Degustabox June 2026 review : Picnic & On The Go

 

The current heatwave has left us scratching our heads for things to eat that wouldn't make us feel even hotter. Fruit and ice poles seem to have featured heavily on the menus lately but I still needed to find something nutritious but heat-busting to keep our tummies filled. I was hoping the current Degustabox would help me out with quick and simple meal ideas and it ticked all the right boxes. I'll show you what was in the box in a second. If you're a regular blog-reader, you may be thinking that it looks like there are fewer products in the first Degustabox picture compared to normal. Well, you'd be right and wrong for thinking so. The UK has introduced new HFSS (High Fat, Sugar and Salt) regulations and, as a result, certain HFSS products can no longer be promoted on social media in any form. This means that some products included in the monthly box cannot be sent to influencers for content creation purposes so regular Degustabox subscribers would receive more products that are not shown. There are two products in this month's box that I won't be mentioning just to give you an idea of the box value. 

 

Fragata Marinated Stoneless Olives with Olive Oil & Lemon (RRP £1.70 - other Degustaboxers got the Olive Oil & Hot Chili variety) are perfect for nibbling on with a drink or for adding to salads, taboulé, olive and chorizo cake or omelettes. The lemon adds zinginess and freshness that can help lift the flavour of salads and other dishes, adding a citrus zing reminiscent of summertime and Mediterranean cookery. Very tasty. Available in local convenience stores.

Tilda Jamaican Spiced Pumpkin Rice (RRP £1.25) is this month's product of the month. This new limited edition recipe was developed in collaboration with Original Flava and the rice is mixed with pumpkin, thyme, scotch bonnet and fragrant spices. It can be eaten on its own as a light meal, incorporated into a Jamaican rice bowl or used to accompany Brown Chicken Stew or Jerk Chicken. I found this a bit too spicy but Sophie loved it, despite the heat. Available in major supermarkets and at Tilda.com.

Jacob's Cream Crackers (RRP £1.70) are a product that have been around for donkey's years - I remember nibbling on them when I was a kid - but I haven't eaten them for years. The smooth, crispy, flaky texture can be paired with all sorts of toppings - a simple slice of cheddar, maybe with a dollop of pickle or a sliced cherry tomato, is a classic choice but we've also tried them with tuna and mayonnaise, ham and cheese, pesto chicken, BBQ chicken, smoked salmon and pâté. The kids even wanted to try them with Nutella and banana but I wasn't so sure about sweet toppings. They may be on to something though ! We've enjoyed using these as a light lunch in place of our usual sandwiches during the hot weather. Available in all major supermarkets.

Ambrosia Devon Custard and Ambrosia Chocolate Flavour Devon Custard (RRP £1 per pot) is a thick, rich, creamy custard perfect for spooning over apple pie, apple and blackberry crumble, bananas in custard or many other desserts. I usually make custard from powder but these ready-to-eat versions are so quick and simple to use plus they avoid the risk of burning the custard. (One of my saucepans burns custard every time I make it so I greatly appreciate the ready to use version.) The custard is made in a Devon creamery with West Country milk using no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. This was our first time trying the Chocolate Devon Custard and we were all fans. We liked it cold but it can be warmed up and poured over sponge cake or chocolate brownies too. As the advert says, Devon knows how they make it so creamy ! Available in all major supermarkets.

Mission Sourdough Wraps and Mission High Fibre Wraps (RRP £1.80) are two new varieties in the range. Each pack contains four wraps, which is the perfect quantity for us and saves waste. They can be eaten with hot or cold fillings, turned into fajitas, burritos or enchiladas if you're planning on a Mexican feast. Each of the High Fibre Wraps contains 10g of fibre and they both taste great and offer a soft, sturdy texture. Available in Sainsbury's, Asda and Ocado, plus Tesco for the Sourdough wraps.

Nescafé Espresso Concentrated Iced Mocha and Iced Decaf (RRP 2 x £5 - subscribers received one or the other) is a liquid, high-strength coffee designed for making 16 servings of instant, barista- style iced coffees (lattes, americanos) at home without machines. It's available in a range of varieties: Classic, Caramel, and Vanilla, alongside these new flavours, Mocha and Decaf. Simply mix 30ml of the concentrate with milk or water to create your perfect iced coffee in seconds. I'm not a coffee drinker but I passed these on to Juliette who was very chuffed. Available in the supermarket coffee aisles.

Kallo Beetroot & Balsamic Veggie Cakes (RRP £1.40) are light, crunchy veggie cakes, made from lentil and pea puffed crackers, which are high in protein and fibre. They are gluten-free, suitable for both vegetarians and vegans and contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. They are low in calories, making them a guilt-free snack. I have to be honest,  I wasn't convinced, but Sophie was happy to try them, topping them with a dollop of houmous or cream cheese. She gave me a taste and they were better than I expected. Sophie loved them and polished them off. Available in all major supermarket chains.

Harry Bromptons Peach Iced Tea (RRP £1.80) is a lovely, refreshing, summery drink that the girls adored. Brewed with the finest organic Kenyan tea ethically sourced from the Great Rift Valley and infused with the juice of ripe peaches, it is perfect for cooling down on a hot day. It contains only 70 calories and is vegan, gluten free and a Great Taste Award winner. The girls much preferred it to their usual big brand iced tea drinks because they thought it tasted more natural. Available in all major supermarket chains.

Rio Mare Insalatissime Mexican Style Tuna Salad (RRP £2.99) is lovely as a simple meal when the temperatures soar. Tuna is combined with red beans, sweetcorn, peppers and spices and can be enjoyed on its own, with bread or mixed in to rice. The can doesn't contain the water or oil that is often found in tinned tuna so it is ready to eat in a second. Perfect when you want something to eat with minimum effort. It is also free from added preservatives. Available in Waitrose, Morrison's, Asda, Ocado and Amazon.

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. 

 for more information : 

 http://bit.ly/DBhomepage - website 

http://bit.ly/DBUKfacebook - Facebook 

http://bit.ly/DBUKTwitter - twitter 

Also now on Instagram @DegustaboxUK 

 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.

Degustabox May 2026 review : BBQ & Garden Party

 The temperatures have soared over the last couple of weeks so we've been feeling much less tempted to cook and eat big meals. Sandwiches and salads have featured heavily on the menus lately, so when the latest Degustabox arrived, I was intrigued to see if anything would tickle our fancy. If you're a regular blog-reader, you may be thinking that it looks like there are fewer products in the first Degustabox picture compared to normal. Well, you'd be right and wrong for thinking so. The UK has introduced new HFSS (High Fat, Sugar and Salt) regulations and, as a result, certain HFSS products can no longer be promoted on social media in any form. This means that some products included in the monthly box cannot be sent to influencers for content creation purposes so regular Degustabox subscribers would receive more products that are not shown. There are four products in this month's box that I won't be mentioning just to give you an idea of the box value. Here's what was tucked away inside this month's box.

   

Get More Vits Mango & Passionfruit Vitamin D drink (RRP £1.50) is a tasty, refreshing drink that offers more than just a fresh, fruity flavour. Natural flavours of juicy mango are combined with tropical passionfruit that give you a natural boost when you're flagging in the heat. Unless it's not the flavour that zips you up - it could be the 200% of your daily vitamin D and 15% of your calcium needs that helps give you a boost. Whatever it is, it tastes great so it's perfect for quenching your thirst with some extra health benefits. It's available in 500ml or 1 litre bottles, in Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Co-op, Ocado, WH Smiths and Booths.

Maggi Global Kitchen Spaghetti Bolognese with Beef (RRP £3) is one of a new range of ready meals that can be prepared in just 2 minutes, making them perfect for Pierre when he's home alone and needs something simple to prepare for lunch. Each recipe is high in protein and fibre and low in saturated fat. I wasn't overly impressed with spaghetti bolognese as a global kitchen option, as it is something regularly cooked in the UK even without trying to be exotic, but there are other dishes available in the product range, including tikka masala, chickpea korma, mushroom risotto, teriyaki noodles and sweet and sour chicken, so there is something to appeal to everyone. Available in Morrisons.

 Mornflake Mighty Oats Organic Porridge Oats (RRP £3) are made from 100% wholegrain British oats grown on organic farms with nature in mind. They are naturally high in fibre, a source of protein, vegan-friendly and heart-smart, helping to lower cholesterol as part of a varied, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. I love porridge as a filling, wholesome breakfast or warming snack in the winter but it's not something that comes up high on my list of favourite summer food. A quick look on the Mornflake website gave me lots of hot weather options though, including Raspberry and White Chocolate Oat Cookies, Hong Kong Style French Toast, Tiramisu Cake and Pear and Ginger Oat Crumble. I'm sure they'd go down well whatever the temperature ! Available at Co-op, Asda, Ocado, Nisa, Booths, Grape Tree, Amazon and the Mornflake website.

 

Bisto Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce (RRP £2.95) is just as simple to prepare as gravy. Just put four tablespoons of granules in a bowl or gravy boat, add boiling water and stir - that's it ! You get a rich, tasty sauce perfect for adding to potato wedges, roast chops, beefburgers, sausages or any BBQ leftovers and rice for a quick and simple meal that even the kids could prepare. You get 19 servings in a pack, depending on how thick you make it, so it's perfect for experimenting with over the summer. Available in Tesco, Morrisons, Iceland and Ocado.

Fragata Manzanilla Olives Filled with Manchego Cheese (RRP £2) are perfect for nibbling on as a snack in front of the telly or with pre-dinner drinks. They have a firm texture and offer a very Spanish-inspired taste.We love sharing a bowl of olives, particularly as Sophie finds that they can be useful for helping to lower her blood sugar levels when her diabetes is playing up. (This is just something she has found works for her though and may have no medical basis whatsoever !) We also like serving some of the olives with cherry tomatoes, red pepper strips and quiche for a heat-busting lunch in the summer. Available in Morrisons.

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. 

for more information :

http://bit.ly/DBhomepage - website

http://bit.ly/DBUKfacebook - Facebook

http://bit.ly/DBUKTwitter - twitter

Also now on Instagram @DegustaboxUK

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.

Book review : A Change In Plans - Mike Martin

 

Settling down with a new Sgt Windflower mystery always feels like sharing a hug with a well-loved family member that you haven't seen for a while or sitting down for a natter with a long-lost friend. Despite constantly finding himself in dangerous situations and scary crime scenes, Winston Windflower's home life is a reassuring bubble of good food, family discussions, looking after the pets and cheeky childish mischief. It was a bit of a shock to see that his two daughters, Stella and Amelia Louise, are approaching the pre-teen years, with Stella starting to put in her moody demands for her first telephone ! Time has flown but this is book 17 in the series so it's hardly surprising that they are growing up.

In this book, Winston is dragged into a case involving a hit-and-run accident that, as often happens in Grand Bank and Marystown, turns out to be something deeper and darker. As a murder investigation is launched, Winston and his team of Mounties join forces with the police in Southern Ontario to take down an international drug-smuggling ring. Things don't really go to plan and an undercover Mountie, Fil Romano, is kidnapped. As always, Winston depends on his family, his friends and his departed loved ones through his dreams, to help give him the strength to fight on and help keep his beloved Newfoundland a safe place to live.

I always love the way that Windflower fully represents both sides of his life, taking out the bad guys and protecting the innocent civilians and colleagues of Newfoundland with a bullet-proof vest and a gun in his hand, but also taking his beloved dog on coastal walks, picking wild blueberries and discovering new music passed on by his friend Herb Stoodley.

As always, Sgt Windflower does it again. There is no need to lose any sleep as Grand Bank is in safe hands !

star rating : 4.5/5

RRP : £17.95

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ottawa Press and Publishing Mystery
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ 18 April 2026
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 268 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1990896391
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1990896392

Disclosure : I received a review copy of the book in order to share my honest opinion.