Over a month has passed us by and it’s time to bring you the next round of Degustabox reviews. The April box was full of exciting treats- the team have been on the ball lately and picked out some super products most of which I’d probably ignore if I saw them on the shelves as I’m very much a creature of habit. It’s always a joy to receive one of these boxes every month, I still get them delivered to my parents’ address so my Mum and I can stick with our tradition of opening them together…it’s the little things in life and something we really enjoy even if it does mean I sometimes have to share the goods!
The first product I pulled out of the box was these fruit strings by Bebeto (£1.99). These are an award winning product thanks to their innovative use of fruit juice and reduction in processed sugars. Suitable for vegetarians AND vegans these are probably targeted as kids but I’ve really been enjoying them myself and have a couple stashed in my handbag for a boost on the go.
This is the second time products from Parle have been included in the Degustabox and despite apparently being the largest selling biscuit brand in the world this is only the second time I have encountered them. The rusk biscuits were a revelation, enriched with cardamom and wonderfully crunchy I wasn’t expecting much from something that sounds so simple but they are dangerously addictive and really tasty! At 89p for a pack they are a bargain too! The little pack of biscuits (29p) are also really yummy and Parle is a brand I’ll be keeping a closer eye out for in the future.
I’ve been a big fan of Popchips ever since they first launched in the UK so I was excited to see some new flavours. I received the limited edition sea salt, garlic and rosemary flavour which taste amazing. I wasn’t convinced about rosemary as it isn’t my favourite herb but it works very well with the garlic and despite my intention to share this bag, it just didn’t happen and I found myself hiding it in my cupboard for purely selfish purposes. At £1.99 they aren’t cheap but a great healthy alternative for TV snacking or to serve with dips when entertaining.
CHOCOLATE! Who doesn’t love it? When I was younger I was obsessed with these smarties chocolate blocks- I fondly remember smaller size bars in both milk and white chocolate and I’m still not over their disappearance. I did actually surrender this bar to my Mum who is equally taken with this chocolate and I don’t think sharing even came in to it. Something new from Milkybar also provided great excitement from me as I just can’t resist the lure of creamy white chocolate. The Milk & Crunchy is a little snack sized bar in the shape of a cow with a crispy textured centre that provides a lovely contrast to the well known and loved creamy taste. A hit from me! (£1.00 for these and £1.99 for the Smarties block)
The drinks selection in the Degustabox is always the most hit and miss area for me due to being incredibly fussy about which liquids I’ll consume. As such I can’t claim to have tried all of the products included this month and have instead passed them on to willing volunteers. I did try the dry apple spritz from Thor though (£1.80 each) which was rather delicious- I love a dry apple drink and this would be perfect for tee-totallers at a party. I couldn’t face the apple/mint flavour but I’m sure if you like that kind of thing it’s lovely.
I know many people these days think artificial sweeteners are the devils’ work but I still use them and try not to think too much about it! Sugarly from Canderel (£3.00) is a new offering which is said to be the closest thing to sugar other than sugar itself. I wouldn’t disagree. This is the most sugar like sweetener I’ve tried both in terms of taste, and texture. I also found a little goes a long way, which with some products isn’t the case. It’s a hit from me!
These trays of rice from Veetee are such a cupboard staple for a quick and easy dinner. The wholegrain brown rice and quinoa tray was right up my street and was a lovely addition to a lunch time chicken salad. I gave the Levi Roots marinade (£1.00) to my dad to try out and as far as I’m aware he hasn’t yet, but I shall report back on that one.
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £6 off of your first box by entering the code BLDEG15 at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand one and off 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.
