Degustabox – July 2016

July’s Degustabox is a very drinks based box, with a lot of new-to-me drinks to try. There were also new crisps and sweets, and  a few biscuits we already enjoy. There’s also food stuff that are regular and new to our cupbaords – read on to find out more about the July Degustabox.

Seabrooks Chicken Jalfrezi Crisps

I didn’t know what these were at first, but using the easy peel & share tab that opens the front of the packet up – say goodbye to crinkly packet sounds during your movie – reveals latticed crisps, although the image doesn’t really show the lattice very well.

The first flavour with these vegetarian crisps is a chicken jalfrezi taste, with a surprising heat that hits the back of your throat and it’s only in the swallowing that you realise that they’re actually quite spicy! My kids didn’t appreciate these, but I happily ate most of them!

Natural Cucumber

I had serious reservations about this drink. I really don’t like cucumbers, the taste or the smell of them. Which pretty much means this drink probably won’t make it onto my weekly grocery list. That said, it’s not unbearable. It’s basically a sparkling cucumber flavoured water, sweetened by a little cane sugar. And it really is quite refreshing. If you don’t despise cucumbers, it’s fizzy and true to the flavour, and worth drinking!

Rejuvination Water

I’ve had this before and it’s a great to have before or after you’ve been drinking – or with some vodka. It’s a very light flavour, more like a flavoured water – which it is – than a juice, so it’s a good thing to have in your bag on hot days.

Alo Exposed

I can’t describe this drink, really, but it’s my current favourite and I’ll be looking out for more. It is sweet and has ‘bits’ in it – bits of aloe, that is, and reminds me of a litchi drink from Singapore that has a similar texture. Normally not a fan of ‘bitty’ liquids, this is delicious and very refreshing. The chewable bits of aloe taste like they’ve been soaked in honey, so they provide a sweet burst, but the rest of the drink, while sweet is really hard to place the flavour. It was only when I read that it was grape flavoured that I recognised the aftertaste, but it’s definitely a fantastic drink. I kept the bottle in the kitchen and just had a sip or two over the course of the day. Definitely a favourite!

The Cracker Drinks Company

With less than 90 calories per serving, the Pineapple, Coconut and Lime fruit juice drink from Cracker Drinks Company is an explosion of refreshing flavours. It has a definite citrus note to it, without the tartness you might expect from the lime. Very fresh and perfect for summer we made some of it into ice lollies for the kids, and they loved these and have already asked me to buy more. The fact that there’s no added sugar makes it all the more appealing for serving to kids in this form!

Berrywhite Organic

I received both the Sparkling Cranberry & Guava and Sparkling Lemon & Ginger.

The Berrywhite Organic Lemon & Ginger is a very fizzy, flavourful and refreshing drink. It’s water with lemon and ginger and Acai Berry, Yerba Mate and White Tea extract, with no added sugar, no caffeine or any other artificial ingredients. It is very nice, and has the clean flavour of a healthy drink, specially since there is no extra sugar added.

The Berrywhite Organic Sparkling Cranberry & Guava, however, is beyond fantastic. I love guava, but I couldn’t pick out the guava flavour – nor  in fact the cranberry. Together they just create a beautiful fruity flavour that fills itself out with each sip. Hmmm… definitely a favourite.

Choco Leibniz

We love these biscuits and have had them a few times. The top layer of milk chocolate covers and envelops a digestive biscuit, giving you a rich and lovely biscuits. My oldest daughter likes to dip them in hot chocolate, my younger daughter likes to eat the chocolate off and then the biscuit part. I guess it’s going to be a matter of personal preference how you eat them.

Rowntrees Fruit Pastilles Infusions

If you know the regular fruit pastilles, these don’t require a huge amount of explanation. They’re a soft centred sweet with a hard sugar crusted shell. These come in three flavours: orange & grapefruit, raspberry & pomegranate and apple & Elderflower.

The flavours are true to their names, with the bitter grapefruit flavour coming through nicely in the orange & grapefruit, and the apple & Elderflower has a very gentle flavour. My favourite are the red raspberry & pomegranate which have a lovely fresh, summer, sweet taste. Delicious.

Brookside Acai & Blueberry Chocolate

My mouth is watering just thinking of these chocolates. They are gorgeous! Inside each chocolate ball is a two half drops of dried Acai and Blueberry. They are chewy, but not like toffee, just chewy. The dark chocolate is a perfect accompaniment and these are moreish and tasty, with a sweet and tart balance.

Sarson’s Balsamic Vinegar of Modena

The Sarson’s Balsamic Vinegar is a decent balsamic vinegar that’s pleasant on salads and for dipping with a good olive oil and some lovely fresh bread.

Felix Sweet Pickled Swedish Gherkins

These sweet gherkins come ready sliced which is great for build-your-own burgers or sandwiches. They are tart and sweet, but a great addition to dinner.

 Itsu Crispy Seaweed Thins

I wasn’t sure what to expect with these but I really like them. I tried one as a ‘crisp’ which isn’t really my thing, but then I tried them with sushi rice and salmon, and we all enjoyed making a meal of them. They add a perfect salty element, and round off the meal nicely.

Jordans Swiss Muesli

The final product was a bag of Muesli. I found it too oaty for me – I prefer granola, but it did work very well for muesli bars to fill out day trip lunch boxes for the summer holidays!