School's out for the summer and we've been enjoying the sun (and hiding from it when it all got a bit too intense!), travelling (we had a fantastic fortnight in the Dominican Republic but getting over the jetlag was tough for a few days - eek !) and now we're catching up with family. It's almost like COVID never happened, with us all enjoying the sun mask-free, visiting new places and going to summertime events stress-free. Fingers crossed that that continues once the kids all go back to school. All that was missing was some tasty nibbles and drinks to keep our energy levels fuelled - enter the latest Degustabox !
This month's box has the theme Summer & Get Outdoors which sounds perfect. As I unwrapped the contents, I could see lots of new products from well-known brands and also some totally new brands that I'd never heard of that really appeal to me. Time to investigate !
Clif Bar White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Energy Bar (RRP £1.75) is a creamy bar, packed with 9g of plant-based protein, perfect for supplying energy for all your summertime excursions. The flavour of the roasted nuts really complements the creaminess of the white chocolate. Available at most supermarkets, sports retailers and health stores.
Heinz Plant Proteinz Thai Red Curry Soup with Beans & Chickpeas (RRP £1.50) is great for a quick lunch or snack when it's too hot to spend time in the kitchen preparing a big meal. Bursting with the goodness of plants and beans, it contains 15g of plant based protein. It is packed full of onions, carrots, red and green peppers, haricot beans, chickpeas and red curry paste. It tastes great, as well as being good for you and low in calories (204 calories per can). Perfect if you want to add more vegetables to your diet.
Hamadaya Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce (RRP £2.99) is a gourmet soy sauce, made from the best koji and a process involving immense time and effort. It comes from a company founded in 1818 and the same closely guarded, time-tested, two-century-old recipe is still used. It has a rich, deep flavour that is ideal for splashing into stir fries and drizzling over spring rolls. Available on Amazon and Japan Centre.
Shaken Udder Chocolush (RRP £1.75) is a rich, creamy milkshake made with real Belgian chocolate that gives it a delicious flavour. Each 330ml bottle provides 51% of your RI of calcium, as well as B12 for natural immunity support. It contains no artificial colours, flavours and preservatives and is gluten-free. The rich chocolatey taste is what the Madhouse kids preferred though.
Herdez Authentic Mexican Seasoning (RRP 2 x £1.19) instantly appealed to me. I love trying exotic cuisine and Mexican is a particular fave, as long as it's not too hot. I'd never heard of this brand but they have over 100 years of experience creating quality regional flavours. We got the Classic Tacos mix, made with cumin, garlic and Cayenne chilli peppers. We also got Yucatan which is a zingy citrus, garlic and coriander seasoning mix, perfect for tacos or fajitas. The zingy, bold flavours really give you the impression that you are sampling a taste of true Mexican flavours. Available in the majority of larger Tesco stores.
Mission Chargrilled Wraps (RRP £1.50) are perfect for summertime meals, whether you wrap them around barbecued meat or stuff them with roasted vegetables or salad and sauces. They're great with the Mexican meals using the seasoning sachets from the box too or just as a sandwich alternative, filled with ham and cheese with salad. They're soft and have a lovely smoky flavour coming through. They can be eaten cold straight from the pack but are apparently even tastier if you heat them briefly, in a dry pan, in the microwave or on a barbecue for the ultimate summer vibe ! Available in Sainsbury's, ASDA and Morrisons.
KP Salt & Vinegar Flavour Peanuts (RRP £3) are a product that intrigued me. I love peanuts and I like salt and vinegar crisps but would the two really work together? Well, yes, they do actually ! The salt and vinegar flavour is really strong and explodes in your mouth but then the peanut flavour comes through afterwards, so it's almost like a two-in-one snack experience. Each 30g pack provides 185 calories and is a source of protein and fibre. Even better - they won't melt in the summertime heat so they're great for stuffing in pockets and handbags for snacks on the go !
Mister Free'd Mango Chilli Tortilla Chips (RRP £1.99) are a new take on the well-loved snack, offering a mango chilli flavour for a sweet and spicy kick. This is great if you want to dig in without bothering with the usual guacamole, salsa and dips. The kids loved these and will definitely be buying them again. They are gluten-free, vegan-friendly and made using natural ingredients.
Polaretti Fruit Freeze Pops (RRP £1.50) have been munched in record time, given the record-busting temperatures. The freeze-at-home pops are made with real fruit juice and should be shaken before freezing - something I'd never thought to do before ! The kids loved all of the four flavours - strawberry, lemon, orange and sour cherry. Available in Asda and Aldi.
Pravha Lighter Tasting Pilsner (RRP £2 per 330ml bottle, £25.99 for a 24 pack) offers all the bold flavour of a high quality Prague-style pilsner, perfectly balanced with an unexpectedly light and refreshing taste. I'll be passing this one on to Sophie.
Rubicon Spring Sparkling Water drinks (RRP £1.29 each or £3.49 for a multipack) is a healthy, refreshing drink made from spring water mixed with fruit juice. We tried Orange-Mango and Black Cherry-Raspberry which are both very nice but kids may be put off by the fact that they are much less sweet than many fizzy drinks. The drinks are vegan, use water collected directly from its natural source and each can contains under 10 calories. Perfect for adults who want something fruity to enjoy on a hot day.
Skittles Squishy Cloudz (RRP 2 x £1) are a great new twist on one of my favourite sweets. The flavours are the same as regular Skittles but the Cloudz, as their name suggests, offer a soft and airy gummy texture sensation. I love the regular Fruits ones but the kids loved the Crazy Sours.
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.
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