May 2020 Degustabox review : BBQ and Snacking

What with our current/recent (depending on who you talk to !) state of confinement, I haven't really noticed the weeks passing by, so I was very pleasantly surprised to learn that another Degustabox was on the way. This month's box is a subtle reminder that summer is almost here, as it focuses on BBQ and Snacking.

Time to discover the contents of this month's box. I was immediately confident that we'd like this box as I could instantly see several product ranges and brand names that we already know and love. Time to take a closer look.

Barebells Hazelnut & Nougat Protein Bar (RRP £2.50) comes from a company who believes in happy eating and healthy living. This is just one of a range of protein enriched bars and shakes that never compromise on flavour. As well as tasting great, with its crunchy hazelnuts and creamy nougat melting into smooth milk chocolate, each bar contains 20g of protein and no added sugar. Great for feeding your cravings after a trip to the gym. Available at Sainsbury's and on Amazon.

Beronia Crianza Rioja (RRP £2.99 for 18.75cl or £11.79 for 75cl)  is a Spanish red wine, made predominantly from Tempranillo, complemented by Garnacha and Mazuelo. A Crianza is a wine that has been aged for 12 months before bottling. The mixed French and American oak barrels add hints of vanilla and spice to the fruity flavour of the wine. You should be able to detect blackberry and strawberry too. Currently available at Waitrose and Ocado, as well as Tesco from 25th May.

Bull's Eye Original BBQ Sauce (RRP £2.49) is a rich, sweet sauce that is perfect on the side of the plate to accompany all sorts of grilled meats and burgers, but it is also lovely squeezed into casseroles and chillis for some added depth of flavour. The sauce was born and raised in the US and it has been taking barbecues to the next level since 1985. Crafted by and for people who love meat, the full-bodied, smoky, flavour-packed sauce can handle anything from brisket to wings, ribs to ribeye. It's lovely for jazzing up leftovers too !

It's hard to believe that we're almost into summer - how is it May already ?! - but the sun is starting to put into an appearance so we'll be eating more salads in the coming months. These Hellmann's salad dressings (RRP 2 x £1.65) are sure to add flavour to your salads, without the addition of unwanted fat and preservatives. The Fat Free Vinaigrette offers a sweet, herby flavour with flecks of red peppers, great for adding to salads but also cooked meat or fish, if you fancy pepping up your sandwiches and leftovers. Classic House is a creamy blend containing chives, parsley and a tang of vinegar, perfect for potato salad or pasta salad, as well as the regular green salad.

Xite Energy Drinks (RRP 2 x £1.49) offer a healthier spin on traditional energy drinks. Made with natural caffeine and flavours, they contain no sugar (even diabetics can drink them) and use as few unnecessary ingredients as possible. They are vegan-friendly and contain ginseng and B-vitamins. I'm not usually a big fan of energy drinks, but I appreciate the fact that these contain natural caffeine and at least taste quite good. Great for pre workout or to help you through brain fog! Available from Hollands & Barrett and WHSmiths.

Hartley's Juicy Jelly Pouches (RRP £2.79) were a big hit with the kids. The nation's favourite jelly brand has produced a ready-to-eat, deliciously juicy pouch of wobbly jelly for instant gratification ! Made with real fruit juice and under 100 calories, this is ideal for snacking or adding to the kids' lunchboxes when they go back to school. As well as the four pouches of Squeezy Strawberry flavour jelly in the box, we got to sample Squeezy Lemon & Lime too, which was just as popular.

Lindt Lindor (RRP 85p) is a delicious milk chocolate bar with a scrumptiously smooth, melting filling. Just one word : delicious ! You might like to know that these are also available in Orange and Mint flavours. Hmmm !

Mission Street Tacos (RRP 2 x £1.20) are gorgeously soft tacos in Original or Mexican Chilli & Lime variants. They can be eaten as cold wraps or stuffed as tacos, fajitas or enchiladas. Perfect for a Mexican feast at home or for (depending on what happens with confinement) a picnic. They can be eaten fresh or put in the freezer until needed. Available in Morrisons and, from 27th May, in Sainsbury's stores. 

Skinny Tonic (RRP 2 x 75p) offers a range of healthier tonics made from premium ingredients that don't compromise on taste. We received Indian ("a botanical blend of Sicilian lemon, bitter orange and thyme") and Mediterranean ("a botanical blend of fresh citrus, thyme, floral and sweet basil notes"), but you can also get Aromatic, Cucumber, Clear Coffee and Ginger Ale variants. They are cool and refreshing, perfect to drink on their own or as an accompaniment to your favourite alcoholic drinks. Available in BOOTHS, Amazon and online. 

Finally, Yes ! Dark Choc Banana & Pecan Fruit & Nut Bars (RRP £2.99 - other subscribers received Sea Salt, Dark Choc & Almond flavour) are delicious, wholesome snack bars that the kids have been happily gobbling up ! What's more, they're wrapped in recyclable paper packaging, so the planet will be happy too ! They are a source of protein, high in fibre, gluten free and vegetarian. Best of all, they taste great and have whole, recognisable nuts and pieces of fruit in them. Available at ASDA & 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. 

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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.