Discover The World Through Food
A special thanks to Try The World for providing the Miss Frugal Mommy blog with their service for free in exchange for an honest review!
Yet again I am left in awe over an amazing subscription box service… this time one that allows you to discover the world through food! Try The World is the opportunity to try foods and experience cultures of the world without boarding a plane. They supply and deliver to your door a gourmet box from a new country every two months. Every box has 7 to 8 gourmet items selected by an expert chef, with teas, cookies, jams, and more. There is even a Culture Guide in the box with easy-to-follow recipes and stories behind each product. Try The World collaborates with notable chefs to ensure that each item is authentic and of the highest possible quality. They also work with small, family-owned companies who follow artisanal methods of production.
I was pleased to discover that this months box was inspired by Portugal. Portugal is famous for its simple, rustic dishes made with fresh vegetables and seafood. This amazing box of food products allows you to experience this country’s incredible culinary specialties from the comfort of your home.
The first three items in the box are some of my favorites from the box! The pumpkin and hazelnut jam come from a company called Quita de Jugais. They craft premium spreads using traditional Portuguese recipes. One of the most popular fruit preserves in the country, pumpkin jam is delicious over toast. The caramelized onions with port wine is made from Casa de Prisca. They specialize in producing the same culinary specialties that the company’s founder grew up to know and love over four generations ago. The spread is made with port, one of Portugal’s most iconic spirits. Lastly there is the sea salt and lemon made from Hands On Earth. This company is committed to sustainability and healthful living, which makes this my favorite item from the box! They specialize in producing herbs and seasonings. This finish salt is made free of pesticides and chemicals, and lemon adds a zesty finish to any dish.
Codfish in olive oil comes from a company called Briosa Gourmet. I discovered that codfish is one of Portugal’s most iconic foods. Briosa Gourmet wraps their canned codfish in beautiful packaging reminiscent of hydraulic titles, an art form in which pigments are pressed onto cement.
Two products that I use most in the kitchen are undoubtedly olive oil and hot sauce, I was so thrilled to see these two items included in the box! The extra-virgin olive oil is made from Olivais de Sul. This bitter and slightly spicy olive oil is a perfect addition to a variety of dishes. This company grows their olives in central Portugal, then they are cold pressed to preserve their complex aroma and distinct flavor. The Piri Piri Hot Sauce is made from Paladin. A quintessentially Portuguese condiment, piri piri hot sauce was first introduced to Europe in the 15th century when Christopher Columbus came back home with piri piri peppers. Since then, the sauce has been used throughout the country.
Being a huge tea loves that consumes many cups a day, I was so excited to discover this Apple and Cinnamon tea by IT. This infusion is made by blending black tea with leaves, flowers and fruit grown in the mountains of Serra da Estrela in eastern Portugal. Apple and cinnamon aroma makes this tea a wonderful and the perfect cold weather pick-me-up! The final item in the box were these scrumptious lemon cookies from Casa Lucena. Committed to preserving the culinary traditions of Portugal, Casa Lucena’s cookies are made according to an old, Portuguese recipe. They’re crisp and buttery and didn’t last five minutes in this house with little kids eager for a handful!
I was so pleased with this box and just love that I was able to experience fine cuisine fro Portugal with my family from the comfort of my home! If you love something from this box or want to try other flavors, you can buy them at the Try The World Shop (subscribers receive special discounts and offers!)
