September’s Degustabox (gifted) bought it a selection of products with a family sharing & home cooking theme. My photos have once again fallen foul of poor lighting; all suggestions welcome, but the contents of this box combined makes it one of my favourite boxes I’ve ever received and I was eager to get stuck in.
Bob and I cook with garlic ALL of the time and rely on products like this to make the process easier. We love the very lazy range of products and this garlic paste is fantastic for adding big burst of flavour to our favourite dishes without any faff.
We haven’t tried this Zhoug Pesto from Epicure yet, but it sounds super interesting. I think we’ll try it as a marinade for some chicken rather than as a pasta sauce as the spicy flavours make me think this will work quite well- I’ll report back on the result!
It’s years since I last made a risotto and Bob isn’t a big fan so I’m still working on convincing him to let me make one. In the past I’ve made mostly vegetarian risottos so if anyone has any good recipes for meat based ones I would love to see them.
I was very happy to see these CHUM fruit bites appear in a box again as I loved these last time but I’m yet to see them in any shops local to me. These are vegan friendly and full of all natural ingredients with a delicious flavour and great texture. 15% of profits are also donated to wildaid.org to help save some of our chums in the wild.
I’ve always loved Milkybar Buttons, right from when I was a small child. I often pick up a pack of these when I’m feeling nostalgic and it’s good to see them still going strong. What was your favourite childhood treat?
I love me some snack bars! Boka bars have become a snack staple in this house after I first discovered them through Degusta box. The Chocomallow are especially delicious and all of the flavours in the range score green on the traffic light ratings. I hadn’t tried the Alpen protein bars before, I’ve always liked the Alpen range but found they weren’t especially filling. These new protein packed bars negate that problem and these have become a work day staple.
Bob was very excited to see thee Hartley’s jelly pots in this month’s box. These were his favourite childhood treat and the three pack didn’t last long, and has now become a much requested addition to our weekly shop (along with some ice cream and sprinkles for a truly nostalgic pudding!)
I love Lucozade Zero, especially the pink lemonade flavour served icy cold. These have got me through the last two weeks of having a chest infection, when nothing else has quite appealed…talk about well timed!
Finally we have a terrible photo of a totally not terrible product! Eisberg alcohol free sparkling rosé is a fruity and refreshing treat for non-drinkers/designated drivers and boasts just 33 calories per serving. I’ll be stocking up on this for the festive season as we plan to host plenty.
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought in the comments.
If you’re new to Degustabox, it’s a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money. On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £5.00 off of your first box (making it just £7.99!) by entering the code XOQGC at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.
I feel like I am SO late with my post this month- August already feels like a lifetime ago. Last month’s Degustbox (gifted) had a back to school/on the go themed and was packed full of portable snacks and treats. As ever, some brief thoughts on each product below, if you want more detailed reviews of any of them just let me know.
My cousin’s little girl absolutely loves these jelly pouches from jelly-squeeze. They have no added sugar or sweeteners and are mess free making them perfect for lunch boxes. They are even suitable for vegans! KitKats are so under-rated in my book. They are one of my favourite chocolate treats, it was always such a great day at school when you found one minus any wafer! These KitKat senses bring a grown up twist to the classic. Neither of these were flavours I’d choose in a shop as a rule, but both were really yummy and the perfect size for little indulge with a cup of tea.
The child in me loved these snacks from Fruit Bowl. Yoghurt coated fruit is one of my favourite treats (yeah, I’m a bit odd) and both the raisins and the strawberries were swiftly inhaled. The Unicorn fruit flakes have jumped on to a trend bandwagon here, but are a tasty little snack nevertheless and all of these are ideal for chucking in a school bag, or handbag for snacking on the go.I’ve never really been able to stomach protein mikshake type drinks (too many memories of nutritional supplement drinks in my past) so I passed on this, but for those who are in to that kind of thing this one packs some serious health credentials. 22g of protein, no added sugar and low in fat…I’d be interested to hear other people’s thoughts. I loved these teas from Pure Leaf, especially the green tea with jasmine which has long been a favourite of mine. I passed the Gunpowder Green tea on to my grandad as he’s a big fan and it got a thumbs up from him (both thumbs, actually). Made with all natural ingredients, these look lovely sat in the kitchen too.
How cute are these little pots of peanut butter from Manilife? Pre-portion and roasted to perfection, I love these! The crunchy one is amazing in crumpets FYI…and the smooth is amazing on, well, everything! Nutella fans may also enjoy the Nuttvia Hazelnut spread- it’s pretty delicious for something that has 97% less sugar than other leading brands, and it also boasts being palm oil free so you can eat it with a clear conscience both health wise and planet wise!I don’t really like fruit flavoured chocolate so the dark chocolate raspberry almond dips from Mighty Fine weren’t quite my cup of tea. They also come in a plain dark chocolate variety which I’d be eager to try, and I love the concept of a healthy but indulgent snack that’s perfect for busy lifestyles.
Attack a Snak Nachos looked to be a bit of a gimmick on first inspection, but on delving deeper they are a pretty good idea. Perfect for post-school munchies, or a pre-dinner snack for grown ups, these might be a novelty but I’m all for it.
A childhood staple; Heinz Beef Ravioli (which sadly arrived dented). I’ve loved this since I was a kid and it’s still one of my comfort foods now, for a quick and easy lunch you can’t go wrong.
Since we got engaged I’ve gone from being pretty much tee-total to enjoying a drink on a fairly regular basis. Wine isn’t really my thing, but this pale rosé from Blossom Hill is light enough for my palate to handle, and it’s lovely with some diet lemonade, ice and strawberries.
In this month’s box there was also a voucher to pick up some Strings and Things Cheeseshapes from the folks that bought you Cheesestrings. Unfortunately Pablo shredded the voucher (along with several other letters and pieces of paper) so I didn’t get to try this…I also haven’t seen them in local shops yet, but I’m all for a novelty so watch this space!
If you’re new to Degustabox, it’s a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money. On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.
It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.
Welcome to the July 2019 round-up of Degustabox* (gifted). I’m slightly lacking inspiration for blog content lately, but one thing always guaranteed to get me posting is the monthly arrival of this food subscription box. This month there was a picnic theme to the products, and I was excited to get stuck in.
As you can see, there was a bit of a transit mishap with the Piri Piri Chicken 3 step cooking kit from Simply Cook, which is a shame as Bob and I would have loved to try this as it looks right up our street! These are available at Sainsburys and Waitrose stores so we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled and will pick one up to try in the near future.
Personally I’m not a big fan of flavoured coffee, but Bob is so he was eager to try the limited edition Butterscotch Coffee Syrup from Monin. You can use this in both hot, or iced coffee and we agreed is best in a milky coffee drink like a latte rather than in a straight up black coffee. It got Bob’s approval though and is way cheaper than buying a fancy latte at a coffee shop. I REALLY enjoyed this Pineapple and Yuzu salsa from Ravish. It’s perfect for adding a splash of summer flavour to sandwiches, salads and burgers. It’s not to sweet, or too tangy- really it’s a dose of sunshine for your mouth.
Hot Sauce, yay! We love hot sauce in this house, especially Frank’s so this product was greeted with much enthusiasm. It’s hard to review just how hot, or not, that it is due to people’s tolerance being so varied but we found it spicy and flavourful without causing any pain.These Greek Style Flatbreads from Deli Kitchen are a great idea for a BBQ or Picnic. With a bit more weight behind them than a tortilla they make the perfect host for kebabs, falafel wraps or whatever you fancy really. They freeze perfectly making them ideal for keeping on hand for an impromptu gathering.
I always love the snacky bits in Degustabox and this month was no exception. I’ve been a long time devotee of the Kallo brand for rice cakes and these mini bags are perfect for a picnic, or for slinging in your bag for a portable snack on a day out. There’s something about a chocolate covered rice-cake that I can’t resist! I was a little more hesitant to try the Ape Snacks coconut bites with sesame seeds although I’m not sure why. They are quite moorish and the flavours work well together, another ideal snack for on the go.
I’m not the biggest lover of tortilla chips- I’ll eat them if they are there but there are other savoury snacks I much prefer. That being said, I loved these Beetroot and Onion tortillas from Mister Free’d. They have a wonderfully strong and unique flavour and are suitable for those on a gluten free diet, or who are vegan. Paired with hummus these are bang on.
Bob swooped in on these Randoms as soon as he saw them, he loves his sweets! Both were met with rave reviews- I personally didn’t like the texture of the squish’ems, but he did. We both agreed the sour ones are fantastic!
Last but not least we have New Ribena Frusion- a blackcurrant flavoured water with the flavour of kiwi alongside. I found this an odd combination, I never considered kiwi as a flavour for a soft drink- but it’s nice, refreshing and great served chilled on a hot day.
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought in the comments.
If you’re new to Degustabox, it’s a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money. On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £5.00 off of your first box (making it just £7.99!) by entering the code 6HZJ8 at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.
Somewhere between the haze of getting home from our holiday and going back to work, the June 2019 Degustabox* arrived. This box genuinely excited me; there were products in there I’d heard of and wanted to try, as well as some new but interesting looking ones and I wasted no time in getting stuck in.
The brightly packaged “Mavericks” snacks are marketed as healthier snack for kids. There are no kids in this house, but I’m always on the lookout for healthy snack options and these fitted the bill nicely. The little strawberry cookies were especially good- fruity little biscuits that reminded me of shortbread. Yum! You’ll find these sold at Sainsburys. Bob has slightly more mature tastebuds than I do and he enjoyed the SavourSmiths Rosemary and Truffle crisps- a very luxurious snacking experience. There was also a mystery product in the box “lentil, corn, pea and black bean tortillas”. I have no idea who makes these but they need to become mainstream. These are right up my street and totally addictive.
Whilst I don’t have any dietary restrictions myself, it’s nice to see the free-from market expand as much as it had. The Free From Kitchen Co chocolate bars are perfect for all sorts of allergies and intolerances, the salted caramel one is excellent- and I’m not usually a fan of that flavour.
I’m a long time fan of Trek products so I’m always delighted to see something new from them. The dark chocolate and sea salt protein nut bars are a wholesome and substantial snack boasting 10g of plant-based protein, less than 5g of sugar and a hefty whack of fibre. I highly recommend these if you are looking for a filling but nutritious snack on the go.
Sweets! Randoms are a long time favourite in this house (although I haven’t forgiven the brand for discontinuing tooty frooties!) There’s not much I can say about these that hasn’t been said before- delicious! There were also a couple of gummies from Smith & Sinclair- gin & tonic and mandarin fizz. These are a massive luxury at £15.00 for 8 but contain 8% alcohol and are really rather yummy (but eat five and you’re no longer legal to drive). Another brand I am a big fan of is Garbanzo. I’ve been munching their flavoured roasted chickpeas for years so was beyond excited to see some new, luxury flavours in their range. These sharing bags are perfect for social gatherings as an alternative to nuts, and each flavour is equally delicious as well as incredibly healthy. The June box had a BBQ theme and these products were the perfect match. We actually took them to a BBQ the weekend after the box arrived and both the salad dressing from Newman’s Own and the Chilli Mayonnaise (flavoured with Tabasco) went down a storm.
I was only brave enough to try one of the three drinks in this month’s box and that was the Watermelon and Strawberry Cooler from Lucozade. This is a fresh summery twist from a classic brand, and whilst I’m not a fan of sugary drinks as a rule, this was nice. The other drinks included were DRGN Tumeric Superdrink inspired by the Far East, and Kolibri Botanical Drink which has a curious two part design. Both of these were far too sophisticated for my tastes- if anyone has tried them I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought in the comments.
If you’re new to Degustabox, it’s a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money. On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £5.00 off of your first box (making it just £7.99!) by entering the code 6HZJ8 at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.
Looking at this photo I have convinced myself I have missed something, but I couldn’t tell you what…anyway, as per last month this is another short and sweet recap of this foodie subscription box, I haven’t had as much time to try everything as I would like due to going on holiday on Friday and still having what seems like an impossible amount to do.
This month’s box had a brunch/afternoon tea theme and contained some fantastic products…
Splenda Sweet Minis; I am a sweetener user and Splenda is one of my go-to brands. This dinky little dispenser is perfect for on the go (I keep one on my desk at work) and is available in all major supermarkets for around £1.50.
These are one of Bob’s all time favourite treats, and I’m quite partial to them too. A crunchy waffle with delicious caramel inside- a Dutch institution for a reason. If you’re yet to try them, I 100% recommend Daelmans’ brand.
I’m always on the lookout for healthier snacks, and whilst aimed at kids I love the fun packaging of the Fruity Beauties bar. High in fibre and and easy 1 of your 5 a day, these are tasty enough to feel more of a treat than a healthier option.
I love tea and I love adding to my stash. This was the product of the month this month. I love the flavour of apricot in everything and this is light and refreshing. It’s ideal for work as it tastes as good cold as it does hot- and getting a piping hot drink at your desk is a rarity. Available on the Oteas website.I was most intrigued by these Seaweed puffs from Shore. These crunchy sea salt & balsamic snacks are dangerously more-ish and I wish they were more widely available. Indie Bay pretzel bits have become a regular in my cupboard, again, a bit addictive! Both of these snacks have less than 100 calories per pack and boast way more benefits than a packet of crisps.
Milkybar mixups are new to the market and are the first new product from Nestle I’ve been vaguely excited about in a while. Milk and white chocolate all jumbled up in a handy snack sized bag (also in sharing pouches), these aren’t groundbreaking by any means, but they’re still good! For those avoiding sugar I highly recommend these midget gems from Bravura Food. They are also vegan and gluten free so a great all rounder. I’d love to try more from this brand.
Gin Cornichons? I didn’t even know what a Cornichon was! Turns out it’s a mini gherkin and these ones are infused with gin. I haven’t had a chance to try these yet, but I am mighty curious and will be sure to report back. Likewise I haven’t tried the vegan mayo from heinz- we’re not mayo lovers in this house, but it seems like a great addition to the brand’s range. I’d be curious to hear thoughts from those who have tried it.
Drinks! Firefly Drinks lemon, lime and ginger and a Laura sized bottle of prosecco, fantastic! I’m yet to crack in to either, I think I’ll save the fizz for post holiday blues, and the firefly drinks for when I’m in dire need of some goodness. I just love this brand’s packaging.
I’ve used Koko brand coconut milk for years off an on in porridge. This super milk is enriched with 9 vitamins and minerals making it an excellent replacement for full fat milk- therefor making it ideal for kids and adults alike. I haven’t tried this yet as I didn’t want to open it so close to holiday and end up wasting some, but I am excited to try it.
Finally we have another ketchup from the Real Good brand. I’ve tried their no added sugar regular ketchup before (and approved) and this smokey BBQ flavour it another hit. I like this as a dip for sweet potato fries, but I think it’d also make an ideal marinade and is perfect for setting out at a BBQ.
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought in the comments.
If you’re new to Degustabox, it’s a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money. On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £5.00 off of your first box (making it just £7.99!) by entering the code 6HZJ8 at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.
