A made-in-Canada subscription box for breakfast lovers: A review of October’s OatBox

I received October’s OatBox for free in exchange for an honest review. This post also appears on A Year of Boxes. 

OatBox is a monthly breakfast subscription box from Montreal, Canada. It includes two sizeable bags of handcrafted granola blends that are 100% natural and preservative-free, plus two recipes that use or complement the granola. Gluten-free boxes are available and subscriptions can be delayed or cancelled free of charge. 

The granola blends are often made with seasonal fruits and flavours. The October box features Pear and Salted Caramel Granola and Pumpkin Spice and two recipe cards: one for a Pumpkin Breakfast Pie that uses the granola in the crust and another for Tahini Bars that calls for any OatBox blend. Each 380-gram bag contains about 8 half-cup servings (240 calories per serving).

I’m a sucker for good design and I have to say, OatBox makes a great first impression. The packaging is minimal but warm and well made (the bags have a strong zip top to keep the granola fresh) and the photography on the recipe cards has a modern, Scandinavian vibe (which I LOVE). #gettinhyggewithit

I’ve been nibbling on the Pear and Salted Caramel while I’ve been writing this post and it’s delicious. I don’t know if I would be able to identify the flavour if it wasn’t labelled — it doesn’t seem particularly pear-y or salted caramel-y to me — but it’s tasty nevertheless. The sweetness is subtle and the almond slices give it a bit of crunch. It’s fresh, comforting, sustaining and nutritious. Ticks all the boxes!

Now I love LOVE all things pumpkin (well except PSL’s — I don’t like coffee) so I had high hopes for this blend. And I was not disappointed. The pumpkin spice flavour is evident but not overpowering and very well balanced. (Some pumpkin spice recipes are too heavy-handed on the cinnamon or ginger for my liking.) I can’t wait to try it in the Pumpkin Breakfast Pie.

Final thoughts

October’s OatBox is the second one I’ve tried and I love them both. The granola blends are delicious, nutritious and super fresh and the sizeable bags make it a great value. I’ve given OatBoxes to friends and family at different times in the year (even before I’d tasted one!) and they all enjoyed them too. It makes a unique gift that says “I care” — for the holidays, birthdays, new moms and dads, friends recovering from illness, new grads and university students away from home — and with gluten-free options, they’re something everyone can enjoy. And for yourself, an everyday treat that does a body good.

For a coupon code to save $5 off your first box, see my post on A Year of Boxes.