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This month's Degustabox has arrived and as I unpacked the contents for the first-look photo, my immediate impression was that there are lots of brands that I was familiar with, sometimes from previous Degustaboxes but often from the supermarket shelves. As is often the case with Degustaboxes though, we get to try out new products from well-known brands, as well some brand new or (for me) untried brands, so I was keen to see what we'd think. Let's take a closer look at this month's selection !
My first pick from the box was Aqua Libra (RRP 2 x £1.15), a drink that we got to try out in a previous Degustabox. It is a sparkling water infused with natural fruit flavours and a dash of lemon. In the previous box, we received Blood Orange & Mango and Raspberry & Blackcurrant. In this box, we got Blood Orange & Mango again, alongside the summery, cooling Cucumber, Mint & Lime. There are no sugars, sweeteners or anything artificial in the drinks so they have a crisp, clean taste that would appeal to adults more than children. They're ideal if you want something refreshing to quench your thirst without the overpowering sweetness of many drink options. At just 4 calories a can, it's a great choice if you're watching your waistline.
B.Ink Red Blend 187ml (RRP £2.50) is described as a super-rich and full-bodied wine, with flavours of dark chocolate coated raspberries with gentle oak. This sample size of bottle will not be available for sale but the 750ml bottle is available at ASDA, Morrisons, Tesco and Sainsburys, priced at £9. I'm not a huge red wine drinker so I think I'll end up using this in cooking something like a boeuf bourguignon-style beef stew.
Bio & Me Super Seedy & Nutty Gut-Loving Porridge (RRP £1.50) is packed with 14 deliciously diverse plant-based foods and prebiotic fibres. It has no added sugar, is high in fibre and vegan friendly. I scanned the ingredients list and while many of the things listed didn't surprise me (almonds, hazelnuts, coconut, dates, pumpkin seeds, raisins, oats, ...), there were a couple of unexpected additions, including carrot and chicory root. I first offered this to Pierre, who didn't like the crunchiness of the seeds and nuts, so I polished it off and thought it was very nice. The single-serve pot is convenient but if you want a more eco-friendly option, it is also available in a bigger box. Available at Amazon, Boots and on the Bio & Me website.
Zest Vegan Spinach, Mushroom & Ric***a Sauce (RRP £2.99 - other subscribers got Vegan Tomato & Mar***pone Sauce) is a simple way of creating a vegan-friendly option in minutes. Just stir through some pasta and you're good to go ! At Zest, they say that they concentrate on the simple things in life - good food, good times, good vibes. Their products are dairy-free, gluten-free and soy-free so everyone can enjoy them. They're perfect for keeping in the cupboard in case you need a quick veggie option for a guest. I passed this on to Sophie who said it was very tasty and incredibly convenient. Available at Ocado, Morrisons and Amazon.
Heinz is a brand that has been about for donkey's years - as it says on the can, it was established in 1869 - but they are still coming up with new products, including these Heinz Beans & Vegan Sausages (RRP £2). I remember eating cans of beans and sausages on toast or with mash when I was a student, so I can understand the appeal of these if you want a veggie or vegan option. The label promises the great taste of Heinz, made from plants.
Another veggie option is Heinz Plant-Based Creamy Tomato Soup (RRP £1.70). I ate this and really enjoyed the taste and texture of the soup. I assumed it was their classic tomato soup with "plant-based" added to the can, but apparently it is a new vegan-friendly option. (I just went to the check and the original, while vegetarian, contains milk, cream and milk proteins.) It's just as lovely as the original version, even as a non-vegan !
Kit Kat Caramel (RRP £1.99 for 9 x 2-finger bars) are a new twist on the well-loved brand. The crispy, crunchy wafer biscuit is covered with a smooth caramel flavoured milk chocolate. Even better, each two-bar Kit Kat only contains 106 calories so you can nibble on them guilt-free ! Very tasty.
Nescafé Azera Americano (RRP £3.60) is a premium barista-inspired instant coffee, giving you the great flavour of a coffee shop-style drink from the comfort of your own home. I'm not a coffee-drinker but I passed this on to a friend who said she loves it.
Simply Roasted Sea Salt (RRP £1.19) are crisps made with a healthier technique, using triple roasting rather than deep frying. This retains the taste, crunch and satisfaction while vastly reducing the calories, fat and salt. At less than 100 calories a pack, they offer a guilt-free way of tucking into your favourite snack. Available at Waitrose, Ocado, WHSmith, Whole Foods Market and on Amazon.
Very Lazy Chilli Boost (RRP £3) is another great time and energy-saving product from the Very Lazy team, that avoids covering your fingers in spicy chilli juice then squealing in pain as you try to get a rogue eyelash out of your eye ! We got the Hot Zingy Chilli Boost but I think we would have preferred the other version that some Degustaboxers got to try, Medium Smokey. It's great for adding to chilli, casseroles, pasta sauce or whatever you want to spice up. I love the fact that you can stir some into an individual portion at the last minute if you have spice-haters in the family.
Finally, Tilda Vegetable Golden Rice (RRP £1.54) is this month's Product of the Month. I always love to have a couple of pouches of microwavable rice in the cupboard for the kids to use at lunchtime, so I was keen to try out this new flavour. Containing 21% vegetables, the rice contains sweetcorn, peas and carrots so it's a great accompaniment for meat, fish or vegetarian dishes. Two minutes in the microwave or three minutes in a pan and it's ready to devour. I'll definitely be buying some more of this.
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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