April 2022 Degustabox review : UK vs International

We've just had the most amazing school holidays, chilling out, ticking things off the never-ending to-do list and catching up with family. Even better, we had days full of amazing sunshine so that we could get out and make the most of it. What could possibly make it any better? Well, how about the latest Degustabox full of tasty nibbles to fuel our fun ? Perfect !

We were immediately enthusiastic when we saw the "UK-vs-international" theme, as the kids predicted that there would be lots of tasty snacks to discover. They were right and excitedly pulled out sweets, biscuits, drinks and other nibbles ! Here's the run-down of the complete contents of the box.

Unsurprisingly, the kids immediately honed in on the Sour Patch Kids Watermelon Flavour Sweets (RRP £1.32). This is a new flavour to join the range and the kids were all big fans. It starts off with a big hit of sourness, thanks to the sour sugar coating, but this mellows into a sweet watermelon flavour. I had a few but couldn't really get past the first sour hit ! These are the first vegan-certified Sour Patch Kids sweets, and they are also made with natural colours. To quote the kids, they're very nice ... if you think you're hard enough !

Another highly-approved sweet treat, Jaffa Cakes Lemon & Lime Flavour (RRP £1.20) were quickly devoured. We love the original orange Jaffa Cakes but these zingy, citrus versions are very tasty too. The zesty lemon and lime flavour combines with the chocolate and sponge base perfectly.

 

Bitburger Premium Pils (RRP £1.65) offers a taste of Germany's favourite style of beer. The name originates from the Bohemian town of Pilsen in the Czech Republic, where it was first produced in 1842, and this style of beer has been brewed to perfection in Bitburg since 1883. You get a crystal-clear beer, boasting a light taste and a lasting foam head with extra-fine bubbles. 

We also got to try Bitburger Drive 0% Alcohol Free (RRP £0.95) which is also naturally brewed following German Beer Purity laws. I actually wouldn't have recognised this as an alcohol-free beer if I hadn't seen the label. As Bitburger say : "Sweet, roasty aromas coalesce with honey and fresh gingerbread and are complemented by ripe grain and pleasantly bitter herbs. A delicate tingly fresh taste with lasting hops and notes of vermouth are finished with a bittersweet malty flavour for the full-flavoured taste." Definitely worth giving it a go if you're the designated driver or if you just fancy an alcohol free option to enjoy.

Pip Organic Sparkling Apple (RRP £1.50) is a refreshing blend of juicy organic apples and sparkling water with no added sugar or nasties. Not only does it taste lovely, it also counts as one of your 5-a-day. 65 calories per can and well worth every one !

Knorr Beef Gravy Pots (RRP £2) are a totally simple way of recreating the authentic flavour of rich homemade gravy in minutes. My usual gravy option is a shake of gravy granules mixed into the cooking juices from a Sunday roast then diluted as desired. My initial thought when I looked at these Gravy Pots was that they would work out more expensive so I was dubious, but once I opened the pot, I could instantly smell the rich scent of roasted meat. They contain quality ingredients and real meat juices and this is what gives them such an authentic, rich flavour. They contain no added MSG and are free from artificial colours and preservatives. Definitely worth splashing out on if you want to add a rich, tasty gravy to your meal in record time.

 

Kettle Focaccia Bites (RRP £2.09) are a delicious new snack from Kettle Chips. We got Sea Salt, Rosemary & Extra Virgin Olive Oil flavour and I'll definitely be looking out to see if any other varieties are available. They are a triple baked bread bite, using real food ingredients baked into the dough for the perfect taste. They have a strong taste straight from the pack (which is what we went for as we didn't want to wait !) but you can also pop them in the oven for a few minutes, which I would imagine gives them an even stronger taste and crunchier texture.

Newman's Own French Dressing & Dip (RRP £1.85) is a zingy, vegan friendly dressing that is perfect for livening up salads or adding some oomph to leftover pasta or rice that can be reused as a quick lunch. We haven't used it as a dip yet but I could see that working well with a variety of crudités and breadsticks too. An extra bonus point, 100% of profits go to charity, so you get to feel good about what you're eating !

LU Le Petit Beurre (RRP £1.50) is a classic taste of France now available in the UK. Le Petit Beurre takes inspiration from the first LU biscuit ever made – the Véritable Petit Beurre – a delicious buttery biscuit with a hint of salt. (Other Degustaboxers got Le Petit Chocolat, which pairs a crunchy, buttery biscuit with an indulgent layer of milk chocolate.) They're a simple but utterly addictive biscuit and the advantage of the plain Le Petit Beurre is that, in the summer, it won't melt in your packed lunch !

Freedom Choc Mallow Bites (RRP £1.49) are a free-from sweet treat - they're peanut-free, soy-free, gelatine-free, egg-free, dairy-free and gluten-free, so they're great if you're looking for a vegan or allergen-free product. The brand are very proud of their offering : "As Confectionery Innovators we were first in the world to launch Chocolate Coated Vegan Mallows - they said it couldn't be done! A delicious treat approved by The Vegan Society and free-from top-allergens". I don't blame them. We tried the Toasted Vanilla & Sassy Strawberry Chewy Bites Smothered In Chocolate and they were very tasty. Available on www.freedommallows.com.

Nu+cao (RRP £2.25) is a "nu" vegan chocolate bar that offers smooth, organic chocolate with no refined sugar (and less sugar than most - the wrapper says 65% less sugar), natural and ethically sourced ingredients and plastic-free packaging. On top of that,  for every bar they sell, a tree is planted so you're helping the environment too.  It's available in three varieties - Crunchy Nougat, Almond Sea Salt and Crisp & Crunch - in the Wellbeing aisle in Sainsbury's.

Finally, Sacla Rooted In Nature Sun-Dried Tomato Organic Stir-In Sauce (RRP £2.80) is, as the name suggests, a simple and time-saving product that allows you to get delicious food on the table in minutes. Stirred through pasta or rice, it makes a simple vegetarian dish in minutes - you don't even need to heat the sauce as the pasta/rice warms it up perfectly. It tastes delicious and didn't even need the addition of any extra spices. It's quite oily, presumably from the sun-dried tomatoes, so you might want to scoop some of the oil out of the top of the jar before you add it to your pasta/rice. Any leftover sauce can be used as a pizza topping or even stirred into mashed potatoes. It's made using the best organic tomatoes with no added sugar or salt.

 

 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.