Degustabox July Box

 

 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 get in July Box?

Kellogg's Crunchy Nut Crunchies Caramelised Biscuit Flavour (£3.50) is the Product of the Month. This is the latest addition to the Kellogg's range.

If you enjoy your cereal crunchy, then you're in for a treat. Crafted from maize, wholegrain oat and wholewheat flour, coated in rich caramelised biscuit flavour. Lovely with milk, or as a little snack on its own.

Nutritional values: 115kcal and 6.9g of sugar per 30g portion; natural grains, no artificial colours or flavours.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Gaea Kalamata Olive Spread 125g or Sweet Red Pepper 125g (£2.50 each) are preservative-free spreads, inspired by the authentic Greek cuisine.

You should receive one item of two. 

We got Gaea Kalamata Olive Spread. Made with Kalamata olives, dried tomato, extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, apple juice, onion powder, oregano and mustard powder, this spread is full of vibrant flavours.

Lovely as part of a mezze platter, filled with fresh veggies, pitta bread, cheese and dips. 

Nutritional values: 206kcal and 4.5g of sugar per 100g. 

Available in local convenience stores.

Kettle Tortillas Mature Cheddar and Red Onion (£2.65) is a gourmet snack, made from Mexican-inspired white corn and carefully selected natural ingredients (red quinoa, onion and herbs).

They look rustic and authentic, speckled with red quinoa. Tasty on their own. Or place them on a tray, cover with grated Cheddar and mozzarella cheese, sprinkle a bit of Chipotles and put under the grill until the cheese melts. Absolutely heavenly.

Nutritional values: 482kcal  and 2.9g of sugar per 100g; gluten free, vegetarian, high fibre.

Available in Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Morrisons.

Buldak Hot Sauce Original & Hot Sauce Carbonara Flavour (£3.50 each) are Korean condiments.

They are very spicy (says so on the bottle), and rate 4/5 on the heat level. I am not brave enough to try them in cooking, and will try to find a willing friend who might enjoy them. 

However, if you love your food extra hot and spicy, serve these sauces as a dip or drizzle on any dish. The sauces are crafted to perfection, and promise a harmonious balance of spicy and savoury notes. There is even an Extremely Spicy sauce in the range.

Carbonara Hot Sauce is creamy red in colour, its tasting notes are "deep rich flavours and a spicy, creamy finish with a hint of creaminess". Nutritional values: 346kcal and 20g of sugar per 100ml.

Original Hot Sauce is dark red in colour, its tasting notes are "unmatched, addictive heat pungent, intense spiciness with sweet caramel notes". Nutritional values: 270kcal and 26g of sugar per 100ml.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

You should receive 1 item in your box.

For Goodness Shakes White Chocolate 35g (£2.50) is a new protein shake, made with only four ingredients including fresh milk.

Packed with protein, flavour and goodness, this shake is naturally high in calcium, lactose free, fat free and with no added sugar.

My younger son enjoys protein drinks, so this one is definitely for him.

Nutritional values: 211kcal and 16g of sugar per 330ml bottle.

Available in the major supermarket chains, Ocado, Amazon and at forgoodnessshakes.com.

Jimmy's Iced Coffee Original Iced Coffee (£2, see above) is a smooth, balanced, refreshing cold drink. Lovely straight from the fridge, or on the go. 

Planning to travel soon? Pick up some Jimmy's iced coffee to keep you alert and refreshed on the trip.

Ingredients include semi-skimmed milk, single origin Arabica coffee (Rainforest Alliance Certified), unrefined demerara sugar and acidity regulator.

Nutritional information: 39kcal and 4.9g of sugar per 100ml; suitable for vegetarians. 

Available in major supermarkets and online at www.jimmysicedcoffee.com.

If you are a Degusta Box Plus member, you will receive an additional product inside your box.

What product is your favourite from the latest box?

Degustabox June Box

 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 get in June Box?

Tilda Limited Ediiton Jamaican Spiced Pumpkin Rice (£1.25) is a Product of the Month.

When I saw Tilda on socials promoting a new product in their range, I was hoping Degustabox would have it in one of their boxes, and was pleased to see it in the latest box. 

My family enjoys Tilda, and I buy it regularly. We have our own favourites, and are always glad to try any new flavour.

Tilda Limited Edition Jamaican Spiced Pumpkin Rice is developed in collaboration with Original Flava.

Ingredients include steamed long grain rice with vegetables, like pumpkin, onion, carrot, as well as herbs and spices (Caribbean flavour seasoning), coconut cream and Scotch Bonnet chilli. It is vegetarian and gluten free.

Recommended pairing: Brown Chicken stew, Jerk chicken. 

Available in major supermarkets and tilda.com.

I served this rice with a tuna salad and a fried egg. It is a flavourful rice, not too hot. I would have liked a bit higher pumpkin to rice ratio, but it is tasty.

Fragata Marinated Olives with Olive Oil & Lemon /or Olive Oil & Hot Chilli (£1.70 each) are tasty Spanish snacks with lots of flavour.

You should receive 1 of two items. We got Fragata Marinated Olives with Olive Oil & Lemon, a product I often buy to keep in the pantry. It's very handy for easy and quick meals, salads, picnics, so called picky bits and cheese board. 

These olives are zesty and citrusy.

Nutritional information: 36kcal and 0.1g of sugar per 18g serving.

Available in local conveience stores.

Rio Mare Insalatissime Mexican Style (£2.99) is one of the products from the extensive Rio Mare range.

Rio Mare tuna is widely known for its quality and taste. A lovely product to keep in the pantry, for when you fancy a tuna pasta, or tuna salad. 

Ready to eat any time thanks to the stay-fresh packaging, with no added preservatives.

This salad with a Mexican twist will be enjoyed by those who love bolder flavours. Tuna in this salad comes with red beans, sweetcorn and peppers.

Nutritional information: 196kcal and 1.1g of salt per 100g. Features: Ready to eat. Dolphine safe, traceable fish, no preservatives, MSC certified, responsible quality.

Available in Waitrose, Morrisons, ASDA, Ocado and Amazon.

I added cucumbers, olives and spring onions to the salad.

Mission Wraps High Fibre Tortilla Wraps 4 pack (£1.80) are a healthier choice during any mealtime.

They are packed with flavour and 10g of fibre per wrap. Enjoy them as a breakfast burrito, a quick lunch wrap or dinner fajitas.

Or go decadent. During the recent heatwave, I didn't fancy cooking much, so I served these wraps with caramelised hot banana chunks and vanilla ice cream, like a pocket of deliciousness. It was filling and very satisfying. 

No photos, as the sweet wraps were eaten too fast.

Available in Sainsbury's, ASDA and Ocado.

Mission Wraps Mission Sourdough Tortilla Wraps 4 pack (£1.80) is another great tasting product from the range. 

Wraps make easy and quick meals, and the possibilities are endless, just add your favourite fillings and toppings, either sweet or savoury.

Nutritional information: 188kcal, 4.9g of protein and 0.49g of salt per wrap.

Available in Tesco, Sainsbury's, ASDA and Ocado.

Jacob's Cream Crackers (£1.70) is the original toppable cracker.

A perfect base for any cheese - strong Cheddar, mild Brie, goat's cheese, cream cheese, Stilton, etc. Add a slice of apple or chutney for a sweet note, or a slice of tomato and spring onions for a more savoury version. 

Each cracker contains 35kcal and 0.1g of salt.

Available in all major supermarkets.

Kallo's Beetroot & Balsamic Veggie Cakes (£1.40) are now available in a handy snack pack, for when you're feeling peckish on the go.

Made with wholesome ingredients, these veggie cakes are light, crunchy and flavourful. The smaller portion will fit into your lunch box, so that you can have a balanced snack anywhere.

Lovely with hummus or cream cheese.

Nutritional values: 409kcal and 1.4g of salt per 100g (one pack of 3 veggie cakes is 114kcal).

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Ambrosia Devon Custard Pot 150g & Devon Chocolate Custard Pot 150g (£1 each) could be eaten on their own, or as part of a dessert. Serve with a crumble, or pour over a fruit salad.

Made in Devon Creamery using West Country milk, each creamy pot has no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

Nutritional values: 144kcal and 15.9g of sugar per pot (Devon custard) and 150kcal and 17.1g of sugar per pot (Chocolate custard); suitable for vegetarians.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Harry Brompton's Iced Tea/Peach (£1.80) is a premium British black tea infused with natural peach flavours. Very flavourful and super refreshing, especially in hot weather.

Brewed with the finest organic Kenyan tea ethically sourced from the Great Rift Valley and infused with the juice of ripe peaches.

Only 70kcal, vegan, gluten free, and a Great Taste Award winner.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Nescafe Espresso Concentrated Iced Mocha & Iced Decaf (£5 each) is a must for those of us who enjoy iced coffee.

With one heat wave after another, I am quite obsessed with an iced coffee, which I make with pistachio milk, lots of ice and Nescafe Espresso Concentrated. Depending on the time of the day, I vary, whether to have a caf/decaf version. This drink is so good. You can play with different types of milk, from dairy to plant-based. I like unsweetened pistachio milk, but almond milk is pretty good too.

Each bottle offers 16 servings of instant, barista-style iced coffee (latte or Americano) at home, without the machines.

Available in a range of flavours, from Classic to Caramel and Vanilla. 

Nutritional information: 57kcal and 7.4g of sugar per 100ml prepared (Iced Mocha); 43kcal and 4.1g of sugar per 100ml prepared (Iced Decaf).

Available in the coffee aisle.

You should receive 1 item in your box.

What product is your favourite from the June box?

The Catalyst by Andrea Goyan

 

"The game had a life of its own, a path to follow, and there was little he could do to control the outcome. It was just how things worked. He simply needed to remain flexible".

"...even though I fought it and hated the game with every cell in my body, I too felt its tug. The strange euphoria of living inside another's skin, of being part of a club whose membership all resided within me".

The Catalyst by Andrea Goyan is a gripping, dynamic sci fi, biotech horror thriller.

Blurb:

When human bodies are found with scales and tails, DNA specialist Kat Crocker is assigned to uncover the cause of the mutations and stop them before they spread. But the growing visibility makes her a target. As attacks escalate, the trail leads her to a newly released VR game powered by impossible genetics - and the one man: the mentor who taught her everything, the father she buried years ago.

DNA specialist Kat Crocker aka Double-D works with the police on a trial basis. She dreams of being a "crime scene, DNA identifying, one-woman superhero". In reality she has to deal with mundane tasks, evaluating trivial misdemeanours. That is until there appears a threat of a deadly mutation.

When human bodies are discovered covered in fur, or bearing scales, tails and other impossible genetic changes, Kat Crocker is called in to investigate. Her mission is to identify the possible cause and stop it before humanity could be changed forever.

But trying to solve the case paints a target on her back.

As violent attacks escalate, Kat uncovers a chilling link to a sold-out new VR game driven by forbidden genetic ingeneering. And behind it is the person who young Kat worshipped in the past, and who's been dead for years.

How does this game work? What or who is the Catalyst, and is it possible to stop or reverse the mutations?

The Catalyst has an enticing, disquieting premise: genetics, body horror, VR, and the past interfering with the present. It is in the similar vein to The Fly and Existenz - a biotech horror with a personal emotional backstory.

Just like Existenz, it involves an immersive virtual reality game which blurs the boundary between simulation and reality, where the game's disturbing side effects seep through into the real world, and change the gamer's personality and physical build. It is also highly addictive. 

I found the concept of the new game intriguing and exciting. The story starts strong, and keeps the narrative fast-paced and immersive.

Ambitious, visual and unsettling, The Catalyst raises a lot of thought-provoking questions about the possible use and abuse of DNA. It would make a perfect read for book clubs, and discussions on the future of DNA-safeguarding.

Things that didn't sit well with me:

When one of the female characters is injected with the DNA of a former stripper, her behaviour starts to change. She has an urge to be provocative and perform a pole dance. This episode somehow grates. How is a DNA of a stripper different from a DNA of a housewife or a teacher? A stripper doesn't do what she does due to their DNA. These are mostly exploited people who work in this business to earn money, and not because of their genetics. 

This post is part of the blog tour. Many thanks to Andrea Goyan and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Catalyst-Kat-Crocker-Book-ebook/dp/B0H67WYZ8N/

https://www.amazon.com/Catalyst-Kat-Crocker-Book-ebook/dp/B0H67WYZ8N/ 

About Andrea Goyan:

Andrea Goyan is an award-winning author and an avid animal person who grew up being called Goat-Girl and Raccoon-Mama. She is a grateful part of a flock of collaborative Magpie Poets whose first collection, An Illegal Feast, was released in 2025.

Andrea also co-hosts MetaStellar Magazine's Long-Lost Friends and Storytime. In her spare time, she walks her dogs and loves to paint, especially animal portraits. Many of her stories are available for free on her website.