Review: Degustabox Best of British (April)

I do love a themed Degustabox and I was excited to find out what was included in the April 'Best of British' themed box. Inside there was a fab mix of some classic brands such as Heinz and Ty-Phoo, alongside a discovery of interesting new products.

About Degustabox:

Degustabox is a monthly foodie subscription service that sends out 10 to 15 specially selected foodie products per box. There's always a great mix of new products that I haven't tried before, as well as plenty of treats from more established brands. Each Degustabox costs £12.99, delivery costs are included in the price, and there is no fixed contract involved. 

www.degustabox.com/en/

Here's a quick round up of all the products I received in the latest Degustabox:

Bulls-Eye NY Steakhouse BBQ Sauce: This is a very unique sauce - it's not smooth but has visible onions and peppers. It's essentially a cross between a relish and a sauce. It's also full of flavour and tastes almost homemade with plenty of natural ingredients and spices - it packs a zing at the end with a hint of heat too.

Slim Rice Sushi: This is made using Japanese sushi rice and konjac rice for lower calories. It doesn't need any cooking so can be used straight onto a nori sheet to make sushi. I will probably use it as a replacement for rice the next time I make a stir fry dish.

TyPhoo Tea: Typhoo has been around since 1903 and is a much loved British tea brand. As much as new products are exciting, I also love it when storecupboard essentials are included in the Degustabox - and they don't get much more essential (and British) than teabags!

Robinsons Pressed Pear & Elderflower: This is the perfect combination for a grown-up fruit cordial. My husband especially enjoyed the crisp fruitiness of the pear combined with the refreshing and delicate elderflower. I haven't been a fan of some of the flavours in this range so I was pleased with this discovery.

London Flavours Crisps: These hand-cooked crisps are available in three street food inspired flavours; Pho, Teriyaki & Sticky Ribs - I received the Street Food Pho. All flavours are suitable for vegans. I really enjoyed the texture of these, each chip is thick and crunchy, with a lovely tangy flavour too.

Candy Kittens Wild Strawberry: Ever since I tried these in a previous Degustabox, Candy Kittens have become my favourite brand of sweets. I always treat myself to a bag for movie nights or special occassions. The Wild Strawberry is up there with my favourite flavours, although I also love the Peach and Blueberry varieties too.

Crafted by Cracker Drinks Co: A new brand that I've never tried before. This is a fruit juice drink with no added sugar or sweeteners, packed in an environmentally friendly carton. It's a lovely tasting juice, very a gorgeous tropical flavour and not too sweet. I would definitely buy this again if I was out and about.

Pachamama: These vegan bars are made with a mix of cacao, dates, nuts, grains and seeds. I received two flaovurs; Andean Berries & Raspberry and Cocao & Cashew. The texture is very dense and packed full of ingredients. I preferred the slightly sweeter and fruitier hints of the Andean Berries variety.

Love Corn: These little vegan corn kernals are simply delicious. The barbecue flavour is absolutely delicious and perfectly matched to the natural crunchy corn. This was my favourite snack in the whole Degustabox.

Heinz: I'm sure I don't need to describe either Heinz Baked Beanz or Heinz Tomato Soup as they're both classics. Funnily enough I have never tried the Organic version of the Baked Beanz or the convenient microwavable pot for the Tomato Soup so it was still fun finding these in the Degustabox.

Skinny Food Co - Not Guilty Bites: Interesting little packs of high protein White Chocolate or Milk Chocolate Crispies. These seem to be made with soy flakes and have a similar appearance and texture to traditional rice krispies. Each pack has about six bites and comes in under 99 calories. 

Nestlé Oat Cheerios: Another grocery classic that I buy regularly. Nestlé Cheerios are one of my kids' favourite cereals and we're fans of this Oat variety too.

Once again I enjoyed the selection of surprise groceries in this month's Degustabox - there were plenty of new brands to discover. I was especially happy to find the Love Corn, London Flavours Crisps, and Candy Kittens. 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.

Degustabox August Review & a £7 Discount Code

My August Degustabox actually arrived in early September as I had to delay the delivery (I was on holiday when it was due to arrive). I love how easy it is the reschedule the Degustabox delivery if the time and date isn't convenient. Anyway, as usual the Degustabox was once again packed full of new foodie products that I can't wait to try.  

Discount Code: BLDEG15

Degustabox is a monthly foodie subscription service that sends out a range of specially selected foodie products. There's always a great mix of new products that I haven't tried before, as well as plenty of treats from more established brands. Each Degustabox costs £12.99p, delivery costs are included in the price, and there is no fixed contract involved - you can cancel at any time.

The discount code has been increased and now offers a massive £7.00 off, bringing the cost to £6.99 delivered. Check out the Degustabox website below and enter the discount code: BLDEG15

www.degustabox.com/en

Here's a quick round up of all the products I received in the August Degustabox:

Willy Chase's Fit Corn: I've never heard of this brand before but the bright packaging and interesting flavour made it instantly appealing. There were one of four possible flavours in the Degustabox: Apple Cider Vinegar, Smokey Bloody Mary, Goats Cheese, Onion & Thyme or Salted Honey. I'm definitely pleased with the flavour I received! The combination of sweet honey and salty flavours worked together perfectly.

NutriPot: Another new brand to me which I'm always keen to try out. The NutriPot are designed to be healthy and nutritious, with each pot containing 50% of all the 28 vitamins and minerals your body requires every day. I received two flavours that are both simple to make by just adding boiling water. The Aromatic Thai Noodles has a slightly spiced flavour while the Moroccan Couscous is flavoured with sultanas and herbs. 

Clipper Lime & Ginger Green Tea: I've only recently become a convert to lemon flavoured green tea. I'd always assumed it wouldn't be for me but I tried a cup at a friends house and became hooked. This Lime & Ginger flavour works just as well with the lime added a refreshing sweetness and the ginger providing extra warmth. Lemon green tea is still my favourite but I would buy this one if I fancied a change.

Dorset Cereals Bircher Mix: Bircher Muesli is traditionally made in Switzerland by soaking oats overnight in juice and yogurt and adding grated fruit. The Dorset Cereals Bircher Mix came with a little scoop for measuring out the perfect portion, and is then made by adding 60ml of apple juice, a spoonful of yogurt on top and refridgerating for 30mins (or overnight) in the fridge.

The result is an absolutely delicious and creamy muesli that is packed full of fruity flavour. I've never had oats made with apple juice before and now I just can't stop! It's become my favourite breakfast and I've had it every day since I first tried it. I'll be buying this regularly from now on.

Mahou Cinco Estrellas Lager: This lager is produced in Madrid and has a history going back 126 years. It's available in most supermarkets such as Asda, Sainsbury's and online at Ocado. My dad loves this one!

Get More Multivitamins: This drink is made with spring water, natural flavours and no added sugar. There are six different flavours available and I received the Sparkling Lemon & Lime. It's a refreshing drink with a flavour similar to a diet lemonade. I preferred the Still Mango & Passionfruit version which I tried in a previous Degustabox.

Fentimans Sparkling Lime & Jasmine: I'm a fan of Fentimans' botanical drinks, especially their Curiosity Cola. This Sparkling Lime and Jasmine is new to me so I was excited to give it a try. The initial flavour is quite sharp, with the citrus notes kicking in straight away and quite a sour taste overall.

Rakusen's Snackers: Available in Plain and Gluten Free varieties. These Snackers are less than 1% fat and have seven calories per cracker. The ingredients in both are very simple, resulting in quite plain tasting crackers - a bit like water crackers. They're very crunchy which makes them good for dipping and topping.

Geeta's Curry Pastes & Chutney: There were three different products from the Geeta's range in the Degustabox. The curry pastes, a Tikka and a Rogan Josh, are quite small so are ideal for two rather than for family meals. The Premium Mango Chutney is an award-winning chutney that is sweet, tangy and full of flavour.

Tabasco Sauce: My other half was very pleased to find this in the Degustabox. He loves trying out different barbecue sauces - any excuse to fire up the BBQ! This Sweet & Sticky Barbecue sauce and marinade has a rich and smokey flavour and works well on ribs and pulled pork.

Capsicana Latin Flavours: Capsicana Cook Sauces are available in three Latin American inspired flavours; Peruvian Chilli & Lemon, Brazilian Chilli & Coconut, and Mexican Chilli & Honey. This looks like a fabulous new range and the flavours all look really appealing. I'm looking forward to giving these one a try, I'll probably use it with chicken but it can also be used with fish or vegetables. The Capsicana range is now available at Waitrose.

Overall, I really enjoyed the surprise selection in this months Degustabox. There was a wonderful mix of useful items and many new brands. I also received a packet of Oloves which I've reviewed previously here - Oloves Olives Review. My favourites this month were the Clipper Tea, Tabasco BBQ sauce, Chase's Popcorn and the amazing Dorset Cereals Bircher Mix.

For more details on Degustabox:

Degustabox website: www.degustabox.com/en

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.

Review: PG Tips Tea Capsules (Nespresso Compatible)

PG Tips have launched a range of innovative tea capsules that are compatible with Nespresso machines (see below for full details). There are four flavours available; Caramel & Vanilla Black Tea, Peppermint Tea, Green Tea and a Raspberry & Apple infusion. Even though Nespresso machines make fantastic coffee, it's great to finally see some drinks other than coffee being released for these machines.

Each box contains ten PG Tips capsules which look fairly similar to other brands available for Nespresso machines. The teas are all quite easy to make, although there is a little extra preparation required here. It's a good idea to rinse the machine by running it without a capsule for a few seconds first. Then simply remove the plastic lid from the capsule and insert it into the machine for a perfect cuppa - no need to worry about brewing times here!

My favourites so far are the Punchy Peppermint Tea and the Smooth Green Tea. I'm a big fan of both types of tea but I'm usually quite fussy about how they are made - I hate it when they are over stewed or too weak. In both instances the teas tasted pure and well brewed, just like they had been made with proper tea bags. The peppermint tea in particular had a lovely fresh flavour. I did find that my Nespresso machine only makes quite small drinks (even on the Lungo setting) so I added a bit of freshly boiled water to both teas.

Grocery Gems Verdict: PG Tips Tea Capsules

RATING: 7 out of 10.

Purchased: Available online through Ocado.
Price: £2.79p for a pack of 10.

*Compatible with Citiz, Essenza, U, Pixie, Maestria, Lattissima and Inissia machines. Nespresso and machine names are trademarks of Société des produits Nestlé S.A. The trademarks owner is not connected with Unilever and or its group of companies.

PR SAMPLES.

Tick Tock Rooibos Vanilla Chai and Rooibos Detox Review

Rooibos tea is a delicious tea which grows in South Africa's Cedarberg mountains. It's naturally caffeine free and has a distinctive reddish brown colour. Unlike other herbal teas, it doesn't taste too "flowery" and can be enjoyed much like a regular black tea, with milk and sugar. I've always been a fan of Rooibos tea, and especially vanilla flavoured versions, such as the Waitrose Rooibos & Vanilla which I reviewed in the early days of my blog. The Tick Tock brand is one of the best and is easy to find in most supermarkets. I happened to spot a couple of varieties in a discount store and couldn't resist picking up some of the varieties I've never tried before; Rooibos Vanilla Chai and Rooibos Detox. 

I primarily bought the Rooibos Vanilla Chai for my husband as he enjoys spiced varieties of tea. Even though I like the idea of chai tea, I sometimes find the shop bought versions to be too overpowering. Luckily, that wasn't the case with the Tick Tock Vanilla Chai, the blend of spices - cinnamon, ginger and cardamom, is delicately done so as to flavour the tea without  overwhelming it. The earthy tones of the Rooibos tea base are still evident, and so is a lovely sweetness from the natural Madagascan vanilla flavour. The spices, especially the cinnamon, just add a wonderful extra warmth and depth.

Tick Tock Rooibos Detox Restore & Renew is described as being "clean, gentle and brimming with natural goodness... it's especially blended to help you get back on track". It's a combination of a Rooibos tea base with added liquorice root, fennel and lemongrass - all traditionally used to support wellbeing and digestion. The flavours did not sound particularly appealing to me but it's actually a very pleasant blend. The overall flavour is quite sweet, from the licorice root, but it's very refreshing at the same time. The sweetness did tend to leave a little aftertaste but it wasn't too cloying or overpowering. For a so-called Detox tea this is actually very nice and I''m definitely going back to buy a second box.

Grocery Gems Verdict: Tick Tock Rooibos

RATING: Vanilla Chai: 9 out of 10, Detox Restore & Renew: 8 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Yes to both.
Purchased: 99p Stores.
Price: £0.99p.

Other reviews you may be interested in: 
Waitrose Rooibos & Vanilla Infusion
Teapigs Winter Spiced Red Tea

Yao Yao Cha - Bubble Tea and Shaved Ice

Earlier today I had the pleasure of visiting Yao Yao Cha, a bubble tea shop in Earlham Street, in the heart of Seven Dials near Covent Garden, who have just launched a range of delicious Shaved Ice treats. There are quite a few bubble tea shops springing up in London but Yao Yao Cha pride themselves on their authentic Taiwanese flavours and toppings, aswell as popular fruity flavours and a range of Frappés. I got to meet their lovely staff and sample a few of their products, including a gorgeous seasonal special edition that's only available for the next four days!

Firstly their new Shaved Ice! Yao Yao Cha offers two Shaved Ice options. For fruit lovers there are three varieties; Mango Shaved Ice with slices of mango, Strawberry Shaved Ice with strawberries, and Peach and Passion - passion fruit ice with peach pieces. For more adventurous types there is the option to build your own Shaved Ice experience by combining flavoured ice with three toppings. First choose the Shaved Ice flavour from mango, passion fruit, blueberry or brown sugar syrup (which is very popular in Asia). Then add three topping options from a choice of Fruit Pops, Jellies, Crème Brûlée or more traditional Asian choices - Azuki red beans, green mung beans, Aiyu, Taro or condensed Milk. 

Since I had already tried some fruity flavours of Shaved Ice at Hyper Japan last weekend (see here) the staff at Yao Yao Cha made me a wonderful, and more traditionally Taiwanese, Shaved Ice concoction. It consisted of brown sugar flavoured Shaved Ice with three toppings; Créme Brûlée, Aiyu Jelly, and Azuki red beans. The combination is a really gorgeous one, consisting of a simple sweet ice base, with the lovely refreshing jellies and the more earthy and delicious red beans. I also got to try an extra side helping of Taro, an unusual sweet vegetable that tastes surprisingly good with the shaved ice. It's a lovely, light and refreshing treat and definitely worth stopping by to try out. It's available at both an eat-in or take away option. Next time I'd love to try the Peach and Passion Shaved Ice! 

This gorgeous Bubble Tea above is a special edition which is only available until 4th August. It's been specifically created to celebrate Chinese Valentine's Day (Double Seventh Festival on August 2nd) and consists of a black tea base, Azuki red beans, and of course, lots of tapioca pearls. It was very refreshing and delicious, without being as sweet as other Bubble Teas I've tried. Bubble Tea originates from Taiwan, and is usually a combination of the distinctive chewy tapioca pearls and a milk tea or fruit tea base. Yao Yao Cha use smaller and less chewy tapioca pearls and regularly make fresh tea to ensure there are no bitter flavours. I really loved this Bubble Tea and I will definitely be back for more. Take a look at the full range of flavours on the Yao Yao Cha website HERE. There is a core menu of 24 drinks which range from familiar fruity flavours, such as Mango Green Tea to the much more adventurous, like Matcha Red Bean Tea. 

We also tried one of their Frappé drinks, opting for a fruity mango one this time. The Frappés are a great choice for anyone who doesn't want a tea based drink or the tapioca pearls. Instead they are essentially a blended ice drink with a twist! All  the Frappés come with a portion of "fruit pops" as standard, which are the jelly like balls you can see on top of the drink. Unlike the tapioca pearls these fruit pops are not chewy at all, they're quite light and delicate and they literally burst with fruity flavour as you drink. My kids absolutely loved this drink! It was so fruity and flavourful and the fruit pops on top are really fun. It's a bit like an extra special slushie drink and definitely one I would recommend! I really want to try the Blueberry one next time.

Yao Yao Cha also have a cute competition running for Chinese Valentine's Day this weekend. Take a selfie with your Yao Yao Cha drink and you could win free Bubble Tea for a whole month. I could definitely do with some of that over the summer! :)

More Info: www.yaoyaocha.com

Location: www.yaoyaocha.com/locations

Twitter: @YaoYaoCha

I was invited to Yao Yao Cha to try out their new Shaved Ice for an honest review.

Review: Teapigs Popcorn Tea

This Popcorn Tea from Teapigs is a traditional tea from Japan which has a lovely story behind it. Apparently when green tea was too expensive for the peasant folk to afford it regularly, they would add grains of toasted rice to the tea to make it go further. From these humble beginnings it's now celebrated as a popular tea in it's own right called Genmaicha tea. I couldn't resist picking up a pack of this Teapigs version when I saw it in a Wholefoods Market recently. 

Some of the toasted rice grains look just like tiny popcorn pieces!

The tea itself is a refreshing green tea and the addition of the toasted rice pieces gives it a really interesting and different edge. The flavour is certainly unique, with an unusual toasted sweetness. It's described by Teapigs as being a bit like Sugar Puffs and it really does have a similar toasty wheaty taste, but thankfully nowhere near as sugary!  Of course this doesn't actually taste of popcorn but it's a very tasty tea nonetheless.

Grocery Gems Verdict: Teapigs Popcorn Tea

Rating: 8 out of 10

Purchased: Wholefoods Market or online at www.teapigs.co.uk 

Price: £4.49p.

Review: teapigs spiced winter red tea

What a  lovely way to get ready for the festive days ahead then trying out the Christmas-in-a-cup that is the teapigs spiced winter red tea - a rooibos (redbush) tea base combined with the inviting Christmas flavours of cinnamon, cloves, and orange blossom. This spicy mix has been added to the distinctive teapigs tea temple giving it a familiar wintery aroma. It really is an amazing scent, so incredibly warming and Christmassy! It's available, along with lots of other great winter teas, at the newly launched teapigs Christmas Shop.

The earthy base of the rooibos tea here is ideal for the strong Christmas spices in this blend. (For those who have never tried a rooibos tea before, I'd recommend giving it a try, especially if you're not usually a fan of herbal teas. It's not flowery like other herbal varieties and tastes delicious when made with milk). Making a cup of the spiced winter red, is like having a cheeky tea version of mulled wine, filling the house with it's warming scent. The cinnamon and hint of orange are particularly delicious and flavourful. It might be quite strong for some tastes (I find it a bit too strong but Mr. Grocery Gems thinks it's just right), but adding a splash of milk helps to mellow the flavours out. Teapigs tea blends are always extra special, and this spiced winter red tea is no exception. It's a gorgeous tea to warm up the cold winter chills. 

Take a look at the teapigs Christmas Shop online, they have lots of gift ideas for the tea lover in your life: http://www.teapigs.co.uk/christmas_gift_shop

Sample provided for review by teapigs.