Pepsi Max Lime Review

I've become more of fan of Pepsi Max over the years, especially their Pepsi Max Cherry variety. I also still enjoy the Pepsi Max Ginger (see my Pepsi Max Ginger Review from 2017). I love anything citrus flavoured though, and often add a slice of frozen lemon or lime to my drinks if I'm feeling fancy, so I was especially looking forward to trying the new Pepsi Max Lime.

The initial aroma on opening this Pepsi Max Lime was very promising with a lovely lime scent. However the lime flavour itself was not as strong as I was hoping for. There is a sweet lime flavour that I did enjoy but it's not as boldly citrus as it should be. The citrus flavour should be the main aftertaste but instead it's the sweet Pepsi Max flavour that lingers, as a result the lime flavour itself doesn't dominate. Having said all that, I still found this a really refreshing Pepsi Max flavour and the hint of lime is still enough fo me to buy it again - I might just add a couple of extra lime slices next time though.

I'll have to update when I've tried the Diet Coke Sublime Lime but let me know in the comments if you've tried both and which you prefer!

Grocery Gems Review: Pepsi Max Lime Review

RATING: 7 out of 10.
Buy it again?: Yes.
Purchased: Tesco.

Müller Light Coconut with a Hint of Lime Yogurt - Inspired By Bali

This new limited edition Coconut with a hint of Lime yogurt is part of the Müller Light "Inspired" range. This one is Inspired by Bali. The exotic packaging with it's sun soaked turquoise colours really stood out to me on the supermarket shelf. As a coconut fan this was one that I had to try.

Müller Light yogurts are fat free and made with sugars and sweeteners. There are 99 calories per pot. Fans of the range will know that these are not the creamiest or thickest of yogurts, the texture here is slightly runny compared to my usual yogurts. The coconut flavour however is nice and sweet which makes up for the lack of creaminess. The zingy lime adds a lovely zesty finish, it doesn't overpower the coconut but it's more than just a hint of lime. Overall, I enjoyed the addition of lime to this coconut yogurt, it makes a pleasant change from the more common coconut & vanilla pairings. 

Grocery Gems Verdict: Müller Light Coconut with a Hint of Lime

RATING: 7.5 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Probably.
Nutrition: 99 calories. Contains artificial sweeteners - aspartame.
Purchased: Asda. 
Price: £0.68p each. 

New Duke of Delhi Chocolate Bars

I recently attended the BBC Good Food Show, and one of my highlights was trying out the new Duke of Delhi chocolate Delhi Mix bars. Duke of Delhi are already known for their handmade Dellhi Mix snacks (available online and at Fortnum & Mason's), which gave the traditional flavours of a Bombay mix a quirky modern update. Since they've already successfully added chocolate pieces to a Bombay mix, they've now decided to take the next step and add the Bombay Mix into chocolate - creating these new Delhi Mix bars.

It's a gorgeously colourful selection featuring six flavours; Dark Chocolate, Dark Chocolate & Orange, Dark Chocolate & Toasted Coconut, Dark Chocolate & Lime, Milk Chocolate & Indian Cinnamon, and Milk Chocolate, Cardamom & Vanilla. Thanks to the lovely people at Duke of Delhi we've been very happily savouring the last four in that list!

The chocolate bars all have the same beautiful shape, which I think is perfectly fitting for the Indian theme. Each bar also features the same Bombay Mix within, consisting of crispy puffed rice, gram flour, salt, chilli and tumeric. It adds a wonderful texture to each chocolate, not too crunchy, but enough to add interest. The flavour is also quite light and does not overpower the chocolate, but it does provide plenty of background spice and warmth.  

Dark Chocolate & Lime - This variety was instantly my favourite when I first tried the range, although I have a new favourite now - see below! The dark chocolate (60% cocoa solids minimum) is glossy and rich, whilst the zingy lime flavour immediately grabs your attention. It works together so well with the hint of spice from the Bombay mix too. 

Dark Chocolate & Toasted Coconut - The coconut flavour here has a very natural taste and is not too sweet. Even though the initial coconut scent is quite strong, the actual flavour is at first dominated by the dark chocolate. However, the coconut flavour really does intensify and build towards the end of each bite. The rich, dark flavours of this bar make it perfect for enjoying a few chunks with a good cup of coffee.

The two milk chocolate bars in the range, made with 32% minimum cocoa solids, are much sweeter and obviously creamier, which seems to especially suit the background Indian spices.

Milk Chocolate & Indian Cinnamon - This chocolate is completely outstanding - if you're a cinnamon fan you MUST try it. The cinnamon flavour here is without a doubt the most delicious I've tried in any chocolate bar so far, it's sweet but with a spicy edge. The fact that it's combined with a superbly creamy milk chocolate and a hint of Indian flavours just makes the combination even more sensational. This is my absolute favourite of the bunch.

Milk Chocolate, Cardamom & Vanilla - If you enjoy tradional Masala Chai (Indian spiced tea) then this is the perfect chocolate bar. The heady cardamom and milk chocolate combination instantly evokes the familiar warming, milky flavours. The added vanilla makes this the sweetest of all the Duke of Delhi chocolate bars, making it extremely satisfying and moreish. My husband loved all of these chocolate bars, but I think this one just sneaked ahead as his overall favourite.

I  loved trying out this range and it's impressive array of flavours. There is truly something for every taste bud in this selection. The range will be available on the Duke of Delhi website very soon - I will update here as soon as they are online. 

Follow Duke of Delhi on Twitter for all their latest updates https://twitter.com/dukeofdelhi

Review: Fox's Biscuits Tastes of America

Fox's have been bringing out some fantastic new biscuits recently, including this appealing Vinnie's Tastes of America range. There are four varieties in this range, which give an American twist to classic Fox's biscuits; Blueberry Muffin Party Rings, Key Lime Pie Crunch Creams, Mississippi Mud Pie Melts, and Cherry Cheesecake Jam n' Cream biscuits. I think the American dessert theme is a brilliant concept, and I couldn't wait to try out the first two on the list (I haven't seen the other two varieties instore yet).

The kids classic iced ring biscuit, Party Rings, have been given a fun American makeover with this new Blueberry Muffin flavour.

As soon as I opened the packet I could tell these were blueberry flavoured, the fruity aroma was immediately apparent. The biscuits are very crunchy in texture, with a vanilla cookie base, and an equally crunchy layer of purple icing on top. The flavour here is just delicious, it's a very sweet and enjoyable blueberry flavour, and tastes so good combined with the buttery biscuit base. I felt like a big kid eating these - and of course my actual kids loved them too! They're also a fab treat for only 28 calories each.

My husband really enjoys lime as a flavour so he was most looking forward to these Key Lime Pie Crunch Creams.

Once again the fruity flavour here did not disappoint. It's a gorgeously full on sweet and zesty lime taste which combines brilliantly with the creamy flavour of the inner filling, successfully reproducing the Key Lime Pie theme. The outer biscuit itself is very crunchy, as you would expect from the name, but also golden and oaty at the same time. Perfect biscuits for dunking :)

We all thorougly enjoyed both of these American themed biscuits, and I can't wait to try the rest of the biscuits in this range, especially the Mississippi Mud Pie Melts which are based on my favourite Fox's biscuits - Viennese Melts! 

Grocery Gems Verdict: Fox's Biscuits Key Lime Pie Crunch Creams & Blueberry Muffin Party Rings

RATING:  8.5 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Yes.
Nutrition (per biscuit): Crunch Creams - 78 calories, Party Rings - 28 calories.
Vegetarian: Crunch Creams - Suitable for Vegetarians, Party Rings - NOT Suitable.
Purchased: Co-Op. 
Price: £1.39 each.

Ribena Mango & Lime and Pineapple & Passion Fruit

September is fast approaching but the hot weather seems to be holding out a little longer in my part of the world. It's been a lovely sunny couple of days here so I've loved trying out these tropical Ribena flavours, Mango & Lime and Pineapple & Passion Fruit. These were released earlier this year, and were recently sent to me for review;

I was very pleased to see that both drinks are free from artificial flavours and sweeteners, and contain real fruit juice and added Vitamin C.

Mango & Lime: I love mango based fruit juice drinks so I couldn't wait to try this one. As you would expect from Ribena, this is a squash type drink, so it's very thirst quenching. The flavours are light and extremely refreshing, predominantly of the mango and orange juice, with a very subtle citrus zest.

Pineapple & Passion Fruit: This one was absolutely delicious, and surprisingly my favourite of the two - I don't usually go for pineapple juice. The Pineapple & Passion Fruit Ribena just has such a sweet tropical fruit flavour that makes it extremely enjoyable and summer like. Perfect for a warm day.

I've often bemoaned the lack of interesting jelly flavours (or Jell-o for any US readers) in the UK, beyond the basic orange, strawberry, raspberry etc. There are often more interesting flavours available in other countries (I recently bought a passion fruit jelly mix from a local Portuguese grocery store), so I was very interested in this recipe for turning these tropical Ribenas into a jelly dessert. Definitely an idea I'll be giving a go soon!

Pineapple, Passionfruit & Raspberry Jelly

Ingredients

• 500ml Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit

• 200g raspberries

• 5 gelatine leaves (or vegetarian substitute)

• 100ml boiling water

• 3 tablespoons cold water

Method

Break up the gelatine leaves into small cm squared pieces. Put in a large plastic

jug with 3 tbsp cold water to dissolve. Tip: To help with dissolving you can hover

the jug over a saucepan of boiling water and stir.

Pour 100ml of boiling water into the jug followed by the Ribena. Stir.

Scatter a few raspberries into each glass and pour the jelly mix into the individual

glasses, filling up about ¾ way to the top. Use cling film to cover.

Leave in the fridge for 4-6 hours and enjoy! Serves 4-5.

Attributed to Emily Coates, Recipes and Reviews

I received this product in order to write an honest review and all opinions expressed are my own. 

Grocery Gems Verdict: Ribena Mango & Lime, Pineapple & Passion Fruit

RATING: 9 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Yes - great to find a squash drink that doesn't have artificial sweeteners.
Nutrition (250ml): 103 calories.

Purchased: Available nationwide.
Price: RRP. £1.19p for 500ml.

POM Wonderful Cocktails & Competition!

I was excited to be asked to try out the range of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice, and to give one of their delicious summer cocktails recipes a try. Be sure to keep reading until the end of this post for details of a competition for one of my readers to win THREE bottles of POM Wonderful!

Pomegranates are well known as a superfood because of their high antioxidant and vitamin content and POM Wonderful have used this to create a nutritious juice that's full of flavour. On it's own it reminded me a bit of cranberry juice with it's slightly tart edge but sweet finish. The strong fresh flavour means this juice also works wonderfully well when mixed with other drinks - it's especially delicious when mixed with lemonade.

APPLE & GINGER POM (Non- Alcoholic)

Ingredients

50ml POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice

50ml ginger ale

Quarter fresh apple

1 nail of ginger

2 lime wedges

Garnish: Apple Fan

Preparation

• Shake the ginger, apple and lime in a shaker
• Add POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice and shake with ice
• Strain into an ice-filled glass and top with ginger ale
• Garnish with an apple fan
• For an alcoholic version this recipe works great with Whiskey.

I was so pleased with my finished Apple & Ginger POM (above photo) - it turned out really well! I used extra lime wedges for the garnish rather than apple but the rest is the same as the recipe. The ginger gives this mocktail an extra zingy and refreshing quality, and makes it the perfect drink for a hot day. It's so simple to make and the resulting drink looks fantastic too!

COMPETITION!

POM Wonderful have very kindly offered the chance for one of my readers to win THREE bottles of POM Wonderful. The winner will be sent three vouchers for POM Wonderful worth £3 each.

How to enter:

Retweet one of my competition tweets on twitter (HERE) & follow @grocerygems.

Or leave a comment on this blog post in the section below and simply email me your name and address to grocerygems@gmail.com with the subject "POM Wonderful Competition".

The winner will be chosen at random and the competition closes at 5pm on Tuesday 2nd June. 

Good luck everyone!!

Starbucks Refresha Cool Lime & Berry Hibiscus Green Coffee

I love new drinks from Starbucks. I love the fact that they bring out new drinks in the summer and at Christmastime. OK they don't make the best coffee in the world but for novelty iced drinks you can't beat them.

The new Starbucks Refresha is unusual because is it made with Green Coffee Extract.  It is advertised as being a thirst-quenching refreshment with caffeine but without the coffee taste. The inclusion of green coffee was intriguing. I'm a big drinker of green tea but I have never tried green coffee. Green coffee is simply the name given to coffee beans which have not yet been roasted. These coffee beans still have a greenish tinge and none of the coffee taste or smell we expect from roasted coffee beans.

Starbucks are no doubt capitalising on the weight loss rumblings surrounding Green Coffee Extract (that it can block fat absorption and stimulate the metabolism). Starbucks certainly don't make any claim to weight loss with this product but it's good to know that it's a "low-calorie pick-me-up" since many of the iced coffee drinks out there are loaded with sugar.

I had this drink on an extremely hot day in London which was a good test for its "thirst-quenching" claims. In the Starbucks I visited nearly every customer was ordering one of these Refresha drinks. 

The Cool Lime variety was especially popular and turned out to be my favourite. This drink is a blend of lime, with hints of mint and cucumber, shaken with real lime slices. There was no overpowering lime taste and even though the drink had a sweetness, it was not sugary at all. In fact the taste of mint leaves and cucumber was more prominent. The Green Coffee Extract gave it a slightly earthy taste but I couldn't detect any coffee flavour at all. Best of all it was very refreshing!


 

The second Refresha drink is the Berry Hibiscus. This is a combination of fruit juices shaken with whole blackberries and Green Coffee Extract. There are bits of blackberry fruit in this one so you occasionally feel the seeds in your mouth as you are drinking. The whole taste is very much like an iced herbal tea rather than a coffee. The Berry Hibiscus Refresha drink is sweeter than the Cool Lime Refresha. 





These drinks won't give you the same 'coffee' hit as a regular iced coffee drink but they are a much lighter drink which makes them very thirst quenching. These Refresha drinks are great for hot weather but it's a shame that sunny days are rare in the UK!