The postman dropped off the latest Degustabox this week and it has a theme of Picnic. Well, we're into June so it's definitely the right time of year but, even if we're out of confinement now, it still doesn't seem right to be going out for a picnic. That won't stop us gobbling up all the goodies at home though !
Here's the contents of this month's box. There were lots of oohs and aahs from the kids as they spotted things that they wanted to try ! It's a nice mixture of snacks, drinks and a few bits that can be used for lunch or breakfast.
Attack A Snak Chilli Heat Nachos Snack Kit (RRP £1.50) is a product that I remember reviewing in a previous kit - I've just checked and we received the original Nachos kit back in the
August 2019 Degustabox. This kit contains a portion of chilli heatwave tortilla chips, a smoky chipotle dip and a cooling sour cream and chive sauce. As they say, just top 'em, dip 'em and snack 'em ! Juliette loved this last time and she was happy to try them again. She loved this one too, but thought it was a bit too spicy for her tastes ! Each 90g serving contains 313 calories, 17g of fat of which 1.5g saturates, 12g of sugars and 1.5g of salt. A bit heavy for a snack but you could add extra veggies and salad and make it into lunch. Available at Morrison's. (Please not that it has a short use-by date, due to the sauce.)
If you're more of a fan of sweet treats, you might prefer Barù Milk Chocolate Marshmallow Bar (RRP £1.69). This gourmet vanilla bean marshmallow bar has a chai latte topping and is smothered in milk chocolate. I have to admit, I was dubious about the chai latte flavour, but it's actually very nice. Made with real spices, bourbon vanilla bean and honey, it has a grown-up, refined flavour that adults will love.
Another one for the adults ! Blossom Hill Gin Fizz (RRP £9) is a perfect sparkling drink option for chilling out in the summer. Available in both Original and Rhubarb flavours, it is a bubbly blend of wine and botanically infused water with a dash of gin. I'm not sure why or how gin has become so ultra-popular in recent years, but this is sure to appeal to its fans ! It can be served over ice with a slice of fruit or just on its own, straight from the fridge. It's refreshing, fun and perfect for a (long overdue) catch-up with the girls !
Rhubarb seems to be a popular flavour at the moment as it's one of the options in the range of Le Joli Infused Water (RRP 2 x £1). Degustaboxers received two out of the three flavours: Mexican Lime Mint, Scottish Raspberry Rhubarb and Sicilian Lemon Mandarin. Le Joli is a sparkling water infused with natural flavours and nothing else, so no artificial ingredients, sugars or sweeteners. All the benefits of water with a great taste! I really liked these. The Mexican Lime Mint vaguely reminded me of the flavour of mojito and brought back summer holiday memories. The raspberry/rhubarb combination is tangy and refreshing too.
Lizi's High Protein / Low Sugar Granola (RRP 2 x 75p for 40g/£3.80 for 350g High Protein pack or 500g Low Sugar pack) offer a tasty breakfast option, in-keeping with your dietary choices. They are high in fibre, GL tested and vegan-friendly. The Low Sugar option only includes 1.9g of sugar per serving, while a single serving of High Protein gives you 22% of your daily protein needs ! They're both nice with yogurt or milk, especially if you sprinkle some fruit and nuts on top.
Gregory's Tree (RRP 2 x 69p) is a snack option that we'd never heard of before, but we'll be looking out for it in the future. It's a tasty fruit twist snack bar that is free from dairy, gluten and wheat and is made with organic ingredients. We got two Blueberry and Raspberry Twists but they are also available in Strawberry flavour too. They are made from pure organic fruit, which is gently heated and pulped to give it that extra tasty twist. They're naturally great tasting, only contain 60 calories and are vegan-friendly. Great for lunch boxes or just for keeping in the cupboard as snacks.
Hippeas Organic Chickpea Puffs (RRP £1) are a brand that we have tried before in previous Degustaboxes and the kids love them. We got the Take It Cheesy variety, which were gobbled up enthusiastically, but other subscribers got Salt & Vinegar or Sweet & Smokey. I was intially dubious about chickpea puffs, but they taste just the same as other popular snacks. They're light, crunchy and very moreish ! These ones have a really strong, delicious cheesy flavour. They are totally organic, gluten-free, vegan friendly and contain less than 90 calories per single-serve pack.
Maynards Bassetts Super Fruit Jellies (RRP £1) are delicious too. They contain 30% fruit juice and are a source of vitamins. In fact, six sweets contain 15% of the recommended daily intake of vitamins C and E. The flavours are refreshingly different - papaya, pomegranate, blueberry and cranberry. Very tasty !
Despite the rain that is pouring down as I type this, we're well into summer so it's the perfect time for Newman's Own Italian Dressing & Dip (RRP £1.65). This is lovely for zinging up a quick salad for lunch or for dipping carrot sticks into when the kids are hungry ! All profits after taxes are given to Newman's Own Foundation, which somehow makes it taste even better !
Olly's Garlic & Basil Olives (RRP £1.50) are quite simply lovely. The finest green Greek Halkidiki olives are combined with a delicious marinade for the ultimate olive snack experience. The flavour is really tasty - similar to garlic and herb but somehow fresher - and combine really well with the olives. Their pouches contain no messy oils, no stones and no artificials. At less than 75 calories per pouch, they are the perfect on-the-go snack or meal topper. Even better, I'm the only one who likes olives so I can gobble up the whole lot !
NINE Bars (RRP 2 x £1.29) are tasty seed bars that are a great balance of natural health and indulgence. They are made of a nutritious blend of sunflower, pumpkin, sesame and hemp seeds, so they are high in fibre, as well as being a source of magnesium. The salted caramel and cocoa orange flavours add extra indulgence though. They're pretty tasty and are proudly vegan, gluten and wheat free and 100% plant protein.
Jamaican Jerky Noisy Corn (RRP £1.49) is a brand new product, available online at
www.noisysnacks.com or coming soon to supermarkets. The Noisy Snacks brand promises to be a sensory adventure waiting to happen. They explain : "Noise is our secret ingredient because every time you shake a pack, you activate the extra flavours at the bottom of the bag. (Most snack companies use 4% flavouring: we use 8%). Double the taste. Double the flavour. Double the fun." I was slightly nervous about the Jamaican Jerky flavoured Roasted Crunchy Corn because I thought the spice levels would blow my head off, but it was actually very tasty. Other options that you might want to check out include Beef Brisket, Hot Spicy Salsa or Pulled Pork Broad Bean Chips, Avocado & Lime, Black Pepper & Berry and Piri Piri Mango Chickpeas, Smoky Bacon Jalapeno, Pickled Onion and Sweet Thai Peanuts and Red Curry & Coconut or Hot Chicken Wings Crunchy Corn. Definitely worth trying !
Lots of lovely new snacks to try out in this month's box. 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.
