Degustabox February 2024 review

I've been using the school holidays to undertake some much needed spring cleaning around the house, which mainly seems to involve dejunking things that have been kept for several years for no apparent reason ! This idea of spring cleaning seems to have given the weather a much needed jolt, moving from frigid wintry weather to a couple of lovely warm, sunny and decidedly springlike days. Wandering about on my different errands today, I've been enjoying spotting the daffodils, crocuses and tulips that have been springing up (or probably being planted in full bloom by the council) everywhere. It's enough to put a spring in your step (no pun intended). The weather is still very changeable though, so when this month's Degustabox arrived, I was intrigued to see what would be hiding inside.

The first product that I picked out of the box has Sophie's name written all over it : Boundless Gut Happy Snacking Sweet Chilli (RRP £2.50). Described as 100% activated, loaded with gut-friendly fibre, packed full of nutrients and mouth-watering flavours, these nuts and seeds can be sprinkled on soups and salads or nibbled straight from the pack. They are supposed to be good for your gut but even if they're not, they taste great and are perfect for snacking. Available at ASDA, Ocado or Amazon, as well as online at weareboundless.co.uk.

Bocaditos Tomato & Oregano (RRP £2.20) are oven-baked Mediterranean-style snacks that can be eaten as a side dish or on their own. The real bocaditos that inspired the name are Cuban bite-sized sandwiches and this snack version can be incorporated into tapas or topped with anything from fish, meat, cheese or vegetables to create pintxos (or pinchos). They are tasty on their own though too if you just want something to snack on. They are oven-baked not fried and made with natural ingredients. Available from all major supermarket chains.

Heinz Chicken Broth (RRP £1.70) is a combination of pearl barley, tender chicken pieces and a variety of vegetables in a rich and flavourful chicken broth. Lightly seasoned with black pepper, it delivers the warming hug of a proper home-made broth, just like the regular chicken soup. The only difference I can see is that it has a lighter consistency, making it good if you want a light lunch or maybe if you are catering for older people or someone with a delicate stomach. Available at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, ASDA & Ocado.

Tweek Foam Fever Fab & Fruity Flavoured Foam Sweets (RRP £1.99 - other subscribers got Fizzy Fusion or Smoothie Chews) give you a great excuse for eating sweets - the packaging promises sweets with benefits. The brand name is inspired by the word "tweak" as they have tweaked traditional candy to make it better for your health. These tasty chews contain 95% less sugar, are high in fibre, have 45% fewer calories, use natural colours and flavours and are free from gluten and palm oil. Their website is mainly in Swedish but the brand looks great and focuses on healthier choices. The sweets taste good too.

 

Jelly Belly Very Cherry Drink (RRP £1.29 - other subscribers got Berry Blu or Tutti Fruitti) offers the great taste of my favourite jelly bean sweets in drink form. I was expecting an overly sweet flavour but the drinks contain 20% fruit juice, less than 5g sugar per 100ml and no artificial flavours. They are also fortified with vitamins A, C and E and suitable for vegans. I have to admit, I do prefer the flavour of actual jelly beans but the drinks aren't bad for an occasional treat. 

Just Spices (RRP £1.90 for 2 sachets, £4.99 for a 60g tub) offer a range of no-nonsense natural spice mixes and seasonings that are perfect for adding some zing to your food. We got Mexican All-rounder, which is great for spicing up anything from guacamole and chilli to salsa and enchiladas, and Chips Seasoning, which can be sprinkled over cooked wedges, sweet potatoes or regular fries to add some extra flavour. Glancing through their website throws up all sorts of amazing sounding blends, including Avocado Topping, Sandwich Seasoning and Lemon Herb Chicken Mix. If you want to spice up your life, it's a great place to start !

Maggi Chow Mein Flavour Noodles (RRP £2) are great for adding to chicken or pork and vegetables then topped with soy sauce for a quick and simple stir fry meal that the whole family loves every time I make it. Just add boiling water and leave to stand while cooking the rest of the ingredients then you're good to go. They are low in saturated fat and suitable for vegetarians, as long as you leave out the meat in the added ingredients ! Available at Poundland and Iceland.

Maggi Air Fryer Seasonings ( RRP 2 x 99p) are a new range of seasoning sachets developed to guarantee you the perfect result every time when used in an air fryer. We don't have an air fryer so I thought these would be no good for us but no, Maggi don't want to cut us out of all the fun. You can use the seasoning in the oven, pan or grill too. Just add to your favourite meat and vegetable ingredients and you'll have dinner on the table in 15 minutes. The Piri Piri  seasoning was a bit on the hot side but we all loved the Fajita spice blend.

Kelloggs Krave Choco Brownie Flavour (RRP £3.29) is a new variety of breakfast cereal that the Madhouse kids loved. The crispy, crunchy cereal pillows are stuffed with a melty core that has an intense and delicious chocolate brownie flavour. They are lovely in a bowl with milk but if my kids are anything to go by, they make a great snack by the handful straight from the pack too ! Available exclusively at ASDA.

 

Sparklean Tropical Vegan Protein Drink (RRP £2.50) is a dual purpose product, offering the refreshment of a fizzy soft drink combined with the health perks of a nutritional supplement, with 15g of vegan protein in each 330ml can. Pierre, always keen on upping his protein levels, loved this and said it tasted as good as a regular fizzy drink. I also love the fact that it only contains 1g of sugar. Also available in strawberry & lime and orange flavours, it is available at Boots, Amazon and Direct.

This month's Product of the Month, Tilda Tasty Sides (RRP £1.99) offer combinations of vegetables and pulses in a rich sauce that can be served with rice. We got Chinese Black Bean, which combines black beans, red peppers and onions with a tasty sauce. Other subscribers got Indian Black Dhal. They are high in fibre and protein, suitable for vegetarians and count as one of your five a day portions. They make a satisfying meal for anyone but are perfect as a quick option if you need a vegetarian dish for an unexpected guest.

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.