Degustabox December: Surprise Foodie Box & Discount Code!

December's Degustabox has arrived a little earlier than usual (the boxes are usually sent later in the month) but seeing as it's Christmas next week it's lovely to receive it as an early treat! Degustabox is a monthly foodie subscription service that celebrated it's first anniversary last month. It's guaranteed to be filled with a surprise selection of products from new and established brands. Even though we don't know what products will be inside the Degustabox, it's always a great mix of useful groceries and more exciting treats. This month's box is an eclectic mix of indulgent goodies and healthier treats - Degustabox have definitely got their eye on January health kicks with this box!

Discount Code: 4D590

Each Degustabox costs £12.99 a month, which includes delivery, with no fixed contract involved. Degustabox have kindly provided my readers with the following Discount Code for £3.00 off your next Degustabox, bringing the cost to £9.99 delivered. Simply enter the code - 4D590.

www.degustabox.com/en

Here's a quick round up of all the products inside the December Degustabox:

Bahlsen Choco Leibniz: I'll start with a treat, as thankfully Degustabox always saves a space for some chocolate in their boxes! There are two boxes of Bahlsen Choco Leibniz biscuits in each Degustabox, in both Milk and Caramel flavours. These are made with finest continental milk chocolate wrapped around butter biscuits and with added caramel in the latter variety. These are more chocolate than biscuit! 

Bonne Maman Coarse Orange Marmalade: This is made with thick shred orange peels for extra flavour and texture. I'm a fan of Bonne Maman jams and I also love marmalade so this was a lovely product for me to find in the Degustabox. It's very timely too as we've only just finished the Seville Orange Marmalade that was included in the September Degustabox. 

POPCHIPS: I received the Barbecue flavour but there are several different flavours in this range. Popchips have less than half the fat of fried crisps, fewer calories and no artificial colours or flavourings. 

The Chia Co Oats + Chia: A sachet of Oats + Chia dairy-free wholegrain oats and chia with real fruit and creamy coconut oil. It's described as making a healthy 'just add water' breakfast that is smooth and creamy without any dairy. I've reviewed The Chia Co Chia Pods and their Chia Oil previously and I'm really excited to try these new Chia + Oats. 

Eisberg Alcohol Free Wine: At first I thought this must be one of those fruity fake wine drinks, but it's actually a real wine that has been 'de-alchoholised' - their word not mine! I think this is definitely a product aimed at any health kicks starting in January. It's available in Chardonnay, Rosé, Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling, with only a third of the calories of regular wine.

Pukka Herbs Clean Green Tea: This is a blend of pure organic green tea with a little lemony lift. I love green tea and drink it most days, but I've never tried a lemon flavoured version. I've also never tried any of the Pukka tea range before so I'm looking forward to giving this Clean Green tea a try soon.

Kent's Kitchen Meal Kits: Degustabox have featured the Kent's Kitchen Meal Kits before in their October Degustabox where I received a Bengal curry kit. I'm pleased that I received a different meal kit this time - the Brazilian Moqueca Capixaba - which is designed to be used with fish. It sounds delicious! These authentic pots contain all natural ingredients and are great for keeping in the store cupboard, I like the fact that they inspire me to cook something a little different.

Gloworm: A completely new brand to me - Gloworm are a premium range of stimulating drinks, specifically designed to be used as mixers and compliment a selection of spirits. Their formula is sugar-free and taurine-free and contains added caffeine. I'll be passing these onto family and friends as they are not really for me, however, the four flavours certainly look interesting; Raspberry & Orris (for Vodka), Cucumber & Apple (for Gin), Pear, Spice & Lime (for Rum), and Ginger & Lemongrass (for Bourbon). 

FryLight Infuse Chilli: A very useful product to have in the store cupboard. It's made with natural chilli extract and adds a spicy kick to any pan fried or roasted food. I'll have to use this the next time I'm making a curry or peri-peri chicken! I really want to try the garlic infused version of Fry Light too.

If you're a subscriber of Degustabox then I'd love to know what you thought of the December box in the comments below. Personally I like the fact that it has a healthier angle to it this month, and most of these products are ones that I find appealing. I know some subscribers were expecting more of a Christmassy box this month, but since I've been stocking up for Christmas for quite some time, it's actually nice to have some healthier products too. I'm especially pleased with The Chia Co Chia+Oats, the Pukka Clean Green Tea, and the Bonne Maman marmalade, as they are all products that I would buy for myself. 

For more details:
Degustabox website: www.degustabox.com

Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DegustaboxUK
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DegustaboxUK

I received a Degustabox in order to provide an honest review.

Degustabox September - Surprise Foodie Box & Discount Code!

The September Degustabox arrived a few days ago and as usual it was packed full of interesting new products. Degustabox is a monthly foodie subscription service that sends out an exciting selection of products from new and established brands. It always has a great mix of useful groceries and tasty treats. With Christmas approaching, I think Degustabox is worth keeping in mind as a unique gift for the foodie in your life. 

Discount Code: 4784565

Each Degustabox cost £12.99 a month, which includes delivery, with no fixed contract involved. Degustabox have kindly provided my readers with the following Discount Code for £3.00 off your next Degustabox, bringing the cost to £9.99 delivered. Enter the code - 4784565

Once again there is an alcoholic and non alcoholic version of the Degustabox and these either contain the Righteous Salad Dressing or the La Vieja Fábrica marmalade below. Here's a quick round up of all the products inside this months Degustabox:

Little Miracles: These are a lovely blend of organic tea and fruit juice. With added ginseng and açai they provide a boost of energy whilst being sweetened with natural agave. Each drink has less than 90 calories and is free from artificial colours, flavours and sweeteners. I'll have a full review soon.

Burts Lentil Waves: These are made from lentil flour and contain 40% less fat than standard Burts potato chips. They are also free from artificial flavours, colourings, MSG, and hydrogenated fats. Each Degustabox contains three flavours; Thai Sweet Chilli, Sour Cream & Chive, and Lightly Salted. I had to drive straight in and give these a try and I found them very delicious. Nowadays, I actually prefer snacks like these to potato crisps, as they taste less greasy and salty, but are still flavourful. The Burts Lentil Waves range is available at Waitrose - £0.69p each.

Righteous Salad Dressings: Righteous are made using only 100% natural ingredients and contain no additives, preservatives or thickeners - or basically anything that you wouldn't find in your own kitchen. The range is available at Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Ocado and independent food shops. I received three flavours; Lemon & Mustard Seed Dressing, Raspberry & Sweet Basil Dressing, (these are both vegan) and English Blue Cheese & Cider Dressing. 

Carnation Cook with it!: This is one of those products that I doubt I would have bought myself, but now that it's here, I'm really pleased to have it. It's a versatile way to add a creamy taste to savoury dishes without using cream (I don't like cream so I try to avoid it). It's made using fresh milk and with 68% less fat than single cream. I actually can't wait to give this a try soon, I'll probably use it in a quiche or pasta dish.

Elizabeth Shaw Dark Chocolate Mint Thins: I love that Degustabox always include a chocolatey treat and this month it comes in the form of the brand new Elizabeth Shaw Dark Chocolate Mint Thins. These are delicate layers of dark chocolate with mint, sprinkled with crunchy mint sprinkles. It probably goes without saying, but I'm really looking forward to giving these a try! Available at Tesco - £2.50.

La Vieja Fábrica Seville Orange Marmalade: I enjoy marmalade but I honestly can't remember the last time I bought any, so I was thrilled to find this included in the Degustabox. I'm looking forward to a weekend breakfast of thick toast with marmalade! The La Vieja Fábrica marmalade is extra special as it's made to a traditional 170 year old recipe and is produced in Seville using only the best Seville oranges. It's available at Tesco, Waitrose and Morrisons - £1.59p. 

Bahlsen Pick Up!: Two multi packs of Bahlsen Pick Up! are included this month, including the new variety Black 'N' White. I've had these before and they're deliciously thick slabs of chocolate sandwiched between two crisp biscuits. They're individually wrapped which I always prefer in terms of keeping the product fresh. 

Jordans Simply Granola: A massive bag of crunchy baked oat granola with a hint of honey. You really can't go wrong with granola and this is a great flavour that everyone in my family can enjoy (no fruity bits!). I love to add a handful to a bowl of bran flakes in the morning or have it with yogurt as an afternoon snack - just delicious. 

Crabbie's Alcoholic Fruits: The alcoholic version includes this Crabbie's Fruits drink which is available in three flavours; Black Cherry, Zesty Lemon, and Raspberry & Rhubarb. These drinks are made with 10% fruit juice and are free from artificial colours or flavourings. 

Crabbie's Traditional Cloudy: This is included in the non-alcoholic version of the Degustabox; available in Ginger Beer, Lemonade with a twist of ginger, and Raspberry. They're free from artificial colours and flavourings, and are made using a secret recipe combining spices, fruits and real ginger. I'm not sure yet whether it's possible to choose between the alcoholic and non-alcoholic boxes when signing up to Degustabox. If anyone has any experience of this then leave a comment below - thank you!

Once again I was really happy with the selection in this month's Degustabox. It has a great selection of products, all of which appeal to me, although my preferred box would be the non-alcoholic option with the marmalade. I was especially delighted with the Burts Lentil Waves, Jordans Simply Granola, Carnation cream, La Vieja Fábrica and Elizabeth Shaw chocolates. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this months Degustabox in the comments below.

For more details:
Degustabox website: www.degustabox.com

Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DegustaboxUK
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DegustaboxUK

I received a Degustabox in order to provide an honest review.

Bahlsen Hit Fun Sticks Choco Review

A very quick review for these Balhsen Hit Fun Sticks Choco from Germany (but available in Tesco). They're simple finger shaped chocolate biscuits with a chocolate free holding part on one end. They remind me of a biscuit version of Pocky sticks! They're definitely a great way to keep eating chocolate during a heatwave (not that the hot weather stopped me!).

The biscuits look very different from a standard chocolate biscuit, I can imagine they would be a good shape for dunking in tea, but I haven't put that to the test yet. They're very simple in terms of flavour- wheaty vanilla based biscuits with a smooth milk chocolate filling. It's all very well done, the chocolate is creamy with caramel undertones, and the biscuit provides a lovely crunchy base. Great for kids to eat without getting any sticky fingers!

Grocery Gems Verdict: Bahlsen Hit Fun Sticks Choco

RATING: 8 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Yes - I like the resealable packaging too.
Nutrition (per 3 sticks): 145 calories. 
Purchased: Tesco.
Price: £1.00 (offer price) but it was a few weeks ago.