Category Archives: review

The March Degustabox- Hello Spring*

05th April 2020
Box gifted by Degustabox
This is a PR box, this means there will sometimes be additional flavours or products than you’d get as a subscriber, I will highlight this within my post.

In amidst all of the craziness in the Supermakets, never has a delivery of food- treats especially, been more welcomed! The March Degustabox had a theme of “hello spring” and Bob and I wasted absolutely no time at all in getting stuck in.

We’re both big savoury snackers and loved these Flamin’ Hot and Sizzling Steak wotsits. These are flavours I remember well from my youth, and the nostalgia was a welcome break from everything. We both definitely favoured the Flamin’ Hot, but made short work of both packs. RRP £1 from major supermarkets.
(Now, bring back Prawn Cocktail!)
These roasted broad beans from Nudie Snacks were right up my street as I love anything like this. They are quite price, £1.59 per back, but delicious and a great stop-gap for hunger between meals thanks to their protein content. I’d love to see these in other flavours too, although my bank balance disagrees. Available in Asda, Holland and Barrett, Wholefood Markets, Amazon and at www.nudiesnacks.co.uk
I’ve already become addicted to these Smarties Buttons, ever since they first hit shelves a month or two ago. Milk or White chocolate studded with smarties- what’s not to love? I enjoyed both flavours but white had the edge for me. £1.59 per pack from major supermarkets- subscribers will get 1 of 2 flavours in their box.
I literally saw the colour drain from Bob’s face when I showed him this. He is not a marmite fan in the slightest. I however cannot get enough of the stuff, and whilst I was a bit scared of this peanut butter curiosity got the better of me…
My verdict? I prefer just marmite, or just peanut butter (neither flavour is quite strong enough here) but there is something about this that works. I don’t think I’d rush out to buy it again but it is oddly tasty on toast. £2.50 per jar from major supermarkets.
The testing of both of these drinks fell to my financé as it’s more his niche than mine. The oat milk galaxy milkshake £1.50 (at Asda, Sainsburys, Morrisons and convenience stores) wasn’t rated as “good, but not really my thing but I can see other people loving it”.
The reduced sugar hot chocolate was a big hit though, he said he really couldn’t taste a difference between this and his normal Cadburys hot chocolate and would happily continue to buy this and try and help reduce his sugar intake. £2.49 from Asda, Tesco and Sainsburys.
We haven’t actually tested any of these drinks as we just ran out of time but they all look grand!
The beer with Elderflower is awaiting a sunny day (maybe even today) whilst the tonic from Merchant’s Heart we know is good as we regularly buy it. The Highball alcohol free pink g&t is part of a range of six alcohol free drinks from Highball, available online at www.highballcocktails.com and cost £1.99. Seedlip is a non-alcoholic spirit which is said to replace gin. I meant to try this at the weekend but fell in to the real gin trap instead (it’s been a week!). I’ll be giving this a whirl shortly and will feed back my thoughts.
These stock pots from Knorr are great! Perfect for adding tonnes of flavour to vegetarian dishes, I’ve already made the lentil bolognese, and look forward to trying something with the kaffir lime and ginger pot. £0.95 per two pack, these are a must for veggies and those looking to reduce their meat consumption without compromising on flavour. Available at Morrisons and Tesco, we’ll always be keeping these on hand.
We both eat a lot of instant noodles, they are perfect desk friendly lunches and Naked Noodle is a company we know we can rely on for a delicious mid-day meal. The Singapore Curry noodles are really quite good, aromatic with a good punch of garlic (not the most desk friendly, sorry colleagues). This flavour will be re-purchased without a doubt- £1.20 from major supermarkets.
The whole country has gone baking mad right now and I haven’t been able to get flour anywhere so getting this Homepride superior sponge flour felt like the biggest treat of all. Basically it’s pre-sieved and ultra fine, so perfect for the most delicate of bakes. I haven’t decided what to make with it yet, but you’ll see the results on social media once I do. £2 from Tesco- if you can find it!

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.

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Degustabox February 2020*

09th March 2020
Box gifted by Degustabox
This is a PR box, this means there will sometimes be additional flavours or products than you’d get as a subscriber, I will highlight this within my post.

The February edition of Degustabox had the theme of “Easter is Coming”, and whilst it wasn’t packed full of Easter treats, there was a great balance of products that landed this box firmly within my top five boxes to date. I’m a bit later in the month writing my post this time, which means I’ve had more chance to give everything a good tasting, so read on for my thoughts.

The one product I didn’t love was this Lost Coast Fruit Spritzer with Apple Cider Vinegar. I tried it, I didn’t hate it, but this kind of drink just isn’t for me. Subscribers will get one of three flavours in their box.

Mug shots are a hot favourite in my office when it comes to quick and convenient lunches. I really rate this high protein roast chicken pasta, both for it’s flavour and nutritional benefits as well as for it’s self contained packaging. Come lunch time you can never find a mug in the communal kitchen so having something like this is ideal. £1.29 from Tesco and Asda.
Bob and I love our slow cooker and these little pots packed with flavour are perfect for creating something tasty. Each pack has one meat and one veggie recipe with them and require very little prep. We haven’t tried these yet, we can’t decide which to do, but we’re excited to create something delicious. Subscribers will get one of the two flavours in their box and these sell for £1.99 at Tesco.
Inside this month’s box was a voucher to pick up a Shaken Udder milkshake. Every subscriber will find one of these fully redeemable vouchers in their box (as chilled products can’t be safely sent) and let me tell you, you’re in for a treat. With six flavours to choose from it’ll be tough to pick…Bob and I went vanilla which was anything but boring. Highly recommend. Widely available for £1.40 at supermarkets.
Jacked is a new brand to me and one that certainly made an impression. The Ndizi banana chunks were amazing…as for the Jackfruit, well I had NO idea what to expect from dried Jackfruit and I still don’t fully understand it. It’s reminiscent of mango and oddly addictive to eat. Subscribers will get Jackfruit only, and if you’re curious to try it you can find it for £1.89 from Whole Foods and John Lewis.
I’m a child at heart and spaghetti shapes on toast is one of my favourite weekend lunches. These little tins from Heinz have no added sugar but don’t compromise on taste. Subscribers will get two cans in their box and they are available for around 55p a tin from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Ocado.

I’m not sure what mustard has to do with anything but hey, I like mustard and I really like this punch Dijon from Grey Poupon. Perfect for a sandwich, or wherever you want to add it, you’ll find this at Waitrose, Tesco, Ocado, M&S and Boots for around £1.50.
Easter chocolate, yay! I love these new KitKat Easter Bunnies. I love KitKats so much and these are a great addition to the seasonal lineup. Chunky chocolate with wafer pieces- these almost remind me of winning the KitKat lottery and finding a solid chocolate finger. 65p each from all major supermarkets.
There are so many amazing sounding vegan treats on the market these days, and these Livia’s Million Squares have been catching my eye for a while. Whilst you can tell these aren’t a traditional Millionaires Slice they are delicious, thick, gooey and indulgent whilst being fully vegan, gluten and dairy free! £1.50 per pack from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Boots, Ocado, Waitrose, Holland and Barrett to name but a few.
Another vegan and gluten free treat in this month’s box were these cocoa oat flapjacks from Trek. This brand has been a mainstay in my life for years now and I genuinely love everything they do. This is their top selling flavour in the protein flapjack range (although not my personal favourite). Well worth checking out for a substantial but healthier snack. £2.50 for three bars at major supermarket chains.
Dark chocolate roasted chickpeas with coconut? I don’t know how or why this works, but it does! These truly have to be tasted to be believed and you’ll find them in Asda or on Amazon for around £1.25 a bag- seriously, oddly great.
Last but by no means least comes the new vegan chocolate range from Galaxy. Subscribers will get one of the three flavours in their box. I really liked this, although be under no illusions that this tastes like ordinary galaxy. It’s still smooth and creamy in it’s own way, and a great addition to the vegan snack market. My favourite was the caramelised hazelnut- my only complaint is the price at £3 per bar. Available at Tesco, Ocado and Amazon.

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.

Posted in food, review, snacking

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Degustabox January 2020*

07th February 2020
Box gifted by Degustabox
This is a PR box, this means there will sometimes be additional flavours or products than you’d get as a subscriber, I will highlight this within my post.

The first Degustabox of 2020 had a theme of “breakfast and on the go”. I love breakfast (best meal of the day!) and I am always looking for new foods to take in to work with me so this box sounded ideal for me and I wasted no time in getting stuck in.

These Almond Lattes were the product of the month. At £2.98 for six they are a much cheaper alternative to a takeaway coffee for the commute in to work, and pretty delicious. I only really like milky coffee when made with almond or soya milk so I loved these. Currently available at Tesco and Ocado- soon to be available at other leading supermarkets as well.
I’ve bought this Whitworths shots in various flavours before and really rate them as a healthy snack to chuck in your handbag. The berry and white chocolate is definitely a new favourite, I love the contrast of flavours. Available in major supermarket chains (and I’ve spotted them in poundland as well).
The KitKat Chunky More and Yorkie More are touted as a healthier alternative to a standard chocolate bar, with 30% less sugar and boasting protein and fibre. I don’t usually like fruit and chocolate combined but it does work for these bars. If I had to pick, personally I’d say the Yorkie had the edge, but I would eat both again. £1.29 per bar.
*Subscribers will get 1 of 2 products in their box*
Sun-Pat is my go to peanut butter brand. It’s reliable, delicious and affordable. It also happens to make the best peanut butter cookies (I use this recipe). Available in all major supermarkets.
I’m not a big fan of honey but I loved this Kallo honey, rice and corn cakes. A great snack (try with some peanut butter on!) and a good alternative to biscuits if you’re looking for a healthy sweet treat. I demolished this pack so fast, I’m hoping my local Waitrose start stocking them soon- also available in Sainsburys and health food shops.
I didn’t actually try this Wholesums fresh veg popped chips as Bob took them to work with him and he’s currently in Budapest so I can’t grab his thoughts. They look so good though, I generally love this kind of snack. Subscribers will get 1 of 4 flavours- I’d love to know your thoughts if you’ve tried any of them, I’ll be seeking this out in Sainsbury’s ASAP.
These PrepCo pots are great for work. Subscribers will receive 1 of 4 flavours in their box- I was sent 2 but only actually got to try the couscous as the thai green curry rice and quinoa was damaged in transit. I really liked the couscous though and would pick up the other varieties to try if I found them as they are a perfect desk lunch. They also count as one of your five a day. £2 each from Sainsbury’s and Ocado.
More snacks! Both of these are great for on the go. The Bounce peanut ball is a delicious little powerhouse of a snack, packed with flavour and 13g of protein, it really does put a spring in your step- a little pricey at £1.79 but a good healthy option.
Eat Natural is a long time favourite brand of mine and this new vegan bar is a great addition to the range. These cost £1 and the combination of peanuts, coconut and chocolate is a winning one.

Porridge pots are my emergency breakfast of choice. The SuperGut pots from Chescots contain half of your daily fibre (over 3 x the content of other porridge pots). The Blackcurrant one wasn’t to my taste but the raspberry and chia was a great start to a dreary day. Subscribers will receive one flavour and you can find this in Ocado and on Amazon for £1.99 each.
I’m not a fruit juice drinker but Bob always rates products from Crafted. These are all natural drinks with no added sugar or sweeteners. They count as one of your five a day and are certified vegan. Available in all major supermarket chains with an RRP of £1.50
Finally we have vegan basil pesto from Zest. I’m not sure how this fits with breakfast, or on the go (makes a mean packed lunch pasta I guess) but it tastes good! £2.20 per jar from Ocado, Amazon, Morrisons and independent health food retailers across the country.

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.


Posted in food, review

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The November Degustabox*

05th December 2019
Box gifted by Degustabox
This is a PR box, this means there will sometimes be additional flavours or products than you’d get as a subscriber, I will highlight this within my post.

Another month and another cracking Degustabox delivery, as with last month there wasn’t a single product I didn’t enjoy and I wasted no time in getting stuck in.

Pure Leaf matcha teas are great, I love how they look and how they taste and they are doing wonders for helping my reduce my caffeine intake! The ginger flavour is especially good right now as it’s like a hug in a mug. Subscribers will receive one of three varieties in their box.
I love this kind of snack, being the serial grazer that I am. Both verities of Real Handful trail mix are super yummy, and makes me feel virtuous even if the only hiking I ever do is the occasional walk to work! Subscribers will get either strawberry stomp OR blackcurrant blast. Both are delicious and I’ll be grabbing some more next time I am at Tesco.
I’ve been drinking rather a lot of gin lately, and have had a lot of fun trying out new mixer/spirit combinations. Double Dutch are a new brand on me- I really liked the cranberry and ginger for a festive feel. Subscribers will receive both flavours.
Peanut butter puffs sound like they might be disgusting, but trust me, they aren’t. They are vegan and gluten free, a nice and healthy(er) alternative to crisps and so far come in original or chilli flavour. I eagerly await the launch of banana, although my head keeps expecting something 100% savoury when I eat these.
How great is this packaging? Simple, eye catching and very modern. Peanut butter and dark chocolate is such a winning combination in my book, and these bars are yum! They also donate 1% of their turnover to charity and contain lots of tasty nutrients.
Subscribers will receive one of three flavours in their box, the others being peanut butter and coconut/peanut butter, raisin and dark chocolate.
I don’t have much information on these Food Thoughts cacao melts but I can tell you I can’t wait to use them in some baking I’m doing next week…watch this space!

It took me a LONG time to appreciate marmalade, but now I enjoy it a lot, specifically on white toast with lots of butter. It’s good to see a prestigious brand like Duerr’s do a reduced sugar variant of the classic (and superior) spread. Less sugar without any compromise on taste.
Subscribers will either get the half sugar variety OR fine cut Seville orange marmalade.
This is literally a dairy-free nutella milkshake! Made with creamy coconut milk, both vegans and non vegans alike will enjoy this for sure. Out of curiosity I tried it heated up too…I recommend it. Highly.

Bob and I eat a lot of instant noodles for work lunches and both agree that Mr Lees are superior, both for their taste and the fact they have no hidden nasties. Subscribers will get either Coconut Chicken Laksa (Bob’s favourite) OR Zen Garden Vegetables (my pick) in their box.

This is an interesting little drink and I don’t really know how to describe it. It’s a low alcohol beverage which will be available in Fortnum and Mason from January. Made from berries, botanicals and cocoa it has 1% ABV and really needs to be tried to truly understand it.

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.

Posted in food, review

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The Other Bar*

27th November 2019
“The Other Bar is an experiment in Radical Equality, designed to take a bite out of poverty through the simple act of buying a chocolate bar.”

Experimental chocolate? My curiosity was sky high the second I saw a message from The Other Bar in my instagram messages.
Now, the chocolate itself isn’t experimental (more on that later) but the concept and ethos of this brand certainly is…

Backed by the UNDP and FairChain Foundation, when you buy a bar of chocolate from The Other Bar you’ll find a QR code token, scan that and you’ve just helped a farmer buy a cocoa tree. Each token is worth a quarter of a tree, so four tokens/bars of chocolate and you’ve bought a whole tree- what better excuse to buy and eat chocolate?

One tree can produce £19 worth of cocoa for a farmer, and unlike many brands where the farmer only gets 3% of the value of the cocoa, The Other Bar ensures farmers are paid prices that meet real income needs.

“We believe in a living income and a sustainable future for cocoa farmers. That’s why we give you the choice to spend your token on a cocoa tree.The Other Bar is produced in Ecuador at an independently-owned factory. By making the chocolate at source, we can increase the experiment’s impact.
Higher wages for farmers, more trees for the planet, more jobs, training, skills and opportunities for people. That’s radical equality in action.You don’t have to take our word for it, spend your token and see exactly how much the farmer was paid for the cocoa in your bar, and the exact GPS location of the cocoa tree that your token buys.”

Sounds good so far right? But how does the chocolate taste?

In a word…AMAZING! This is truly excellent chocolate, it really is. I’m not a massive fan of milk chocolate these days but this was delicious and the bar barely touched the sides (although I did have to share). The dark chocolate was all mine, and whilst I was able to ration this a bit more sensibly (each pack contains two 50g bars) it still didn’t last long!

As an added bonus, each tree planted absorbs and stores carbon dioxide, helping combat climate change.

Each 100g bar costs £2.99 from the website, and you can also buy a pack of four for just over £12.

You can keep an eye on these guys over on their instagram page– give them a follow and get involved!


Posted in brands I love, food, review

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