WP_20160418_020

Inspire Me Korea April “Cafe” Subscription Box Review

WP_20160418_020

As we mentioned in our previous article, Inspire Me Korea kept their promise and sent one of their subscription boxes to MCM Buzz to review for our readers. Brimming full of Korean goodies the box arrived in quick time straight to my door. One of the big bonuses of ordering a subscription box is that you get to experience many different things that you usually wouldn’t pick for yourself.

Inspire Me Korea can boast a personalised package, and really do care for their customer’s wants and needs. Their customer service is beyond that of a regular subscription service, and with the inclusion of their “Inspired By Korea Series” on their website, there is a real sense of community with other customers and possible new customers of the box.

– — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — –

“I’m Fresh” Real berries in fresh cream cake

WP_20160418_044

Reminiscent of the Japanese Dorayaki (ice-cream in a buttermilk pancake). There is a soft pancake which is sweet and fluffy that surrounds the most delicious berry flavoured cream filling. As someone with a sweet tooth and a love for cream cakes, this was a definite 10/10 on the scale.

 Tako Chips “Seafood” flavour

WP_20160418_034

Wheat crisps which have more of a seafood smell rather than a seafood taste. Savoury to the taste buds these air filled crunchy fish shaped Wheaties are subtle enough in flavour to have with a dip but slightly bland to the palette.

Korean Hi-Chew “Apple” flavour &  Ace crackers

WP_20160418_031

Just like their Japanese counterpart, these chewy sweets are bursting at the seams with that apple flavouring which is known to make people salivate beyond their control. They remind me of the UK sweets Chewits or Fruittella. These are extremely more-ish and I dare anyone to open the packet and only eat one – it’s impossible! As for the Ace crackers, they are slightly salted with a subtle flavour which are light, crispy yet fluffy. They are great with some jam or even on their own as a small snack.

SCINIC advanced snail mask sheet & Etude House green tea face mask

WP_20160418_028

Featuring the members of K-pop girl group Girls Day, these masks work wonders on anyone’s skin. In true Korean beauty style, these face masks come in a sachet full of the slightly fragrant snail goo (or if you’re using the Tea Tree mask, then it’s full of fragrant green tea goodness). The masks are disposable – so when you are done using them you can throw them away. The mask leaves your skin feeling tight, fresh and as plump as a peach.

Soloman’s Seal Tea

WP_20160418_029

As a British person it’s not that rare that we are called “tea snobs” when it comes to tasting tea. Unlike many others I’m not a tea snob. In fact I rarely drink tea at all. But there is something about this tea that leaves me wanting more. When left black and mixed with two sugars the flavour is beautiful. This specific type of tea is known to relieve irritation of the digestive system as well as aiding recovery of the human body – it’s also a great tea to fight away colds, flu and to rebuild your strength.

Inspire Me Korea magazine

WP_20160418_024

Something that is unique to the Inspire Me Korea box is the inclusion of a small magazine which is full of information about Korea, such as the culture, history, food recipes, language, tourist attractions, interviews and a sneak peek section of what’s in your box. This provides you with a light read whilst you eat your snacks as well as educating you about Korea on a wide range of subjects.

EXO: D.O K-pop socks

do

Do you have all the merchandise of your favourite bands? Are you looking to support them no matter where you are? Want to low-key support your favourite groups? Then this is the must-have piece of merchandise for any K-pop fan. Before I received my box I was emailed a link to a questionnaire where I could choose five idols I liked. Then by random the person who picks the items for your box knows which idol you would prefer and can customise it to your needs (in my case it was the founder, Diana Chan).

– — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — – — –

Overall the box itself is really well curated, covering a huge area of everything needed to educate those who are new to Korea. It also offers lots of little bits that those of us who are slightly more Korea-savvy might have never seen before. The inclusion of food, K-pop and culture are essential in having a successful box, and with the added beauty elements it opens the doors to other potential newcomers.

With the fast delivery, really secure packaging, cute personalised and cared for gifts, I highly recommend this subscription box. There has been a very positive buzz (no pun intended) about subscription boxes going around the UK K-pop and Korean culture scene, and it seems that Inspire Me Korea is one of the top ones. Although there have only been three boxes so far, the steady build of fans and subscribers is definitely warranted and I can only hope that more people will support the Inspire Me Korea team.

For more information about any upcoming boxes, or to join in with the fun be sure to check out Inspire Me Korea’s websiteFacebookInstagram, and Twitter for more updates and details about the UK’s first Korean subscription box.

unnamed-1024x469

Be inspired with an "Inspire Me Korea" subscription box

unnamed-1024x469

Subscription boxes have gathered a huge following thanks to the wide variety at hand and how easy it is to get your favourite beauty products, foods or even to try something a little different from another country. Previously on MCM Buzz we have covered the likes of Retro Game Box, Beauty Bi, and Japan Crate who have all offered something amazing and entertaining. This time we are looking at a Korean and UK based subscription box by the name of “Inspire Me Korea”.

When asked about Inspire Me Korea, the founder and CEO Diana Chan stated, “I just graduated, and decided to take a graduation trip on my own to South Korea. I stayed for one month in Incheon and Seoul and it was the most memorable experience of my life, and definitely life changing! I had such a great time there that when I came back to the UK for my graduation ceremony I couldn’t stop thinking about how to go back to South Korea. I came up with many ideas, like finding a job in the UK that will send me to South Korea or finding an English speaking job in Korea. Instead, I settled with bringing South Korea to the UK!”

Diana wanted to share the vibrant culture that she experienced in South Korea and show that there is a lot more to South Korea than just K-pop or Korean dramas. “There is a rich history, culture, traditions and amazing people who are respectful and caring towards everyone,” said Diana. “I wanted to portray this multi dimensional culture and share it with people I care about – people who love Korea or could love Korea through Inspire Me Korea! That is why I have chosen an array of items to go into our boxes each month, so people can learn about Korea and have a taste of the diverse culture.”

The main goal of Inspire Me Korea is the hope that the subscription box service will cover all the aspects of Korea in one small package, especially for those who cannot travel, giving them the opportunity to experience and be inspired by Korea.

“The whole idea is to create a community of Korea lovers in the UK, to share our stories with one another and just feel comfortable to be in love with Korean culture,” explained Diana. “I definitely remember being in love with K-pop five years ago, but had no one to talk to and no one to share this with, and I wish that no one has to feel that way any more!”

In terms of creating a community, Inspire Me Korea have an “Inspired By Korea Blog” series where stories can be shared and inspiration can be passed on from person to person about everything from traditions, culture, music, movies and entertainment, right down to the best places to eat when visiting Korea.

So what about these boxes? Well, the boxes are sent out on the 5th of every month and each one will have a different theme. For example, April’s one will be “Cafe” which we have been told could feature some fun, cute and amazing Easter themed gifts. Each box is filled with surprises, but we are guaranteed something to cover history and culture within a magazine, snacks, K-pop and Korean entertainment items, as well as some beauty products for those of you who opt in for them. All the products are hand-picked and carefully curated to the monthly theme. The items are then hand packed in a special box, and delivered straight to your door.

At £13.33 per month the subscription box is a steal for the quality of items you can receive. Should you get impatient of waiting for your box you could always head over to the Inspire Me Korea shop where they house some really cute items for sale.

MCM Buzz readers are really lucky, for we have been given an exclusive discount code where you can get free shipping on the first box you order. All you have to do is use the code ‘MCMBUZZ’ when paying for your box, and Inspire Me Korea will sort it out from there. For a sneak preview of what to expect be sure to check out the video below, and check out Inspire Me Korea’s website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more updates and details about the UK’s first Korean subscription box.

unnamed-1024x469

Be inspired with an “Inspire Me Korea” subscription box

unnamed-1024x469

Subscription boxes have gathered a huge following thanks to the wide variety at hand and how easy it is to get your favourite beauty products, foods or even to try something a little different from another country. Previously on MCM Buzz we have covered the likes of Retro Game Box, Beauty Bi, and Japan Crate who have all offered something amazing and entertaining. This time we are looking at a Korean and UK based subscription box by the name of “Inspire Me Korea”.

When asked about Inspire Me Korea, the founder and CEO Diana Chan stated, “I just graduated, and decided to take a graduation trip on my own to South Korea. I stayed for one month in Incheon and Seoul and it was the most memorable experience of my life, and definitely life changing! I had such a great time there that when I came back to the UK for my graduation ceremony I couldn’t stop thinking about how to go back to South Korea. I came up with many ideas, like finding a job in the UK that will send me to South Korea or finding an English speaking job in Korea. Instead, I settled with bringing South Korea to the UK!”

Diana wanted to share the vibrant culture that she experienced in South Korea and show that there is a lot more to South Korea than just K-pop or Korean dramas. “There is a rich history, culture, traditions and amazing people who are respectful and caring towards everyone,” said Diana. “I wanted to portray this multi dimensional culture and share it with people I care about – people who love Korea or could love Korea through Inspire Me Korea! That is why I have chosen an array of items to go into our boxes each month, so people can learn about Korea and have a taste of the diverse culture.”

The main goal of Inspire Me Korea is the hope that the subscription box service will cover all the aspects of Korea in one small package, especially for those who cannot travel, giving them the opportunity to experience and be inspired by Korea.

“The whole idea is to create a community of Korea lovers in the UK, to share our stories with one another and just feel comfortable to be in love with Korean culture,” explained Diana. “I definitely remember being in love with K-pop five years ago, but had no one to talk to and no one to share this with, and I wish that no one has to feel that way any more!”

In terms of creating a community, Inspire Me Korea have an “Inspired By Korea Blog” series where stories can be shared and inspiration can be passed on from person to person about everything from traditions, culture, music, movies and entertainment, right down to the best places to eat when visiting Korea.

So what about these boxes? Well, the boxes are sent out on the 5th of every month and each one will have a different theme. For example, April’s one will be “Cafe” which we have been told could feature some fun, cute and amazing Easter themed gifts. Each box is filled with surprises, but we are guaranteed something to cover history and culture within a magazine, snacks, K-pop and Korean entertainment items, as well as some beauty products for those of you who opt in for them. All the products are hand-picked and carefully curated to the monthly theme. The items are then hand packed in a special box, and delivered straight to your door.

At £13.33 per month the subscription box is a steal for the quality of items you can receive. Should you get impatient of waiting for your box you could always head over to the Inspire Me Korea shop where they house some really cute items for sale.

MCM Buzz readers are really lucky, for we have been given an exclusive discount code where you can get free shipping on the first box you order. All you have to do is use the code ‘MCMBUZZ’ when paying for your box, and Inspire Me Korea will sort it out from there. For a sneak preview of what to expect be sure to check out the video below, and check out Inspire Me Korea’s website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more updates and details about the UK’s first Korean subscription box.