Degustabox June 2023 review : Picnic & On The Go

The latest Degustabox recently arrived and, as we're stuck in the middle of an unrelenting heatwave, I absolutely loved the summery theme of the box : Picnic & On The Go. Several of the ingredients instantly inspired me for eating with dips or adding them to salads and the drinks options were perfect for sipping on a hot, sunny day. Here's what was in the box.

  

Hellmann's Real Garlic & Herbs Dressing & Dip (RRP £2.60) is a lovely, rich, garlicky sauce that is perfect for drizzling over salad or spreading into a sandwich. It's packed with flavour so it's all you need to add to lettuce for a simple side salad. It's also great stirred through boiled potatoes and tomatoes for a quick potato salad. Other Degustabox subscribers received Caesar Dressing, Fat Free Vinaigrette, Real Thousand Island Dressing or Real Honey & Mustard Dressing. If you buy several varieties, you could eat salad every day of the week and never get bored so it's perfect for summer !

Cawston Press Sparkling Rhubarb (RRP £3.50)  is a deliciously tart drink made from pressed rhubarb, apples and sparkling water. It's very refreshing served straight from the fridge or over ice. It's also available in 330ml cans, alongside Elderflower Lemonade, which was received by some Degustaboxers. All Cawston press drinks are made with a "no jiggery pokery" rule, which means no added sugar, no concentrates, no sweeteners and no shortcuts. The 750ml glass bottles are available on Ocado, Amazon and cawstonpress.com.

Two Brooks Craft Hard Seltzer (RRP £2) tastes delicious, just like a fruity flavoured sparkling water drink, but with an added hit of alcohol. Founded by three siblings, Two Brooks are intensely refreshing and crisp craft drinks. We got Mango Hi-Ball, which has a lovely tropical, fruity flavour, while other Degustabox subscribers got Passion Star. Perfect for sipping under a parasol in the back garden on a hot, sunny day. Available on amazon and twobrooks.co.uk.

Manomasa Tortilla Chips (RRP 2 x £1) are a great way of adding some Latin flavour to your summer salads by sprinkling them over the top. The two flavours received in the box are some of the most popular : Manchego & Green Olive and Serrano Chilli & Yucatan Honey. Imagine layers of juicy Mediterranean olives, sweet red peppers and tasty manchego cheese or traditional Serrano chilli and Mayan Yucatan honey from the mountains of Puebla, a handful of coriander and green lentils. Even if just munched straight from the pack, they're a great way of adding some punchy flavours to your snacks and summertime meals.

Nakd Protein Bars (RRP 2 x £1.25) instantly appealed to Pierre, who is keen on upping his protein intake and boosting his muscles, especially when it tastes this good and comes in a simple, ready-to-eat format. Made with 100% natural ingredients and no added sugar, these plant based protein bars come in three flavours and we got two : Peanut Butter and Cocoa Hazelnut. (There is also a Caramel variety.) Very tasty, according to Pierre.

 

Rio Tropical (RRP 85p) offers the ultimate fruity, sunshiney taste of summer, with orange, guava, apricot, mango and passion fruit juice added to sparkling water. It's a great tasting and refreshing drink to sip straight from the fridge and is also a source of vitamin C. 

Rosemary & Sea Salt Ryvita Thins (RRP £2.20 - other Degustaboxers got Multi-Seed Ryvita Thins) are great for dunking into anything from guacamole and salsa to cream cheese or hummus. They are very light and crunchy and can be used to add some interesting texture to a salad dish too. Perfect for summertime snacking.

Skittles Desserts and Skittles Squishy Cloudz Fruits (RRP 2 x £1.25 - other Degustaboxers got Squishy Cloudz Crazy Sours) offer sweet and creamy or soft and juicy flavour combinations that are very appealing. They promise a rainbow of happiness in each pack and they do make a nice change to regular Skittles, which I still love. Perfect for nibbling on in the summer instead of chocolate as they won't melt on your fingers !

Smint XXL Peppermint (RRP £1.50) are something I have never tried before so I can't compare but apparently they are three times bigger than regular Smint. They come in a convenient tin that is perfect for keeping in the car or in your handbag. They offer a powerful and long-lasting freshness so they're great for nibbling on after you've had a meal.

 

Forest Feast Salt & Vinegar Nut Mix (RRP £1.25) is a tasty mix of colossal cashews, almonds, pecans, peanuts and jumbo pumpkin seeds, all slow-roasted with hand harvested sea salt and cider vinegar. They have great flavour and I love their crunchy texture.

Garlic & Basil Olly's Olives (RRP £1.50) are dressed to impress in a tasty marinade and served in a convenient pouch that contains no messy oil or stones. They're vegan-friendly, a great source of fibre and each pouch only contains 75 calories so you can nibble away with a clear conscience.

 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.