Winter Warmers & New Year Degustabox

 Every year many people welcome January with an expectation of new resolutions, and a sincere promise to reach new goals. Knowing full well that I am useless at making resolutions work, I don't undertake any. Veganuary and Dry January pass me by. January is the month of the Russian Christmas. Though I don't tend to celebrate it on a grand scale, I want a cake, with dairy butter and cream. And a cheeseboard with dairy cheese.

I believe since I cook a vegan dinner every week, and eat enough of salads and vegetable meals, the sum total of them all extends well beyond one month. So, I spread my Veganuary evenly through the year.

Winter Warmers & New Year is the theme of the latest Degustabox. And it offers a good amount of vegan foods to help those who join in Veganuary.

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.

Let's have a look at what we got in the Winter Warmers & New Year Degustabox.

Cup Noodles Soba Japanese Curry (£1.49) is a product of the month. Nissin Cup Noodles Soba Japanese Curry offers an authentic Japanese curry experience. It comes with a draining cap, and is very easy and quick to prepare. 

This vegetarian meal is a spicy combination of noodles with a curry seasoning. If you like cup noodles, give them a go.

Typical values: 208kcal and 1.4g of salt. 

If you're sensitive to flavour enhancers, there is quite a few of E-numbers.

Available at classic retailers.

Amy's Kitchen Organic Quinoa Kale and Red Lentil Soup (£2.15) is packed with plant power from organic red lentils, kale, quinoa, and vegetables - onions, tomato puree, garlic, jalapeno peppers as well as spices and herbs.

It is gluten free, low fat and vegan. It's so hearty and robust, that it is more of a stew in consistency. A good pantry staple, for the days when you want a quick and easy meal.

Nutritional information: 237kcal and 6.3g of sugar per serving (tin).

Available in all major supermarkets.

Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil Originale/Olive Oil Classico (£5) is a splendid oil from a well-known Italian brand. I go through litres and litres of olive oil, adding it to a variety of meals and recipes, from making a soffrito base for soups and stews, to baking a carrot or polenta cake, from salads to pasta and risotto. Its fruity olive taste is great for grilled, fried and baked foods.

You should receive 1 item in your box.

Available on Ocado and Amazon.

Pipers Crisps Pitta Chips Cawdor Garlic & Herbs/Pitta Chips Biggleswade/Sweet Chilli & Sour Cream (£1.10) are double baked savoury snacks. We all loved them.

These crunchy pitta chips are made with delicious local ingredients, with a bespoke baking process. For example, the sweet chilli is grown by the Genovese family of Bedfordshire, while garlic is grown by the Allingham family farm in Scotland. I love the fact that you can trace the ingredients to the growers.

Nutritional values: 486-494kcal and 4.7-5.5g of sugar per 100g.

Available at local farm shops/pubs and in sharing bags at Ocado, Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

Rhythm 108 Hazelnut Praline Soft-Baked Cookie (£1.49) is a soft blonde Swiss chocolate chip cookie, filled with a creamy hazelnut chocolate praline and topped with a sprinkle of hazelnuts and chocolate chips. Vegan, organic and gluten-free. Made in Switzerland, in a little bakery in the foothills of the Alps.

It comes wrapped up in a home compostable packaging. And it is made without palm oil.

Nutritional information: 235kcal and 13g of sugar.

Available at Morrisons, Booths, Planet Organic, on Amazon, Ocado and Rhythm108.

Cheesies Cheddar Gouda (£1.19) is a crunchy snack made from 100% cheese and literally nothing else. It is baked til crunchy. High in protein, it contains no carbs or sugar and counts as 122kcal. These moreish bits of cheese have a sharp and punchy taste.

Nibble them on their own, with a drink, or sprinkle over soup as croutons (we didn't get to that stage, as they disappeared pretty fast).

You should receive 1 item in your box.

Available on Amazon, Ocado, Holland & Barrett, Whole Foods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Cheesies.co.uk (get 15% with a code CHEESEPLEASE at cheesies.co.uk, or use code DEGUSTA2021 for 20% off until the 31 January 2022 at cheesies.co.uk and amazon.co.uk).

Curiously Cinnamon Breakfast Cereal (£2.80) is a crunchy whole grain cereal with a warm taste of cinnamon. A winter favourite, it includes 33% whole grain, seven vitamins and iron. It is also a source of calcium.

Serve it with milk of your choice or eat without milk as a morning snack with a cup of tea.

Nutritional information: 126kcal and 7.5g of sugar per 30g serving. Each box contains 12 servings.

Available in all major supermarkets.

Swizzels Drumstick Chocolate (£1) is a novelty chocolate bar. You get the taste of the Swizzels Drumstick lolly in a chocolate bar. It was too sweet for my taste, and my younger son also commented on how sweet it is. Yet the next day he did ask if any of that chocolate bar was left.

There is a soft raspberry and milk fondant centre with added pieces of raspberry, coated in milk chocolate.

Available at Morrisons, Boots, Booths, Planet Organic, on Amazon, Ocado and Rhythm108.

NICK'S Crunchy Caramel (£1.50) is a chocolate bar with a crunchy caramel and almond core. No added sugar, no palm oil, no gluten.

Some say, it's similar to Dime bar. I am not overly enthusiastic about it, the caramel was hard and brittle.

Nutritional values: 88kcal and 1.6g of sugar.

Available at WHSmith, selected Sainsbury's stores and on Amazon.

McVitie's Mince Pie Milk Chocolate Digestives (£1.59) is a festive flavour from McVitie's. Recently they have introduced several new flavours. Which one is your favourite? Mine would be Chocolate Cherry, but Mince Pie is not bad at all.

These digestive biscuits are dipped in milk chocolate and filled with the flavour of mince pies. A lovely treat for Christmas or any other time of the year.

Nutritional values: 80kcal and 4.5g of sugar per biscuit.

Available at all major supermarkets.

Biscuits and tea go so well together. 

VADHAM India Maharaja English Breakfast Black Tea (£1) is a strong black tea, robust and full-bodied. This flavourful Assam black tea is packed in a convenient pyramid tea bag.

Serve hot with a dash of milk of your choice, or with a slice of lemon and a spoonful of sugar. 

You should receive a couple of sachets in your box.

Aspall Draught Cyder 500ml (£2.20) is a crisp, medium dry cyder, with a delicate aroma and fruity taste of fresh pressed apples. Crafted at the original Cyder House, Suffolk.

It is pale straw in colour, and wonderfully floral and fruity on the palate. Top marks!

Available at the major supermarket chains and premium retailers.

And finally, Vita Coco Choc-o-lot (£3.75) is a sweet, chocolatey coconut drink, full of flavour. It is dairy-free and packed with Vitamin C. It's a lovely combination of chocolate and coconut flavours.

Nutritional values: only 25kcal and 4g of sugar per 100ml.

Available at Sainsbury's, Co-Op, Holland & Barrett and Waitrose.

What is your favourite product from the latest box?