Degustabox April 2024 review

As soon as I unpacked the contents of this month's Degustabox, I was impressed. It's just the kind of box I love, full of exciting new products that will be perfect for getting dinner on the table and introducing us to new flavours and cuisines. It can be tricky sometimes coming up with dishes that appeal to teenagers' tastes and moods while also respecting my desire to use fresh and principally healthy ingredients and this box has some ingredients that will help achieve just that. Here's what was hiding away in this month's box.

This month's Product of the Month introduces us to the new Maggi Pan Perfect and So Juicy ranges (RRP 2 x 99p), which offer a quick and easy way to try out new cooking styles. The first pack is for Pan-Perfect Sweet Teriyaki, which whisks our tastebuds off to Japan in just fifteen minutes. Just add the contents of the pack to some chicken then add some vegetables and noodles for a sweet, savoury and tangy explosion of flavours in your mouth. After Japan, destination Louisiana with the So Juicy Cajun option, which includes a cooking bag alongside the punchy blend of spices. The seasoning includes spicy Cayenne, bold coriander and fragrant cumin and will set your mouth on fire and have your tastebuds tingling in delight. This meal takes a bit longer so you'll need to set aside about an hour but there is very little effort involved as you just need to put everything in the bag then pop it in the oven. Maggi suggest an accompaniment consisting of peppery carrots and lemon zest broccoli, alongside the baked new potatoes in the cooking bag with the chicken. Both of these packs are quick and simple to use and the kids devoured them and said we should buy them again. Perfect ! The Cajun pack is available in all major supermarkets but you'll have to head to Sainsbury's if you want to try the Teriyaki option.

 

Lamb Weston Farmer's Mash (RRP £1.69) is a quick and simple way to get a side dish on the table, especially good after a long day at work when tummies are hungry and time is short. Just add hot water (or milk if you prefer) and a knob of butter for four servings of creamy mash. It is made with the best British potatoes and nothing but natural goodness. Whether you want bangers and mash, cottage pie, fish pie or something slightly more creative such as tuna and potato fritters, they will take all the hard work out of providing a tasty meal. Available at Ocado.

Manilife Deep Roast Salted Peanuts (RRP £2.80) offer the finest peanuts on the planet from a single estate. They have a sweet flavour, to the point of caramelly, as the producers say. They are very tasty and are the winners of a Great Taste 2023 award. Other Degustaboxers got Cocoa Dusted Peanuts which sound lovely too. Available at Sainsbury's, Ocado and Whole Food Market.

 

Mixologist's Garden Freeze Dried Lime Garnishes (RRP £2.75) are a great way of adding a touch of class to your drinks this summer or maybe at a posh cocktail party. Inside the bag is nothing but fruit - freeze dried limes with no additives, no nasties and no surprises. Just toss some in your favourite drink and you'll get a hit of instant colour, flavour and aroma. They can be added to alcoholic or soft drinks as desired and offer twice the flavour of fresh fruit. Also available in a whole host of other fruity options, including orange, lemon and raspberry. They would be perfect in mojitos or there is a tasty recipe for daiquiris on their webpage. Available in ASDA, East of England, Co-op and larger Tesco's.

Nature's Path Mesa Sunrise Cereal (RRP £3.50) is a blend of corn, quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth and flaxseed, combined and lightly toasted to create whole-grain flakes that are suitable for vegans and gluten-free. They're naturally high in fibre, organic and contain no artificial additives. We found them slightly bland and liked them more with a handful of fresh or freeze-dried fruit, such as strawberries, raisins or dried apricots. The kids liked them with some chocolate chips added and yogurt poured on top. Available in all major supermarkets.

 

Ryvita Thins Sour Cream and Chive Flavour (RRP £2.20) are a tasty and healthier snack option. Perfect for nibbling straight from the box, they can also be dipped in salsa or sour cream. Perfect  for guilt-free snacking in front of the latest Netflix thriller. Available at Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Ocado and Amazon.

E. Wedel Snack Pop Corn (RRP £1.30) offers the perfect combination of 170 years of tradition and trendsetting ideas. Whoever came up with the idea of mixing up sweet chocolate and slightly salty, crunchy popcorn was a genius. Wedel is one of the biggest names in sweets and chocolate in Poland and having sampled this product, I'm not surprised ! Available at Tesco's, Sainsbury's, ASDA and Amazon.

 

Snatt's Green Pea Piselli (RRP £2.20) taste better than they sound ! These Mediterranean style snacks are made with pulses and grains and they're not fried so they're lower in fat than regular potato chips. They are made with natural ingredients and real Mediterranean flavours. Very tasty. Available in major supermarket chains soon.

Teapigs Liquorice and Peppermint organic tea (RRP £4.60) look lovely and very well made but sadly we all hate liquorice here at the Madhouse. Teapigs say that this blend offers a sweetly refreshing taste, striking a perfect balance that's irresistibly moreish for tea-lovers. Available at all major supermarkets and online at Teapigs.

The Food Doctor Salted Caramel bar (RRP £2.20) is a product that promises to provide a great taste while also being high fibre, high protein and low carb. Perfect for those on a Keto or low carb diet but they taste good enough that I'd eat them even if I'm not ! Available at Sainsbury's, Ocado and Amazon.

Yogi Yo Korean Sauces (RRP 2 x 85p) are another great ingredient to add some speedy wow-factor to your stir fries. We got rich and tangy Korean Sesame Soy which is delicious, alongside the hot and fiery Korean Chilli Sauce, which blew our heads off and was way too spicy for us. The products are made with authentic Gochujang paste from Korean which promises a kick that will elevate any stir fry or noodle dish. They can be used with chicken, beef, pork or fish and will provide a tasty, intense dish in minutes. Available in Waitrose and Amazon.

Aqua Libra Fruity Sparkling Water (RRP 2 x £1.15) are deliciously flavoured drinks that perfectly hit the spot when you need refreshment and want some great taste. My favourite is the Blood Orange & Mango infused drink, but the Raspberry & Blackcurrant flavour is very tasty too. There is no sugar, sweeteners or artificial additives, just sparkling water, natural fruit flavours and a dash of lemon. The resulting drink is crisp, clean and unsweetened. I love them and like the fact that you don't get a mouth full of overly sweet, syrupy drink as is often the case.

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.