July 2019 Picnic-themed Degustabox review

When we arrived back from our fabulous trip to Alaska, the postie had delivered the July Degustabox for us. Just as well really, as the cupboards were bare and the freezer and fridge had defrosted during a powercut - eeek ! So, what was waiting for us inside ?

Swiftly ripping open the packaging and pulling everything out, we soon discovered that this month's box had a summery Picnic theme. That said, the kids were keen to start nibbling on things even without the rest of the picnic ! So, here's what was in this month's box.

First up, Mister Free'd Vegan Tortilla Chips Beetroot with Onion (RRP £1.99) offer an original alternative to crisps. The crunchy, pink triangles have a deep, strong flavour that the kids weren't overly keen on, but they soon disappeared when I brought out a creamy dip to go with them ! They are high in fibre, packed with plant-based goodness, GMO and gluten-free and provide 114kcal per 25g. Available at Wholefoods Market, As Nature Intended, Planet Organic, WH Smith and local independents.

Frank's Red Hot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce (RRP £1.50) is made with a premium blend of aged cayenne peppers that add a kick of heat and a whole lot of flavour to any BBQ or other meaty dish. Its great taste made it the secret ingredient in the original Buffalo wings created in Buffalo, NY, in 1964. I had a little taste on my tongue and it nearly blew my head off so use sparingly ! I haven't decided yet whether to pass this on to someone who loves spicy heat or keep it to add a small drop to various savoury recipes. It has great potential and a little goes a long way !

Rowntree's Randoms (RRP 2 x £1.29) were the first thing that the kids spotted in the box ! As the adverts say, 'Let your random side out' with every pack of completely unpredictable Rowntree's Randoms.  As well as the Randoms Sours (which deliver a tasty, zingy kick), we discovered new Randoms Squish'ems - squishy foam and fruity jelly all in one sweet. Both bags were greeted with squeals and moans of delight. Delicious !

Ravish Pineapple & Yuzu Salsa (RRP £1.50) is a great accompaniment to barbecues and meaty dishes. I went to investigate what exactly yuzu is and discovered that it's an East Asian fruit that resembles a small, wrinkly grapefruit. The salsa is sweet, tangy and decidedly tropical. Perfect for taming down heat or just adding a delicious topnote to anything that needs a little extra zing. Available at Tesco's and Waitrose. I was slightly dubious at the first mouthful but it's lovely - I'd definitely buy it again.

Ribena Frusion Blackcurrant Water Infused with Kiwi (RRP £2) was another great hit with the kids, and with the recent heatwave, it disappeared in double-quick time ! Naturally infused with real fruit and crafted botanicals, Frusion contains no sweeteners, is low in calories and rich in antioxidant vitamin C (which helps protect your cells from oxidative stress, whatever that may mean !). Above all, it tastes delicious - I'll be looking out for this one again too.

Deli Kitchen Greek Style Flatbreads (RRP £1.35) are the perfect way to offer a taste of the sun-soaked Mediterranean, even if you're staying at home this summer ! Fluffy, filling and easy to fold, they can be stuffed with anything you like - hot or cold, sweet or savoury ... the choice is yours ! We devoured them for lunch - I used up some leftover meat and salad from the day before while the kids opted for cheese and tomato or chocolate spread. Everyone declared them delicious ! Another one to add to the shopping list ! Available in Sainsbury's.

Ape Crunchy Coconut Bites with Sesame Seed (RRP £1.49) are a tasty snack that the kids really liked. The mini bites are made with a tasty combination of coconut and natural ingredients like cocoa and super seeds, then baked to create a delicious and unique snack with a satisfying crunch. They are gluten free, high in fibre, vegan friendly and have no added sugar. Perfect !

Monin Butterscotch Syrup (RRP £3) is a limited edition flavour, designed for adding to hot or iced coffee, but it can be used for so much more. The kids have been adding a small drizzle to vanilla ice cream, homemade smoothies and milk and I'll be finishing up what's left in some butterscotch cookies. It's a lovely rich flavour, great to experiment with. Available for a limited time in the hot beverages aisle of Sainsbury's.

Kallo Belgian Milk Chocolate Rice Cake Minis (RRP £1.99) were instantly grabbed from the box by Sophie, our resident rice cake fan ! They are the perfect blend of healthy (rice cakes) and naughty (chocolate), coming in at 104 calories per portion, which is very reasonable - barely worse than an apple ! Sophie polished off the lot and declared them delicious.

Simply Cook Piri Piri Chicken 3 Step Cooking Kit (RRP £2.50) allows you to cook a restaurant-quality meal at home in just 20 minutes. Just add the chef blended authentic flavour mix to your chosen fresh ingredients and bingo ! This is a great option for those who have very basic cooking skills or for anyone who comes home from work exhausted and wants a simple solution to creating tasty food. Discover the full range at simplycook.com and take note of the current offer: choose 4 recipes for just £1 (including free letter-box friendly delivery) with code DGYUM.

 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 £7.99 - 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.