Degustabox Cold Box (Limited edition)

 Oh, the excitement of getting a big box from Degustabox! 

The new Degustabox Cold Box has arrived. It's a selection of products which are found in the refrigerated section of supermarkets. As you might know if you follow my blog, I review Degustabox monthly boxes regularly, but this is the first time I receieved a Cold Box, and I was very eager to discover its contents. Just like a child at Christmas!

Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have been around for a 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 otherwise wouldn't have tried.

Each time a monthly box arrives, its contents are 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 £3off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order.

What did we receive in Degustabox Cold Box?

Glorious Super Indian Sweet Potato & Coconut Daal Soup is a delicious Indian-inspired sweet potato soup, combining creamy coconut, yellow split peas, mung beans, mango chutney and traditional spice - lovage, turmeric, pepper, garlic, mace, nutmeg, curry powder, ginger, coriander, cumin, cardamom, cinnamon. 

It is warming, sweet and spicy, and really lovely.

It is high in fibre, vegan. gluten free, source of protein, 2 of your 5 a day.

I'm afraid I have de-veganised (is that a word?!) it, by adding a swirl of soured cream, but that's how I like my soups, with soured cream, single cream or Greek yogurt.

La Famiglia Rana Classic Italian Recipe Kit - Tagliatelle Carbonara (serves 1) including fresh eggs pasta ribbons, a pouch of fresh Carbonara sauce (with oven-roasted pancetta), plus garnishes and toppings like grated Parmesan, a small sachet of black pepper and parsley. The pasta is made with free-range eggs.

You are supposed to cook the meal in a provided carton box in the microwave, but as I don't have a microwave, I cooked it on the hob, first cooking the pasta for a couple of minutes in boiling hot salted water, then adding the cream and all toppings. There is a bit too much sauce for one portion. Maybe it would have thickened more in the microwave, but cooked on the hob, it was quite liquid.

It is a tasty, quick and easy meal, on the calorific side - 967kcal per serving.

The Vegatarian Butcher What the Cluck is a vegan meat substitute of soy-based chicken style chunks, high in protein and a good source of fibre. 

Nutritional information: 101kcal and 1.4g of salt per 80g portion.

When uncooked, it looks a bit like ham chunks which have gone off.

I cooked it with carrots, sweet peppers, plums and a pouch of Yo! Honey, soy and miso sauce. 

The taste is not bad at all, though the texture is different from chicken. Take their endorsement on the carton sleeve with a pinch of salt, "Some say that these chunks taste more like chicken than chicken itself". It's a decent source of protein, but don't expect it to taste like chicken.

I'd be curious to try other offerings from the brand, as I know it has acquired quite an iconic status now. The plant-based gastronomy is the next big thing indeed.

Benecol Original Soft Cheese is a tasty lactose free spread, proven to lower cholesterol. It contains plant stanols.

Ingredients: lactose free quark (milk), plant stanol ester, lactose free milk powder etc. A daily intake of plant stanols lowers cholesterol by 7-10% in 2-3 weeks.

I enjoy cream cheese on toast or bagels for breakfast, and Benecol is a tasty alternative to my usual cream cheese. Combined with a smoked salmon on sourdough, it makes a delicious lunch.

We love Müller Light range of yogurts, they are delicous and come in so many flavours to please everyone.

Müller Light Crunch Strawberry Cheesecake Inspired might be my new favourite yogurt. It is low fat (under 99kcal per pot) and is a source of protein.

This strawberry flavoured yogurt with a biscuit crumble will make a lovely breakfast.

Over the Spoon Zingy Lemon Cheesecake is a dairy free, plant-based and gluten free dessert. For me, it hits all the right notes - I love lemon-based desserts, and this one is light and sharp. You'd never guess it's gluten-free and vegan.

As you can see, there is a biscuit base (made with oat flour), layered with a zingy lemon curd and topped with thick creamy Sicilian emon mousse. It is also soya free.

Nutritional values: 231kcal and 22.3g of sugar per serving.

Holy Moly Guacamole Original is one of the best guacamoles that you can find on the supermarket shelves. It's a perfect dip for a movie night with a big bag of Doritos. It tastes like homemade and is 100% natural. 

Ingredients include avocado (87%), tomato, red onion, jalapeno chilli, lime juice, coriander, garlic puree and salt.

Nutritional values: 132kcal and 0.9g of sugar per 100g.

I enjoy it on a slice of bread, topped with Santa Maria jalapeños and pineapple pieces. Utterly divine.

Shaken Udder Salted Caramel is a flavour which I don't tend to buy (my guys love Strawberries & Cream and Vanilla flavours), so it was interesting to try something new. 

This tasty dairy milshake is made with Maldon sea salt, no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

There is 51% RI calcium per 330ml serving.

Nutritional values: 61kcal and 6.2g of sugar per 100ml.

I was impressed with Mockingbird Raw Boost Virgin Smoothie. It is made with strawberry, blackcurrant, acai berry, beetroot, spinach, kale, vitamins B6 and C. There is up to 1/2kg of fresh fruit and veg to craft every bottle, hurrah for that. 

It contains spinach and kale, both of which I struggle with generally, but the smoothie version makes it so much easier to consume your five a day. It's cold-pressed raw for the perfect taste.

Nutritional values: 117kca; and 20g of sugar (from the fruit and veg, there is no added sugar) per 250ml.

And finally, Plain Koko yogurt. This is dairy, gluten and soya free yogurt, with added calcium and vitamins D2 abd B12. It contains no artificial flavours, colours of preservatives. 

Nutritional values: 79kcal and 4.3g of sugar per 100g.

It tastes lovely, smooth and creamy, not sweet, with a little hint of saltiness. Perfect as a topping for cereals, fruit, or as an ingredient in dips, smoothies and cooking.

I used about half of the tub for baking a yogurt cake, and it was delicious, moist and light.

All the products were fresh and in perfect condition, and arrived still cold, with the cooler cushions around. 

This was the first time we tried Degustabox Cold Box, and all I can say is it's definitely a bestseller.

Disclosure: We receive monthly Degustabox food box for reviewing. All opinions are our own.