Exotic ramen noodles? British baking supplies? Japanese candy classics? If you’re looking for the best international cooking subscription boxes, foodie boxes, or subscription snack boxes, read on.
Here are some mouth-watering exotic treats you won’t want to miss…
Subscription Boxes for Foodies
Crate Joy is a company that works with locals worldwide to bring the very best local spices, snack, treats, and specialties to your door. I love how they work with local entrepreneurs around the world to make this possible.
They have plenty of subscription boxes with other themes too…entertainment, spiritual and new age, bath and beauty, etc., etc. But let’s focus on food.
Prices range from less than $10 per month to higher end. Also, some boxes ship monthly while others ship quarterly. But if you only want to send a one-time box, that’s totally possible too!
On to the best boxes for foodies…
1. Gusto di Roma for Italy Lovers
You can’t go wrong with a gift from Italy. I mean who doesn’t like artisan salami, olives from Abruzzo, fruit jam from Tentino, and pistachio cream and chcolate bars with cinnamon from Sicily? Am I right?
The Gusto di Roma subscription box includes an authentic mix of Italian sweet and savory treats sourced directly from Italy.
For example, a recent box for fall included Cerignola olives, sweet red pepper spread with ricotta and Sicilian pecorino, tostini crackers, an excellent ready-made pasta sauce and dark chocolate from a 100-year old chocolatier in Milan. Yes please!
Buyer review: “As an Italian American, I’m blown away by everything in this box! I love it so much I had to go ahead and get both subscriptions. Grazie mille!”— Tara B.
Check the price on the Gusto di Roma box here.
2. Universal Yums for Adventurous Snackers
What do people snack on in other countries? Now’s your chance to find out.
When you sign up for a monthly subscription box from Universal Yums, you get a box of unforgettable flavors from around the world each month.
Each box includes 10 sweet and savory bites from a featured country and includes an interactive tasting game.
These range from bubble tea popcorn and lemon & Himalayan salt pea crackers from Taiwan to dark chocolate covered Marzipan bars and spring onion rings from Germany.
From the weird to delicious, every flavor will surprise you. (This box is the only one included here that is not through Crate Joy.)
You can check price and availability on the Universal Yums box here.
Read more on gift ideas for travelers:
• 17 Best Travel Subscription Boxes
• 49 Travel Gifts for Women, Men, and Couples
• 11 Best Travel Purses for Women
3. Exotic Noods for Ramen Lovers
If you appreciate a good bowl of Ramen, you’re going to fall in love with Exotic Noods!
It’s the best way I know to sample the best of Asia without getting on a plane. When you subscribe, you’ll get between four and eight selections of hard-to-find exotic Ramen noddles from around the world…depending on which box you choose.
You’ll get broths like Tonkotsu, Shio, Miso, Spicy Seafood, Shou broths and more. Specialty dried noodles range from buckwheat to air-dried, and udon. Just add water!
Buyer Review: “Exotic Noods really have something special here. Their selection of noodles are all top notch. Spectacular stuff. I never could have expected you could get this kind of quality in instant noodles.”
—Dave S.
Check price and availability on the Exotic Noods box here.
4. Gourmet Cheese Club for Cheese Lovers
What could be more wonderful than a box of small batch, hand-cut artisan cheeses—rare cheeses—showing up on your doorstep each month?
When you subscribe to the Original Gourmet Cheese Club, you’ll get a selection of exceptional batch aged and fresh cheeses from around the world in every shipment.
Past boxes have included artisnal Romao from Castile-La-Mancha Spain, traditionally made Sheep’s milk cheese from the Pyrenees Mountains in France, and an authentic 12-month aged Provolone from the Netherlands.
Buyer Review: “Amazing cheese, I see myself being a subscriber for a long time.”
— Ashley N.
Check price and availability on the Gourmet Cheese Club box here.
5. Appalachian Mercantile for Made in the USA
If you had a friend who scoured Appalachia for the very best homemade food, crafts, and goods and then mailed it to you, the Appalachian Mercantile box is what you would receive.
It’s a wonderful way to explore Appalachia. Past boxes have included items like beeswax candles, Spoon’s garlic dill pickle chips, pawapaw butter, lavender lip balm, Black Dog coffee, and a wood carving by a local.
Best of all, when you subscribe, you support local artisans in the U.S.A.
Buyer Review: “Love this box, everything is full sized and quite a variety. Have already purchased more items from the various merchants. Great stuff!”
— Shirley N.
Check price and availability on the Appalachian Mercantile box here.
6. British Baking Kit for Anglophiles
You’ll feel like you’ve been been transported directly to the set of The Great British Bake-Off on NPR when you’re monthly British Baking Kit arrives.
Each box features a different British dessert monthly. And they include British holiday specialties. Boxes include disposable baking pans, too. Also, high altitude boxes are available upon request.
From fruit crumble and custard on cold winter evenings to sticky toffee pudding—a true British classic and one of my all time faves—you’ll find it here.
Buyer review: “My first box was the tea loaf. It was delicious! The recipe was easy to follow and I love having the dry ingredients all measured out and ready to go. I am really looking forward to my next box!” — Marshall L.
Check price and availability on the British Baking Kit here.
7. Shaker & Spoon Cocktail Club for Libations
When you subscribe to Shaker & Spoon Cocktail Club, you get three fabulous recipes by top bartenders every month.
You’ll get everything you need—from mixers and syrups to bitters and garnishes—to make four drinks per recipe or 12 drinks total.
So whether you’re new to the cocktail scene and looking to impress your date…or you’re a seasoned pro with a shaker but on the hunt for complex new flavors, head here!
This is one of the most popular subscription boxes Crate Joy Offers…and with good reason. Past boxes have featured a fall-line up from a NYC cocktail superstar, Jamaican rums, and three variations on the classic Negroni.
Sample a Japanese-inspired highball from one of Japan’s top mixologists and then head to Mexico for a blood orange brew from Sam Jimenz. It’s all here.
Buyer review: ” We have received 5 boxes so far, and continue to be blown away by the quality ingredients and delicious craft cocktails. I remember the very first drink we made, “The Kitashima.” We took a sip, and it was like, “What is happening? Because, this is so delicious!!” —Lisa T.
Check price and availability on the Shaker & Spoon cocktail box here.
8. Treats for Around-the-Globe Sampling
With a motto of “Bringing the world to you, one country at a time!”, Treats makes snacking into a cultural experience.
Each month, you’ll receive a snack-packed box of joy from a different country from around the globe. These authentic goodies range from Netherlands and Russia to Brazil and Japan.
If you really want to learn how the world eats from the comfort of your own conscious, check out Treats.
Buyer review: “Love this! Super fast shipping We got it within a few days. We are looking forward to next months box.We got snacks from Indonesia and they were amazing!” Stormie H.
Check price and availability on the Treats international snack boxes here.
9. 50 States of Mine for a Culinary Tour of America
This premium monthly box curates thoughtful local foods for the traveler at heart. Every month, you’ll receive a box of six to nine quality foods from one U.S. state.
What could be better than hand-picked favorites from Cafe du Monde in New Orleans or spiced red apple cider and smoked wild salmon from Washington state?
Or a Valentine’s Day box compilation of the best in sweet treats from across the USA? (Think wild cherry tea and a chocolate lunch box!) Shipping is always included.
Buyer review: “New Favorite Box! I loved all the full size items from featured state Michigan. Coffee, Michigan mug, fudge, 2 sodas, sour cherry jelly and caramel sauce and more. Can’t wait for next months box!”—Angela P.
Check price and availability on the Monthly State Box here.
10. Tinned Fish Club for Fish Lovers
I never understood that tinned fish was a thing until I visited Portugal and fell in love with the vast array of flavors in tins! Tinned Fish Club makes the perfect way to taste the globe for fish lovers.
This is not tuna fish! When you subscribe to Tinned Fish Club, you receive a monthly box with tinned fish from around the world, including recipes. These make an excellent healthy snack or fancy appetizer for entertaining.
Past boxes have included tins of broiled Japanese Saury and Turkish spicy sardines. Each box includes a number of tins from different countries.
Buyer review: “Excellent fish options with unique accoutrements (sambal oelek, yuzu, etc.) that enable great combinations. Excited to try other types of fishes in future boxes. Provided recipe sheet was very useful!” —Arjune R.
Check price and availability on the Tinned Fish Club box here.
11. Wanderlust Culinary Spice Kits for Chefs
Take a culinary world tour from your very own kitchen when you subscribe to the Wanderlust Select Culinary Spice Kits box.
If you’re tired of the same old flavors, this is the perfect way to expand your palate. Each kit contains pre-measured freshly ground spices and a recipe card for one main dish.
And there’s a country theme for each box. From everything you need to make Pakistan’s signature beef dish to Indonesian grilling flavors of lemongrass and galangal, your box lets you choose from eight meals from different countries. All at under $10 per month!
Buyer review: “I bought this box as a 60th birthday present for my father, and it’s his new favorite thing. I would recommend this to anyone looking to get something unique for the amateur chefs in their life!” —Bailey P.
Check price and availability on the Wanderlust Select Culinary Spice Kit here.
12. The Russia Box for Slavic Tastes
Eat your way through Russia’s festivals and food culture! The Russia Box will guide you through the best of the country…along with other Eastern European countries.
Each snack box comes with one or two large items (like cookies, teas, and jams) as well as 5 to 10 small and medium items like chocolate bars, Zefir, caramels, and wafers.
And your box will include one “lifestyle” item. These range from Russian games to arts and crafts.
Buyer review: “Update after subscribing for 4 months: This is such a cool subscription box and a lot of fun to receive. Would be an amazing gift for anyone interested in Eastern Europe.” —Candice H.
Check price and availability of The Russia Box here.
13. Eat2Explore for Kid-Friendly Learning
If you’re looking for a way to help your children become adventurous eaters, look no further than the Eat2Explore subscription box.
You’ll cook, taste, and discover a new world cuisine and culture each month together. Each box includes three unique recipes and essential spice, sauce, and grain mixes.
Curated by culinary chefs and educators, boxes also come with interactive activity sheets, cooking tools and collectibles (e.g., country stickers, flag pins).
It’s the perfect bridge to learning and eating for curious families. Past boxes have explored everything from Tortilla Espanola in Spain to Shrimp Moqueca in Brazil.
Buyer review: “This has been great for teaching young kids to cook and exploring different countries. They take much of the longer/harder tasks out, making this great for a weeknight meal.” —Annemarie V.
Check price and availability on the Eat2Explore subscription box here.
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