7 May 2015

Review: Nespresso Monsoon Malabar Coffee - Limited Edition


A very quick review of the latest Limited Edition Grand Cru coffee from Nespresso. The Monsoon Malabar Limited Edition is inspired by journeys from 300 years ago when coffee beans were loaded onto wooden-hulled sailing ships and transported for 6 months from the Indian Malabar Coast, around the Cape of Good Hope and towards Europe. These epic journeys, with the humidity and tropical sea winds encountered, had a unique effect on the coffee beans, causing them to swell and created a distinctive flavour. 


It's a wonderful inspiration and I love the overall look and design of these capsules with the caravela sailing boats on the packaging and the intricate Indian paisley pattern on the capsules themselves. The Nespresso Monsoon Malabar has an intensity of 8 and Nespresso describe it as having a bold character and an indulgent profile that is perfect when paired with milk. The coffee itself has a lovely strong flavour without being too bitter, and a woody intense background with slightly salty hints. Once milk is added (which is how I usually make my Nespresso coffee) the flavour mellows somewhat but still retains a good intensity and strength.

If you're a fan of the Nespresso Arpeggio (also an intensity 8) then I think you would also enjoy this new Monsoon Malabar. It's one of my favourite limited editions so far from Nespresso and I'll definitely be stocking up on a few more packs whilst it's still available.

Grocery Gems Verdict: Nespresso Monsoon Malabar:

Rating: 8 out of 10. 
Buy Again: Yes.
Purchased: Nespresso.
Price: £3.80p (10 capsules).


5 May 2015

Review: Cadbury Mini Rolls Banana


Cadbury have two Limited Edition Mini Rolls flavours for summer; Banana and Cola, aswell as two new permanent flavours; Orange and Raspberry. Just like the Cadbury Mini Roll Ice Cream Flavours from last year, the new special edition varieties can also be enjoyed as a frozen treat. I was a bit indecisive about whether to buy the Cola Mini Rolls or not and in the end I put them back - if you've tried this flavour then let me know if you recommend it!


I don't buy Mini Rolls very often (I think the last time was the new flavours last year) but I couldn't resist the new Banana Mini Rolls. The flavour of the banana filling is very creamy and sweet - it's quite reminiscent of a kids banana ice cream, especially when it's frozen. The banana flavour is slightly artificial tasting, but I didn't find it too overpowering. It's just a lovely sweet banana flavour that works well with the simple chocolate sponge cake of the mini roll. If you're a fan of banana then I definitely recommend giving these a go - and I'm more than curious about the Cola Mini Rolls now! 

Grocery Gems Verdict: Cadbury Mini Rolls Banana:

Rating: 8 out of 10. 
Buy Again: Yes.
Purchased: Asda.
Price: £1.00p each pack of 5 Mini Rolls.

3 May 2015

Degustabox April: Surprise Foodie Box & Discount Code!


Degustabox is a monthly subscription box that delivers a surprise selection of foodie products from new and established brands. Opening up the Degustabox each month is always exciting and the April box was no exception.  It arrived a few days ago and was so packed full of foodie treats I couldn't even get all of the products in one photo - there were just too many! I was also really excited to see that the April Degustabox was labelled as the "International Box" and includes a wonderful selection of products with inspiration from around the world.

Discount Code: OWC2W

Each Degustabox costs £12.99 a month, which includes delivery. There is no fixed contract involved and you can cancel at any time. 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 - OWC2W.

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


Nando's Crisps: There were three bags of Nando's Peri-Peri Grooves Crisps inside the Degustabox; Peri-Salted, Spicy Chicken and Sizzling Hot. These ridge cut crisps are already popular and are available in quite a few different flavours. The Peri-Salted is a new flavour which is giving and interesting twist to the classic plain salted crisp variety. 


Kinder Chocolate: Two large bags of individually wrapped Kinder chocolates. There are the delicious Kinder Choco-Bons which are little egg shaped chocolates with creamy milk fillings and crunchy hazelnut pieces. The Kinder Chocolate with Cereals are mini chocolate bars with a milky filling and crunchy cereal pieces.  I've always been a big fan of Kinder Chocolate so finding two bags in the Degustabox was a real treat!


Scheckter's Organic Energy: Scheckters is a 100% natural energy drink that is Organic, Fairtrade, Vegetarian and Informed Sport approved. The ingredients include sparkling filtered water, organic cane sugar, organic lemon juice, organic pomegranate juice, organic elderberry juice and Scheckters organic "energy blend" of green tea, guarana and green coffee extract. Mr. Grocery Gems has called dibs on this one!



Veetee Microwaveable Rice: It's great that Degustabox always includes useful grocery items as well as the more indulgent products. Microwaveable rice is one of those products that I use only occasionally, but I do like to keep a few in the store cupboard for emergencies. I've never tried the Veetee brand before so it will be interesting to see how it compares to my usual brand. I received two flavours; Spicy Mexican Style Rice and Peri-Peri Rice. 


Debeukelaer Cookies Bakery: I've wanted to try these cookies for a while now so I was really excited to find a box included this month. The DeBeukelaer Cookies Bakery is inspired by traditional family bakeries in Greenwich Village, New York to create bigger, better and tastier cookies to the UK. Each cookie is individually wrapped which is useful for lunch bags etc. However, I was slightly disappointed with the size of the cookies, they're not the XXL size I was expecting from the description. They are smaller than standard supermarket fresh bakery cookies. However, the flavour was very tasty and I liked the smooth, creamy filling in each one.


IdrinQ: There were two cans of this new generation drink included in the Degustabox. I like the funky packaging of these. Originally from Germany, the IdrinQ is a carbonated drink that is free from caffeine, preservatives, artificial sweeteners and colourings. It contains a range of vitamins and amino-acids that can help reduce tiredness and fatigue and help enhance energy and performance. I'm quite curious as to how these will actually taste - I'll have a full review soon!


Cirio: Tinned tomatoes might not seem like a very interesting product but I was actually really pleased with these two. The Cirio Filetti are described as peeled plum tomatoes cut into wedges and dipped in a thick sauce - certainly a class above my usual basics tinned tomatoes! The Cirio SuperCirio is a pack of four individual pots of double concentrated tomato puree. All very useful and again, not a brand I usually buy so I'm happy that I get to try them out.


Barry's Tea: A family owned Irish company since 1901, Barry's Tea have spent years perfecting their signature Gold Blend. I love trying out different brands of tea and I'm hoping this one will have a strong flavour!


Kingfisher Premium Beer: Kingfisher is India's No.1 selling beer and has been brewed for over 150 years to a classic recipe. It's described as having a clean and subtle citrus flavour that is the perfect complement to a hot and spicy curry. 


Chosan Wonju: This is a natural non-alcoholic drink that is made from the hibiscus plant and is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. It can be drunk on it's own or used as a mixer and is described as having a refreshing, crisp flavour.


Schwartz Recipe Mixes: There were actually 2 Schwartz recipe mixes included in the Degustabox, Korma and Balti, but I didn't realise until today that one was hidden at the bottom of the box! These new Indian curries Schwartz recipe mixes are available in four varieties - Korma, Balti, Rogan Josh and Biryani. I always keep a few Schwartz recipe mixes for quick and easy midweek dinners and I'm looking forward to giving these spicier flavours a try.

Overall I was extremely happy with the selection in the April Degustabox - I especially loved the international theme and the wide range of different products. My favourites this month are the Kinder Chocolates, Nando's Crips and all the interesting drinks. If you're a subscriber then I'd love to hear your thoughts on this months Degustabox selection in the comments below.

For more details on Degustabox:

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.


1 May 2015

Around the World: County Clare, Ireland - Hazel Mountain Chocolate


My brother recently sent me a few treats from Ireland, including this great looking Hazel Mountain Chocolate bar with White Chocolate & Sour Cherries. The Hazel Mountain Chocolate bar range is made by @burrenchocolate, a bean to bar chocolatier, in a unique stone ground chocolate factory in County Clare, Ireland. It's a beautiful part of the world and the Hazel Mountain Chocolate shop certainly looks like a stunning place to visit! 


Knowing that I'm a sweet tooth, and that I like unusual combinations, my lovely brother sent me this White Chocolate with Sour Cherries handcrafted bar. The ingredients are fab (there are only 6 ingredients listed on the back) and include cocoa butter, natural vanilla flavour and dried sour cherries. 


The chocolate has eight large sections, each indented with the Hazel Mountain Chocolate, Burren Chocolatier logo. The dried sour cherries are mostly on the back of the chocolate, as if they were sprinkled on at the end, rather than being inside the bar.


The chocolate base is a smooth, and very creamy, white chocolate that has a light vanilla edge to it. The little pieces of sour cherries add a little bit of extra flavour, and even though they are not too sour, they still add a tangy balance to the super sweet white chocolate. The combination of the white chocolate and dried cherries is ultimately quite a simple one, but they work together wonderfully to create a very enjoyable chocolate bar.

A big thank you to my brother for sending me this bar from County Clare, Ireland, which is where he lives. Discovering new treats and brands has always my favourite part of this blog and this one is extra special!

More Info: www.hazelmountainchocolate.com

28 Apr 2015

Review: The Laughing Cow Mini Cravings


A quick review for these new The Laughing Cow Mini Cravings cheese cubes. These are seriously cute little snacks! There are three varieties available; Original, Cheese, and Flavoured Cheese selections. 


The Flavoured Cheese selection has 24 mini cubes in 3 different flavours; Ham & Herb, Garlic & Herb and Three Cheese. 


Each cube is quite small, and has only 14 calories, but is still enough to cover a cracker or melba toast (I used the Melba Thins from this post). 


Garlic & Herb: This was my favourite flavour from the selection. It has a pale colouring with visible herbs, and a lovely flavour that is mild and creamy. The garlic and herb flavour here even reminded me of the Philadelphia Duo Cremeso with Garlic & Fine Herbs

Ham & Herb: These had a lovely smoked ham flavour which compliments the base cheese well. The meaty flavour dominates but there are still distinctive background herby hints too. It's quite different from any Laughing Cow cheese I've tried before and we all really enjoyed it.

Three Cheese: These had the most recognisable "Laughing Cow" cheese flavour of the lot, and has a similar flavour to the original triangles, but with a superior and stronger taste.  


I have to admit I bought these more for novelty value than anything else (I thought the kids might enjoy them as a one-off), but they were actually really tasty and I'll definitely be buying the Flavoured cheese pack again.

Grocery Gems Verdict: The Laughing Cow Mini Cravings

RATING: 8 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Yes.
Nutrition (per cube): 14 calories. 
Purchased: Asda.
Price: £0.94p (special offer.

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