Universal Yums April 2016 Subscription Box Review – Poland

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Universal Yums Box April 2016 box

This month, Universal Yums takes us to a land full of brilliant people and yummy snacks!  Universal Yums is a monthly international snack subscription box.  Every month you’ll take a trip to a new country and munch on brand new snacks. Yum Yum! There are two sizes of box, the Yum ($13) and the Yum Yum ($25). This is the Yum Yum box, and it’s a really solid subscription that shines each and every month.

Universal Yums Box April 2016 unboxing

This month we were treated to some true delicacies from Poland.  The beautiful information booklet provides some extra insight into Polish history and culture.  The box always has a tissue paper flag inside, too.  It’s a cool touch that sets the stage for you culinary exploration of culture.

Universal Yums Box April 2016 (1)

Talk about a downer… the introductory note was less cheery than normal, reminding us that great food is often born of rough times.  The booklet also has fun stuff, like trivia and factoids. Universal Yums Box April 2016 (5)

The booklet really enhances the experience.  Along with the cultural note and trivia, it noted some brilliant Polish men and women that have made great contributions in the field of science — there were too many to give the each a picture!  Plus, we got a link to the Universal Yums Polish music playlist.

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There is much in this small booklet — it had a chart of April’s “name days,” which take the place of birthdays in Poland, as well as a list of Polish landmarks you’ll want to explore while in the country!

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And of course, there is an in-depth description and background on all the items in the box.

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It has a handy ingredient/potential allergen breakdown on it, and the snack descriptions have gotten to be quite detailed.

Universal Yums Box April 2016 unboxed

The Yum Yum box is filled to the top with goodies after goodies.

Universal Yums Box April 2016 review

Yes, there’s a lot more at the bottom of it.  I love removing the big bags of snacks that are on top, because there is always a treasure trove of goodies underneath — one of the great things about Universal Yums, particularly the Yum Yum box, is the actual experience of unpacking the box.  Though it varies from month to month, you usually get several over-sized packs that would qualify for King Size status in the States.

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Tapsy Cheese & Onion Potato Crisps:  These chips look like Ruffles Ridges a bit, but they are actual puffed-style crisps made of potato, corn, and rice flour.  They have a nice real potato taste that is not typical of puffed chips.  The flavoring is very tasty and doesn’t taste artificial.

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Katarzynki Dark Chocolate Gingerbread:  This reminded me of the Weissella gingerbread Lebkuchen popular in Germany.  The interior is a slightly dry and dark gingerbread, and it is coated with dark chocolate.  They are a nice departure from ordinary cookies, as they are not overly sweet and have a complex flavor from the dark bread of the ginger cake.

Milka Choco Cow: The first time we tried these I honestly thought these would be somewhat generic cookies dipped in chocolate, but they were pretty amazing – the biscuit itself is very crispy and tasty, and they are dipped in milk chocolate made with alpine milk. Great treat!

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Onion Potato Prazynki:  Onion is apparently an extremely popular flavoring in Poland, and their affinity for Perogies explains the pairing with potatoes.  These have a very zesty sour cream and onion flavor.  Though made only of potato, the chips are very light and crisp, almost like a rice rusk.

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Krowki Milky Cream Fudge:  These little beauties have a light caramel flavor and surprisingly airy texture.  They look like a caramel from the outside, but just below the surface they become very soft.

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Wiosenne Chocolate Covered Fruit Jellies:  Available in cherry, lemon, orange, and raspberry flavors, these jellies are exquisitely soft and have lovely flavor.  A generous coating of chocolate surrounds the jelly, keeping it pristine and delicious. These did not leave the review room and Brandy got a little upset that one of the kids (who shall not be named) stole one of them – these are one of her favorite treats and she probably would have offered gobs of something else to keep them to herself!

Universal Yums Box April 2016 (12)Wawel Raczki “Lobster Tails”:   I chuckled when I saw these candies.  This style of candy gets its name from its strong resemblance to the tail of a lobster.  I recently reviewed a Russian version that looked eerily like an actual lobster tail.  This Polish version bears the name, but the stripes go the wrong way!  The crunchy shell holds a flaky peanut butter center, similar to “peach blossom” candies in the U.S.

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Solidarnosc Candied Plums :  These are really fabulous to have in the box, because they are a treat we don’t see in the U.S.  While chocolate covered fruit pieces are common, you can’t really find entire, large fruits dipped in chocolate.

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A single, giant dried plum sits in the center, surrounded by a creamy chocolate filling.  The whole ball is surrounded by a layer of milk chocolate.  The rich, sweet plum is a much better candidate for pairing with chocolate than strawberries, which really have too high a water content for the task — this is the ultimate chocolate-covered fruit!

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Draze Cream Dragees:  These simple candies have a sweet, slightly yogurty filling surrounded by a crunchy shell.  I love white chocolate, and these had a wonderful creamy-sweet flavor that satisfied the same craving.

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Wawel Tiki Taki Chocolate Bar:  This is first for me, and it is quite wonderful.  This bar has a lovely dark chocolate coating and a truly unique combo inside.  The filling combines a layer of coconut cream with a lightly peanut butter flavored chocolate cream.  The PB complements the coconut well without taking over.

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Prince Polo Hazelnut Wafer:  This big wafer bar combines a multi-layered crisp pale wafer with a dark chocolate creme.  The entire bar is coated in tasty dark chocolate.  We received the classic version, but it also comes in hazelnut.

E Wedel Panna Cotta Milk Chocolate Bar:  this tasty bar combines milk chocolate with a creamy panna cotta filling, with a dollop of raspberry jam on top.   This bar had the most milky chocolate, and the filling tasted just like a real panna cotta.

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E Wedel Chalwa:  This creamy and chewy bar is the Polish version of halva, a sesame-based bar.  Some countries have a very dry and crunchy version — this one is not.  This bar is sweet and utterly delicious!

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The bar is creamy and chewy, using a liberal dose of sugar and vanilla to turn halva into a true delight. Brandy is hoarding it in her desk – she totally tries to hide her favorites from the rest of us.

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Can you guess which country is featured next? Based on the clue, it seems our culinary Odyssey takes us to Greece next month!

Universal Yums is always lots of fun.  Because the snacks are sourced from the featured country, even familiar types of candy have a unique style and interesting packaging.  The snacks are always delicious, unique, and authentic.

Have you tried Universal Yums?

Visit Universal Yums to subscribe or find out more.

The Subscription: Universal Yums
The Description: Each month, you’ll receive a box of unique, delicious snacks from a different country delivered right to your door. No repeats! 0% Yuck, 100% Yum.
The Price: Cost: $13 (Yum Box) $25 (Yum Yum Box) per month.
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The Reviews: See all our Universal Yums Reviews.

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  • Swithen Mcdonald
    03.21.18

    I want to buy some tapsys they were delicious

  • Amanda WilliamsStout
    03.21.18

    Is there a way to get more of the Tapsy cheese and onion chips? I would like to buy some more of them!