Degustabox March 2021*

Box gifted by Degustabox
This is a PR box, this means there will sometimes be additional flavours or products than you’d get as a subscriber, I will highlight this within my post.

I’m pretty sure my one and only resolution for this year was to be more regular with my blogging. Given that is has now been a full month since my last post you can see how well that’s going…mostly thanks to the rest of my life going crazily well and keeping me well and truly occupied. Expect my resolution to pick up after a few more weeks (she says optimistically) and in the meantime, enjoy another review of yet another cracking Degustabox!

Quite a few years ago now Smarties released a block chocolate bar that then vanished. I was devastated, absolutely devastated. Seeing it land back on our shelves in a milk, white AND orange form bought joy to my heart. The orange bar is the latest addition to the range and is perfect for those who favour the orange smarties (which I do since they took all the colourings out of the blue ones!). This retails at £1 from major supermarket chains.

I do love a good flapjack but often find the bars you pick up in the shops are just too big, and once open I just can’t not finish it, leaving me feeling sick and on a major sugar high! These new 40g size bars from Brynmor Flapjacks are the solution to my greed- I tested out the apple & raspberry flavour which I didn’t think I would love, but actually I did- the tartness of the fruit balances the extreme amount of sugar! Available at Holland&Barrett, Ocado, Nisam WHSmith Travel and Grapetree (as well as online) for £2 for a pack of four.

I’m still not sure how I feel about these fruit smoothie jellies from Maynards if I’m honest. They were nice, fruity and with awesome flavour combinations, but I think if I’m going to eat sweets I’ll always favour wine gums or sports mix over something like this. However, if another bag made turned up in front of me I certainly wouldn’t turn them away!
£1 RRP from major supermarket chains.

The Esprala apple and red plum is a lightly sparkling vegan fruit drink that apparently also makes a fabulous mixer for gin. Unfortunately I can’t confirm or deny this as I managed to drop and explode the can, oops! This costs £1.09 per single unit or £12.57 for a pack of 12 from Amazon.
Thankfully I managed not to drop both drinks in this month’s box and got to sample the Lucozade Zero tropical. I really liked this- the flavours of pineapple and mango come through well and it provides a good hit of caffeine without the sugar associated with normal Lucozade. This retails at £1.49 from all major supermarkets.

Bob was in charge of testing these Pitch Bloc’O’Choc brioche rolls out and he did so with great enthusiasm. These are great breakfasts or snacks on the go- a soft and fluffy brioche roll with a solid chocolate bar inside (we recommend warming it up if you’re having it at home). Individually wrapped for top on the go points! £1.40 per pack from Co-Op.

I love mug shots (I’m sure I’ve mentioned that once or twice before!) but don’t always find them a very substantial lunch, especially at the moment when I’m trying to eat bigger meals and snack on rubbish a bit less! Mighty Chicken & Mushroom noodles gets a thumbs up from me and my grumbly tummy, and at £1.49 from major supermarket stores it’s a lot more wallet friendly than my usual daily snack haul when I’m at work!

This was the Degustabox product of the month and easily mine too! I’m obsessed with peanut butter on toast right now (and chocolate spread) and I’m all about this blend of smooth peanut butter and crunchy honey roasted peanuts. There 100% needs to be more cereal and peanut butter mash-ups in the world please.
£2.50 a jar from Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Iceland, One Stop and sometimes from Aldi.

My all time favourite cereals are the sugary American ones, but when I’m trying to be good, or trying to not spend £5+ on an import box then it’s Cheerios I always return to. These cheery looking box marks Cheerios UK debut in to the organic market- honey flavour hoops and chocolate cereal pieces make for a delicious breakfast (or lunch, or dinner, or snack…) £3 from Waitrose and on Ocado.

I am currently more obsessed than ever with savoury snacks and did a little dance when I saw Hippeas in the Degustabox! Salt and Vinegar is my favourite flavour, but if you haven’t tried Hippeas yet then you really can’t go wrong with any flavour. These have crunch and flavour like no other and I am addicted. From all major supermarkets and online for around 99p per bag. Shame it’s Easter Monday, the shops are about to close and I have none of these in the house as I could really go for some right now!

How cute are these little bottles of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar from Fillipo Berio? We are going to save these for when we go camping over the summer as they are the perfect solution to lugging big bottles around with us and both items are staples for us. £1.29 from major supermarket chains.

Not going to lie, I didn’t even try the Enervit Protein bar, I can’t deal with berries and chocolate together and knew I just wouldn’t enjoy this, which is a shame as the product itself sounds awesome- 20g of protein, low sugar, no gluten, no palm oil. I’d 100% try this in any other flavour!
The Mallow & Marsh vanilla marshmallow bar coated in milk chocolate definitely DID appeal. I love marshmallows and this was so indulgent for 134 calories. £1.35 per bar from Sainsbury’s, BP, Boots, WH Smith and Waitrose (I know what one snack I’ll be picking up on my lunch break tomorrow!)

I hope you enjoyed this month’s round up. Let me know which products caught your eye the most and what some of your favourite festive snacks are.

If you’re new to Degustabox, it’s a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money.
On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.

If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim £3.00 off of your first box (making it just £9.99!) by entering the code XOQGC at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.

The September Degustabox*

Box gifted by Degustabox
This is a PR box, this means there will sometimes be additional flavours or products than you’d get as a subscriber, I will highlight this within my post.

Another month and another Degustabox to review; this time with a “Family Sharing & Home Cooking” theme, and on first glance it looked like a very promising box indeed. Bob and I wasted no time in getting stuck in to the contents and our thoughts on each product (well, almost all of them) are below.

Bob’s eyes lit up as soon as he saw jelly and immediately added ice cream to the shopping list. These Hartley’s jelly pots are great for portion control and for a quick pudding with aforementioned ice cream. They cost 55p for one pot, or £1.65 for the three pack. A new staple in our cupboard for a quick sweet fix.

It’s definitely been soup weather lately! Amy’s soups are a favourite in this house and we always stock up when they are on offer. This organic vegetable barely soup is delicious and made for a perfect comforting lunch. The Peter’s Yard original sourdough crispbread was a great little companion!
Soup £1.89 and Crispbread £2.95 for a 105g pack.
Regular readers know by now how much of a snacker I am so getting to try anything new is always a fun time. We both loved these Emily veg thins- light and crunchy, the chipotle had a fantastic flavour to them. Highly addictive and full of fibre. Gluten free and vegan friendly too, we highly recommend looking out for these in Waitrose or ordering from Ocado or Amazon. 79p per bag RRP.

Recently I’ve got really in to Cider again and had heard good things about the Thatcher’s cloudy lemon. These is a lovely balance of sweet and sharp flavours and is gorgeous served chilled. Thatcher’s never get it wrong, we love this!
£5.50 for a pack of 4 cans.
Bob took this bottle of Lucozade revive to work with him one day and said it was a really nice and refreshing drink. Lightly sparkling and containing vitamins B3, B5, B6 and B12 this is a fruity little boost in a bottle and felt better than necking a bottle of Dr Pepper.
£1.49 per bottle.

Oh man, these biscuits have unleashed a monster in me. I cannot stop. They are so good, and lucky for me Bob hates chocolate and orange together so I don’t have to share! McVitie’s V.I.B. range is a premium take on their chocolate digestive range and the blood orange ones are just amazing. Also available in classic caramel or chocolate hazelnut- I’m yet to try either of those flavours but am on my third packet of these!
£1.79 a pack (I found them on offer for £1 in Waitrose the other week so keep your eyes peeled for offers!)

On to a few more wholesome snacks- I can’t say I was a huge fan of the protein balls (and I don’t have product info either, sorry!) but I know people rave about them, they just aren’t for me.
I did enjoy the chocolate hazelnut whip fulfil bar, it’s not my favourite flavour combination but I did really like it in this and the texture is awesome. This felt like an indulgent treat rather than a protein bar and was very filling for it’s small size and 156 calories.
I also really enjoyed the sweet ‘n’ salty almond bar from Rhythm108- a new brand to me, I was impressed with how rich this tasted considering it’s a vegan chocolate bar and I’d 100% get this again. Delicious!
Fulfil bar £2, Rhythm108 bar £1.49.

We love noodles, and we love quicky and easy meals so these five minute noodles from Naked were an instant win for us.
All you need to do is stir fry some chicken and veg and follow the instructions on the pack and you have a speedy and healthy dinner for two, a new store cupboard essential.
£1 per pack.
Bob is a maple syrup fan, and also a maple syrup snob, so the fact that this St Lawrence gold pure Canadian maple syrup met with his approval speaks volumes. Best enjoyed (in his opinion) on a stack of fluffy pancakes with crispy bacon, he’s living the weekend breakfast dream at the moment.
£1 per bottle.
These two snacks I actually gave to my Granddad to try as they are exactly the kind of thing he loves. He raved about the Drizzled Chocolish Nakd bars for ages! I don’t like raspberry and chocolate together but I’m now desperate to track down the other flavours to try for myself.
He also very much enjoyed the chocolate biscuit and hazelnut treat mix from Whitworths- he said the mix of textures and flavours worked really well and the bag didn’t last long!
Nakd bars £3 for 4, Whitworths £2 per bag.

Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought in the comments, it’s always great to get other people’s thoughts.

If you’re new to Degustabox, it’s a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money.
On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.

If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim £3.00 off of your first box (making it just £9.99!) by entering the code XOQGC at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.

Podberry- my new snack addiction*

*Products sent to me for blog consideration, opinions are entirely my own*

There isn’t much I love more than finding a new snack, especially a savoury snack that satisfies the need to crunch something without being crisps.

I love it even more when said new snack literally lands in my lap, introducing me to something that I might never have known about.

This is exactly what happened with Podberry, crunchy pea snacks (made from freeze dried peas).
These snacks are made with Scottish-grown peas, grown and made in the heart of Perthshire. Freeze dried on the farm before natural flavours are added, enhancing the sweet taste of the pea, the product is then packed ready to enjoy.
Available in four flavours; sea salt & balsamic vinegar, sweet chilli, ham hock and parmesan & truffle these are available n Morrison’s and Lidl across Scotland but also independent retailers across the UK or delivered straight to your door via the Podberry website.
Each pack is 20g with an RRP of £1.

They look exactly like dried out frozen peas and weigh almost nothing. I jumped straight in with the parmesan & truffle flavour as I had no idea what to expect from it and within seconds I was hooked.
I had no clue what to expect from the texture, but I really loved it- crunchy and light and the flavour was a winner. I wasn’t sure I’d like such a complicated sounding flavour combination but I wish I had more of these, I really do. I forced a few on an sceptical looking Bob, which I then regretted as he wanted more. Damn.

The other flavours were equally delicious- the sea salt & balsamic vinegar perhaps not as strong as I would have liked but yummy all the same. Oddly the flavours I was most worried about (the parmesan and also the ham hock) were my favourites as they both married so nicely with the sweetness you get from the peas.

It’s so hard to accurately describe these little packets of joy, they are unlike any other snack out there. The entire range is also completely vegan, high in protein, low in fat, gluten free and 1 of your 5 a day. Perfect for on the go and surprisingly filling for something so light.

I’ll 100% be stocking myself up on these once payday comes, and I thoroughly recommend them to anyone else who loves quirky snacks or is searching for a healthier option.
Podberry, you’ve kind of blown my mind with these. Thank you!

The August Degustabox- back to school and on the go*

Box gifted by Degustabox
This is a PR box, this means there will sometimes be additional flavours or products than you’d get as a subscriber, I will highlight this within my post.

How is it even the end of August and almost back to school time? This year has flown by more than usual, I suppose because everything is just so bloody strange. My head is stuck in March, and yet here we are on the last bank holiday before Christmas.

This month’s Degustabox looked promising from the second I opened it. The products had a back to school/on the go theme and you can see what I made of them by reading on…

First up are these Great British Puds chew bars from Swizzels. I’d actually already tried these, having made my Mum track them down for me a couple of months ago. As the name suggests, these are based on some top traditional puddings- rhubarb crumble and sticky toffee pudding were my favourites. Well worth the £1 per bag and available from selected Asda, Morrisons, Co-op, One Stop, B&M, Home Bargains, McColl’s, Premier and Spar stores.
One good thing to come out of lockdown, and a habit we’ve continued is that Bob and I both take packed lunches to work with us every day. We are always looking for new ideas to try, and this Capsicana Mexican chilli and honey cooking paste was a great addition to some chicken for salads and wraps. £1.50 per sachet from Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Ocado. This did us four lunches so was well worth the money.
Pick Up! biscuits are Bob’s favourite packed lunch treat. The Choco Hazelnut and Choco & Milk were both big winners, so now I need to try and get hold of these as well as the standard Milk Chocolate ones to keep him happy! £1.69 for a pack of 5 from most major supermarkets (I often get them on offer for £1).

I wasn’t sure what to make of these Pea Powered Curls from Simpleas at first as they are unlike anything I’ve had before. It didn’t take long before I was hooked- super crunchy and full of flavour as well as being gluten free and high in protein and fibre. Amazing for 88 calories per bag, I wish they were more widely available! £1.09 per bag from WH Smiths, Skinny Food Company, Independent Farm Shops and on simpleas-snacks.co.uk.
Bob tried these Boundless nuts and seeds in Cayenne and Rosemary from Boundless as the flavour wasn’t for me. A great healthier option for on the go, and he said the flavour was great. £1.50 from Sainsbury’s (£1 there), Holland & Barrett, John Lewis as well as As Nature Intended, Revital and Independent stores.

I saw these RXBARs everywhere when we were in America and regretted not trying them. Made with the shortest ingredients list I think I’ve ever seen, these are pricey at £2.50 but the peanut butter and chocolate flavour was a hit in my eyes (this flavour combo makes anything a winner!). I’d get these again if on offer as there are a few flavours I’d like to try. Available from Sainsbury’s, Ocado, Amazon and rxbar.com.
I didn’t try the Swisse Me start me Chia smoothie as this kind of thing just isn’t my cup of tea. I’m sure it’s great though, for those who are too busy to breakfast at home and want something healthy. £1.80 from swisseme.com.
I loved the blueberry and banana sachet from The Great British Porridge Co. I’m stocking up on these for our next camping trip as you just need boiling water to make a delicious and hot breakfast. £1.50 each and I’ve seen the brand stocked in Waitrose.
Chai lovers will already be aware of Drink me Chai. I personally tend to use their powders to make a chai tea loaf- the perfect Autumnal bake.

I love the Twinings cold infuse range as a whole, although this wasn’t a flavour for me. These are perfect for livening up plain water without adding loads of sugar to get some flavour. £3/79 per pot and available in all major supermarkets in a wide range of flavours.
Bob is the cold coffee connoisseur in our house and rated this Iced Coffee from Master Cafe very highly indeed. Bonus points for the gorgeous packaging. £1.50 per can and also available in Iced Coffee Latte Mocha from Amazon, snaxemporium.com and selected convenience stores across the UK.
Another new favourite for the camping snacks stash are these salted caramel protein flapjacks from Trek. I was late to the salted caramel love, but now I’m obsessed. These are a great addition to the brand’s range, and ideal for refuelling after a long walk – be it on the beach or trying to find your way back to your tent on a dark campsite! £2.50 for three from Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Tesco, Ocado and Amazon.

Sunny Fruit Mix-Ups from Whitworths might be aimed at kids but I love these as a work snack too. The strawberries are lovely with the sultanas and they squish a sugar craving really well. £2 from all major supermarket chains.

Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought in the comments, it’s always great to get other people’s thoughts.

If you’re new to Degustabox, it’s a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money.
On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.

If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim £3.00 off of your first box (making it just £9.99!) by entering the code XOQGC at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.


Degustabox February 2020*

Box gifted by Degustabox
This is a PR box, this means there will sometimes be additional flavours or products than you’d get as a subscriber, I will highlight this within my post.

The February edition of Degustabox had the theme of “Easter is Coming”, and whilst it wasn’t packed full of Easter treats, there was a great balance of products that landed this box firmly within my top five boxes to date. I’m a bit later in the month writing my post this time, which means I’ve had more chance to give everything a good tasting, so read on for my thoughts.

The one product I didn’t love was this Lost Coast Fruit Spritzer with Apple Cider Vinegar. I tried it, I didn’t hate it, but this kind of drink just isn’t for me. Subscribers will get one of three flavours in their box.

Mug shots are a hot favourite in my office when it comes to quick and convenient lunches. I really rate this high protein roast chicken pasta, both for it’s flavour and nutritional benefits as well as for it’s self contained packaging. Come lunch time you can never find a mug in the communal kitchen so having something like this is ideal. £1.29 from Tesco and Asda.
Bob and I love our slow cooker and these little pots packed with flavour are perfect for creating something tasty. Each pack has one meat and one veggie recipe with them and require very little prep. We haven’t tried these yet, we can’t decide which to do, but we’re excited to create something delicious. Subscribers will get one of the two flavours in their box and these sell for £1.99 at Tesco.
Inside this month’s box was a voucher to pick up a Shaken Udder milkshake. Every subscriber will find one of these fully redeemable vouchers in their box (as chilled products can’t be safely sent) and let me tell you, you’re in for a treat. With six flavours to choose from it’ll be tough to pick…Bob and I went vanilla which was anything but boring. Highly recommend. Widely available for £1.40 at supermarkets.
Jacked is a new brand to me and one that certainly made an impression. The Ndizi banana chunks were amazing…as for the Jackfruit, well I had NO idea what to expect from dried Jackfruit and I still don’t fully understand it. It’s reminiscent of mango and oddly addictive to eat. Subscribers will get Jackfruit only, and if you’re curious to try it you can find it for £1.89 from Whole Foods and John Lewis.
I’m a child at heart and spaghetti shapes on toast is one of my favourite weekend lunches. These little tins from Heinz have no added sugar but don’t compromise on taste. Subscribers will get two cans in their box and they are available for around 55p a tin from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Ocado.

I’m not sure what mustard has to do with anything but hey, I like mustard and I really like this punch Dijon from Grey Poupon. Perfect for a sandwich, or wherever you want to add it, you’ll find this at Waitrose, Tesco, Ocado, M&S and Boots for around £1.50.
Easter chocolate, yay! I love these new KitKat Easter Bunnies. I love KitKats so much and these are a great addition to the seasonal lineup. Chunky chocolate with wafer pieces- these almost remind me of winning the KitKat lottery and finding a solid chocolate finger. 65p each from all major supermarkets.
There are so many amazing sounding vegan treats on the market these days, and these Livia’s Million Squares have been catching my eye for a while. Whilst you can tell these aren’t a traditional Millionaires Slice they are delicious, thick, gooey and indulgent whilst being fully vegan, gluten and dairy free! £1.50 per pack from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Boots, Ocado, Waitrose, Holland and Barrett to name but a few.
Another vegan and gluten free treat in this month’s box were these cocoa oat flapjacks from Trek. This brand has been a mainstay in my life for years now and I genuinely love everything they do. This is their top selling flavour in the protein flapjack range (although not my personal favourite). Well worth checking out for a substantial but healthier snack. £2.50 for three bars at major supermarket chains.
Dark chocolate roasted chickpeas with coconut? I don’t know how or why this works, but it does! These truly have to be tasted to be believed and you’ll find them in Asda or on Amazon for around £1.25 a bag- seriously, oddly great.
Last but by no means least comes the new vegan chocolate range from Galaxy. Subscribers will get one of the three flavours in their box. I really liked this, although be under no illusions that this tastes like ordinary galaxy. It’s still smooth and creamy in it’s own way, and a great addition to the vegan snack market. My favourite was the caramelised hazelnut- my only complaint is the price at £3 per bar. Available at Tesco, Ocado and Amazon.

Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought in the comments.

If you’re new to Degustabox, it’s a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money.
On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.

If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £5.00 off of your first box (making it just £7.99!) by entering the code XOQGC at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.