As soon as I saw the theme of the latest Degustabox, I knew it would be a good box. With a theme of Festive and Gourmet, this one promised to be chock full of tasty treats to munch on, snuggled up on the settee, watching a Christmas movie, and we certainly weren't disappointed when we unpacked the contents !
There's cute shaped chocolate, tasty festive versions of old classics, even crafty sauces for using up the turkey leftovers - everything that will be needed for adding a little sparkle to the final month of the year !
First, we discovered a jar of Zest Coriander and Basil Pesto (RRP £2.20). The jar proudly boasts that it contains nothing artificial and it is also vegan. It only uses the leaf of basil and coriander plants, along with cashew nuts for a creamy flavour. This would be great spooned over pasta on its own (one less thing to worry about if you're hosting any vegans or vegetarians this year and need a quick option) or could be a great way of zinging up the leftover turkey, either with pasta or in a sandwich. It's also gluten free and dairy free, so it caters for all options. Available at Ocado, Morrison's, Amazon and independent stores across the UK.
Wolf Blass wines (RRP 2 x £2.25) are available in small 187ml bottles that are perfect if you're drinking on your own. There are red and white options to sample in the box - Yellow Label Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Yellow Label has delivered exceptional quality for over 50 years and offers wines that are bright, fruit-driven and full of flavour, pairing perfectly with food to help make any meal an occasion. These are selected from the finest South Australian regions and go down very nicely !
Daelman's Authentic Dutch Stroopwafels Minis (RRP £1.30 for 200g) got the first big "oooh" from the kids, who recognised them from a previous box ! These buttery waffle biscuits are filled with a layer of sweet caramel that can be enjoyed on their own, with a hot drink or even crushed into ice cream. I still think these would be great stuck in the top of cupcakes but the kids always manage to munch the whole lot before I get the chance to try ! Very tasty !
Maille Traditional Dijon Mustard (RRP £1.99) is a French staple, found in the fridge of pretty much any French fridge, just as you'd find a bottle of ketchup in many UK fridges. Created in 1747, it is the French mustard of choice for chefs and families alike, guaranteed to add a gourmet touch to your dish. An ideal accompaniment to red meat and a key ingredient for any French salad dressing, it can also be used to liven up sandwiches, so it's perfect for using up the turkey leftovers !
Lindt Lindor Chocolate Bars (RRP 2 x 85p) are the perfect naughty nibble for grown-ups (although the kids would probably love them too, if they could get their hands on them - tee hee hee !). The Lindt Master Chocolatiers combine expertise and the finest ingredients to produce the perfectly smooth chocolate shell with an irresistibly smooth melting filling. Mint or orange ? What's your favourite? I love both of them - it's just too hard to choose !
Another perfect festive nibble is the Kit Kat Christmas Break (RRP Individual Santa 65p, 66g Mini Santa bag £1), which is great for kids and adults alike. I think I may have to buy some more of these to stuff in the kids' stockings ! Smooth creamy chocolate, filled with a rich chocolatey centre and crunchy wafer pieces. The best bit though is the cute Santa shape. Ho ho ho, merry Christmas !
Another top pick for the festive munchies countdown - Orange & Cranberry Jaffa Cakes (RRP £1.20). You get the same old dark chocolate and light sponge combination, along with the usual orangey centre, except this time, it is enhanced with a warming cranberry flavour. I think these would be perfect left out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve in place of his usual mince pie this year !
Kind Snack Bars (RRP - Protein Double Dark Chocolate Nut £1.99, Caramel Almond & Sea Salt £1.30 - other Degustaboxers received Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate £1.30) are a nutritious but nevertheless tasty snack. Packed with high quality ingredients and offering 12g of plant protein for the Kind Protein Bar, they are a high fibre snack that you can munch on without feeling guilty !
La Boulangère Brioche Baguettes (RRP £1.50) offer another taste of France that is perfect for a delicious breakfast or snack, filled with jam, chocolate spread or any other sweet filling, but you could also try them with ham and cheese in place of regular bread. The kids are sure to love them for their rich, buttery taste. Give them a try toasted too - just halve them and pop them under the grill for a few minutes to give them a crispy bite to contrast with the softness of the bread beneath. You can even freeze them so that you always have some at hand.
Clipper Advent Calendar of Organic Tea (RRP £4.99) offers 24 cups of organic tea and infusions flavours, to see you through December. Keep them all to yourself or maybe offer one as a Secret Santa gift. This is a great way to try out their best-selling flavours. I've passed this over to Sophie to try out.
I didn't recognise this as a product from Pip's Real Hot Chocolate Co (you may remember that we've tried out their hot chocolate discs in previous Degustaboxes) but this time, the Zero Trace Full Taste Hot Chocolate (RRP £1) comes in a sachet. It's best made with milk (any milk works, dairy or non!) - mix into a paste with the first bit of hot milk (or water if you are using that), and then top up
whilst still stirring. They use cocoa that is ethically grown and traded, along with unrefined Mauritian sugar, and there is no trace of any of the 14 major allergens, so this is a special treat that can be enjoyed by pretty much any chocolate lover.
There is also a voucher for a free pack of Strings & Things Wintershapes Quirkies, that are a limited edition product for any of your cheese-loving kids to get their mitts on !
This is a lovely box, full of both sweet and savoury treats to nibble on and share as a family.
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.
