Universal Yums is a snack subscription box that sends out sacks and candies from a different country each month. Choose from the Yum Box for $14 a month or the Yum Yum Box for $25 a month. This month's box takes us to Spain—the birthplace of Picasso, as the box proudly wrote!
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 Yum Yum box, which is $25 a month.
About Universal Yums
The Subscription Box: Universal Yums
The Cost: $25 a month + free US shipping
The Products: The contents of the boxes change each month as they 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
Universal Yums "Spain" April 2018 Review
Upon opening your box, a cover sheet insert of the country’s flag is directly on top with a note “Welcome to Spain!”
The flipside of the insert provides a scoring sheet for you to decide which products were “Best Yum," “Runner-Up," “Worst Yum," and “Most Unusual." They encourage their subscribers to upload their completed ballot to social media and tag @universalyums to help them refine their selections.
An added booklet is a nice touch as it gives specific details and background information on each product included in the box. They also have a fun trivia section and fun facts about the country. You can even find a Spanish-inspired playlist at universalyums.com/tunes.
Let’s see what’s inside!
La Abuela Nieves Artisan Iberian Ham Flavored Potato Chips, 2 oz. – Estimated Value $2.00
I've maintained that I will eat any Kettle Chip that's placed in front of me, but these were a little much. Their ham flavor is very potent. It truly tasted like a slice of ham! That was a little off-putting. I think the heavy Iberian flavor didn't let the kettle-cooked taste shine through as much as it could have. The crunch was great, however.
Lacasa Chocolate Truffles with Cappuccino or Dark Chocolate, 100 g. – Retail Value $4.49
WOW. These were decadently soft, fudgy, and delicious. They have a true fudge texture that almost starts to melt in your mouth the moment it touches your tongue! They're like fancy Hersey's kisses, ha! I think they could have used a touch of hazelnut flavor to get the taste to REALLY pop, but they were still wonderful.
Shiki Shin Barbecue Potato Snack – Retail Value $13.07 USD
These had the textures of pork rinds, surprisingly! They weren't as light and airy as you'd expect based off of their appearance. They truly tasted like a barbecued pig, which kind of freaked me out a bit. They were a little much for my liking. I think I prefer more of a sweet barbecue flavor, rather than a smokey one, like these had.
Vidal Spicy Mango Gummies, 3.5 oz. – Buy a 2.2-lb bag for $19.99 here
Yuuuuuum! Yum! These have a pure, sweet mango flavor and leave a kick of spice on your tongue! You somehow don't taste the spice or heat in them—you only feel the burny tingle, and it's awesome! The texture was great. These are bouncy, harder-than-average gummies that don't stick to your teeth, which I appreciate.
Lacasitos Gold Caramel White Chocolate Candies – Buy a 4.41 oz. bag for $3.50 USD here
I could definitely get used to these. They're like pure caramel M&Ms, with the exact same texture as regular M&Ms—even down to the hard candy shell! The milk-chocolate filling goes so well with the warm caramel flavor. They're an interesting treat that would bring welcomed variety to a chocolate snack status quo.
Leticias Chocolate-Covered Candied Oranges – Estimated Retail Value $7.00
I loved these. I've tasted an American dessert exactly like it before, but I don't recall the brand! This is your classic chocolate-covered jellied orange. The orange flavor isn't too overpowering, which I appreciate—it gives the rich, decadent dark chocolate a chance to shine.
Puntazos Barbecue Snack Mix with Corn Nuts – Estimated Value $3.50
Maybe my daydreams about Spain are much fancier than reality, but I laughed when I saw they had a snack just like our standard party mix. It was truly just the same! These had a big barbecue flavor, and the same textures and crunchies that are found in the standard American version of this bar snack.
The corn chips had a great crunch to them, as did the corn nuts! I could definitely munch on this 'til my fingers turned orange.
San Andrés Creamy Almond Nougat – Buy a 150-gram box for $3.00 here
These did not look very appetizing, and unfortunately, they tasted about as good as they looked. It was such a strange texture! Like wet, pre-packaged chunky peanut butter. This was all almond-flavored, however, and the taste didn't do it for me. The informational pamphlet informed me that this delicacy dates back to the early 1500s in Spain, so that was interesting, at least! It has a very deep, woody flavor that I didn't much care for.
Contecado Lemon Shortbread Cookies – Estimated value $5.00
I thought this packaging was so cute. It was also cool that the box included so many of this treat! These were like a mix of a classic sugar cookie, shortbread, and a scone. They were very crumbly, so it may be a good idea to eat these over a plate. I think they'd be a great tea accompaniment! The lemon flavor really stands out, but the aftertaste left the slightest "cleaning product" lemon taste in my mouth. I think I'd LOVE a plain, sugar-cookie flavor of these cookies.
Carmen Lupiañez Olive Oil Cookies
These were fantastic! They had my favorite cookie texture: soft, buttery, and chewy. Their size was also fantastic—this is a substantial cookie, and we got two of 'em. Anise seed is listed as one of their last ingredients, but that's the flavor I could taste the most. (And I normally don't like Anise cookies!) Combined with cinnamon and almonds, which were also in the ingredient list, they reminded me of a classic holiday cookie. So tasty!
The following candies all came bundled together in the box's standard "Yum Bag":
Ducats Maria Chocolate Bon Bon with Biscuit
I love me some Bon Bons. These are apparently royal wedding traditions, and they contain a creamy, hazelnut custard filling that's really delicious. I loved the juxtaposition of the flaky wafer coating against the creamy filling! (I think it could have used a few more drizzles of chocolate on its outer layer.)
El Caserio Pistachio Toffee – Estimated Value $2.00
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed these! I think I usually steer clear of pistachio-flavored desserts simply out of habit. This has a creamy, butterscotch texture and a sweet nutty flavor that's amazing. It tasted more like almond cake to me—and I am in no way complaining about that! The presence of teeny-tiny pistachio pieces was a nice texture addition to these chews.
El Caserio Chocolate Chews with Pine Nuts – Estimated Value $3.00
I think my tastes just aren't sophisticated enough for these. Upon the first bite, they feel and taste like a Tootsie Roll. I love Tootsie Rolls! Keep chewing, however, and you're met with a deep, earthy taste that sources from the pine nuts. That warped the tasting experience for me on these. I think I'll stick with my standard Tootsie Rolls!
The Verdict: I've tried international snack boxes before, and I think Universal Yums is my favorite! Keeping the theme contained in one country adds a lot of value and context to the snacking experience, and the array of information they provide in their pamphlet was really fun to read. I also appreciate their balance of sweet and salty snacks! The price amazes me, really. I can't believe all of these international goodies can be enjoyed for only $25!
To Wrap Up:
Can I still get this box if I sign up today? No, you will receive the May box, which ships 5/15.
Value Breakdown: This box is $25.00 a month (including shipping). I received 17 snacks (Yum Bag counted as one item), which averages out to $1.47 per item.
Check out all of our Universal Yums reviews and find similar boxes in the Snack Subscription Box Directory!
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Which Universal Yums snack would you most like to try?
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