February 2020 Degustabox review : Easter is Coming !

Last week was the long-awaited half-term holiday, but the weather wasn't great, with wind and rain keeping us in the house more than we'd have liked. This meant that the kids were frequently getting bored and arriving in the kitchen, on the hunt for snacks. Needless to say, they were over the moon when the postman dropped off the latest Degustabox at the beginning of last week.

They were even more excited when they learnt what this month's theme was : Easter Is Coming ! "Ooh, is there lots of chocolate inside ?!", they excitedly cried. Well, there was only one way to find out ! This month's box is an alcohol-free box, so all subscribers received the same products (although as a Degustablogger, I may have received additional products to try the different flavours).

The kids immediately grabbed the bars of Galaxy Vegan Chocolate (RRP £3 - Degustabox subscribers received one bar, not all three). This new addition to the Galaxy range builds on the brand's mission to encourage everyone to Choose Pleasure, using a vegan recipe with hazelnut paste to create the same smooth and creamy signature characteristics of their chocolate. It comes in three varieties, Caramel & Sea Salt, Caramelised Hazelnut and Smooth Orange, all of which were greeted with appreciative moans of pleasure. Galaxy are the first major milk chocolate brand to create a vegan alternative and I'd say it's a great success.

Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard (RRP £1.50) is a great French classic, made in the traditional way since 1777. It has a white wine base which helps bring a smooth and delicious flavour, perfect for adding a kick to everything from a ham sandwich to a pork casserole or stir fry. Add some ooh là là to your meal in seconds !

Heinz No Added Sugar Pasta Shapes (RRP 2 x 55p) were a blast from the past as I always used to buy cans of this for the Madhouse kids in their younger years. These tins feature the characters of kiddie favourites Disney's Frozen and Paw Patrol in a rich tomato sauce that even counts towards their five-a-day. The no added sugar recipe got a thumbs up from the kids.

Jacked Foods have two of their products in the box (subscribers received one or the other) : Ndizi Chunks or Jackfruit Chunks (RRP £1.89). Ndizi Chunks are 100% natural dried banana and were unanimously declared delicious. We weren't so sure about the jackfruit - I was convinced it was the smelly fruit but it turns out that that's the durian ! Jackfruit is, in fact, soft, chewy, sweet and … well, rather similar to mango. We'd definitely eat it again, which is great news, as it's packed with vitamins and minerals. Available on Whole Foods, Borough Box (online) and John Lewis.

KitKat Milk Chocolate Easter Bunny (RRP 2 x 65p) is the perfect snack-sized nibble to keep the kids (and the grown-ups !) happy over the Easter period. The cute, rabbit-shaped milk chocolate shell is filled with a rich chocolatey centre with crispy wafer pieces. They're cute, they're tasty and they contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. They're also gluten-free.

Lost Coast Fruit Spritzer + ACV (RRP £2.49) is a range of fruity, revitalising drinks that blend sparkling water, unique botanicals and Apple Cider Vinegar, which is a natural remedy, good for the gut and known for its health-giving properties. They are low in sugar and calories and available in three fruity flavours - we got the Mango, Turmeric & Ginger one. Well, we tried it but we weren't keen. While the fruity flavour got a vote of approval, we weren't keen on the taste of the apple cider vinegar coming through. 

Livia's Salted Caramel Squares (RRP £1.50) offer a trio of snacks that can be enjoyed by pretty much anyone, as they are vegan, gluten and dairy-free. They are made of gooey date caramel squidged between a layer of raw dark chocolate and an oaty base. Sophie munched on these and declared them delicious.

My Sweet Chickpea Coconut & Dark Chocolate Roasted Chickpeas (RRP £1.25) are a vegan and gluten free snack that taste much better than they sound. Sophie loved them and gobbled her way through the whole pack in one sitting ! Made with all natural ingredients, they contain high levels of protein and fibre to help fill you up and significantly less fat than chocolate or nuts. Available in the ASDA Free From aisle and on amazon.co.uk.

There was a voucher in the box for a Shaken Udder Milkshake (RRP £1.40), which I haven't picked up yet, but we have had these before and loved them. They are made with real fruit or Belgian chocolate and fresh British milk, contain no artificial colours or flavours and are gluten free and suitable for vegetarians. They also contain less than 5% added sugar.

TREK Cocoa Oat Protein Flapjacks (RRP £2.50) are a great option as a quick snack or breakfast on the go. They are made with gluten-free oats and topped with melted dark cocoa, so they have a lovely chocolatey flavour. They are suitable for vegans and contain 9g of plant-based protein. Available in major supermarkets, either in the Free From or Cereal Bar aisle.

Very Lazy Slow Cooking Paste Pots (RRP 2 x £1.99) are a great short-cut to a delicious dinner. I got both flavours but subscribers received either Harissa Tagine or Smoky Spanish Stew. Each flavour has two recipes (one meaty, one vegetarian) and required only a handful of ingredients and very little prep If you haven't got a slow cooker, they also work in the oven. As a busy working mum, I love these and I'll definitely be looking out to see if there are other flavours available

 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.