The past few weeks have been brutal. First, the wind blew some of our roof off and the roofer called out by the insurance to fix it never showed up. Then Pierre broke his arm and, on the same day, came down with Covid. Aaaggghhh ! Luckily, the postie dropped off the latest Degustabox with the theme Home Comforts. It sounds like a hug in a box. Exactly what was required to put a smile back on my face !
Unsurprisingly, the kids immediately honed in on the White Chocolate Kit Kats (RRP £1.99). As the name suggests, you get the usual crispy wafer biscuit but this time, it is covered in creamy, smooth white chocolate rather than milk chocolate. Each 2-finger bar comes in at 106 calories, making them a very reasonable mid afternoon snack. They contain no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives and they're suitable for vegetarians. We all loved them and the only question is, do we prefer them to the original Kit Kats? We just can't decide so I guess we'll have to buy both ! Each pack contains 9 bars and they are available in all major supermarket chains.
Another brand new delicious sweet treat that we discovered in the box is McVitie's Blissfuls (RRP £2.59), a lovely Belgian milk chocolate and hazelnut filled crunchy biscuit. The Madhouse kids loved the creamy Nutella-like filling and I was rather taken by the posh-looking layered top. The handy pouch format is perfect for sharing around (although they seemed to disappear rather too quickly !). They are also available with a Caramel filling, which definitely needs investigating ! Available in the major supermarket chains.
Urban Fruit Wellness Strength (RRP £2.85) is a blend of bite sized tropical fruit pieces, ready to nibble out of the bag. This was donated to Pierre as he was in isolation in his room and he couldn't manage to peel fruit one handed with his plaster cast ! You get a mixture of pineapple, mango, passionfruit, strawberry and beetroot - I was convinced he'd refuse the beetroot but nope, he happily worked his way through the whole lot ! The whole idea behind Urban Fruit is that it is gently baked fruit with no added sugar, so it gets top marks in my books. Also available in Immune and Glow. It's a different way of adding one of your 5-a-day portions of fruit (and vegetables) into your diet.
Mikado (RRP £1.50) is a product that the kids have been buying in France for years as we head down to see the grandparents. The crunchy, thin sticks are dipped in delicious milk chocolate and they're perfect for nibbling on in the summer as one end is left chocolate-free so you can eat them without getting covered in chocolate ! Each stick only contains 11 calories but trust me, you'll gobble up the whole pack in one sitting !
Tilda Katsu Curry Limited Edition Rice (RRP £1.59) is another new addition to the microwaveable rice pouches that I love to buy as a quick and simple option for the kids at lunchtime. Aromatic, mild curry spices combine with carrot, onion and coconut cream to give a tasty modern Asian twist to Tilda Jasmine rice. I was impressed to see that this is a gluten-free option, so it could be handy to keep in the cupboard if you have someone visiting who may need a gluten-free option when you're unprepared. It goes perfectly with chicken but can also be enjoyed on its own as a quick snack.
Tea India Masala Chai (RRP £2.50), described as "deliciously authentic spiced tea", is another exotic product to sample. The company explain : "Masala Chai is a staple in India, served in chai glasses at home and in clay cups from chai stalls along the road. Bringing family and friends together over cups of chai is a time-honoured tradition...and our Masala Chai was crafted and blended to do exactly that." It is a rich, warming blend of black tea, cinnamon, cloves and anise. You can brew it just as you would a regular cup of tea or simmer it in hot milk for a creamy chai latte.
Pizza Express House Light Dressing (RRP 50p per sachet (not currently available for sale), £2 for a full sized bottle) is a great way of jazzing up your salads. It's a reduced fat (30% less than their regular option) dressing with white wine vinegar, rapeseed oil and herbs. Very tasty but I've never eaten it in their restaurants so I can't tell you how authentic it is !
Chocolate Mighty Shake (RRP £1.60) is a great dairy, nut and soy-free drink option that I've handed over to Sophie (as she's intolerant to dairy products). The company says : " Our Chocolate Shake is a triumph of drinkable ingenuity if we say so ourselves. Chocolatey, M.lky, and of course 100% vegan, with no nuts or soy in there. Luxuriously loaded with pea protein for optimal plant-based gains." It is subtly sweetened with agave and contains 40% less sugar than other chocolate milks. Apparently it tastes lovely, which is the most important thing!
Belvita Choc Chips Soft Bakes (RRP £2.79 for 5) are great for breakfast on the go (otherwise known as those hectic mornings when you end up dashing out of the door after a quick swig of orange juice so that you don't miss the bus to work !) - just stuff one in your coat pocket and enjoy it when you get a moment ! The soft baked biscuits are made with wholegrain cereals, chocolate chips and added minerals. Best of all, they are very tasty and promise to give you energy for the whole morning.
Knorr Vegetable Stock Cubes (RRP £1.48) are a great way of getting in on the #CheatOnMeat action. Just toss one into anything from soups and sauces, pasta and gravy to complement the natural flavours of your veggies. They are not just vegan but also gluten-free.
Choc Brownie Bounce (RRP £1.99) is a healthier take on a chocolate snack as it is high in fibre and protein. You get a squishy nut butter centre, stuffed inside a plant protein packed brownie ball, coated in chocolate. It comes in at around 180 calories but you might find you can cut it in two to scoff in two sittings (I found it quite rich so half was enough).
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.
