Brunch & Afternoon tea (May 2019) Degustabox

Afternoon tea is one of the finest British traditions, while brunch, which has originated in England in the 19C, is more associated with the States. The combination of two makes you think of long meals without a hassle, chats with family and friends and tasty food.

Brunch & Afternoon Tea is the theme of the latest Degustabox.

This monthly food and drink subscription box is an excellent way to discover products which have only just appeared in the shops or those which might have been around for while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I probably wouldn't have tried otherwise.

Each time the box arrives, it's a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet and would like to have a go, I have a whopping £7 off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time) - just use a code 8EVI8 when you place an order.

What did we receive in the May'19 Degustabox? Let's have a look.

Indie Bay Snacks Spelt Pretzel Bites with Rock Salt (£1) got thumbs up from all of us.
Indie Bay Snacks have reinvented the classic pretzel, using new ingredients and processes to create a snack with benefits.

These crunchy savoury snacks are very moreish, and are a source of protein and fibre, with less than 100kcal per portion. They are vegan too.
All natural ingredients, made with alternative flours (49% spelt flour) & GMO and preservative free.
You should receive two packs in your box.

There is a recipe for Rockie Road Bites with Rock Salt Indie Bay enclosed with the food box, but I'm afraid these tasty mini pretzels never made it into the Rockie Road. They disappeared fast as they are.

Bravura Foods Free From Fellows (£1.99) are made without sugar, gluten, gelatine and dairy, and thus are vegan friendly. They are also egg free, soy free, GMO free, nut free and free from artificial flavours and colours.

They taste very much like the original midget gems, if I remember correctly, as I haven't bought them recently. My sons both liked the vegan midget gems.

I used some of midget gems as decorations for Coconut semolina cake. The rest was finished by my boys.

Milkybar Mix Ups (£0.65 for 32.5g bag) are an appealing mix of Milkybar white chocolate buttons with a cocoa filling and milk chocolate buttons with a milky filling. They are available in bags of different sizes.
You should receive two in your box.

They contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Nutritional information: 81kcal and 9g if sugar per 6 pieces.

Daelmans Duo Stroopwafels (£1.29) are an authentic Dutch product. Daelmans stroopwafels have a long history, and their production goes back to 1909.
These tasty waffles have a caramel filling, made from the finest ingredients. They are lovely with tea or coffee.

The two-waffle pack will be attached to a piece of paper. Don't throw it before entering the competition. Scratch and try to win one of the prizes, from a gift package worth £250 to real Dutch wooden shoes.
Alas, our code was not a winner. We got a 10% discount to buy products from their website, which we are not going to use.
I have been buying Stroopwafels before, but I didn't know that to enjoy the best flavour, you are supposed to put a waffle on top of your cup of tea or coffee. The hot drink will soften and warm the waffle, and that's a traditional Dutch way of enjoying a stroopwafle. I suppose, it's similar to the British tradition of dunking biscuits in a cuppa, only with less soggy bits floating in the cup.

SPLENDA Sweet Minis (£1.50) is a well-known alternative to sugar. It's made with sucralose, a low-calorie sweetener derived from sucrose.
Each SPLENDA mini has the same equivalent of sweetness as a teaspoon of sugar, but doesn't contain the calories.

Oteas Black Tea & Apricot (£3.75) is Degustabox's product of the month. This black tea will appeal to fans of flavoured teas. It makes a delicious, fruity brew, with a sweet and light apricot flavour.
Using only high quality black tea and apricot pieces responsibly sourced, it comes in a biodegradable bag.
Available online at www.o-teas.com Use code OTEAS15OFF for a 15% discount (expires 30/09/19).

Koko Dairy Free SUPER milk (£1.99) is enriched with 9 key vitamins and minerals, offering a specially boosted nutrition for all ages. It provides more nutrients than any regular plant or dairy milk.
Let me mention first that I am not a fan of products with added vitamins. I believe it's better to get vitamins from a variety of foods. I don't want an orange juice with an added omega-3, or sliced bread with a Mendeleev's table of elements in it.
I do buy Koko Original, whenever I fancy it, and quite enjoy the flavour, but I was disappointed by Koko Dairy Free SUPER milk. There was something strange about the viscosity of the liquid, it felt heavy and oily. I didn't like it in coffee, in fact, it curdled. It was OK in porridge, and would probably be OK in baking, but it's not a product for me.

Another vegan product in the current box is Hellmann's Vegan Mayo (£2.25).
I was pleasantly surprised at how creamy and tasty it is.
It's definitely a perfect alternative to a dairy-based mayo. It's gluten free, suitable for vegans and is a source of Omega 3.
I made a potato salad with it, and it was very tasty.

Now, as a blogger I received products for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic box choices, so if you receive a monthly box, you won't find all the products mentioned here in your box.

Kühne whiskey cornichons are crunchy and delicious. A lovely treat for all fans of pickles. I haven't tried them before, but I bought a jar of Kühne gin cornichons recently in Ocado. Both flavours are great. Any dull cheese sandwich will benefit from this tasty addition.

Shore Seaweed Puffs (£1.19) are super healthy seaweed snacks. They are crunchy, umami filled savoury snacks, under 100kcal per bag.
You will receive one of 4 flavours. We tried Sea salt & balsamic. I love seaweed snacks, but my guys were less enthusiastic.

Fruity Beauties Organic & Fairtrade Snack Bars (£1.50) are high in fibre and contain one of your 5 a day.
Positively juicy, these bars are traceable farm to fork and promote sustainability. A lovely snack for when you're feeling peckish, and a nice addition to a lunchbox.

Real Good Smokey BBQ Ketchup (£2.49) is the latest addition to the Real Good Ketchup range of no added sugar table sauces.
Made with natural Hickory & Oak smoked water from Tennessee, this condiment is great with French fries and as a cooking ingredient. It's 80% less sugar than regular sauces.

Real Good Ketchup will appear in the non-alcoholic choice of the food box, while if you opted for the box with alcohol, you might receive La Gioiosa Prosecco Brut DOC Treviso (£3.49).
Family-owned La Gioiosa is one of Italy's leading Prosecco producers.
Based in Treviso in the heart of "Prosecco country", it produces quality wines.
Its name pays tribute to the old definition of the Treviso province, "Marca gioiosa et amorosa" (Joyous and amorous March), underlining the sociable Italian way of life.

Firefly Drinks Lemon, Lime & Ginger (£1.55) is a revitalising botanical drink, expertly crafted from still water, fruit juice and active botanicals for the perfect blend of flavour and refreshment.
All Firefly drinks contain only naturally occurring sugars, no colours or preservatives and are vegan friendly.