The weather is definitely changing and I get the distinct feeling that, after all the snow and ice just a couple of weeks ago, spring is on the way. The weather is warming up, the sun is putting in an appearance ... bring it on, I say ! Especially if lockdown is drawing to an end - phew ! For the final few weeks (fingers crossed !) though, the latest Degustabox is perfect for seeing us through, as its theme is Home Comforts. Ooh, I predict lots of sweet treats and things to make us go hmmm ! Let's see what was in this month's box.
The first thing I pulled out of the box was a jar of Hartley's Strawberry Jam (RRP £1.59). I was initially intrigued as it just says strawberry, not strawberry jam, so I was wondering if they'd done something weird and wonderful with it, but no, this is just the classic and utterly delicious strawberry jam that we all know and love. Delicious on a slice of toast, as a filling for a sponge cake or in some sticky jam tarts. An oldie but definitely a goodie !
BelVita Soft Bakes (RRP 3 x 60p per single) come in two flavours, Choc Chip and Blueberry, both of which are very tasty. They are made from five wholegrains - wheat, oats, barley, spelt and buckwheat or rye and are a source of fibre, calcium, magnesium and iron. The kids love these as a mid-afternoon snack.
Boka Cereal Bars (RRP 2 x 75p or £2 for a multipack of 4) are tasty cereal bars, in Caramel or Choco Mallow flavours. The kids loved the sweet-inspired flavours and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the bars are low in sugar. Boka's mission is to bridge the gap between healthy and delicious with portable, affordable and satisfying bars. The front of pack traffic lights have four green lights, which means low fats, low sugar and low salt, but they still taste great. Win-win ! They're available at Sainsbury's and on Amazon.
Bounce Almond Plant Protein Ball (RRP £1.69) is a vegan-friendly option for those looking for a healthy snack. The brand has recently relaunched with a range of nut butter-filled, protein packed energy balls that are high in fibre and protein, gluten-free and less than 160 calories. I found this very tasty but quite pricey. Perfect as a special treat pre or post workout though. Available at Waitrose, Holland & Barrett, BP and WHSmith stores.
Eloments Organic Ceylon Breakfast Vitamin Tea (RRP £3.99) is a single origin, full-bodied black tea sourced from organic, family-owned farms in the Sri Lankan highlands. Each tea bag (you get 14 in the box) also contains 9 essential vitamins, including B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, vitamin C and zinc, all derived from nutrient rich herbs, fruits and botanicals. As well as being 100% natural, it is certified organic and Fairtrade. I don't drink tea so I'll be passing this on to a friend. Available at Holland & Barrett and Ocado Online.
Hilltop Everyday Blossom Honey (RRP 2 x 75p) is a simple, pure and natural honey, with nothing added and nothing taken away. It is specially crafted to be consistent in taste, colour and aroma. Lovely drizzled on toast or porridge but it can also be used in cookies, cakes and even sweet & sour sauces or stir fries. Available at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Ocado, Waitrose and Iceland.
Jaffa Cakes (RRP 2 x £1.20) are this month's Product of the Month and it's well deserved as they got the biggest oooh when we unpacked the box ! We love Jaffa Cakes and will happily munch through a box of the classic orange flavoured ones, but these ones have a brand new Passion Fruit or Cherry flavour. Sandwiched between a layer of sponge and a coating of dark chocolate, they are deliciously zesty and fruity. The Cherry ones are my favourite but they're both definitely worth a try ! Available in all major supermarket chains.
Very Lazy Chopped Red Chillies (RRP £1.50) are a great time-saver, to keep in the fridge and add to chilli, soup, stir fries and whatever else needs a little kick. If cooking a meal for the family, they are great for spicing up the finished dish once the kids have been served. A teaspoon is given as the suggested serving size, but I'd start off with a half (or even a quarter if you're not keen on spicy food) and see how it goes ! It's a great way of cutting down on food waste too as there are always leftover chillies when buying them fresh. Available in all major supermarket chains.
Knorr Vegetable Stock Pots and Beef Stock Pots (RRP 2 x 95p) are great for adding a depth of flavour to soups, casseroles and stews, or just for perking up leftovers. Knorr are on a mission to get us eating more vegetable based dishes, as they're often better for us, as well as the planet, and these are perfect for adding extra flavour to whatever you're cooking. Just fling them in the pot and they will melt effortlessly - you can avoid the stinky fingers you get after crumbling traditional stock cubes, yay !
Lost The Pot Noodle (RRP 2 x 80p) are instant noodles in a sachet. Although I realised that the name referred to the lack of plastic pot, I didn't twig that they are actually from the Pot Noodle brand - aha, it makes sense now! I haven't touched Pot Noodles since I was a student almost thirty years ago and, I will admit, I was somewhat sceptical, but they're not bad. They come in three flavours - Roast Chicken and Sweet Chilli in the Degustabox and there is also Curry - so you could just eat them with the seasoning sachet, but I added vegetables and chicken to make a proper stir fry meal. Each pack contains two servings, making them a good option for a cheap meal to share.
Milky Bar Cookies & Cream (RRP £1.59) is a creamy, crunchy bag of deliciousness to share - it took me right back to my childhood, which is when I think I ate my last Milky Bar ! Chocolate cookie pieces are covered in the sweet, creamy, smooth white chocolate. It tastes delicious and contains no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Yum !
Koko Original Milk (RRP £1.50) is a fresh, light alternative to cows' milk, suitable for adding to tea, coffee, cereal, smoothies or even in baking. Sophie, who is dairy intolerant, has already tried it and liked it. It is a family-owned company and the coconuts are picked by hand and freshly pressed on the plantation.
This was a really popular box in our house, particularly as it contained lots of chocolate bars and snacks (!), but I also loved the fact that it was full of unknown products from well-loved brands. There are definitely things that we will be buying again. (Jaffa Cakes and Milky Bar Cookies & Cream have been requested !)
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 £9.99 - 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.
