this is that it is a white chocolate version of a Snickers bar, so yummy! I honestly have avoided white chocolate most of my life because I thought I didn't like it, but I really loved this candy bar!

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Universal Yums Columbia August 2017 0022

Piazza Fresa Barquillos, 1.58 oz - Value $0.99

These little wafers are thinly rolled that make a yummy crunch. The filling is an extra fruity strawberry flavor that has a creamy texture to it. This is my kind of snack, I enjoyed this with a cup of coffee for a special afternoon treat! 

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Universal Yums Columbia August 2017 0024

Bon Bon Bum Lollipops, 4 lollipops - Value $0.54 (Buy a 24 count bag for $3.22 at Amazon)

I didn't know it was possible for a piece of candy to taste so much like a fresh piece of fruit! I received mango and passionfruit flavors and they were so fruity but not too sweet. Plus, each lollipop is filled with bubble gum! What a unique take on lollipop flavors! 

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Universal Yums Columbia August 2017 0026

Coffee Delight, 4 pieces - Value $0.48 (buy a 50 piece bag for $5.99 at Walmart)

These little hard candies are made with 100% Colombian coffee! According to the pamphlet, Colombian coffee beans are typically sweeter and have a hint of fruit flavors. The coffee flavor of these hard candies was so creamy and delicious. Such a great snack to toss in your bag whenever you need something sweet or for some energy in the case of these coffee delights! 

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Universal Yums Columbia August 2017 0028

Ramo Chocoramo, 2.47 oz - Value $4.80 (buy a pack of 5 for $23.99 on Amazon)

According to the pamphlet, the recipe for this cake is so secret it is stored in an undisclosed bank in the U.S! Also, thousands of Colombians use this as their birthday cake! I totally understand why this is so loved because it was so delicious! The cake itself was really big, and the outer layer of chocolate is thin and not too sweet. The cake is so fluffy with a strong vanilla flavor. I gobbled this up and it left me wanting more!

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Universal Yums Columbia August 2017 0030

Castipan Veleno, 36 g (2 pieces) - Value $0.72 (buy a pack of 18 for $6.49)

This is described as a thick guava paste mixed with sugar cane that is best served either plain or melted over cheese. Unfortunately, I didn't have any cheese, but I am saving this second piece to use over some fresh queso fresco this weekend! The best way that I can describe this Castipan Veleno is that it tastes like a thicker sweet jelly that has a hint of salt to it. I think melted it would taste very similar to brie. I really enjoyed it cold, but can't wait to try it over cheese! 

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Universal Yums Columbia August 2017 0032

Turbana Chili Plantain Chips, 2.5 oz - Value $1.12 (buy a pack of 12, 7 oz bags for $37.79 at Amazon)

I have never had a spicy plantain chip, but these were incredible! They were more on the spicy instead of sweet side, but you do get some hints of sweet. I could have eaten the whole bag but knew better since it is a spicier chip. Each plantain is fried and seasoned with a mix of spices that makes this snack so tempting!

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Universal Yums Columbia August 2017 0034

Nestle Cocosette, 1.76 oz - Value $1.73 (Buy a pack of 4 for $6.93 at Amazon)

When you open this little wafer pack you get a strong coconut smell. So this was one that I shared with my Mom since I don't love coconut flavored snacks. There are little pieces of coconut plus a wonderful sweetness from the chocolate. The stacks of wafer provide a great crunch, and I mean you really can't go wrong with a wafer cookie!

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Universal Yums Columbia August 2017 0036

Tocineta Lime & Bacon Chips, 0.52 oz - Value $1.99?

I wasn't able to find these online for sale but estimated the value based on either size snack bags like this. I was a little surprised to see the chips since they are made to look like a piece of bacon, but these were probably my favorite snack! You get mainly the lime flavor, but as you keep eating the chips you really get hints of bacon. There was a touch of salt that made these chips so addicting, I couldn't stop eating them! 

Verdict: This was my first time trying Universal Yums and I must say that I loved it! I haven't learned or tried much about Colombian snack foods, but this box really brought a ton of new snacks and flavors for me. Even the coconut snacks that I didn't love were still fun to taste test and then share with my Mom! I am normally not a salty snack fan, but I was surprised by how much I loved each chip bag as well. While a few of my values for each item were estimates, I calculated a total value of $22.48, with an overall cost of the box being $25 (including shipping). While the value and cost are fairly close, I really enjoyed this month's snacks and thought the interactive rating card was so unique to other snack boxes I have tried! I can't wait to see what next month's Universal Yums will feature!

Which Universal Yums snack would you most like to try? 

Starting at $16.00
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Universal Yums is a monthly snack subscription box that delivers a variety of international snacks from all around the world. Each delivery brings an unforgettable experience that mixes the fun of food, travel, and learning in one tasty box!

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Taryn Lowman
Taryn Lowman
Taryn's passion for subscription boxes started when she was gifted a monthly Birchbox. She is excited to discover more Mom and baby boxes to share with her family!

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6 comments

Greg

I’ve been with Yums for about 3 months and have had problems already. my daughter and I each get a subscription for my granddaughter in North Carolina and my granddaughter in Louisiana. The idea is that they video conference and open the boxes so the two cousins can keep in touch. Well Yums forgot to send one of the packages, I had to email them to find out what happened. The woman said they lost track of it and it didn’t get sent. she told me it would be sent on the next business day (monday). 4 days later I get an email telling me the package had been shipped. This was a friday. sadly my granddaughters yums didn’t arrive the following Thursday. I received no apology from these people. I am stopping my subscription and my daughters as well. Apparently they can’t be trusted and the customer service is horrible.

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Debora Pietrobelli

OMG is NOT Columbia! It’s COLOMBIA! I couldn’t even read the whole review because everytime I read Columbia instead of Colombia it pissed me off. You had it in big bold letters, how could you miss that? SMH

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Taryn Lowman

Thank you so much for letting me know about the typo. We went back through to correct the error. I hope you enjoyed the overall review!

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Danielle

Grammar police are so fun!

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Shay

Calm down.

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Helen

Chill, don’t you ever make typos or spelling mistakes? It’s not worth raising your blood pressure. She didn’t murder your first born. SMH I enjoyed the review and this box is high on my most wanted sub box list.

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