March Degustabox review : Hello Spring

Hands up if you're suffering from cabin fever and/or are having a nightmare right now trying to keep your cupboards full of food (and, dare I say it, treats) ! Since confinement and panic buying at the supermarkets seem to be the norm now, we were all even more excited to receive this month's Degustabox delivery. The first peek inside revealed crisps and the Cadbury's brand name and the kids were almost swooning in delight !

We laid everything out for a first look at the contents of this month's box and, while they were happily dribbling over the Smarties and Wotsits, I was getting ready to kiss Fred the flourman as I'd just run out of flour ! Perfect timing. it was actually really lovely to get a mystery box of food and discover lots of non-essentials that, I must admit, I wouldn't bother scanning the shelves for as I rush madly around grabbing the bare necessities. Here's what we discovered in this month's box.

  

With the kids at home all the time, we seem to be getting through an awful lot of sweets and chocolate. They were therefore very happy to see these products in the box !

Cadbury 30% Less Sugar Hot Chocolate (RRP £2.49) is only naturally sweetened and just needs to be stirred through hot milk. They suggest using three teaspoons of product per serving, so a tub should provide about fifteen mugs of chocolatey warmth and happiness. Very tasty. Available at Tesco, ASDA and Sainsbury's.

Galaxy Oat Drink (RRP £1.50) is a lovely dairy-free alternative to a chocolate milkshake, suitable for vegetarians and vegans. It has a rich, creamy taste, despite containing no added sugar. I passed this on to Sophie, as she's intolerant to dairy products, and she thought it was lovely. Available at Morrisons, Sainsbury's, ASDA and a wide range of convenience stores.

 

For those receiving the "Alcohol Free" box, Highball Pink G&T Alcohol Free Cocktail (RRP £1.99) is a tasty and healthier way to enjoy a cocktail, maybe if you're pregnant, breastfeeding or just want to avoid alcohol. They contain less than half of the calories of a standard cocktail and they are free from artificial ingredients, sweeteners and preservatives. They're also gluten-free and vegan-friendly. The complete Highball range includes six alcohol-free cocktails : G&T, Pink G&T, Cosmopolitan, Mojito, Italian Spritz and Ginger Dram.

For those receiving the "Alcohol Included" box, they found a Jubel Urban Elderflower Beer instead. This light-gold lager, naturally infused with elderflower essence, is a sociable 4% ABV and brewed to be vegan and gluten-free. Urban also won the UK's Best Botanical Beer in the 2018 World Beer Awards. Perfect for when the kids have been driving you crazy and you've just packed them off to bed !

Aaah ! This next one put a big smile on my face ! Homepride Superior Sponge Flour (RRP £2) is the newest member of the Homepride Flour family, perfect for making Victoria Sponges. I will definitely be trying one of those, but will I fill it with chocolate spread, the traditional strawberry jam (that I have currently run out of) or maybe some summer fruit? Hmm, we'll see ! I'll be making muffins and fairy cakes too, so I'll probably go for all of the above ! It's made from 100% British Wheat Flour and is available at Tesco.

Marmite Crunchy Peanut Butter (RRP £2.50) ... hmm, as soon as I saw the word Marmite, I was convinced I wouldn't like it ! "A new take on peanut butter, blended with tasty yeast extract, the perfect solution to mix up your breakfast. Whether you love or hate Marmite, you definitely need to give this a try! Rich in B vitamins, no added sugar* and no palm oil." OK, OK, I gave it a taste and ... well, I wouldn't say I hate it, definitely not as much as I hate Marmite, but it's not my favourite ! I'd use it up in cookies and muffins, where the sugar content will help balance out the Marmite. If you're a Marmite-lover, give it a go though !

Knorr Stock Pots (RRP 95p) are a new range of veggie-flavoured stock pots, perfect for adding depth of flavour to meat-free dishes (or helping create exotic meals from a bag of frozen veg, when you can't get your hands on meat at the supermarket !). Paprika & Sundried Tomato is great for pasta dishes, rice-stuffed peppers and risotto, amongst other things. Kaffir Lime & Ginger is great in fajitas (with veggies and rice, but also chicken) or with fish, salmon or prawns. They can be easily added direct to the dish or dissolved into 500ml of boiling water to create a stock.

Naked Noodle Singapore Curry (RRP £1.20) offers egg noodles in a Chinese curry sauce that are ready in just four minutes by adding boiling water. Aromatic curry spices are lifted by the distinctive flavours of Chinese five spice, while garlic and ginger add real body and depth, with a slight warmth from the chilli. Suitable for vegetarians, this is great as a snack (especially if you have teenagers in the house !) but this can also be used in a stir fry, with fresh vegetables and meat.

Nudie Snacks Roasted Broad Beans (RRP £1.59) are something that, at first glance, didn't sound that appealing to us, but what makes them rather lovely and very moreish is the Sour Cream & Chive flavour. Delicious ! We happily nibbled our way through the whole bag ! They are high in fibre and high in veggie protein which keeps those hunger pangs at bay, whether you are working up a sweat or just slobbing in front of the telly !

If you're looking for something different to drink to help pass the time, how about Seedlip Garden 108 (RRP £3 for 6cl) ? "The World's First Distilled Non-Alcoholic Spirits, solving the dilemma of 'What to drink when you're Not drinking'®. The fresh and floral Seedlip Garden 108 captures the essence of the English countryside with sophisticated top notes of peas and hay and a complex herbal character of spearmint, rosemary and thyme." Well, if we can't get out into the countryside to enjoy it, maybe drinking it is the answer ! Seedlip is sugar and sweetener free and has no artificial colours or flavours.

Merchant's Heart Floral Aromatics Tonic Water (RRP £1.30 - other subscribers received Pink Peppercorn) is one of a range of premium Spirit Enhancers, available in six distinctive flavours, ranging from a dry Hibiscus – suitable for premium gins, to a Ginger Ale – an ideal pairing for aged whisky. Co-created with world-leading bartenders, they are designed to allow the flavours of the spirit to shine through on the palate. I think these could be used for making interesting desserts too, maybe adding some to sorbets, icing or even cookies. I will be experimenting !

On to the final two products, that I had to wrestle out of the kids' hands ! Smarties Buttons (RRP £1.59) are, as the name suggests, chocolate buttons filled with colourful crunchy mini Smarties. Available in smooth milk or white chocolate, the choice is yours ! (As Degustabloggers, we were lucky enough to get both varieties - I love the white ones, while the kids prefer the milk chocolate ones.) I think these would be great for adding to the tops of Easter-themed cupcakes and muffins, but the kids just want to gobble them all up ! They are coloured using food and plant extracts, with no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives.

Baked Wotsits (RRP £1) in Flamin' Hot and Sizzling Steak varieties - two flavours that have been brought back by Walkers after a number of years away. I have discovered that these are a great way of putting a smile back on the kids' faces when confinement starts getting a bit much !  Whether you're a cruncher or a melter, these new delicious flavours are sure to be a family favourite.

 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. With all the current problems involving in trying to get your hands on some shopping, this would be a great time to sign up for a home delivery.

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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.