Umai Crate by Japan Crate focuses on bringing you Japanese-exclusive instant noodles. Each month, you'll receive 7-8 instant noodles to try, along with a bonus collectible!
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
About Umai Crate
The Subscription Box: Umai Crate
The Cost: $25 a month + free shipping
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $3 off your first box
CODE: MSADD3
The Products: 7-8 Japanese-exclusive instant noodle dish + a bonus collectible
Ships to: Worldwide
Umai Crate June 2018 Review
This month’s Umai Crate booklet lists each of the ramen bowls with a small description and cooking instructions. This is always super helpful to review before and during taste testing! As usual, there is always a super fun recipe for cold wakame somen.
Time to get cooking!
Wakame Somen
Wakame is a type of seaweed grown in Japan that is usually found in soups and salads. The broth is salty while still being light and refreshing. There is a fun crunch from the wakame! The broth also has a sweetness that is so unique because I'm not sure exactly which ingredient it is coming from. The noodles are light yet filling. I could see this being great with shrimp and a hard boiled egg!
Hiyashi Tanuki Soba
This dish is meant to serve cold with little to no water left for broth. Inside you will find tun, kelp, and a seasoning packet of shichimi chili coated in a fried tempura batter. Honestly, I didn't love this bowl only because I wasn't getting a ton of flavor from it. I found the dish to be rather bland yet there was a strong fish flavor to it that was not appealing to me. I didn't get any kicks of spice, but my husband added some hot sauce and said that really helped to bring out some yummy flavors. I decided to pass on this bowl, but my husband devored it within minutes.
Mini Maru Somen
This mini bowl is made with shiitake mushrooms and yuzu, a Japanese citrus fruit. This bowl was very interesting because it had a strong earthy flavor from the mushrooms, yet there was a bold sweetness that was rather tart. It was a lot to take in all at once. However, the noodles were very light and fresh! I could see this bowl being a great snack on a warm summer afternoon.
Premium Yakisoba
This dish is made with fried buckwheat noodles so they have a fun crunch to them! Along with a healthier noodle, the broth is salt-free so you don't have to feel too guilty enjoying this bowl. The broth itself had a fruity flavor to it, but I couldn't identify a specific fruit that it tasted like. Just a general sweetness. I thought the noodles were light and fluffy with a little crunch, which was so unique paired with the fruit flavored broth.
Tanuki Oyaji Curry Udon
These noodles are thick and rich, perfect for soaking up all of the yummy broth! Plus, this bowl is going to be extra filling. The curry based broth is creamy and oh so spicy. I could see myself adding some vegetables and chicken to make this an extra hearty curry bowl!
Miso Ramen
These noodles were so fluffy! Miso is a wonderful ingredient for a ramen bowl because it helps to make a very savory meal. The broth was very rich, sweet, and had a creaminess to it when paired with the noodles. I loved how simple this bowl was while still being filled with flavors! I could see myself adding shrimp or beef to this bowl for a little kick.
Machi Ichiban Salt Ramen
This bowl was very simple yet it was my favorite of the month! The broth is flavored with white sesame seeds so there was a nutty texture that I really enjoyed and found to be so unique from other bowls I have tried. There was also a light saltiness to the broth that I really enjoyed. The noodles were so fluffy and creamy, my favorite kind! I ate this with just a bit of hot sauce, but I could see this being amazing with a meat, egg, and some scallions.
Bonus Item - Sponges
The bonus item for the month is this set of sponges! They come in orange and yellow.
Verdict: This month's Umai Crate was filled with so many unique bowls! My first few months trying Umai Crate brought pretty standard bowls, but the past few months have featured bowls with so many unique ingredients. They also seem to be focusing on healthier ramen options, which I can absolutely appreciate! While the curation this month wasn't my favorite, I still enjoyed taste testing each of the seven bowls that were sent. I can tell that they are really putting a lot of thought and love into the bowls that are selected each month to bring me some really unique options!
To Wrap Up:
Can I still get this box if I sign up today? No, you will receive the August box.
Coupon - Use code MSA3 to save $3 off your first Japan Crate Premium, Doki Doki Crate, Umai Crate, or Kira Kira Crate
Value Breakdown: This box is $25 a month with free shipping. I received seven ramen bowls which come to an average of $3.57 per item.
Check out all of the Umai Crate Reviews to get more information on this subscription. Check out all of our Food Subscription Boxes in the Subscription Box List. Rate, review, and follow this subscription on the Umai Crate profile page.
What was your favorite bowl from the June Umai Crate?
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.