September Box Degustabox

 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 September Box Degustabox?

Tilda Saag Aloo Rice Limited Edition (£1.54) is the Product of the Month. This is the latest addition to the expansive range of Tilda rice.

It is a combination of two iconic Indian sides - Pure Basmati and Saag Aloo. Perfect with fish or chicken. Eat it on its own with a salad, or as a side dish to go with a curry.

Ready in a couple of minutes in a microwave or 3 minutes in a pan, Tilda rice is always an easy and quick meal.

Nutritional information: 156kcal and 0.65g of salt per 125g serving. Made with finest rice, and nothing artificial, this rice is gluten free and also vegetarian/vegan.

I'm always curious to try Tilda limited edition rice, and this new recipe didn't disappoint.

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

LU Le Petit Cookie (£1.99) is a French biscuit with chunky rich chocolate chips.

My guys love LU biscuits (Le Petit Chocolat is a particular favourite). Le Petit Cookie is actually not small at all, both in size and flavour. Perfectly baked, with decent chunks of chocolate, they are a lovely treat to go with a cup of tea, coffee or a glass of milk. 

Once you open the packaging, the smell is so tempting. 

Nutritional information: 116kcal and 8.2g of sugar per 23g cookie.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

SMINT Strawberry XXL tin (£1.50) are sugar free pastilles, made with sweeteners. Three times bigger than regular Smint, Smint XXL Strawberry is a combination of mint and strawberry flavours (and very nice it is).

Coming in a convenient little tin, they are easy to carry around in a bag or pocket for when you need to freshen up your breath.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Jordan's Country Crisp Limited Edition Blueberry Crumble (£3.60) is a new special edition product from Jordan's.

It's a combination of light and crispy golden and purple oat clusters with naturally sweet blueberry pieces. Turns the milk purple. Tasty and fun!

Nutritional values: 190kcal and 10g of sugar per 45g portion (without milk).

A good source of fibre, it's made with wholegrain oats, no palm oil; suitable for vegetarians.

Available in Tesco, ASDA and Ocado.

Truly Nuts! Always Stoked Smoked or Fired Up Chilli Flavoured Nuts (£1.30) is a tasty snack, a combination of brazil nuts, almonds and cashews. 

Gluten free, vegan friendly and baked not fried. 

Great with a glass of cold beer. Morevover, with each purchase you activate your GO WILD FOR GOOD! pledge to donate 25% of profits to preserve the Amazon jungle.

Available on the Truly Nuts! website, Amazon, WHSmith, and independent health stores.

You should recieve 1 item in your box.

Knorr Red Wine Stock Pot (£1.90) is a brand new product from Knorr. 

With colder days ahead of us, it's a useful product to have in the pantry, for making all those lovely stews and casseroles.

Each pot contains half a glass of full bodied red wine - great for adding an extra rich flavour to your dishes, for example, Bolognese, or sausage casserole. Just add one pot directly to the dish you're cooking. 

Free from colours, gluten free, made with sustainably grown herbs.

Nutritional values: 5kcal and 0.99g of salt per portion (each pot contains 4 portions).

Available in ASDA and Ocado.

Cirio Bologna Pasta Sauce or Roma Pasta Sauce (£2.25) is another new product that hits the shopping shelves soon. This new range is region-inspired, and includes a selection of best-known and much loved regional sauces, from Bologna vegan ragu, to Hot Chilli in Calabria, and Tomato and Cheese in Parma.

Cirio is one of our favourite brands of tomato products. I always have a few tins stashed in the kitchen pantry for a variety of pasta dishes. A new product from Cirio is always an exciting discovery.

You should receive 1 item in your box. We received Roma Pasta Sauce, which is a tomato and smoked bacon sauce. Travelling with Cirio around Italy, this product is their tribute to a classic Amatriciana.

An indulgent pasta sauce comes in a convenient TetraPak brick, which is recyclable.

Nutritional information: 126kcal and 4.8g of sugar per 100g.

Coming soon to Ocado.

MAGGI Air Fryer Recipe Mix (£0.99 each) are handy, time-saving pouches of herbs and spices mixes for a variety of tasty meals.

Quick and easy, they can be used with a wide choice of proteins and vegetables. 

We don't have an air fryer, and I plan to use these mixes for tray bakes, and also when making chicken cutlets (chicken breast flattened, coated in a mix of cornflour and spices/herbs, then pan fried), or roast chicken.

You should receive three items: Shawarma, Piri Piri and Fajita.

Nutrition values: 220kcal and 2.4g of sugar per serving (shawarma); 249kcal and 1.4g (piri piri) and 205kcal and 4.9g of sugar (fajita).

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Flava It! Fuss-Free Seasoning Mixes (£1.10 each) are seasoning mix sachets with lots of flavour. Introducing two of the most popular flavours - Smoky BBQ and Chinese Style.

Very easy to use, just sprinkle, cook and enjoy. 

Smoky BBQ and Chinese Style mixes could be used in BBQed, grilled, oven-cooked, or fried meals.

Nutritional values: 28kcal and 5.4g of sugar per portion (BBQ; 1/4 pack) and 28kcal and 4.7g of sugar per portion (Chinese style).

Free from artificial colours.

Available in Tesco, Morrisons and Ocado.

You should receive two items in your box.

Also don't miss your chance to win a £200 Tesco voucher for sharing your feedback (head to Tesco.com and search for Flava It!). A winner will be selected on 15 November, so you still have time to try the seasoning mixes and leave a review. Good luck!

NYOM Original Oat drink premix (£1.10) is a novel plant-base product. 

Unlike many plant-based milks available in shops in cartons, this product doesn't have any water added to it. Adding water at home is a big leap for sustainability and convenience. It has a long shelf-life, and is easy to make. Just squeeze the pouch into a bottle, add cold water, shake and enjoy fresh oat milk with a silky texture.

Order online now at www.myom.shop and use code MXDB2FOR12 to get 2 boxes (6 pouches each) for £12 and free delivery. 12 pouches makes 6 litres of oat milk.

Free from dairy, lactose free, vegan friendly, source of Calcium, Vitamin D3 +B12, nutrient-packed, phosphate free, iodine-fortified, no added sugar.

Typical values: 34kcal per 100ml.

Available at myom.shop.

And finally,

Acti+ Clean Energy Drink (£1.50) - a natural clean energy drink that boosts performance and focus with nootropics, vitamins, and minerals.

Sugar-free and all natural, it professes to enhance mental sharpness and reduce tiredness, as well as support immunity. 

Available in Strawberry & Dragon Fruit and Peach & Apricot flavours, these drinks contain zero sugar and 80mg caffeine.

You can get 30%off with code POSITIVE30 at acti-plus.co.uk until 31 October'24.

Available in Tesco, Holland & Barrett and online.

You should receive 1 item in your box.

Well, what do you think? There were a lot of new products to discover. Which one is your favourite?

I also want to alert you - if you're looking for a foodie advent calendar, Degustabox advent calendars are legendary.

You can get £6 off at qrco.de/advent-UK with code ADVFL24.  This calendar will cost £38.99 (worth £55). 

I was super excited to see that there was an International Advent Calendar, and ordered it at the beginning of September. Not sure if it's all sold out, as I cannot seem to find it any longer on their site.

The Limited edition Advent calendar might be sold out soon too, so don't dawdle or you'll miss it.

Degustabox August 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 the August Box Degustabox box?

Nature's Heart Sweet Chilli Crunch or Sour Cream & Chive Crunch (£2.25) is a tasty mix of edamame, peas, broad beans and seeds. They come in six different flavours, and you should receive one.

We've got Sour Cream & Chive Flavour Crunch, a classic flavour combination that works perfectly in savoury snacks.

Nutritional values: 12g protein and 8g of fibre, 1of 5 a day. 1 portion contains at least 4tsbp of vegetables. Suitable for vegans.

Lovely on its own, this crunchy mix will also be a nice addition to a cheese board, with some apple slices and celery sticks.

Available at Waitrose, Holland & Barrett, WHSmith, on Ocado and Amazon.

Knorr Pastaria Pasta Parmesana/ Bolognese or Carbonara (£1.40) is a mix to make pasta in a rich tomato and beef sauce. This comfort food could be ready in about 10 minutes. 

Nutritional values: 306kcal and 1.7g of salt per portion; no artififical colours or preservatives.

It's not the same pasta Bolognese as you would cook yourself from scratch, but if you're in a hurry and/or not very experienced in the kitchen, this pasta packet could come handy.

You should receive 1 item of 3 in your box.

Available at ASDA.

Rubies in the Rubble Squeezy Tomato Ketchup (£3.50) is one of the Great Taste award winners in 2021. This ketchup is made with fruit which would've gone to waste (tomatoes, surplus pears, apples).

Nutritional information: 86kcal and 20g of sugar per 100g. Carbon neutral, twice the fruit, half the refined sugar, 100% recyclable bottle.

Use as you would use any standard ketchup: with fries, in burgers, sandwiches, added to tomato ragu sauces etc.

Available at Tesco, Waitrose, Co-Op and on Ocado.

BEAR Paws Strawberry & Apple and Raspberry & Blueberry (£0.60 each) are gently baked chewy fruit paw shapes made with 100% fruit, no added sugar and not from concentrates.

BEAR Paws bring back many memories of my younger son taking Bear snacks to primary school as part of his lunchbox. I haven't bought Bear snacks in years, and seeing them was like meeting an old friend. 

Nutritional values: 62kcal and 9g of sugar per portion.

You should receive two items in your box.

Available at all major retailers and online on Amazon and Ocado.

Whitworths SHOTS Fruity Biscuit 4 pack (£2) are a lovely mix of sultanas, dried cranberries and white chocolate coated shortcake pieces.

These small sized snacks are less than 100kcal per shot. A handy snack to have in the bag for when you're on the go and feeling peckish.

While I enjoy the cranberries and sultanas, the white chocolate is a tad too sweet for me. 

Available in all major supermarket chains.

PITCH Strawberry (£1.75) is a new addition to the Pitch range of baked goodies. 

My sons love Pitch brioche, plain or filled with chocolate, and liked the strawberry flavoured brioche as much.

Lovely for lunchboxes, or with a cup of morning coffee. Each brioche comes individually wrapped for freshness.

Typical values: 25kcal and 8.6g of sugar per brioche.

Available at Aldi from 27th August to 3rd September, and at Tesco from 4th September. Hopefully they will be available at the other retailers soon.

LU Le Petit Ganache (£1.70) is the first filled biscuit in the LU range.

We're fans of LU Le Petit Chocolat and Le Petit Beurre biscuits, and Le Petit Ganache is pretty good too, if you enjoy gooey chocolate and hazelnut filled biscuits.

The LU bakery was created in 1846 in Nantes, France, and to this day, they use the traditional recipes and quality ingredients in their tasty bakes.

Typical values: 162kcal and 10g of sugar per 3 biscuits.

Available in major supermarket chains.

J2O Spritz Apple & Elderflower/ Spritz Pear & Raspberry (£3.55 per pack of four) are fruity soft drinks with lots of bubbles. 

You should receive 4 units of 1 flavour in your box.

We received Spritz Apple & Elderflower flavour. It is light, sparkling, sweet and fruity. 

It will also make a nice ingredient for a jelly with fresh berries.

Nutritional values: 18kcal and 4g of sugar per 100ml.

Available in major supermarkets across different formats.

Tropicana Long Life Smooth Orange (£3) is a pure fruit juice, 100% from natural origin. Now it is fresher for longer in a long life carton. Tropicana oranges are hand picked at the right moment and squeezed within 24 hours. 

Typical values: 40kcal and 8.6g of sugar per 100ml. No added sugar, a source of vitamin C, 1 of 5 a day per 150ml. 

Best served chilled. Drink on its own, or as part of a fruity cocktail, with alcohol or non-alcoholic drinks.

Available at Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury's, on Ocado and Spar.

Carlsberg 0.0 Pilsner (£0.88 each) is a non-alcoholic beer. It has a full flavour and zero alcohol - just perfect when you fancy a beer but don't want or cannot drink alcohol.

Enjoy with a pizza, crisps, burgers, a seafood plate, or a sharing bag of jalapeno cheese curls. 

Available at selected Tesco stores. Carlsberg 0.0 Pilsner is only available in a 4x330ml multipack at £3.50.

You should receive 2 units in your box.

And finally, the Product of the Month - Fruit-tella Strawberry Water Enhancer (£1.30).

Packed with delightful flavours and crafted with natural fruit juices, these water enhancers will make it easier to drink more water and less soft drinks. They are a healthier alternative to sugar-laden beverages.

Available in two flavours: strawberry and blackcurrant.

Available exclusively at B&M for summer 2023. Grab it while you still have a chance!

And that's all for August. What was your favourite product from the August Box?

Family Sharing Degustabox

 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 the Family Sharing Degustabox box?

PITCH Chocolate Filled Brioche (£1.50) is a soft, squishy brioche roll with a delicious dark hazelnut chocolate filling. While not a new product as such, it now comes in a new cardboard packaging (the regular plastic packs are still available in shops).

Each brioche is individually wrapped, for freshness, and convenience - great for lunch boxes, picnics and long trips. There are four brioche rolls in a box.

Nutritional information: 132kcal and 9.4g of sugar per serving.

Suitable for vegetarians, free from artificial colours, preservatives and hydrogenated fats.

New boxes are available at Tesco Express. The regular packs can be found at Tesco, Sainsbury's, ASDA, Morrisons, Co-Op and on Ocado.

Rose Marketing UK Robinsons Jelly Pouches 80g (£2.49) - new Robinsons jelly 4pk pouch multipack is another lovely on the go snack or dessert. Mess-free and easy to slurp, they make a welcome addition to a lunch box.

Made with real fruit juice, no added sugar and bursting with classic Robinsons flavours. Suitable for vegans.

Nutritional values: only 5kcal and 0.9g of sugar per pouch. 

Available at Tesco.

Kellogg's Krave Cookies and Cream Flavour (£2.99) is a new cereal from Kellogg's. Add some fun to your breakfast with the delightful chocolate flavour mixed cereal pillows, fortified with vitamins.

Source of vitamins B1, B2, B6 and B12. Vitamin B1 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism. Enjoy as part of a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. 

Nutritional values: 126kcal and 7.8g of sugar per 30g serving. No artificial colours or flavours.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Weetabox On the Go Family pack Chocolate or Strawberry (£3) - for those who prefer a smooth breakfast drink with energy fibre and protein. This is the UK's no.1 breakfast drink

Nutritional information: 207kcal and 12g of sugar per 250ml (same sugar as a glass of milk). Iron contributes to normal energy yielding metabolism as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.

You should receive 1 of 2 items in your box.

Available at ASDA and Morrisons.

Yogi Tea Classic Organic/Bedtime Organic/Throat Comfort Organic (£2.59) is the original organic & ayurvedic tea brand. Each blend is a combination of unique herbs and spices.

You should receive one of 3 items in your box.

We got Bedtime blend, which is a mix of fennel, chamomile flowers and valerian root, all ingredients that help you relax. This calming and warming blend will allow you to gently round off your day.

Among other ingredients you will find peppermint, cardamom, lemon balm, lemon grass, sage, lavender flowers, nutmeg. This is a warming fragrant tea, easing you into a restorative night's sleep.

Available at Holland & Barrett, on Ocado, Amazon and many independent health food stores. Selected products can be found in Waitrose and Morrisons.

Nissin Cup Noodles Chicken Teriyaki/Kaisen Seafood (£1.79) is hailed as no.1 in Japan. While meat-flavoured and vegetarian cup noodles are quite common, I haven't come across a seafood-flavoured one before.

Love the cup design, with the wave of noodles as a creative, witty replica of the Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai, as well as his Mount Fuji. This winning design deserves a round of applause. 

The noodles are creamy and well-seasoned, with a rich flavour of seafood. Ready in just 3 minutes.

Nutritional information: 90kcal and 0.9g of salt per pot.

You should receive 1 item of 2. Available in all major supermarket chains.

Knorr Onion Gravy Pot (£1.79) is gently cooked for a homemade taste. Especially handy for busy parents who don't have time to cook a gravy from scratch, i.e. when you just chuck in some sausages, either meat-based or vegetarian, under the grill. 

Very easy to make: just add one gravy pot to warm water, keep whisking, let it boil for a minute, and that's all. 

Free from artificial preservatives, colours; no added MSG, suitable for vegetarians.

Nutritional values: 15kcal and 0.91g of salt per portion.

Dr Will's Miso Tahini Dressing (£3.50) is a full fusion dressing to jazz up your cooking. Drizzle over salads, rice bowls or noodles, for an added zing. 

All natural, fermented miso, vegan friendly, sweetened naturally.

Nutritional information: 39kcal and 0.5g of sugar per 15g.

This was a new product for me. I used it in the so called fridge-raid rice bowl, which was really lovely.

Available at Tesco, Waitrose and on Ocado.

Very Lazy Chopped Garlic (£1.60) is a handy kitchen shortcut for everyday cooking. 1 teaspoon is equal to a clove of garlic. The garlic is preserved in white wine vinegar, which evaporates during cooking. Once opened, use within six weeks.

Veggie and vegan friendly.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Ritter Sport Don Choco (£1.50) is a delicously dark milk chocolate, made with 100% certified sustainable cocoa, from the cocoa plantation El Cacao. It is rich and creamy, and very moreish. Lovely with a cup of coffee, or tea.

Nutritional information: 561kcal and 44g of sugar per 100g bar.

You should receive 3 items in your box. Available at shop.ritter-sport.co.uk, and on Amazon (I have bought it before somewhere else, maybe on Ocado).

And finally, the Product of the Month - McVitie's Hobnobs Coconut Macaroon (£1.75) is the latest addition to the McVitie's range of flavours. You get a coconut macaroon flavoured Hobnob, what's not to like?! 

Baked with 100% wholegrain oats, these biscuits contain no artificial colours or flavours, or hydrogenated vegetable oil.

Nutritional values: 92kcal and 6.1g of sugar per biscuit.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Moving from the current Degustabox, if you enjoy foodie advent calendars, don't miss Degustabox Christmas Advent Calendar. Go to degustabox.com/en and click on Limited Editions. You will have a choice of a Cold Degustabox or an Advent calendar.

Last year's Degustabox advent calendar was excellent. I don't know what treats there will be in this year's edition, but I am going to order it. Stock is limited, so don't dawdle for too long, or it will be gone. At £41.99 it has a value of over £50. 

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?

Party & Feeling Festive Degustabox

 There is less than a month to go until Christmas, and the time will fly fast. The shops are already packed full with customers, and I imagine it will be carnage closer to the festive days. The town does look festive, now that the Christmas lights have been switched on, and many shops have colourful seasonal window displays. I might not be attending any parties, but I can certainly enjoy the festive mood, especially if I have some lovely treats to look forward to.

Party & Feeling Festive is the theme of the latest Degustabox.

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 Party & Feeling Festive box.

McVitie's Chocolate Digestives The Fully Coated One/Chocolate Hobnobs The Fully Coated One (£1.79) is the Product of the Month. Chocoholics rejoice, the classic McVitie's chocolate digestives and chocolate hobnobs will make you double happy, being completely coated in chocolate.  You get the iconic golden-baked biscuits, but with extra chocolate. That's a truly special experience.

You should receive 1 of 2 items in your box (as a reviewer I got both items). 

Available in all major supermarket stores.

Nutritional information: each McVitie's The Fully Coated One Hobnob biscuit contains 127kcal, 6.4g of fat and 9g of sugar, as opposed to 79kcal, 3.7g of fat, and 6.1g of sugar per one chocolate Hobnob (so quite an increase).

McVities The Fully Coated One Digestives: 130kcal, 6,9g of fat and 9,5g of sugar per biscuit.

Mr Filberts Sea Salt & Hern Mixed Nuts (£1.50) is an ultimate party snack. These mixed nuts - peanuts, almonds and cashews - are roasted to perfection, then tumbled in a sweet basil, oregano and sea salt mix to produce the delightful savoury snack.

Nutritional information: 589kcal and 1.4g of salt per 100g.

Available at https://mrfilberts.com, on Amazon, Ocado, in Independent Farm shops and delis.

We had this tasty snack as part of the cheeseboard, and let me tell you, these mixed nuts were gone in 60 seconds.

Nairn's Cheese Oatcakes (£1.50) are versatile delicious oatcakes, made with mature Cheddar cheese, wholegrain oats and very little else. Nairn's oatcakes are a real winner. As a big cheese fan, I often buy Nairn's oatcakes, they are great with any cheese really, hard, soft, blue. Very moreish.

Available in all major supermarkets.

For me a perfect cheeseboard must include oatcakes.

The English Provender Co. Caramelised Red Onion Chutney (£2) is made of sweet red onions, and is a fabulous addition to any cheeseboard or charcuterie. Also great on hot cheese toasties. It will elevate any sandwich, whether for meat eaters or vegetarians.

It's not a new product, and it's been around for a while, in fact I checked my blog, and found a post about this chutney, which I wrote in 2012. As mentioned then, I still make mini open tarts with the caramelised red onion chutney and brie.

Available at Waitrose and on Ocado.

Peppadew Sweet Piquante Peppers Hot Whole 400g (£3) is a great addition to a party table or buffet. Add them to the antispasti platters, top up pizza or salad, or add to a cheese sandwich. These bit sized peppers retain their firm and crunchy texture. They are a bit on the hot side, and will jazz up many dishes. Suitable for vegan and vegetarian dishes.

Nutritional values: 91kcal and 18.9g of sugar per 100g.

Available at Tesco, Waitrose, on Ocado and Amazon.

Knorr Chilli & Smoked Paprika/Mushroom & Italian Herbs seasoning (£1.80) will help you create a delicious, no added salt meals. Perfect for all those soups and stews in the cold weather. Knorr Seasoning Blends join the Knorr Veggie Cook's Essentials range with all the falvour.

Knorr Chilli & Smoked Paprika is a mix of chilli, paprika, green pepper, smoked paprika powder and sunflower seed oil. No added salt, 100% natural ingredients, no artificial colours or preservatives, no added MSG. Ideal for chillis, salsa, stir fried veg.

You should receive one of two items in your box.

Available at Tesco.

Hellmann's Sour Cream & Chive Squeeze 250 ml (£1.20) is the new addition to the range, great for a variety of dishes, from nachos to fajitas, from jacket potatoes to topping burgers, from chips to salads.

If you offer a selection of crisps and tortilla chips as part of the buffet, don't forget the Sour Cream & Chive sauce as one of the dips.

This is a gluten-free, vegetarian sauce, which comes in a fully recyclable bottle.

Nutritional values: 317kcal and 32g of fat in 100g.

Available at Waitroose, Iceland, and on Ocado.

Inés Rosales Orange Sweet Olive Oil Tortas (£2.50) is considered to be Spain's favourite pastry snack since 1910. Each torta is a unique, flakey tempting treat. 

All tortas are hand-made using all natural ingredients from the Mediterranean Diet. They are dairy-free, vegan, and contain no artificial colours or flavours. 

Nutritional values: 149kcal and 4.4g of sugar per torta.

Available in Waitrose, and selected gourmet stores.

Menier Swiss Milk Chocolate with Salted Caramel (£1.99) will please the chocolate fans. Menier have been producing the finest cooking chocolate since 1816. This Salted Caramel milk chocolate is a work of beauty. 

This gourmet chocolate is sweet and creamy smooth, with a definite salty note. It is rather sophisticated and glamorous.

Nutritional values: 85kcal and 9.4g of sugar per portion/row. The cocoa in this chocolate is Rainforest certified. It is also Vegetarian Society approved.

Available at WH Smith's and on Amazon.

Passoa Passion Fruit Liqueur (£13 for the full size bottle, and £1.6 for the sample size bottle).

Passoa is the passion fruit liqueur, an essential ingredient for an exotic cocktail.

I am yet to try this tempting treat. We'll have it in cocktails closer to Christmas time.

Try at home: 40ml Passoa, 40ml vanilla vodka, 15ml lime juice. Shake and fine strain into a martini glass. Garnish with passion fruit and prosecco shot optional.

The full size bottle is available at Tecso, Waitrose, ASDA, Sainsbury's and Morrisons. The sample size bottles are not currently available.

Radnor Infusions Raspberry and Black Cherry (£1.50) is an unsweetened flavoured Welsh sparkling spring water. It has zero sugar, sweeteners and almost zero calories (0.3kcal per 100ml). 

Infusions is crafted in the ancient county of Radnorshire using their own spring water with a gentle sparkle, delicately infused with all natural flavours and extracts.

Made with cherry and British raspberry extracts, preservative free, it's a beautiful refershing drink.

Available at Sainsbury's, on Ocado, Amazon, and RadnorHill.co.uk/shop.

All in all, another corker from Degustabox!