We're into July and there's no doubt about it ... summer's here and the time is right for dancing in the street ! (Yes, I do realise that you're probably all way too young and this reference to David Bowie and Mick Jagger has probably just gone straiiiiight over your head !) Well, maybe that's still a bit over-enthusiastic but there are more and more of us getting vaccinated and some of us (although I'm not brave enough yet !) are jetting off on our holidays. Happy days are here (hopefully !) so last month's Degustabox had the perfect summer-tastic theme : Picnic ! That's definitely something I can get on board with, heading out into the countryside (or maybe even the beach, but I don't like getting a mouthful of sand if it's windy !) for a nice family picnic.
My first discovery was this can of Caleño Light & Zesty Tropical Non-Alcoholic Spirit (RRP £2), which is great if you want something different to sip on as the sun goes down or as you picnic at the park with your friends. It is an enjoyable and intriguing blend of Inca berry, pineapple, papaya, coriander, juniper berry, green cardamom & lemon peel, twisted with naturally light tonic. It's a lovely tropical flavour with big hints of citrus fruits that will have you trying to figure out what else is in it ! Available at calenodrinks.com
Carrs Black Olive Melts (RRP £1.49) are a tasty snack that start off with a crisp crunch then melt into your mouth. They have black olives baked in so they are very tasty on their own but they are also perfect topped with cream cheese, ham, cheese or (one of my favourites) sun dried tomatoes. Perfect for nibbling in front of the telly or if you want to put together a light lunch.
Hellmann's Garlic & Herb Sauce (RRP £1.70) is one of the brand's best-selling flavours. It has a lovely tangy flavour that can be eaten in burgers, on salads, as a dip with veggie sticks or on the side of the plate with whatever you're eating. We love it drizzled over chips and I've also used it inside ham or cheese and salad sandwiches instead of butter or margarine, to add some extra zing. I've just spotted that it's great in jacket potatoes too, and I really fancy trying that now, along with some cheese. Mmmm!
McVitie's British Icons Chocolate Digestives (RRP £1.59) are this month's Product of the Month, so I had to nibble on a few more just to check they were as delicious as my first impressions suggested ! We got the Lemon Drizzle ones, other Degustaboxes contained Strawberry Cheesecake flavour, which sounds equally tempting. I have to admit, initially I was slightly unsure about combining lemon and chocolate, but the extra zing does work very well indeed. Yum !
Sun-Pat EXTRA Salted Caramel Crunchy Peanut Butter (RRP £3) delivers an extra hit of flavour with caramel coated peanuts and salted caramel flavour. It works very well and the jar is frequently pulled out of the cupboard for breakfast or snack-time. It is lovely on toast or in sandwiches, on pancakes, straight from the jar (the kids' favourite, it seems !) and I'm hopeful there will be some left to make cookies. Available at Tesco.
5 Seconds Kimchi Mix (RRP £1.20) is a brand new product coming soon to the UK. I tried a can of kimchi in a Korean-themed cooking box a few years ago and it was better than I expected, so I was keen to see how to make an instant version of this fermented vegetable dish. I always thought kimchi was based on cabbage, but there are apparently over 200 recipes using a variety of ingredients. The info card about this product says it can be used with any vegetables or fruits, or you could even use it to season popcorn, BBQ, French fries and fried chicken. It sounds really versatile so it's perfect for keeping in the kitchen cupboard and sprinkling on dishes that need a little oomph !
Nine Bars (RRP 2 x £1.29) are a range of bars that provide nine benefits, designed to look after your health and wellbeing. Sunflower, pumpkin, flax and hemp seeds are the nutritional force behind every bar and with at least 50% seeds in every single
flavour, it's a powerful delivery of health and deliciousness in equal measure. We got White Choc & Raspberry and Dark Choc, Pistachio & Brazil bars, both of which are as delicious as they sound, but there is also a Salted Caramel & Pecan bar which sounds great too. Available at Morrisons, Tesco, Ocado, Amazon and Holland & Barrett.
Deli Kitchen Carb Lite Wraps (RRP £1.40) are great for the summer, whether you're eating at home or opting for a picnic. Each wrap provides just 14.6g of carbohydrates, making them a guilt-free option if you're watching your waistline. They taste great, are lovely and soft and are very versatile. They are also vegan-friendly, provide a source of protein and
are high in fibre. Available in Tesco.
Play In Choc (RRP £1.69) tastes lovely so I wasn't surprised to see that it has won 18 awards since launching in 2018. It has more than just the taste going for it though. The packaging is plastic-free, 100% recyclable and zero waste, it's vegan friendly and the ingredients are all ethically sourced. It's dairy, nut and gluten-free too, plus it contains 1/3 less sugar than most chocolates. What's not to like ?!
Well & Truly Crunchies (RRP 2 x 80p) are a new snack to me and, reading the info about the brand, I instantly loved the sound of them : "We're a snacks brand on a mission to unjunk delicious snacks, taking all the nasties out whilst keeping that crave-worthy flavour that keeps you digging to the bottom of the bag. We've got 6 flavours, each of which have 40% less fat. All natural ingredients and are totally gluten free." Taste is important though and I'm pleased to say that they are utterly delicious ! We got Smokey Paprika and Really Cheesy flavours but other Degustaboxers got BBQ. They're available at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Ocado, Waitrose, Amazon, Wholefoods, Booths and online at www.wellandtruly.co.uk, where you can get 25% off your first order of all flavours (except bundles) using the code DB25.
The Coconut Collaborative Little Chocolate Pots (RRP £2.50) are perfect as a tasty dessert or mid-afternoon snack when you need a little moment of me-time ! Plant based, they are made using coconut milk and each pot only contains 100 calories. They're delicious straight from the fridge but apparently, they can also be used to make dairy-free hot chocolate.
This was a really popular box with the whole family. The kids loved tasting all the new snacks and I was pleased to discover several brands that would have passed me by, particularly as they are often healthier versions of things we often buy.
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.
hahaha! I am singing along to dancing in the street. lol
ReplyDeleteWhat a great selection of treats, perfect for snacking and picnics x