Review: Nespresso Cafezinho do Brasil Returns!

 

Guess who's back? That's right it's me the much missed Nespresso Cafezinho do Brasil! I was so surprised when I saw this on a visit to an actual Nespresso store. The original Cafezinho do Brasil blend was released back in 2016 (see my review Nespresso Cafezinho do Brasil) and I still have family members who talk about how much they miss it.  

The packaging and capsules look exactly the same as they did in 2016 - but the big question is do they still taste the same? The Nespresso assistant assured me that the blend had not changed and that the taste is still identical. 

The good news is that the 2021 edition of the Nespresso Cafezinho do Brasil does taste just as good as I remember. The flavour is robust and strong but without any bitterness or aftertaste. It tastes smooth and fresh whilst still packing a punch with a unique strength. My husband also agreed that this was as good as the original. 

If you were also a fan of the 2016 release of Cafezinho and have tried the latest version then I'd love to know what your thoughts are in the comments below.

Grocery Gems Review: Nespresso Cafezinho do Brasil

RATING: 10 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Yes - I will be back for more.
Purchased: Nespresso store.
Price: £4.20p per sleeve.

News: Ruby Kit Kat Pink Chocolate to be released in UK!

Image: Kit Kat

A quick post with some exciting news that I just had to share - Nestlé UK is going to release their gorgeous looking Ruby Cocoa Beans Kit Kat bar in the UK next week! 

'Pink Chocolate' was first developed by chocolatier Barry Callebaut amidst claims that it was the first natural variety of chocolate since white chocolate was created. Apparently a unique way of processing the cocoa beans creates the distinct colour and an intense berry-like flavour.

This ruby chocolate Kit Kat collaboration was first unveiled in Japan and Korea but thankfully the UK will be the first country outside of that market to try the ruby treat. It's available from next week - Monday 16 April at Tesco. Who's excited? I know I am!

New Review: Kellogg's Unicorn Froot Loops

A quick post about this awesome limited edition cereal from Kellogg's - Unicorn Froot Loops. Seriously how cute is this packaging? I'm never throwing this box away!

Cute colouring on back of the box.

The cereal itself is the same as the regular Kellogg's Froot Loops (the version in the UK at least) but with different colours - pink, purple and orangeish instead of the previous colours. 

It's not actually that different and it's a shame there are no extra marshmallow pieces but I understand that sugar content is always a concern for kids cereals in the UK. The flavour is sweet but very natural tasting - nothing at all like the American version. There's a hint of fruit that makes them very moreish - I've been eating them as a straight up snack without milk! 

Overall, these limited edition Unicorn Froot Loops are super cute and fun and I'll definitely be picking up another box before they disappear.

Grocery Gems Review: Kellogg's Unicorn Froot Loops

RATING: 9 out of 10.

Buy it again?: Yes.
Purchased: Asda
Price: £2.00p (special offer).

You might also be interested in  - Kellogg's Froot Loops Review (UK version). 

Review: Limited Edition Nespresso On Ice

As soon as I heard about the new Nespresso On Ice coffee capsules I knew I had to try them. Luckily my husband has a Nespresso store near his work and was able to get one of the gorgeous assortment boxes. 

There are two varieties in this latest Limited Edition; the Intenso On Ice and the Leggero On Ice. I adore the Mediterranean themed packaging and especially the colours used in the designs, it's simply stunning.

Nespresso Intenso On Ice:  The Intenso On Ice is described as a bold coffee specifically designed to provide an intense yet refreshing iced beverage at home. The flavour here is excellent, creating a full bodied coffee with a deeply roasted flavour. There's no bitter aftertaste at all as these blends have been developed to curb the acidity when used with ice.

Nespresso Leggero On Ice: The Leggero On Ice has a milder flavour and is described as a mild coffee with a fruity and balanced aroma. This is probably my favourite Nespresso coffee of recent years. I'm hoping that this will not stay a limited edition as it's too good not to buy regularly! The flavour is just delicious (I had mine over ice and with frothed, cold soya milk), with a natural sweetness and smoothness. I didn't need to add any vanilla syrup to curb the bitterness, which I usually do when using a regular Nespresso capsule to make an iced coffee. The Leggero On Ice is just perfection all on it's own. 

Overall I highly recommend giving both of these new Nespresso On Ice coffees a try. I'm planning on stocking up on these very special Limited Editions - especially the Leggero On Ice. 

Grocery Gems Review: Nespresso On Ice

RATING: Leggero On Ice - 10 out of 10, Intenso On Ice - 8 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Yes.
Purchased: Nespresso store.
Price: £3.90 per sleeve.

Review: Fab Birthday Cake Flavour Ice Lollies

Now that the weather is turning warmer it's time to finally look at all the new ice creams instore (I don't really enjoy ice cream during the colder months!).  Fab have released a new festive birthday cake flavour for their 50th anniversary. 50 years is an amazing achievement for an ice cream brand and it's certainly enduring well - it's one of my kids favourite ice lollies.

The Birthday Cake Fab is described as a raspberry flavoured ice with a sponge cake and vanilla flavoured coating and sugar strands toppings. Compared to the regular Fab, this limited edition has a yellowish colouring and delicious cake-like scent. I couldn't wait to get stuck in! The best part of the Fab is of course the top part where crunchy the sugar strands meet both the creamy ice cream and sweet raspberry inner layers. The cake flavoured ice cream actually comes through, with a creamy, almost biscuity flavour. Combined with the raspberry flavour of the ice lolly it did create the flavour of a cake - even if it's more jam roly poly than birthday cake.

This is definitely one the kids will enjoy, grab a pack while they're still around! 

Grocery Gems Review: Fab Birthday Cake Flavour Review

RATING: 8 out of 10.
Buy it again?: Yes.
Nutrition: 76 calories.
Purchased: Sainsbury's.
Price: £2.20p for 6 - although currently on offer for £1 in Iceland.

Review: Nespresso Selection Vintage 2014 - Limited Edition

The latest limited edition from Nespresso sees the release of it's first 'aged' coffee. Using Arabica coffee beans from the Colombian Highlands that were harvested three years ago, Nespresso pioneered a new method to store and the beans and allow them to mature. The result is described as a new taste experience with an extra mellowness and woody flavour.

The packaging is very striking and captures the 'aged vintage' theme well. There is obviously a strong visual reference to wine with the cork pattern and colouring.

The coffee itself is rich and smooth but with a unique flavour profile. The initial taste is intense and strong but soon mellows out to a slightly milder flavour. I don't know if the vintage theme played tricks on me but I could also taste a little hint of fruitiness in there that reminded me of grapes and wine. The overall flavour is very different to my usual Nespresso choices and it won't be replacing the wonderful Cafezinho do Brasil as my favourite ever limited edition. However, it's easy to appreciate the richness of the flavour in the Selection Vintage and I've already been back to the Nespresso store for more.

Grocery Gems Review: Nespresso Cafezinho do Brasil

RATING: 7 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Yes.
Purchased: Nespresso store.

Review: Limited Edition Monin Mocha Syrup

I'm a big fan of Monin syrups and have quite the collection of different flavours at the moment. Currently in my cupboards I have the popular Gingerbread and Vanilla syrups alongside more unusual flavours, such as; Speculoos, Apple Pie and even a Peach Iced Tea syrup. However, the latest limited edition flavour for Monin syrups is a staple for any coffee lover, the classic Mocha. 

At this time of year I often treat myself to a flavoured coffee made at home. We're lucky enough to have a Nespresso machine with a separate gizmo that makes frothy milk. My husband whipped up this layered latte using the Mocha syrup which looked gorgeous. After stirring it all together I could really taste the smooth cocoa flavour. Surprisingly this flavour is not as sweet as other Monin syrups, perhaps because it also enhances the coffee flavour too. 

The previous Monin limited edition flavour, the Chocolate Cookie, is much sweeter in comparison. It gives the coffee a sugary chocolate hit. The Mocha syrup is subtler and provides more balance between the coffee and chocolate flavours.Of course, Monin syrups are not just for coffee, they can also be used in milkshakes. In fact one recipe suggestion given on the back of the bottle is for adding the Mocha syrup to a glass of milk rather than coffee. I'll be giving that a try next!

Grocery Gems Review: Monin Mocha Syrup

RATING: 7 out of 10.
Buy it again?: Yes.
Purchased: Available at Sainsbury's.
Price: £3.00p (currently on offer for £2.00p).

PR Sample. 

Review: Kit Kat Chocolatory Salted Caramel Crème Brûlée with Madagascan Vanilla Seeds

A Kit Kat Chocolatory opened up in London this week at Westfield Stratford. It's only there for 5 weeks but luckily Westfield is fairly local to me and I was able to pop in. I've only ever heard of Kit Kat Chocolatory stores existing in Japan so I was very excited to see this pop up store. 

The concept is simple - create your own unique Kit Kat, from the chocolate coating to the toppings, or buy one of the ready made new flavours. The limited edition creations are; a Chilli & Mint, a Black Forest Gâteau, a Sticky Toffee Popcorn, Almond & Salted Caramel Brittle or the Salted Caramel Crème Brûlée with Madagascan Vanilla Seeds.

I decided to go for a couple of the limited edition flavours  rather than making my own - I just couldn't resist them. Creating a bar is more of an 'experience' so I'll save that for when I'm with my husband and kids.  

The Kit Kat Chocolatory Salted Caramel Crème Brûlée with Madagascan Vanilla Seeds is a four-finger, white chocolate Kit Kat. I have to admit it didn't look too impressive when I took it out of the box - there's just a hard caramel brittle that's been stuck to the top and on the bottom. Thankfully the flavour was spot on. The white chocolate especially was delicious, with a gorgeous vanilla flavour from the visible flecks of vanilla. The added salted caramel is extremely sugary and creamy at first but ends with a complimentary hint of saltiness. The whole thing is actually much tastier than it looks, although it's a bit too sweet overall! 

I also bought the Kit Kat Chocolatory Sticky Toffee Popcorn, Almond & Salted Caramel Brittle which is a milk chocolate Kit Kat. It looks more impressive in the box (above) so I have high hopes for this one - review coming soon!

Prices are £3.50p for the special editions or £7.00p for the bespoke bars.

Review: Dorset Cereals Gingerbread Porridge

I don't usually buy flavoured porridge (I find them too cloying and sweet) but I couldn't resist trying this Gingerbread Porridge from Dorset Cereals. Gingerbread is one of my favourite flavours for new products at this time of year and it's warming nature seems especially appealing for a porridge.

The Dorset Cereals Gingerbread Porridge is described as a creamy blend of oats and barley with real gingerbread pieces. There are 10 sachets in each pack and each serving is 237 calories (with 180ml of semi-skimmed milk). The porridge has plenty of dark gingerbread pieces and I could already smell the familiar scent of ginger and spices as I opened the pack. The actual gingerbread flavour is quite subtle once the porridge is prepared, this is certainly not an overpowering gingerbread. The porridge itself is thick and creamy in texture and the gingerbread adds an extra warmth with it's spiced background flavour. I was also pleased to find that the porridge is not overly sweet, in fact, there's not much sweetness here at all which I prefer. 

Overall, it's definitely worth a try for any fans of gingerbread for it's subtle, warming, not-too-sweet flavour - it's very filling too!

Grocery Gems Review: Dorset Cereals Gingerbread Porridge

RATING: 8 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Yes.
Purchased: Ocado - also available instore exclusively at Waitrose.
Price: £2.59p.

Check out my previous gingerbread reviews:
Alpro Gingerbread Man Desserts
Walls Gingerbread Sandwich Ice Cream

New Instore: Müller Light Crumble Inspired Yogurts, Gingerbread Teacakes & More

Hello everyone, I'm back! I haven't been blogging as regularly in recent months but that's all changing from today. I've been inspired by some great new finds and have lots of exciting reviews lined up. I thought I would start with the basics so here's a round up of some of the new products that I've spotted instore.

Müller Light Crumble Inspsired Yogurts (above): I spotted a multipack with two flavours; Rhubarb Crumble & Custard Flavour Yogurt and an Apple Crumble & Custard Flavour Yogurt. A must for anyone following a Slimming World diet plan. Spotted At: Iceland - £2.50p.

McCain Nacho Cheese Ridged Wedges: I also found these celebratory looking new Nacho Cheese Flavour Ridged Wedges from McCain. There is also a Paprika flavour available in this new 'Ridged Wedge' format. Review coming soon! Spotted At: Iceland - £1.00p.

Walkers Sarnie Crisps Multipacks: For some reason I was struggling to find the new Sarnie flavours from Walkers in a multipack format. The first place I found them was Iceland but I've since seen the packs in Sainsbury's (for £1.00p each multipack) and Tesco (for £1.50p each). Check back later for a full review of all the flavours. Spotted At: Iceland - £1.00p.

Co-Op Portuguese Custard Tarts: I'm not sure if this is new or not but my local Co-Op has started selling Pasteis de Nata, commonly known here as Portuguese Custard Tarts. I'm not sure if open baskets are quite the right place to display these but I thought it was an interesting new bakery item. Let me know if you've tried them! Spotted At: Co-Op - £0.69p each.

Mince Pies: These are definitely not new but mince pies being sold in early September (I took this photo on the 3rd) is just ridiculous in my opinion - especially when their best before date is October 19th! It's not that I don't like to buy mince pies early, but by "early", I mean from mid-November onwards. We haven't even had Halloween or Bonfire Night yet people - let's not skip over autumn altogether! Rant over. Spotted At: Co-Op and every other supermarket in the UK - £1.00p.

M&S Beetroot & Goats Cheese Batard: Apologies for the blurry photo but I had to take it whilst pretending to browse on my phone - there were so many people hovering nearby for the free samples. Anyway, this distinctive pink bread (yes it's a bright pink loaf) looks like it was dreamed up by a contestant on the Great British Bake Off. Spotted At: Marks & Spencer - £2.70p.

M&S Orange & Crimson Raisin Boule: I don't think I've ever heard of a Crimson Raisin before but I'm assuming it's a reddish raisin? Anyway, I did try a sample of this bread and it had a pleasingly sweet orange flavour.  Spotted At: Marks & Spencer - £2.70p.

M&S Gingerbread Teacakes: I'm a fan of both gingerbread and teacakes so combining the two seems like a winner to me. Were these available last year? If you've tried them then let me know in the comments below. Spotted At: Marks & Spencer- £1.00p for 2.

As always, if you spot anything new instore and fancy sending me a photo then let me know via email: grocerygems@gmail.com or Twitter: @grocerygems.

It's Back! TRIO Toffee Chocolate Biscuit Bar

Trio was a very popular chocolate biscuit back in the 1980's, which was probably better known for the shouty "I want a Triiiioo and I want one NOW' adverts than for it's flavour. Seeing as I'm slightly *ahem* older than most snack bloggers out there, I can vouch for just how iconic and memorable those adverts were. 

Along with the 54321 chocolate biscuit bar, the Trio was one of my favourite chocolate treats as a young child. Although, I didn't actually realise that the Trio was still around until as late as 2003, I thought this brand had disappeared much earlier than that. 

I like the fact the the new Trio bars are wrapped in gold foil with an outer red paper wrapper, rather than plastic. It enhances the retro and nostalgic feel of the experience and it's certainly how I remember the Trio from back in the day.

The Trio is so named because it's made up of three elements; chocolate, biscuit and a toffee flavour cream layer. It also consists of three distinctive and chunky segments. The best part of the original Trio for me was just how thick the outer chocolate layer was and I'm pleased to see that's still the case here. In fact the whole thing instantly brought back memories of eating these as a kid. The inner layers are both really tasty, with a light and crunchy biscuit base and a caramel leaning toffee flavour, but it's the thick chocolate that makes these so memorable for me. 

I do remember the toffee as being a bit lighter in colour and creamier then it is here, but I'm not sure my memory can be relied on after all this time! Regardless, the Trio is still a delicious biscuit bar and one that I'm very glad to see return. I hope this is a limited edition that will be around for a little while longer! 

Grocery Gems Review: Trio Chocolate Biscuit Bar

RATING: 9 out of 10.

Buy them again?: Yes!
Nutrition: 124 calories each.
Purchased: Asda.
Price: £1.00p for six 23.6g biscuit bars.

Review: Nespresso Limited Edition taste of Mexico and Rwanda

Nespresso recently launched their latest limited edition Pure Origin Grand Cru capsules; the Umutima wa Lake Kivu from Rwanda and the Tanim de Chiapas from Mexico. I appreciate Nespresso's aim of bringing it's members more coffees from around the world and I was keen to give these newest varieties a try.

 

The packaging is quite different from the usual muted colour palette from Nespresso. Both the sleeves and capsules are both vibrantly decorated, with patterns reflective of their countries of origin. 

 

Nespresso Umutima wa Lake Kivu: This Pure Origin Grand Cru from Rwanda has an intensity rating of 6 which is much lower than I would usually go for. I prefer the Nespresso coffees that have an intensity rating of 8 and higher. However, I was pleased to find that this coffee has a very robust and strong flavour. It's described by Nespresso as having fruity notes and a darker roast for strength and texture. I could certainly taste the darker roasted quality of this coffee which gives it a deeper, layered taste, without any bitter notes.

Nespresso Tanim de Chiapas: The Pure Origin Grand Cru from Mexico actually has a slightly higher intensity rating of 7. The flavour here is quite multi-layered but I found that it was much lighter and sweeter overall when compared to the darker Rwandan blend. I still enjoyed the smooth and sweet flavour here and especially liked it with a little added milk (almond milk in my case).

Overall, I am quite surprised to find that I would recommend both these Pure Origin Grand Crus. I expected the lower intensity rating would equal a flavour that was too weak for me (which is usually the case with the lower intensity Nespresso) but that was not the case at all. Both coffees offer delicious, complex, and layered flavours, and I'd happily take both of them over the previous limited edition Nespresso from Peru. I especially like the fact that they both provide a different taste experience, with the Rwandan Grand Cru having a more intense, dark flavour, and the Mexican Grand Cru giving a more mellow, sweet flavour.

Let me know if you've tried either of these - I'd love to know if you enjoyed them too.

Grocery Gems Review: Nespresso taste of Mexico & Rwanda:

Rating: 8 out of 10. 

Buy Again: Yes.

Purchased: Nespresso.

Price: £3.80p (10 capsules).

Review: J20 Midnight Amber & Midnight Forest

J20 have recently released two new limited edition range of Midnight Blend juice drinks. There are two flavours in the range, Midnight Amber and Midnight Forest, which are both inspired by the 'dark and mischievous moment each night when the end of one day blends into the start of the next'. The design of the each bottle is gorgeous, with gold lettering and images that really captures the midnight theme of these drinks. 

J20 Midnight Forest: The Midnight Forest is described as a blend of real orange and cherry juices with a hint of chocolate flavour. As a big fan of the J20 Glitter Berry limited edition I was really excited to try the Midnight Forest blend. The flavour here is mainly of the unusual combination of orange and cherry, which surprisingly works together really well. The orange is the dominant flavour but underneath it all is an extra sweetness and richness from the subtle hints of chocolate. It's a nice combination that is not too overpowering or heavy (especially with the chocolate) and is still a sweet and refreshing juice.

J20 Midnight Amber: The Midnight Amber is described as a burst of orange and lemon fruit juices blended with winter spice flavour. I was expecting this one to be lighter tasting but the hints of spices give it a touch of warmth and seasonal flavour. The base juices of orange and mandarin come through strongly with the lemon adding a tart edge. The hint of spices is quite subtle, and I would have preferred them to be a bit stronger, but I could detect some cinnamon and ginger in there. 

J20 Midnight Forest is available at all major supermarkets and the J20 Midnight Amber is exclusively available at Marstons, Greene King and Fullers pubs. 

Grocery Gems Review: J20 Midnight Amber & Midnight Forest Juice Drinks

RATING: 8 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Yes.
Nutrition (per bottle): Midnight Amber - 74 calories, Midnight Forest - 77 calories. 

PR Samples.