The May Degustabox review : Afternoon Tea & Brunch

Another month is drawing to a close, which means that it was time for the postie to deliver a brand new Degustabox. This month's box has a theme that instantly appealed to us all - Afternoon Tea & Brunch. Ooh that definitely has potential ! This month's box had a lot of different glass products so there were various combinations sent out in subscriber boxes. As a blogger, I was lucky enough to receive extras, to show you all the different products available.

As soon as we started unpacking, we could tell that this is a great box, with loads of things that the Madhouse kids couldn't wait to try. Yummmm !

The kids immediately pounced on the bags of Nestlé Milkybar Mix Ups (RRP 2 x 65p), which are a mixture of white chocolate buttons with a cocoa filling and milk chocolate buttons with a milky filling. They're all delicious so, as Michael Jackson once sang, " if you're thinkin' of being my baby, it don't matter if you're black or white" !

Splenda Sucralose Sweet Mini's (RRP £1.50) are perfect if you're looking for a way to reduce calories. Each Sweet Mini has the same sweetness as a teaspoon of sugar but with zero calories. Perfect for popping into hot drinks.

Shore Seaweed Puffs (RRP £1.19) from The Scottish Seaweed Co. had us dipping dubitatively into the bag, but they're actually nicer than they sound ! We sampled the Sea Salt & Balsamic option, which I think works well with the "seaside" flavour from the seaweed, but I don't know how it combines with the other flavours. Seaweed is supposed to be super healthy so it's a good way of getting some hidden nutrients into your diet. Each bag comes in at under 100 calories too.

Daelmans Stroopwafels (RRP £1.29) are a delicious snack, with a cup of tea, coffee or just on their own. You get a tasty, crunchy waffle filled with a subtle caramel filling that is just perfect for when you need a little bit of indulgent me-time !

Oteas Black Tea & Apricot (RRP £3.75) is this month's Product of the Month. Infused with sweet and nutty apricots, this can be used to create a refreshing hot or cold drink. It uses high quality black tea, responsibly sourced apricot pieces and a fully biodegradable bag.

Free From Fellows Vegan Midget Gems (RRP £1.99) are another product that the kids pounced on ! The bag promises some "super delicious yumminess" and we were very impressed by the flavours. Looking closer at the pack, they are gelatine free, dairy free and gluten free, with no artificial colours or flavours, and also no egg, soy, GMO and nuts. Oh, and they're also sugar free. Quick, pass the bag over again so I can have another one !

On to a treat for the grown-ups : a mini bottle of La Gioiosa Prosecco Brut DOC Treviso. Savour the constant stream of fine bubbles tickling your tongue ... the clean,crisp taste of apples and pears, with a delicate hint of lemons and almonds. Delicious ! Prosecco can be enjoyed on its own or paired with fish or seafood. Otherwise, serve with some deliciously sweet summer strawberries and pretend you're at Wimbledon !

Hellmann's Vegan Mayo (RRP £2.15) was a pleasant surprise. Now, I have absolutely nothing against vegans, but I'm not one, and I did have a pre-conceived idea that vegan mayonnaise would be ... well, basically, horrible ! I dipped a spoon into the jar for a little taste, tried it, then went back for another ! It's thick and creamy and, if I hadn't seen the jar, I would never have realised it was vegan.

Fruity Beauties (RRP £1.50) are organic and fairtrade snack bars, on a mission to provide a fun and nutritious burst of life. High in fibre, they count towards your five-a-day and are also traceable from farm to fork (or fingers !). They taste lovely and they appealed equally to kids and adults.

Koko Dairy Free Super Milk (RRP £1.99) is a coconut-based milk, enriched with 9 key vitamins and minerals, to offer special boosted nutrition to everyone from toddlers to seniors. It provides more nutrients than any regular plant or dairy milk. It has a creamy, full-bodied taste and can be used as a full-fat milk replacement.

Firefly Lemon, Lime and Ginger (RRP £1.55) is one that I hid away to enjoy all by myself ! Firefly use still water, fruit juice and active botanicals to craft revitalising botanical drinks that are great for a relaxing moment of me-time in a busy day. They use nothing nasty - just naturally occurring sugars and no colours or preservatives - to create big flavours that are bound to put a smile on your face !

Everyone seems to have gone absolutely crazy about gin for the last year or so and Kuhne have jumped on the bandwagon with their Gin Cornichons and Whiskey Cornichons (RRP £2.59). The cute little extra-fine gherkins are refined with alcohol to give them some extra punch and it really works well. The gin provides fresh, citrussy top notes and the whiskey adds the honey vanilla notes of American Bourbon Whiskey. Both are lovely added to salads and sandwiches and will be perfect for accompanying barbecues and picnics this summer.

Indie Bay Snacks Spelt Pretzel Bites with Rock Salt (RRP £1) are a deliciously crispy, crunchy snack that the kids wolfed down in minutes ! The little balls are a great source of protein and fibre and each pack contains just under 100 calories. Perfect for keeping in your bag over the summer for snacks on the go as they won't melt !

And finally, Real Good Smokey BBQ Ketchup is another summer essential, perfect for putting on the table at barbecues. It contains 80% less salt and, as it is made without sugar, it is also suitable for diabetics. Its special flavour comes from naturally smoked Hickory and Oak water from Tennessee. Perfect in marinades and dips or just on the side of the plate !

This month's box was packed with money-off vouchers and recipes. Take your pick from Vegan BLT Sandwich, Cinnamon Latte, Rockie Road Bites, Breakfast Cookies, Turmeric Latte (Golden Milk), Real Good Sweet Potato Hash, Iced Oteas, ...

 A subscription to Degustabox costs £12.99 per month including delivery, with each box having a value of much more than that, but the great news is, I have a discount coupon code for you which means you'll get the first box for just £7.99 - enter code PKUFE at the checkout.

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Disclosure : We received the box in order to write an honest review. As a Degustabox blogger, I receive all of the products that go into the monthly boxes, but subscribers may not get exactly the same selection.