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Posts tagged Schwartz
Degustabox February 2015
2
6 years
February’s Degustabox was one of my favourites in a good few months, with a good mix of the types of things that I enjoy eating, and new brands that I hadn’t tried before, including Whole Earth, Laimon Fresh, and Lily O’Brien’s.
The box contained eleven individual items, with a total value of over £22. Degustabox costs £12.99 each month, so this box saves you around £10, which is a pretty decent saving.
Also, this month I’ve decided to start rating each item of out 10, so you can get a better idea of which items stand out for me, and which don’t. Here are my thoughts on each item…
Lily O’Brien’s Cocoa Cookie Crunch (RRP £2.60)
Lily O’Brien’s is said to be Ireland’s ‘best loved chocolatier’, and being a chocolate fiend myself, these were without a doubt my favourite thing in the box. The bag contains a generous amount of large individual chocolates, consisting of Oreo-like cookie pieces, coated in milk chocolate. The cookies have a fantastic crunch and a deep, rich cocoa flavour, offset perfectly by the sweetness of the milk chocolate. As you can imagine, the chocolates are very moreish, and it didn’t take Charles and I long to finish the bag. I’d definitely purchase these again!
Rating: 9/10
Whole Earth Peanut Butter with Sunflower, Pumpkin & Flax Seeds (RRP £3.19)
I adore peanut butter so this was another welcome addition to the box, especially as I’ve been eyeing up Whole Earth products in Morrisons for a while now. This particular peanut butter is new to the range, and contains a mix of sunflower, pumpkin and flax seeds, so is packed full of protein. The flavour is authentically nutty, as it isn’t overloaded with salt and sugar like some cheaper peanut butters are, and the seeds add a pleasant crunch and flavour. Perfect on wholemeal toast for breakfast!
Rating: 8/10
Jack Link’s Beef Snack (RRP £1.39)
Jack Link’s Beef Snack is a beef jerky style bar, which aims to be a healthy, on the go snack. Being vegetarian, this one got passed straight to the fella for him to try. As soon as he opened it I was hit with the spicy scent of heavily seasoned meat, and it also looked very greasy. Almost sweaty! Apparently the flavour was a bit of a let-down. Despite the smell of spices, he said it tasted fairly bland, and was far too chewy. Not a winner, even by the meat-eater’s standards.
Rating: 4/10
Beet It Sport Pro-Elite Bar (RRP £1.85 each)
Beet It Sport’s Pro-Elite Bars are predominantly made of oats and beetroot, and contain a high level of dietary nitrate, which is apparently used by universities around the world for research in lowering blood pressure and improving sport performance. I’m yet to try these and I want to save them for when I start running again (which will happen once Spring kicks in, honest!) I’m not sure I’d pay £1.85 for a single bar, but I’m definitely intrigued to see what these taste like.
Peanut Hottie (RRP £3.00)
I tried Peanut Hottie fairly recently and enjoyed it, so was pleased to find this in the box. Peanut Hottie is a peanut butter flavoured hot drink, and it’s exactly what it says on the tin. It’s very easy to make, very much like a powdered hot chocolate, as you just need to add hot water. When made up it looks like strong tea, but has a slightly salty, slighty sweet, nutty flavour, which is quite unusual for a drink. I really like it, but a small mug is plenty enough, as it can get quite sickly.
Rating: 8/10
Laimon Fresh (RRP £1.99)
Despite having a name that sounds like washing up liquid, Laimon Fresh is honestly one of the nicest drinks I’ve tried in a long time. It contains a mix of natural ingredients, including fresh lemon and lime juices and mint, which combine to create something deliciously thirst quenching. The fruit juices are balanced perfectly – not too sweet and not too sour – but the star of the show is the authentic flavour of fresh mint. I drank this alone, but it would make a great base for a Mojito – something I’ll definitely be trying in the summer!
Rating: 9/10
Schwartz Flavour Shots (RRP £1.40 each)
Schwartz Flavour Shots have appeared in a Degustabox before, and make for quick and easy delicious meals. Each shot contains a mix of herbs and spices, as well as sunflower oil, and are used to form the flavour base of a tasty dish. The Masala shot has a fantastic blend of spices which are full of flavour, and not too hot. I used Quorn chicken in my curry, and combined the shot with chopped tomatoes and milk, as suggested on the packaging, and it tasted great. A big thumbs up from me.
Rating: 8/10
American Muffin Company Chocolate Brownies (RRP £2.50)
American Muffin Company has created a range of gluten-free cakes and brownies, and I was lucky enough to receive the exact item I would have chosen in store – the brownies. The tub contains six individually wrapped brownies, and though the texture is more cake than brownie, they are incredibly yummy. The cake is thick and moist, and the cocoa and chocolate used is very rich, which gives them a high quality flavour. Perfect as an afternoon treat with a cup of tea!
Rating: 8/10
Melba Thins (RRP £1.39)
Melba Thins aren’t the most exciting snack in the world, but they are versatile, and work well with a variety of toppings. As the box says, they’re great for ‘night owls & early birds’. For an evening snack they’re fab with cheeses and pickles, and for breakfast or brunch they’re lovely with sweet spreads, such as jam or chocolate spread. I like the fact that the thins in this pack come in generously portioned individual packets, as they can also be taken in lunch boxes to work.
Rating: 6/10
If you fancy giving Degustabox a go yourself, you can get a £3 discount by entering code 2S7LB at the checkout. You can also follow Degustabox on Twitter and Facebook for more exclusive offers.
Naomi x
PS. You can check out the rest of my Degustabox reviews here.
*This Degustabox was sent to me for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
Degustabox March 2014
9
7 years
Last month I was given the chance to receive a Degustabox to review, and as a lover of food and surprises, how could I say no? Degustabox is a monthly subscription box which contains between 10 and 15 surprise food items, some of which are new to the market. Each box costs £12.99 including delivery, and there’s no obligation to keep your subscription.
So, the March box. My box was dispatched during the last week of March, and it arrived a couple of days later. The service I received during the delivery process was really impressive, as I was sent a couple of texts and emails to say that my box was on its way and when it would be delivered, and when it did arrive the items inside were chilled, so you don’t have to worry about anything going off in transit.
The box itself is really quite large, and comes packed full of items – I genuinely don’t think they could’ve squashed anything more in there! In total, I received 15 individual items, none of which are particularly high-end, but pretty much all of them were new to me, which was exciting.
Here are my thoughts on each…
Drink Me Chocolate Chai Latte (RRP £2.55) and Earl Grey Tea Latte
I was really excited to see these in the box as I already have Drink Me’s Spiced Chai Latte and it is gorgeous. The Chocolate Chai Latte is better though, and is my favourite thing in the whole box. The chocolate is dark and rich and slightly bitter, and the spices give it a hint of warming sweetness. It actually tastes exactly like Lebkuchen which are my favourite Christmas treat, so this is a definite winner for me.
I haven’t yet tried the Earl Grey Latte so I can’t comment on its flavour, but I have high hopes. Degustabox list these as being £6.50 for a multipack which seems quite expensive, but I checked online and they appear to be 32p per sachet in Sainsbury’s and Waitrose, which is pretty reasonable.
MOMA! Plain and Cranberry and Raisin Porridge (RRP £1.50 each)
These didn’t excite me at first, especially as I’m not keen on porridge made with water, but they’re quite nice. They’re easy to make too and perfect for a quick breakfast on the go – just mix with boiling water, replace the lid, leave for three minutes, and voila! Instant brekkie. The oats are mixed with milk powder so the texture is lovely and creamy, and the overall flavour is comfortingly sweet. The cranberries and raisins in the purple pot add a warm burst of fruitiness too. A thumbs up from me, but at £1.50 each I don’t think I’ll be eating them every day of the week.
Shaken Udder Kids Milkshake (RRP £1.89 for 3)
These little cartons of milkshake are perfect for kids. The packaging is appealing, they come with a chunky straw and they’re just the right size for little hands. I usually prefer thick and creamy milkshakes and these are quite thin in consistency, but they’re actually rather yummy. I haven’t tried the banana one yet, but the other two have a really authentic flavour, probably due to the lack of anything artificial. The chocolate one is my favourite so far. These came with a couple of vouchers for a free pack of three, as well as a free ‘grown up’ bottle, so I’ll definitely be cashing those in.
Schwartz Italian Creamy Herb Tagliatelle and Spanish Paella Flavour Shots (RRP £1.40 each)
A new addition to the Schwartz family, these little pots contain a blend of herbs and spices mixed with oil, to make cooking tasty meals quick and easy. I used the Italian Creamy Herb Tagliatelle shot earlier this week and it was so simple to use. The packaging has a recipe printed on it, and all you have to do is fry chicken (I used Quorn) in the flavour shot before adding sliced mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, creme fraiche and rocket, and mixing with cooked tagliatelle. The meal took about 15 minutes to make in total and was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend these!
Organico Italian Durum Wheat Pasta (RRP £1.49) and Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce (RRP 1.99)
I’m yet to try these Organico products, but they’re both right up my street. Organico source organic food made with sustainable, good quality ingredients, so there are no hidden nasties to be found. I absolutely *love* brown pasta so I’m looking forward to using this, and the sauce looks fresh and beautiful. These are on my meal list for next week!
Mexican Dave’s Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips (RRP £1.00) and Tyrrels Sweet and Salty Popcorn (RRP £1.80 for 6)
I’d never heard of Mexican Dave’s before, but after trying these tortilla chips I’ll definitely be looking for them again. They’re not as nice as Doritos in my opinion, but the flavour and crunch are fantastic, and they make excellent nachos! I had these last weekend baked with spicy salsa and cheese and they were scrumptious. In fact, I’ll be having them again this evening!
Tyrrels’ popcorn is a satisfying combination of salty and sweet, which may sound odd but it’s amazing. You get quite a lot of popcorn in the bag, but at less than 70 calories this popcorn is the perfect guilt-free treat. I’d probably grab a bag as part of my lunch or as an afternoon snack.
My only quibble with the March Degustabox is that it’s a bit too savoury. I have a sweet tooth and was hoping for some sweet treats to munch on, but the only sweet things in the box are drinks and porridge. Oh well, maybe next month. Other than that I’m really pleased with the box, and luckily for me everything in it is vegetarian, and all of it is yummy, so nothing will go to waste and everything will be enjoyed! As a current saver I probably wouldn’t buy a box every month, but as an occasional treat when you fancy some food inspiration, £12.99 isn’t bad. I definitely prefer Degustabox over the more costly yet smaller Flavourly box that I’ve tried once before.
If you want to know more about Degustabox and this month’s products, you can visit their website here. You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook.
Will you be subscribing to Degustabox?
Naomi x
PS. You can check out the rest of my Degustabox reviews here.
*This Degustabox was sent to me by Degustabox for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
