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 every thing in this box! 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 Desert 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 Viennese whirls to Lancashire Lemon tarts on cold winter evenings to hot cross buns and Battenerg Cake, you’ll find it here.
Buyer review: “To put it simply, I absolutely love these baking kits! I am a huge fan of the British Baking shows, and have always wanted to attempt the desserts I’ve seen made on tv. This subscription service makes that possible, and in such a fun and stress-free way.” — Meagan N.
Check price and availability on the British Dessert 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. Japan Crate for Asian Snacks and Sweets
Experience the best of Japan through this popular and creative selection of Japanese candy and snacks.
The Japan Crate curates the very best Japanese snacks and treats for Japan lovers. You can choose a monthly delivery or receive a box every three, six or nine months. It’s up to you!
Each box includes 18 to 20 full-size items with a Japan-exclusive drink.
Have you ever tried Apple Coca cola? Christmas Black Thunder? Or Four Cheese Pizza Chips? Put your taste buds to the test with an ever changing selection from Japan.
Buyer review: “I love that we get to experience a little bit of Japan with every crate and we can do so from anywhere in the world! Also cannot go without mentioning how nice the snacks always are and how lucky I feel to be able to try out things that I’ve never tasted before in my life.” — Rebecca W.
Check price and availability on the Japan Crate 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. SimplyNCgoods for a Seasonal Taste of North Carolina
Get off the beaten path with a mouth-watering taste all things delicious from small town cooks and artisans in North Carolina.
Is there anything better than supporting the dreams of artisan food producers in rural America? All while receiving delicious foodstuffs on your doorstep?
That’s the aim of long-time North Carolina travel blogger Anna who shares the best of small towns in the South with her recent launch of the SimplyNCgoods subscription box.
The August box featured producers from Winston-Salem and included Moravian spice cookies, raw honey, and Brown Bear nuts, among other items.
SimplyNCgoods ships quarterly and includes 6 to 8 full size products in each box.
You’ll find unique sauces, homemade jams, crackers, and seasonings as well as candles and skincare products, depending on the box.
Buyer reviews:
“We loved our first box! Can’t wait for what is next!”
“The snacks were so delicious!! And we love each item in the box! It was so much fun to open!”
Check price and availability of SimplyNCgoods 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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