Here we are with the fourth Degustabox of 2015 and the April edition took on an international theme. As ever there was a great selection of products in the box, although this time not suited to my own tastes- no matter though, my Dad stepped in to test things out and still love the monthly excitement.

I’m sure that by now you’re all familiar with what the box is about, but just in case you’re not, it’s a monthly food subscription box that delivers a selection of new and surprise products to your door for the cost of £12.99 per one off box or £11.99 per month when you take out a bi-annual subscription. I’ve been reviewing the boxes over the last year and they never fail to impress me and get me eating outside of my comfort zone.

The first product out of the box was some crisps from the folks at Nandos. I only first visited a Nandos about 6 months ago (I know, I know) but I’m 100% a fan of their chicken-y goodness. I’m not the world’s biggest crisp eater but even I enjoyed the Peri-Salted variety and my Dad’s eyes lit up when he spied the spicier flavours in the range. Each pack has a RRP of 69p.

Chopped tomatoes are a store cupboard essential and I don’t care what anyone says, I do think branded ones often taste better than their value counterparts. Cirio have long been the tomato of choice for me so it was nice to see two new to me products in the box. The tomato fillets are perfect for using as a base for a chunky pasta sauce, or simply heated up and served on buttered toast. Yum!

The drinks section of the April box didn’t really appeal to me and I can’t claim to have tried the selection yet. The Idrinq can claims to make you think smarter, aiding creativity and idea generation. I think this is probably a placebo effect but if I try it out and discover a miracle I’ll be sure to let you know! (£1.49 per can). The Scheckters organic energy drink (£1.35) is something I will be trying in the near future, probably when I’m on a long day at work. It’s full of natural ingredients and delicate flavours which will probably benefit me far more than the additive loaded monster energy drinks I sometimes indulge in!

I’m not a beer fan so the Kingfisher Indian beer, which is India’s best selling brand has gone straight to Dad who is a fan. There’s a reason it’s so popular apparently, and I am sure that if I was a beer drinker I would find it excellent myself. (£2.00 a bottle).

Are you ever too old for Kinder chocolate? I think not! The April box included two bags of new bite sized treats. The chocolate with cereals is lovely, there’s a bit of an odd contrast in tastes and textures at first, but these are light and more-ish (and long gone!). Ben had the other bag, the original choco-bons and there barely lasted five minutes. I used to love these until I became allergic to the hazelnuts (which thankfully aren’t in the cereal variety) so I was really quite envious. (£1.55 a bag but I have seen them on offer at £1).

Barry’s Tea is an Irish favourite and I wish it was more widely available as this is just lovely. My love of coffee has switched to a love of tea over the last couple of years and this is the perfect everyday blend for enjoying with a biscuit on the side. The cookies in the box, by USA brand Debeukelaer Cookies Bakery looked like the perfect accompaniment, the pack I received had a soft and creamy nougat centre which was very much enjoyed by those who tried them. At £2.00 for a packet of four (rather large) cookies these are a luxury treat but I think well worth it, I’ll be seeking out some of the other varieties to try for myself.

Last but not least there were some microwave rice trays from Veetee. These are a staple in our house and the new flavours are really appealing. The peri-peri was excellent in a chicken stir-fry and I think the mexican rice has been earmarked for a fajitas night. These cost £1.49 each and I always stock up when I see them on offer!

If you had the April box too, what were your thoughts? As I said before, this wasn’t a box I could personally enjoy as much, but other people benefitted hugely and I still think the concept of Degustabox is a brilliant one and something I always look forward to arriving at my door.