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Universal Yums “Italy” Review – February 2019

Becca Peterson
ByBecca PetersonFeb 24, 2019 | 12 comments

Universal Yums February 2019 - Unopened Box

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. Choose from the Yum Box for $14 a month, the Yum Yum Box for $25 a month, or the Super Yum Box for $39 a month. This month’s box takes us to Italy!

Universal Yums February 2019 - Unopened Boxside

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

Universal Yums February 2019 - Opened Box

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 February 2019 - All Products Laidout

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., Australia, and Israel

Universal Yums "Italy" February 2019 Review

This is my first box from Universal Yums, and I must say I am thrilled to be reviewing it! I am definitely not a traveler, and although I would love to experience other countries and cultures, I am perfectly happy staying home. That being said, I love the idea of getting to experience other parts of the world through their authentic snacks!

Universal Yums February 2019 - Official Yum Awards

Upon opening this box, you will find a map of Italy with fun illustrations and facts about the country. On the backside, you will find “The Official Yum Awards” ballot, where you are able to cast your vote for your favorite, and least favorite snacks! If you upload your ballot on social media and tag @Universalyums you’ll have a chance to win more of your favorite snacks!

Universal Yums February 2019 - Pamphlet Cover

Included in this box is a detailed guide book with info for each of the items, (including ingredient lists in English) Not only is there information on each snack, but they also include facts about tourist attractions, trivia, recipes, and even a little guide to speaking Italian!

Universal Yums February 2019 - Page 23 Universal Yums February 2019 - Page 45 Universal Yums February 2019 - Page 67 Universal Yums February 2019 - Page 89 Universal Yums February 2019 - Page 1011 Universal Yums February 2019 - Page 1213 Universal Yums February 2019 - Page 1415 Universal Yums February 2019 - Last Page

Let’s experience Italy!

Universal Yums February 2019 - Sorinitrapezoidchoc Wrapped Universal Yums February 2019 - Sorinitrapezoidchocolateun Wrapped

Sorini Gianduiotti Hazelnut Chocolates

I decided to start with the smallest yum in box, so I started with these delicious Sorini Gianduiotti hazelnut chocolates. They are trapezoid shaped chocolates wrapped in gold foil, and taste like Heaven! They are so smooth I didn’t get much texture of the hazelnuts, but they tasted divine! We received 4 of these babies, and I think I am going to hide them from my kids!

Universal Yums February 2019 - Cappuccinosorinitruffles Universal Yums February 2019 - Cappuccinotrufflebitinto

Cappuccino Sorini Cappuccino Cream and Cereal Truffles - Buy a 1lb. bag for $12.60

Next up were these cappuccino flavored truffles. I am not a big coffee drinker, but boy were these good! They did have a definite cappuccino flavor but were also crunchy, smooth, and delicious. We also received 4 of these, which will also go in my secret stash!

Universal Yums February 2019 - Unopened Orange Carrot Cake Universal Yums February 2019 - Opened Orange Carrot Cake

Orange-Carrot Buondolce - Italian Carrot Cake with Orange Cream

This treat is a light carrot cake infused with orange flavor. It is drizzled with a light vanilla icing on top and a thin layer in between the cakes. It is very elegant looking! These were tasty, but I didn’t pick up on the carrot flavor as much as the orange flavor. It was nice to get 2 cakes, so I was able to share with my family - my 4-year-old loved these!

Universal Yums February 2019 - Tiramisuun Opened Universal Yums February 2019 - Tiramisu Opened

Moretta Tiramisu - Chocolate-covered Cake with Coffee and Custard

This was another elegant looking cake that featured a tiramisu flavoring that was delicious. It was a light cake with a thin custard layer in the middle with a light chocolate coating. There was a slight coffee flavor, but just enough for even a non-coffee drinker to enjoy. My husband really enjoyed these, so it was nice to get 2!

Universal Yums February 2019 - Orange Selz

Effervescenti Fizzy Candies - Orange

I am in love with these candies! These orange hard candies are about the size of a cough drop, but are so tasty! They are sweet orange flavor, and if you bite into it, you will find a bubbly powder that makes them fizz in your mouth! They are so much fun and so delicious. I wish there were more in the box!

Universal Yums February 2019 - Lemon Selz

Effervescenti Fizzy Candies - Lemon

Yay more fizzy candies! These were the same size and looked identical unwrapped, but these ones featured a sweet lemon flavor. Upon biting into them, you will find the same bubbly powder that makes them fizz in your mouth.

Universal Yums February 2019 - Milk Choc With Hazelnuts Wrapped Universal Yums February 2019 - Milk Choc With Hazenuts Unwrapped Front Of Bar Universal Yums February 2019 - Milk Choc With Hazelnuts Unwrapped Back Of Bar

Cuorenero Nocciole - Milk chocolate with hazelnuts

Another one of my favorites in this box was this delicious chocolate bar. Chocolate and nuts may be my two favorite foods in the world, and when you combine them I am in heaven! I love the chopped hazelnuts sprinkled on the back and the beautiful design of the bar itself. The chocolate is so smooth it melts in your mouth. This truly is high quality!

Universal Yums February 2019 - Almond Cookies Bag Universal Yums February 2019 - Almond Cookies Unpackaged

Amarettini Cookies - Crispy Almond Cookies

These cookies are tiny, cute, airy, crisp, and pack a VERY strong almond flavor. They are very crunchy in texture, but honestly, they were just too strong in almond flavor for my liking. My kids really enjoyed them though!

Universal Yums February 2019 - Lemon Cookies Wrapped Universal Yums February 2019 - Lemon Cookies Unwrapped

Froletti Al Limone Cookies - Lemon cookies

These are small, shortbread-like cookies with a slight lemon flavor. The flavoring wasn’t overpowering at all, and the package size was perfect for a snack! I definitely would eat these again!

Universal Yums February 2019 - Rosemary Cracker Package Universal Yums February 2019 - Rosemary Cracker Opened

Rustichelle al Rosmarino - Rosemary Crackers

I really enjoyed these crackers! These are small cracker-like crisps packed with a rosemary punch. It was a very welcome switch to a savory snack! I love rosemary so these were a win for me, but my husband didn’t care for them.

Universal Yums February 2019 - Truffle Chips Unopened Universal Yums February 2019 - Truffle Chips Opened

Alfredo’s Truffle Chips - Potato Chips with Black Truffles

This chip has the taste of a classic potato chip with a slight mushroom flare. I am not a fan of mushrooms but these taste pretty good. On the contrary, my husband loves mushrooms but disliked these chips. Hank was the tie-breaker, and he liked them so much he took them to school as part of his lunch!

Universal Yums February 2019 - Lemon Pepper Snack Unopened Universal Yums February 2019 - Lemon Pepper Snack Opened

Taralli Limone e Pepe - Lemon-pepper Flavored Wheat Snack

Upon opening the bag, I smelled a faint lemon scent. And when I poured them out, to my surprise they look like tiny bagels! They are so cute! The taralli are very crunchy and savory like a cracker with a bit of spice of pepper and a slight lemon taste. I wouldn’t have purchased these before trying them, but I really like them!

Universal Yums February 2019 - Pizza Rings Unopened Universal Yums February 2019 - Pizza Rings Opened

Anello Gusto Pizza Rings - Pizza-flavored Corn Snack

First off, I want to say thank you for the big bag!! This was 40 grams of goodness! It was the only snack that didn’t fit on my saucer for the photo. There was a definite pizza scent upon opening the bag. The rings are very light and airy and crunch like a Cheeto puff, but with a salty marinara/pizza flavoring. They are so good you can’t eat just one! These did not last long!

Universal Yums February 2019 - White Chocolate Bar Unopened Universal Yums February 2019 - White Chocolate Opened Universal Yums February 2019 - White Chocolate On Saucer

Cuorenero Mediterranei - White Chocolate with Saffron

The last item in the box was a HUGE yummy white chocolate bar with saffron flavoring. It was very smooth chocolate with small specks of saffron. I have never had anything with saffron, but felt very special eating this since saffron has the reputation for being the world’s most expensive spice! I love the heart design on this bar, and will be rationing it because it is so delicious!

The Verdict: This was such a fun box! I loved everything about it! My kids and I read the entire booklet and learned about Italy, and then we sampled all of the snacks. To us, this wasn’t just a snack box, but an entire experience! We really enjoyed the mix of savory and sweet snacks, and can’t wait to see where we get to learn about next.

Score card picks:

  • Best Yum: Cappuccino Sorini
  • Runner-up: Effervescenti Fizzy Candies
  • Worst Yum: Amarettini Almond Cookies
  • Most Unusual: Taralli Limone e Pepe

To Wrap Up:

Can I still get this box if I sign up today? No, Each month they ship your box no later than the 15th day of the month. The first month you will receive a box varies based on availability and may depend on the size that you order.

Value Breakdown: This box is $25.00 a month (including shipping). I received 25 individual snacks, which averages out to $1.00 per item.

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!

Which Universal Yums snack would you most like to try? 

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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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Becca Peterson
Becca Peterson

I am a wild and crazy mom of 2 boys and work in the public education system as an Indigenous Support Advocate. I love all things outdoors, beauty, crafts, and food. Living the simple life in the country, we spend a lot of time hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting. Oh, and I absolutely adore my high school sweetheart aka my husband of almost 17 years!


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12 comments

Snowhitetwin

Even my compliments don’t get posted anymore. Thanks a lot…

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Becca

Thanks for the compliments! Your last comment is down below. 😊

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CM

I loved the Lemon Pepper crackers so much that I ended up buying more!

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Shannon

Where did you buy them? I would love to buy more too.

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Becca

They were so unexpectedly good! And so cute!!

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Kc

These items look great but so unhealthy! Do the boxes usually have so many sweets? Don’t get wrong I’d love them, just don’t think it’d work with a dieting plan 🙂

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Beth M.

It really depends on the country, but there is always a mix of sweet and savory items. This is not a diet box, but the snacks aren’t huge, and they do tend to have a nice long shelf life so you don’t feel rushed to eat it all immediately. They also offer a slightly smaller box (yum box) which has fewer snacks, and a lower price.

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Becca

I’m not sure if it always comes with this many sweets since it was my first box, but i definitely see where you’re coming from! I took most of the snacks in the box and divided them by 4 so each member of my family can pick one as a treat for the day, then we read about it in the guide!

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Maria B.

Great review! Thanks for reviewing it. It looks like a great box! 😁

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Becca

Thank you! 😊 It was super fun! I can’t wait to see what comes next month!

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Snowhitetwin

I can’t believe all the food you received!! Thank you for taking pictures of the actual food 😊

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Becca

I know! I was so excited to see how much was packed in the box! And you are welcome! 😊 Thanks for the feedback!

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