Recently I was invited to sample Try the World, a newer subscription box that gives you the experience of exploring the world through food. Because I LOVE getting boxes of goodies in the mail, I jumped on it, plus this one looked particularly appealing. For me, one of the best things about traveling is learning about and trying different foods. And since I don’t expect to be traveling around the whole world with my kiddos anytime soon (as cool as that would be), this sounded like the next best thing, and educational for all of us.
Here’s what I thought – and some deals for getting a box cheap or even free!
About Try the World
Try the World is a growing food-startup that sources undiscovered artisan foods from countries around the world. They even work with Michelin-star chefs like Alex Atala and George Mendez to curate selections from each country to include in their monthly subscription boxes. They’ve grown quite a bit – they started two years ago with 500 members, and now have 50,000 subscribers!
Try the World has 3 subscription options:
- Countries – Receive 7 to 8 gourmet delicacies from a new country every month, like Italy, Greece, China, Israel and so many more ($39 a month)
- Snacks – A box of delicious, healthy snacks delivered to your doorstep ($19 per box/once a month)
- Pantry – Get 5 foods based on your taste (Starts at $24.95)
What I tried
I tried the Countries subscription option, and received a box with items from Greece, which was the current featured month.
My box included a variety of food items from Greece, most of which were unfamiliar to me. Typically when I think of Greece I think of feta cheese or baklava, but discovered Greece offers much more for the palate.
The box was visually appealing, with a booklet that provided details and tips about each item in the box, and even a map of Greece and recipes. I thought this was a nice touch.
The foods in my box were:
- Rosemary-infused olive oil – very aromatic
- Pasteli – a traditional Greek confection made with sesame seeds and honey
- Spicy Pepper Paste with Feta Cheese – for use as a dip or added to sauce
- Stuffed Vine Leaves – called dolmas in Greek; soft grape leaves stuffed with rice and spices
- Tzatziki Mix – a Greek yogurt dip
- Breadsticks – made with olive oil
- Kourambies Biscuit – light, buttery biscuits with almonds and powdered sugar
- Trahana – a sweet pasta
Recipes included were for Lamb Keftedes (using the olive oil, tzatziki and/or red pepper paste) and Ikarian Fisherman’s Soup with Trahana (using the trahana and olive oil).
I think my favorite item in the box was the Kourambies Biscuits – they were addictive! I’d definitely order these. The Spicy Pepper Paste was better than I expected – it wasn’t overwhelmingly spicy, and it went well with crackers. The Pasteli was too hard to chew, in my opinion, but sweet. I didn’t like the Stuffed Vine Leaves – the dill and mint flavors weren’t appealing to me. Otherwise, the olive oil is fantastic, and I plan on adding the other items to my meal plans for the coming weeks.
I did also like the Tzatziki Spice Mix, which suggested mixing a tablespoon of mix with Greek Yogurt and chopped cucumber, which had a great aroma and robust taste.
Like the items and want more?
Of course, you can order any of the items on the TrytheWorld.com website.
Bottom line? Would I recommend “Try the World?”
What I liked
I liked receiving the box and exploring food items I’d never tried before (pretty much all of them). Since the items are typically not available at grocery stores, it was exciting trying things I probably wouldn’t find anywhere else. I thought the variety was good – pasta, olive oil, breadsticks, dip mix, cookies and other items. The box and included information is visually appealing and informative. And it’s educational for adults and kids to learn about and try foods from other countries.
What I didn’t like
I didn’t like all the items. A few of them were not appealing to me or my family, so they were wasted. And I didn’t really like the two recipes included. They weren’t of “wide appeal” in my opinion – my family just isn’t into lamb meatballs and fish soup. But I also think I would have preferred other country boxes better, like Italy or Germany.
Final thoughts
Do I recommend Try the World? I recommend it for anyone who loves trying new foods and learning about authentic foods from other countries, and if you have the budget for it. I think it’s worth a try. It’s not for picky eaters – you have to be open to things you’d never think of buying in a grocery store. But you may discover foods that you absolutely love!
Try the World does have different options including just a snack box option, which is a good option to start with. But they also do have some promos that make trying it out affordable.
Want to try it? Get a FREE Italy box when you sign up for the current month via my link!
Learn more and sign up at https://www.trytheworld.com/.