Degustabox May 2023 review : BBQ and Garden Party

 

Temperatures have been rising over the last couple of weeks and the sun has been putting in an appearance on a fairly regular basis, so there's no doubt about it - summer is definitely on the way ! That ties in perfectly with the theme of the latest Degustabox : BBQ and Garden Party. Quick, get the parasol out and pass the sun cream !

 

The first item that we plucked out of the box was Maggi Malaysian Chilli Sauce (RRP £2.15). Made from fresh Malaysian chillies, the sauce adds a real kick to your food but also an undercurrent of sweetness which helps to tone down the spiciness. Great for adding to a dish of noodles or a chicken stir fry to give it a twist of Asian flavour.

Rubicon Sparkling Passion Fruit (RRP £1) is a refreshing, fruity drink perfect for quenching your thirst in the summer sunshine. The intense flavour blends notes of freshness and tartness and brings in a tropical, exotic flavour that gives you the idea that you're lying on a hammock strung between two palm trees on a faraway island without moving from your back garden.

Rubicon Sparkling Rose Lemonade (RRP £1) is another tongue-tingling flavour that combines zesty lemon with sweet floral rose extract. For me, it is reminiscent of our travels to Morocco and once again, allows you to mentally escape your real life surroundings for a mental trip somewhere exotic.

Mentos Fanta Orange Flavour (RRP £1.50) offer four packs of chewy dragees to give your jaw a workout. We love Mentos and regularly buy their mixed fruit version, but we really enjoyed the Fanta variety too. The zesty orange flavour is delicious and we love the soft and chewy texture of the sweets. Right from the first bite through the slightly firm outside coating, we were hooked. These are a great sweet choice for the summer as they avoid chocolate and won't melt in the heat - perfect if you're travelling.

 

Hellmann's BBQ Sauce (RRP £2) is a rich and smoky condiment that can be used on the side of the plate, as a dip for chips or vegetable sticks or even as a marinade for meat that is about to go on the barbecue. It's perfect with chicken, steak, burgers, sausages or just squeezed over rice or mashed potatoes to add a real smoky kick. We've tried it drizzled over cheese on toast before putting it under the grill which we loved too. It's definitely become a summer essential in our house.

Highball Cocktails Italian Spritz (RRP £1.99) brings all the flavours of the well-known Aperol Spritz minus the alcohol content. Italian bitters and luscious orange flavours deliver the same bitter-sweet flavours of the original with sophistication and style but minus the hangover. Great for drivers or anyone else who wants to sip on something grown-up without any alcohol in it. Available on highballcocktails.com, amazon, Not On The High Street, Yumbles and independent shops.

Slooow Stone Oven White Baguette (RRP £1.60) is this month's Product of the Month and is an organic wheat baguette that is partially baked, waiting to be finished off in your own oven before serving. The ingredients are 100% natural and the most important one is time, as the bread is given 24 hours to rise and become the best and tastiest bread possible. The crispy crust and soft inside are delicious, whether served with a savoury or a sweet filling. Available at Tesco and Co-op.

Flava It ! Marinade Seasonings (RRP 2 x £1.10) have been loved and trusted for over 25 years, but this was my first introduction to them. We got Classic Piri Piri and Smoky BBQ which were both great for adding a rich, deep flavour to meat and vegetables. As the pack explains, there is no fuss as you just have to sprinkle over the seasoning then cook the ingredients. Other flavours available are Garlic & Herb, Garden Mint and Chinese Style so you can add lots of new flavours to your weekday meals with no effort.

Clif Bar Minis (RRP 3 x £1.19) are delicious mini versions of the famous snack bar. We got three varieties - Crunchy Peanut Butter, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut and Chocolate Chip - which were all delicious but I have to admit that my personal favourite is the White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut one. Each bar contains 4g of plant protein, so Pierre loves them even more for this reason. Available at Tesco, sports retailers and on amazon.

 

Hippeas Chickpea Puff Snacks (RRP £1) are a product that we have enjoyed multiple times in previous Degustaboxes. These ones offer Salt & Vinegar Vibes which have a delicious tangy flavour. The light, crunchy texture is very tasty and reminds me of Cheesy Wotsits. Hippeas are totally vegan, gluten-free, high in fibre, preservative free and each 22g bag contains less than 92 calories.  

Olly's Salted Original Pretzel Thins (RRP £1.20) are another delicious snack option. They are oven-baked, light and crispy and each pack provides 120 calories so they are lower in fat and calories than both crisps and popcorn. They are also vegan friendly so everyone can enjoy them. Available at Waitrose, ASDA, Ocado, amazon and Olly's Shop.

Jordans Raisin & Almond Crunchy Oat Granola (RRP £3.60) is a delicious breakfast option that is just as good at snack time, either in a bowl with milk or baked into chewy squares. Other Degustaboxers got Tropical Fruits Crunchy Oat Granola or Simply Granola. The combination of crunchy granola clusters and sweet, soft, juicy fruit is guaranteed to provide a delicious bowlful every time.

 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.