Try the World Box Review- Travel without Leaving Home

By Susan Douglin

In my line of work, I don’t get to travel too often for leisure but I surely have a bucket list ready for whenever I do find the time! I don’t know about you but when I plan my travels, the first thing that goes on my research “to do” list is where I will be eating throughout my trip.

I like to read comments, recommendations, and blogs about the places I’m traveling to. While I do browse through some of the hotel’s advertisement and their list of recommended eateries in the nearby area, I also realize how much business and marketing goes into that content. I much prefer to believe people who are travelers and customers just like me because they will give me the real deal. But again…I don’t get to travel as often as I’d like, so that’s neither here nor there.

So when I heard about Try the World and how people can get a box of goodies every two months (or however often you choose) from a different part of the globe, I was all too excited to try them out! You mean I get to discover the world through food without having to book a flight? Where do I sign up?!

My first box from Try the World came from Spain and oh boy was this a way to convince me to subscribe! I guarantee that any person who tries this box as their first shipment will await their next box with anticipation like a kid waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve. Every product in this box was better than the last. I was so impressed with the quality and richness of each and every product, except the sardines. I don’t do sardines so that’s the only product I can’t vouch for, but based on everything else in this box from heaven, eh hem…I mean Spain; I trust the sardines are top quality too. My Husband did try the sardines, and I can tell you, he loved them! More on that below. Let me share what I did try and fell in love with:

The Packaging –

The Spain box was a sturdy teal box that looked like a gift box from Tiffany & Co. I don’t know about you, but I appreciate presentation in anything I buy, and this Spain box got an “A” for packaging for sure. Inside the box were all of the delectable treats along with a descriptive card detailing facts about the gourmet products, and a guide that contains information on the Spanish culture which turns this food tasting into a full experience. A trip to Spain right from your own home!

Each product was wrapped in what is obviously European style packaging, and it made the entire experience so authentic! Whenever you’re away in another country, buying local products is always a new adventure. It’s just not the same. There’s a very old-fashion feel about the way they are wrapped. You almost get a sense that each one is hand wrapped individually rather than sent through a conveyor belt to be packaged in bulk. Just looking at the old country style wrapping let me know I was in for a delicious tasting.

The Products-

I recommend that before you dive into your tasting party, that you read the culture guide which mentally places you in Spain. I enjoyed this box with my family which also made it more of a travel experience. So if you can, gather some family or friends to sit down with you while you play some Spanish music and take this simulated trip! It definitely makes a world of difference. If you don’t know what music to play, the culture guide has some excellent suggestions for you so no worries. It also gives you ideas on how to use the products along with recipe suggestions and even games to play so you can have a bit of a tapas party!

P. Listo Rose Petal Jam-

Talk about delicate preserve! This jam was surprisingly not what it sounded like. We are foodies for sure, and I don’t think that jam made out of a flower petal has ever crossed our mind as something to have to sit on the shelf, but it is now! This sweet jam had a light hint of a rose petal in the form of jam and was a delicious addition to a toasted sesame bagel with cream cheese. It was sweet and smooth, so we also spread some over corn muffins we had made for breakfast that morning, and it was simply addicting. We couldn’t get enough of this family farmed product from Southeastern Spain. I recommend you pair this item with tea.

Ines Rosales Citrus Crumble Cakes-

If you’re a traveler, then you know that pastries from Europe are like no other pastry you’ve ever tasted and this citrus crumb cake made by Ines Rosales was no different. After your first bite, you will finally know what a crumb cake should taste and feel like in your mouth. For starters, this perfectly sized dessert had multiple tiny layers of moist cake infused with cider, lemon, and cinnamon filling. The combination of the sweet filling against the doughy cake texture and crumbs was such a delight. The box includes 3 pieces of this small but satisfying pastry, and if you’ve invited more than two people to your tasting party, they will be fighting over a piece without a doubt. The look on your face after just one bite will make them want to steal the rest right from your hand. It is by far the best cake you’ve tasted in a long time.

El Navarrico Fresh Tomato Spread-

Move over Italians, the Spaniards may have beat you with this fresh tomato spread! If you’re a lover of tomato sauces and spreads, then you know that a good quality tomato sauce/spread should be thick, rich in taste, well seasoned, and as we prefer it, with a bit of a tang! On this product, since we’re big on sauces, we chose to taste it before we read the ingredients card that came with the box. We didn’t want to taint our taste test and after just a spoonful, we realized nothing could have ruined our tasting. The spoonful itself told us what we would find on the list of ingredients. We were immediately able to detect the fresh garlic, salt, and pepper, and the fresh ripe tomatoes. Fresh and ripe being the key words here. It didn’t taste like anything processed or canned like our palettes may be used to. The flavor pops piercingly, and you can almost visualize the chef adding the seasoning until it was perfect. Have you ever tasted anything and knew that some work and thought definitely went into it until they reached perfection? That’s what this was! We made some hearty grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and added El Navarrico Fresh Tomato Spread to it and, well, some of us didn’t survive it. The food coma that came of this portion of our Spain day at home called for a break.

La Caperelle Capers in Vinegar-

So on day two of our virtual home trip to Spain via the Try the World Spain box, we set up an afternoon of Spanish music, a game of cards, and feasted on some capers! This delightful pickled berry bud was a fantastic addition to our lunch and an even better bang at dinner!

To pack in the sour punch at lunch, we made charred broccolini as a side to our juicy salmon. If you’d like to try this recipe, here’s how you can do it!

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon canola
2 garlic cloves sliced paper thin
2 teaspoon La Caperelle Capers, rinsed
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 1/2 pounds broccolini ends trimmed
pinch of kosher salt

Directions:

Heat the oil in a large frying pan over high heat until wisps come off the surface. Add the garlic, capers, and red pepper flakes and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Immediately add the butter and cook until melted and slightly browned.
Add the broccolini and a pinch of kosher salt and toss to coat.
Cover the pan and cook, shaking the pan every 30 seconds, so nothing sticks until the broccolini is charred and knife-tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
Carefully remove the cover and add enough water just to coat the bottom of the pan. Shake the pan around to cover the broccolini and serve immediately.

This was such a great side dish for both lunch and dinner and the capers packed in the flavor with the sour twist it added to the plate. It was not overpowering at all because of the amount we used which is probably the key factor when using capers.

Matiz Sardines-

So while I don’t do sardines, my husband and daughter do, so I’ll share with you how we used this portion of the Try the World Spain box.

My husband sautéed some onions and garlic in olive oil and then added the fresh Matiz Sardines into the pan for about 3-5 minutes before stirring. He then added fresh cut mushrooms and let them soften in the pan on low heat. Once the mushrooms and onions were soft, he took it off of the stove. He then added lemon zest and a touch of red wine. Once it was at room temperature, he served it on thin toasted sesame bread and enjoyed it with a cold imported beer. He said the sardines were very fresh tasting and can be used with a variety of ingredients, although he suggests that they be eaten as their own meal to fully appreciate this gourmet treat. According to him, the canned sardines we’re used to here in the states does not have the fresh-off-the-boat flavor that these Matiz Sardines had.

Dos Cafeteras Coffee Cream Caramels-

If there is any candy that is ALWAYS found in my home, it’s caramels. We are caramel connoisseurs if you will. Ha! Over time, we’ve learned to appreciate the various ways in which different companies make these tiny, delightful candies. Some come in the form of hard candy, some are chewy, and some…should not even be unwrapped. As you become a lover of food and its origin, you start caring about what you consume and how much processing goes into it. The Dos Cafeteras Coffee Cream Caramels tasted like it was just made in my kitchen and served after it was cool!

You can choose to let the candy melt as you savor it, or you can take bites of it. You’ll discover the difference between the chewy caramel that sticks to your teeth we typically pick up at the grocery store, and this juicy piece of candy that crumbles easily with each bite. It is so sweet and easily dissolves in your mouth for a secondary effect. You can’t eat just one! So be careful, because before you know it, half of the box is gone!

El Almendro Turron-

Before eating a piece of the El Almendro Turron treat in the Try the World Spain box, I actually read about it on the info card in the box. It was the last of the products for us to try so our virtual trip to Spain was about to come to an end. We figured we’d prolong the conclude by listening to some more Spanish music and reading some history about the product first.

El Almendro has been around since 1883 and is well known for making holiday candy made with raw ingredients and traditional craftsmanship. That’s similar to what the card read, but what does that mean in terms of taste? Well…everything! A company that has been around that long has already tried different recipes and settled at perfection. As a lover of almonds, I was bound to love this candy perfection or not. The fact that it was, in fact, rich in taste was a bonus! It’s sweet, crunchy crushed almonds in a wafer and the glue that sticks it all together is honey. Old-fashioned candy makers focused on the natural flavor of ingredients. This is one of those “less is more lessons” in cooking life, where it’s just a matter of the right ingredients paired correctly to make a simple yet impactful candy bar. We coupled the candy with chamomile tea with almond milk (it was an almond bonanza) and said goodbye to our Try the World Spain box.

This experience was way more than meets the eye. It’s not just about trying products from another country; it’s about the full-on foreign experience! In just one box, you get to taste products that were carefully selected by a local chef who knows exactly what a tourist should or would try, a guide with information about the culture, art, music, and possible games that are loved by the country’s natives, and a descriptive information card about each product you’re about to try. Sharing this with family or friends while listening to music from the particular country of the month provides an entertaining and virtual educational trip right in your own home.

My next virtual trip will be France, and I’m so excited that I don’t want to wait two months for the box to arrive! Since I believe my next box will be as enjoyable as the first, I will undoubtedly be using my discount to expedite the shipment. In fact, I recommend you book a day on your calendar to have people over to have your own virtual experience at home.

To my faithful followers, here’s a free France box when you order the Spain box. If you want 30% off of the first Spain box, use code “HedonistShedonist” at checkout. Bon appetit!