Hatchery February 2016 Tasting Subscription Box Review & Coupon

Hatchery is a gourmet food sampling subscription box. For $20 per month including shipping you’ll get 5-6 sample sizes of artisan-produced small-batch foods, which you can buy in the shop. I like the idea of small-batch foods and obviously they are hard to find if they don’t have any sort of distribution deal, so this is a neat box!  Items may include spreads, condiments, jams, honeys, syrups, cooking sauces, oils, vinegars, salts, spices, seasonings, baking ingredients and cocktail mixers.

The Tasting Guide contains all the information on the products, the artisans that produce them, and even suggested recipes.

The packaging for this box is simple and beautiful.  Each item is individually-wrapped before being nestled in the box.

Everything is so cute in this box!  The sizing of items seemed appropriate for a gourmet sampler-style box — all were much larger than single-serving or trial size, but they were modest enough to be consumed in a reasonable time period.

A fold-out information card details each maker and the included product. The card notes what the item pairs well with, the name of the chef-inspired recipe available on the Hatchery site (see them here), and the qualities of the product, included whether it is all natural, non-GMO, gluten free, kosher, vegetarian, and vegan.

There’s also one recipe included right in the box.

San Augustin Datil Pepper Table Sauce $7 for 8 oz :  This sauce uses a pepper brought over to North America from the island of Minorca.  In the U.S., it is only cultivated around St. Augustine, Florida.  The pepper is very spicy, but it has a richer and fruitier flavor profile than the similarly-hot habanero.

Yai’s Thai Thai Salsa ($1.64):  The only known commercially produced Thai salsa, this blend combines the chunky, fresh texture of traditional homestyle salsa with the bright and exotic flavors of Thailand.  Ginger, cilantro, and garlic join tomato and onion — and of course, Thai chilis kick up the heat.

4 Rivers Smokehouse All-Purpose Rub – Signature Blend $6 for 7.9 oz:  A mild and balanced blend of spices that complements traditional barbecue meats but doesn’t overpower milder foods.

Just Jan’s Key Lime Curd ($1.12):  Made with all-natural ingredients, this curd makes a superb topping for desserts and breads. We love key lime anything so this was wonderful!

Balsamo’s Family Kitchen 7 Salad Dressing ($3.30):  A red wine vinegar based dressing simply made with only natural ingredients.  Garlic and cayenne lend some spice, while a dash of turmeric gives it a deep amber color.

This box had a value of about $7.70, in the ballpark of, but a little below, our previous experiences with this subscription. While I’ll certainly enjoy it, I think that (along with the nice packaging) puts it into the nice gift category, not the subscribe for yourself category. We do think all the weensy bottles are adorable and the quality of the products is top notch!

Visit Hatchery to subscribe or find out more! Save 50% on your first box! Use coupon code Kamran and use this link to subscribe.