Friday, March 7, 2014

Review: Cloud 9 Sample Box





This isn’t the first time I’ve said it, and I assure you, it won’t be the last. I am a sucker for all subscription boxes!

Cloud 9 Sample Box is a monthly product sampler box filled with gourmet food items, beauty products and unique products hand selected to take you away from the every day!”


I received the February box from Cloud 9, which is a little different than their normal monthly shipments. This was their Valentine’s Day edition and dubbed "Chocolate, Chocolate and More Chocolate!"


In my mailbox was a large white envelope. At first I found it strange that inside the envelope was the box, plus a full size package of Mia Dolci cookies. Seriously though, who questions an overflow of goodies?!

Opening up the white box, I found a pleasant welcome note from Cloud 9 owners, Lisa and Caryn- affectionately referred to as ‘Cupid's helpers.’ I thought it was a really nice touch!




On the other side of the welcome note, was an itemized list of what was in the box.

The first item I tried was the Mia Dolci Chocolate Vanilla Swirl Cookies. They were so incredibly tasty. It was really hard to not just eat the whole box in one setting. They tasted like chocolate graham crackers, but.. better. They didn’t last long at all.

The next product was the DeBrand Fine Chocolates Raspberry Truffle. It came in an adorable little box, that upon research, I discovered is their wedding favor packaging. 

The box didn’t note what the flavor was but thankfully it came with a small directory of their chocolates and I was easily able to identify it, as they each look quite unique. 

Honestly I thought the dried raspberries were flower petals on top. 

I wasn’t overly excited at first, as raspberry isn’t high on my list of favorite flavors, but it was so decadent! 

My husband and I shared it and we both found it to be rich and delicious, which is no surprise, as these were listed on Oprah’s Favorite Things list in 2010.

I have never heard of these amazing little Jiva Hot Chocolate Squares

The directions on the back say to use either hot water, hot milk, or a combination of the two. I decided to just use water with the first one. I dropped the cube in watched it dissolve on the bottom in just over a minute. After stirring, I found it to still be a little gritty. Also, I didn’t get much flavor from it either. 

I decided before calling these a total fail, I would try it with milk, instead. It made all the difference! It was creamy, and it brought all the flavor out. The company also has instant coffee cubes in a variety of flavors. I think this is a very cool concept. 

The Plush Puffs Chocolate Chipetta Marshmallows were fantastic! My mom used to make home-made marshmellows every holiday and these tasted so close to those. I loved having these in the box! I added one to the hot chocolate, but ate the other three by themselves.
When I first looked through the box, honestly I thought the heart chocolates were the cheap kind you find at the dollar store. Needless to say, I was very wrong. These are Lake Champlain Chocolates, in  two flavors: milk chocolate caramel, and dark chocolate raspberry. While the caramel is definitely my favorite, these are both very good!

The last item in the box was Big Nanny’s Chocolate Walnut Soft Biscotti

On the back of the package it tells you the ingredients and there is nothing strange or unusual. On the paper included, it gives you a pricing guide and contact information for ordering more. 

I ate this with the hot chocolate and it was perfect! On its own it was quite edible, and softer than usual for biscotti. I could bite into it just fine without breaking a tooth. But dipped into a hot beverage, it is even better!
The price of each Cloud9 Monthly Treat Box purchased monthly is $15 plus $5.95 shipping and handling. The contents of this box came out to just over $20 I believe, so item worth, plus surprise element and convenience is well worth the money in my opinion! The boxes ship around the 15th of each month so there is still time to get next months shipment!   You also have the option of subscribing for 3 months, 6 months or 1 year.

On their website there is contact info to have your business be included in the box. I love seeing that; it tells me you will find lots of small local businesses in the boxes. 

I can’t wait to try another box that isn’t so specific. Finding beauty products and other surprises along with the treats would be great!  

Just for  Reviews, Chews & How-Tos readers,  Cloud9 is offering a coupon code for 10% off your first time total purchase: RCH10.  Give them a try!

10 comments:

  1. The chocolate treats all sound delicious! I'm very curious to see what comes in on a non-specialty month!

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  2. This sounds like a great way to treat yourself or someone special! I can think of a few people who would appreciate this box for sure :)

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  3. WOW I've never heard of this subscription service, I need to look into it.

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  4. I believe part two is on the way ;)

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  5. Sounds like February would have been a great month for me to sign up! I love chocolate. I wonder if there will ever be a service just dedicated to chocolate. I would buy that :)

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  6. Chocolate surely does make me feel pampered!

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  7. Chocolate makes me feel pampered, so does nice smelling soaps/lotions.

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  8. I love, love, love chocolate so perhaps I'll make sure to purchase their box next February!

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  9. I just want all these subscription boxes.

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