Over the years, we've tried more than 100 food subscription boxes. These are the 10 you'll never catch us canceling.
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10 Best Food Subscription Boxes To Give as Gifts (Or Enjoy Yourself!)
Updated Sep. 23, 2024
Maybe we’re biased here at Taste of Home, but ask any of our staffers, and we’ll agree that food is one of the best gifts. Just look at how well-received a classic box of chocolates is! A food gift tailored to the recipient’s preferences or passions and regularly delivered to their doorstep is even better. That’s why food subscription boxes are our latest gift obsession. Like a plant club, they’re fun, and they’re practical. Plus, they help your friends discover new favorite snacks, drinks, ingredients and recipes.
“Each delivery is a delightful surprise, bringing with it the excitement of discovering a new flavor or delicacy. It’s the perfect way to show someone you care by giving them a gift that keeps on giving throughout the year,” says Michelle Hensley, gifting expert and founder of Nifty Package Co.
Along with providing the joy that comes from unboxing food every month, these subscriptions also save the recipients time by shipping straight to their door. Read on to find our top picks for food subscription boxes that are great for gifting or enjoying yourself. We have ideas for every set of taste buds. Need more options? Look at these gift of the month clubs for some inspiration.
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Best Overall
Universal Yums
Pros:
- High quality and authentic
- Affordable
- Interactive
- Option to buy previous snacks or one-off boxes
- Free shipping within the U.S.
Cons:
- Few servings per snack
- No customization
A snack subscription box is the most quintessential option of all food subscription boxes. Gift your loved ones a trip worldwide with Universal Yums, a box of snacks that’s anything but snore-worthy. Universal Yums is a subscription service for foodies that brings tried-and-true international treats straight to you. In our Universal Yums review, Product Testing Manager Annamarie Higley notes that trying these global snacks is her number one trick for curbing her wanderlust.
“I received the Yum Yum Belgium Box with 10 snacks. Once it arrived, I got straight to snacking! The subscription box was stuffed to the top with treats—I didn’t feel skimped at all,” she says. It’s such a fun idea for both snackers and travelers who need a little inspiration for their next trip.
Each monthly box is dedicated to a country (some past examples include Brazil, India, Italy and Thailand). The package comes crammed with snacks, yes, but also interactive, kid-friendly educational materials about the country in question. Annamarie enjoyed a playlist of Belgian music, a game called koekhappen, a crossword puzzle and a meatball recipe, along with lots of informative tidbits about the featured country.
Subscribe to the global snack box starting at $15, and take your tastebuds on a jet-setting tour of the world—no ticket or passport required.
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Best Coffee Subscription
Trade Coffee Subscription
Pros:
- Ability to try new, customized-for-you coffees from around the country
- Very fresh beans
- Easy to gift
- Free shipping on pre-paid orders
Cons:
- Bags are on the smaller side, measuring around 11 ounces
For true java junkies, a coffee subscription is such a cool way to try new roasts you’d otherwise miss thanks to geography. Trade Coffee’s classic subscription is our top pick. Apart from offering worldwide beans that are freshly roasted just days before shipping out, they also provide seriously cool customization options—a must-have for something as personal as coffee.
First, take the targeting quiz, which identifies how you take your coffee, your preferred roasts, your desired flavors and more. The coffee experts at Trade match your results to hundreds of bean options from vendors all across the country. Beans are roasted, shipped and delivered directly to your door. You can also provide feedback on what you liked (or didn’t like) to customize your coffee subscription further.
“Once you start a Trade coffee subscription, it’s hard to quit. I’ve been testing this mail-order service for six weeks, and it puts you in the driver’s seat for all your coffee needs,” says confirmed bean fiend and Senior Editor Katie Bandurski.
Plans start at $15.75 per bag for a classic Trade subscription. You can also upgrade to the Trade Plus subscription for $19.95 per bag, which offers access to additional flavors and specialty brews.
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Best Cookie Subscription
Goldbelly Monthly Cookie Subscription
Pros:
- Impeccable packaging with zero dents or dings
- Each box feeds 6-8 people
- QR code with storage instructions on packing slip
- Cookies are fresh and absolutely delicious
- Goldbelly makes it easy to repurchase any favorites
- Cookies come from cult-favorite bakeries around the U.S.
Cons:
- Pricier than other subscriptions on this list
- No option to choose flavors
Remember the days of yore when Grandma’s freshly baked cookies took all your troubles away? A cookie club is like having a whole fleet of grandmas on call who ship out tantalizing treats on a monthly basis. Goldbelly’s Cookie Club takes this a step further, partnering with world-famous bakeries and businesses to bring a new batch of premium desserts right to your doorstep each month.
During my subscription, my palate expanded after enjoying decadent black and white cookies from Manhattan’s William Greenberg Bakery, Brooklyn Blackout’s famous Blackout Cookies, Jacques Torres chocolate chip cookies and a haul of Chip City cookies. Part of me preferred my life before I tried those black and white cookies—I’ve been dreaming about them ever since! Luckily, thanks to Goldbelly’s catalog of thousands of treats across the country, reordering any favorites is as easy as it gets.
This is the perfect gift for someone with a sweet tooth or anyone who loves being in the know about the latest and greatest food trends. The best part is that each shipment contains enough servings for at least six people, so it’s ideal for sharing with friends. Goldbelly also offers other subscriptions (hello, pizza club!), so take some time to browse. You might just find the perfect food subscription boxes for everyone on your list.
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Best Meat Subscription
Porter Road Butcher's Choice Subscription
Pros:
- Outstandingly flavorful
- Responsibly raised
- Supports small American farms
- Free of hormones and antibiotics
Cons:
- Pricey
A meat delivery subscription may sound like an odd gift. But if you’re hunting down gifts for grillers or meat lovers, there’s no better surprise than premium cuts delivered right to their door. Porter Road began selling meat online in 2017 and it’s become one of the best places to buy chicken, beef and pork on the internet. Former chef and James Beard Award nominee Allison Robicelli was absolutely blown away by her box.
She tried a wide assortment from the brand, including ground chorizo, chicken breasts, pork chops, ribeye steaks, bacon, burgers and breakfast sausage. All in all, Porter Road is an excellent option for regular ordering. They’ve got a little bit of everything—and it’s all good.Â
The best part is that each premium cut comes responsibly raised and free of any hormones or antibiotics. Each purchase also supports small farms across America, making this a thoughtful gift that gives back. Snag this subscription for anyone who appreciates a good home-cooked meal. Good meat is the foundation of any non-veggie recipe, after all.
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Best Cocktail Subscription
Shaker and Spoon
Pros:
- Comes with everything (minus the alcohol)
- Ability to repurchase past boxes and ingredients until they sell out
- Easy-to-send gifting options
- Ability to swap out upcoming boxes that don't appeal to you
Cons:
- No alcohol included
What’s better than a cocktail kit? A cocktail kit that delivers monthly, of course! Similar to a beer club, Shaker and Spoon offers a new adult-friendly beverage experience each month. Choose from over 50 different cocktail kits that fit that special someone’s tastes. Or, gift a new surprise each month with their monthly subscription. It takes the guesswork out of the equation—the only thing you have to do is fill out your friend’s shipping information.
Each box comes with a whole host of unexpected inclusions, from garnishes to mixers and even the occasional piece of barware. While the boxes don’t include alcohol, you can head over to Curiada and snag the Shaker and Spoon recommended selections for each box. Or, use your favorite brands instead. We’ve tested several of the brand’s bespoke kits, and each offered a truly unique experience.
“As a budding mixologist, I was truly blown away by the attention to detail included inside this Ginspirations cocktail kit from Shaker and Spoon,” says Shopping Editor Madi Koetting. “Gin typically isn’t my spirit of choice, so I chose this kit to better understand what ingredients pair well with the liquor and sharpen my gin-based cocktail chops,” she adds.
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Best Fruit and Cheese Subscription
Harry & David Fruit and Cheese Subscription
Pros:
- Ability to see fruit and cheese pairings prior to signing up
- Each box contains fresh fruit and an expertly-paired cheese
- Choice of 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-month shipments
- Trusted brand with a good gifting reputation
Cons:
- No choice of shipment size
- Pricey
What do you get when you fuse a fruit club with a cheese club? Answer: Harry & David’s Fruit and Cheese Subscription, which offers a new flavor combination each month for 3-, 6-, 9- or 12-months. This epicurean club combines fresh, juicy fruit with expertly paired cheeses for a flavorful treat.
My March shipment came with six huge HoneyBells accompanied by an 8-ounce slab of Wood River Creamery cheddar gruyère. The HoneyBell citruses were big and juicy and offered just the right touch of sweetness. The cheddar gruyère was creamy with a pleasant sharpness that contrasted well with the HoneyBell’s citrusy flavor.
One of my favorite parts of this subscription is that each month’s inclusions are laid out on the site, so you can easily peruse the list and see if the combinations are a good fit for your giftee. Overall, I was impressed with the pairing, plus the healthy amount of packaging that ensured nothing was bruised or spoiled upon arrival. After trying myriad fruit delivery services, I can confidently say that shipping produce is a tricky business—but Harry & David does it expertly.
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Best Baking Subscription
Crumble Crate
Pros:
- Challenging and rewarding
- At least one high-quality kitchen tool
- Desserts come in different skill levels
- QR code with step-by-step videos and tips included
Cons:
- May be too challenging for beginners
Searching for the ultimate gift for bakers? Baking subscriptions are a contemporary way for the adventurous to try new techniques and recipes they may otherwise not. This is especially true with Crumble Crate, which provides budding pastry chefs with a new recipe, ingredients and kitchen tool each month.
Each monthly shipment includes pre-portioned ingredients, baking tools and a recipe card with a link to instructional videos, shopping lists and tips. While some recipes are simple yet delicious, most offer a healthy challenge for experienced home cooks. Our kit for the apple rose tart included essential tools, like a tart pan and pastry cutter. Overall, Senior Editor Katie found it a fun challenge for folks with basic baking skills.
Gifting a baking subscription box is a creative way to encourage experimentation. More than anything, it’s an entertaining, time-saving option for trying new goodies, whether you decide to gift one or try it yourself.
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Best Snack Subscription
Sakuraco
Pros:
- Show-stopping packaging
- Booklet with snack information
- Good mix of familiar and less common flavors
- One home good included
- Monthly themes are fun and creative
Cons:
- Past boxes not available
Finding the best gift for foodies means thinking outside of the box. Or, rather, inside the box if you’re looking for the perfect food subscription boxes. Whether your recipient really loves Japan or just enjoys trying new snacks, a Sakuraco subscription is a stunning gift that keeps giving.
Each box includes a haul of savory and sweet treats directly from Japan and a handy booklet containing cultural information related to the box’s theme. I had a great time reading about the Kamoi foods industry. It was also enlightening to learn about the red thread of fate, an intriguing part of Japan’s rich mythology. But my favorite part was, by far, the snacks.
The exterior of the box is also absolutely stunning. There is no mistaking how gorgeous and gift-able this snack subscription box is—just look at the pretty gold inlays and eye-catching floral pattern. If I received this in the mail, it would be obvious that someone wanted me to feel pampered—heck, even if I’m ordering it as a gift for myself!
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Best Charcuterie Subscription
Platterful
Pros:
- Vegan and gluten-free options available
- Choice of small and large options
- Nuts can be removed upon request
- Comes well insulated
- Each box sold donates 10 meals to combat childhood hunger
Cons:
- Fragile contents (like crackers) may arrive broken
Charcuterie gifts like Boarderie are already a welcome prospect. After all, who doesn’t get excited about a box brimming with cheese, meat cuts and accouterments arriving on their doorstep? But Platterful takes that a step further, inviting its recipients to experiment with flavors, taste and toppings throughout the year with its monthly food subscription box. Each box also arrives with step-by-step photos to assist you in crafting a beautiful board.
This editor-loved gift lets you choose from a large box that feeds up to eight or a standard shipment with enough goodies for up to four folks. Deputy Shopping Editor Reina Galhea’s large box included three types of cheese, two meats, three dried fruits, two small packages of olives, two spreads, crackers, maple walnuts, corn nuts and two mini bowls with spatulas for serving. In her testing, Reina was particularly impressed with the variety and flavor, especially for the price point.
While the cheeses aren’t super exotic, that’s a plus for some—especially for those who get more excited about potential pairings. My latest box arrived with a generous serving of fig spread and horseradish mustard that I kept putting on sandwiches well after we enjoyed the rest of the kit. I’ve been a Platterful subscriber for a few months now, and I can’t say there’s anything I look forward to quite like my monthly cheese and cracker fix.
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Best Candy Subscription
LollyBox
Pros:
- Cute themes in every box
- Handmade lollipops with interesting flavors
- No artificial or fake-tasting flavors
- 14 generously-sized lollypops
- Pretty and thoughtful packaging
- Very affordable
Cons:
- Allergen information not included
There are plenty of candy subscriptions out there, but few have as much personality as Lollies by Leah. Each box arrives with 14 generously sized handmade lollipops centered on a creative theme. Flavors are as bespoke as they get, with options like lychee taro tea, toasted marshmallow lavender and pineapple basil sorbet.
As a plus, this is also one of the most affordable boxes, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a gorgeous gift. From the packaging to the flavor menu to the box itself, each handcrafted aspect gives the experience so much charm. But really, the best part is the candy itself. None of the flavors taste artificial, and there are zero preservatives included in the candy-making process.
Overall, it’s an unexpected fusion of a kid-at-heart mentality with flavors that appeal to adventurous adults—something you don’t see every day. If it’s sweet foods your recipient is after, a box of Cheryl’s cookies is also a welcome gift.
Why You Should Trust Us
I’ve tested dozens of foods and drinks for Taste of Home, informing pieces like the best coffee concentrates and the best gift of the month clubs. Not only am I Taste of Home’s resident food and drinks expert, but I’m also a big fan of food subscription boxes. For this piece, I personally tested upwards of 10 different food clubs. I also enlisted the assistance of my fellow editors and product testers on the Taste of Home team. Overall, we tried more than 100 different gift of the month clubs!
For this piece, I also spoke to Michelle Hensley for insight into what makes a great food gift. Michelle is the founder and creative force behind Nifty Package Co., a luxury gift basket business specializing in curated, high-end collections for discerning clients. With an eye for detail and a passion for quality, Michelle has built a reputation for creating stunning, personalized gift baskets that make every occasion memorable.
What To Look for When Shopping for Food Subscription Boxes
The beauty of shopping for a food subscription box is the sheer number of options available. However, that also introduces a bit of choice paralysis. In general, it’s important to keep the recipient at the top of your mind when shopping. This goes for inclusions, the feel and the packaging.
“Consider the recipient’s tastes, allergies and preferences. This is important because someone might be deathly allergic to nuts, so make sure you know this ahead of time and let that recipient know you thought about it,” says Michelle. “Look for a club that offers high-quality, artisanal products and flexibility in subscription options. It’s also important to consider the shipping schedule and ensure that the products will be delivered fresh and in optimal condition.”
How We Found the Best Food Subscription Boxes
To find the best food subscription boxes, we considered our own experience with gift clubs, noting any that particularly stood out. From there, we researched other popular and under-the-radar options that looked like a great fit and boasted excellent reviews. Over the course of testing for other pieces, we also ran into a number of picks that fit perfectly within this piece. Our expert team of editors and product testers thoroughly tested and evaluated each option in our own homes, and we took notes on the following aspects:
- Cost compared to quality
- Freshness
- Shipping and packaging
- Variety
- Presentation
- Taste
Originally Published: September 23, 2024
