Degustabox January: Surprise Foodie Box & Discount Code!

January's Degustabox arrived yesterday and it's fittingly called the "January Healthy Box". Thankfully it's still full of interesting products from a selection of different brands - clearly healthy doesn't have to mean boring. If you haven't seen my previous posts, Degustabox is monthly foodie subscription service that is guaranteed to be filled with a mix of foodie surprises from new and established brands.

Discount Code: MTAFQ 

Each Degustabox costs £12.99 a month, which includes delivery. There is no fixed contract involved and you can cancel at any time. Degustabox have kindly provided my readers with the following Discount Code for £3.00 off your next Degustabox, bringing the cost to £9.99 delivered. Simply enter the code - MTAFQ.

www.degustabox.com/en

Here's a quick round up of all the products I received in the January Degustabox:

Alfa One Rice Bran Oil: A versatile cooking oil which is full of natural antioxidants such as Vitamin E. It also contains a naturally occurring plant sterol, Gamma Oryzanol, which has been shown to reduce cholesterol absorption. I like trying out different types of oils when cooking and I'm sure this will Rice Bran Oil be very useful in the kitchen.

Magners Light Orchard Berries: The premium Irish Cider brand has launched a new range of fruity flavours for its low calorie cider range; Magners Light. At 103 calories per bottle, Orchard Berries Light is the first new flavour to be released and is available at Tesco (in 4 x 330ml packs).

Sukrin Bread Mix: This is an interesting product - a Sunflower and Pumpkin Seed Bread Mix which is free from gluten, egg, sugar, wheat, yeast and soya. Each slice is made up of only 1% carb and has a great fibre content at 21%. I like the fact that is can be used as a base for other bread products such as pizza bases, burger buns and tortilla wraps. I'll  look forward to giving this easy to use bread mix a try!

Koko Dairy Free: This is already a product I buy quite often (I tend to go dairy free for cereal and coffee). Koko is an alternative to dairy milk made from freshly pressed coconut milk. It contains fewer calories than skimmed milk, and has 0% cholesterol. It also doesn't curdle in tea or coffee which is a real plus.

Little Miracles Organic Teas: Little Miracles is a blend of organic tea, juice, and ginseng drinks that are sweetened with agave. They are free from artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners. Degustabox have featured the Little Miracles range before and I really enjoyed the flavours I tried previously. There were two Little Miracles drinks included in the January Degustabox; a White Tea  with Cherry and a Black Tea with Peach.

Simplee Aloe: A blend of aloe vera and grape juice which is made used ethically sourced ingredients without any artificial colours or flavourings. Each 330ml "Grab & Go" carton has less calories than an apple. I've tried Aloe Vera drinks before and enjoyed them, but they've always been flavoured versions. It will be interesting to see how this "Simplee Aloe" drink compares. The range is available at Sainsbury's, Whole Foods Stores and Japan Centre.

Haywards Piccalilli: I have a confession to make: I've never tried Piccalilli before, which is strange, especially considering how much I like pickles (and mustard!). I can imagine this would have been great at Christmas time as an accompaniment to cold meats, but luckily it's also recommended for sandwiches, burgers and BBQs. Either way, I'm sure we will get plenty of use out of this Piccalilli and I'm already a fan of the Haywards range after trying their Hot & Spicy Pickled Onions recently.

Finn Crisp Original: Another product that I buy fairly regularly. The Finn Crisp Sourdough Rye Crispbreads have only 22 calories per slice and are made from wholegrain natural ingredients, making them rich in fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and low in fat. 

Kabuto Noodles: I've always wanted to try the Kabuto Noodles range so I was delighted to find a pot in the Degustabox. Unlike other mainstream noodle pots, Kabuto Noodles are made with authentic Asian flavours and quality ingredients. It's described as a "fresh tasting noodle dish with miso, soy and vegetables". I'll update once I've tried it!

Mornflakes Top Porridge Pots: Nutella Porridge!! Without a doubt, the highlight of the Degustabox for me, are these individual porridge pots from Mornflakes. They are available with additional portions of sweet treats on top in either; Lyles Golden Syrup or Nutella. Yes, that's real NUTELLA. 

It's such a brilliant idea! I've honestly never added Nutella to porridge before but I'm more than happy to give it a go. These cute pots are available at Waitrose.

Clipper Green Tea: Included as a special free gift is a sample pack of 10 bags of Clipper Fairtrade Green Tea with Lemon. We're currently drinking a lot of green tea at home (and at work) so this will be very useful for us. 

Overall, I was pleased with the healthier selection in the January Degustabox. I'm sure there will be plenty of chocolates and savoury snacks in the future, but for now it's great to have some more balanced treats in the box. Once again, most of the products in this months box appeal to me and are ones that I would buy and use myself, especially the Mornflake Porridge, Kabuto Noodles, Haywards, and Little Miracles drinks.  

If you're a subscriber than I'd love to what you thought of the January Degustabox in the comments below.

For more details:
Degustabox website: www.degustabox.com

Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DegustaboxUK
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DegustaboxUK

I received a Degustabox in order to provide an honest review.

Degustabox December: Surprise Foodie Box & Discount Code!

December's Degustabox has arrived a little earlier than usual (the boxes are usually sent later in the month) but seeing as it's Christmas next week it's lovely to receive it as an early treat! Degustabox is a monthly foodie subscription service that celebrated it's first anniversary last month. It's guaranteed to be filled with a surprise selection of products from new and established brands. Even though we don't know what products will be inside the Degustabox, it's always a great mix of useful groceries and more exciting treats. This month's box is an eclectic mix of indulgent goodies and healthier treats - Degustabox have definitely got their eye on January health kicks with this box!

Discount Code: 4D590

Each Degustabox costs £12.99 a month, which includes delivery, with no fixed contract involved. Degustabox have kindly provided my readers with the following Discount Code for £3.00 off your next Degustabox, bringing the cost to £9.99 delivered. Simply enter the code - 4D590.

www.degustabox.com/en

Here's a quick round up of all the products inside the December Degustabox:

Bahlsen Choco Leibniz: I'll start with a treat, as thankfully Degustabox always saves a space for some chocolate in their boxes! There are two boxes of Bahlsen Choco Leibniz biscuits in each Degustabox, in both Milk and Caramel flavours. These are made with finest continental milk chocolate wrapped around butter biscuits and with added caramel in the latter variety. These are more chocolate than biscuit! 

Bonne Maman Coarse Orange Marmalade: This is made with thick shred orange peels for extra flavour and texture. I'm a fan of Bonne Maman jams and I also love marmalade so this was a lovely product for me to find in the Degustabox. It's very timely too as we've only just finished the Seville Orange Marmalade that was included in the September Degustabox. 

POPCHIPS: I received the Barbecue flavour but there are several different flavours in this range. Popchips have less than half the fat of fried crisps, fewer calories and no artificial colours or flavourings. 

The Chia Co Oats + Chia: A sachet of Oats + Chia dairy-free wholegrain oats and chia with real fruit and creamy coconut oil. It's described as making a healthy 'just add water' breakfast that is smooth and creamy without any dairy. I've reviewed The Chia Co Chia Pods and their Chia Oil previously and I'm really excited to try these new Chia + Oats. 

Eisberg Alcohol Free Wine: At first I thought this must be one of those fruity fake wine drinks, but it's actually a real wine that has been 'de-alchoholised' - their word not mine! I think this is definitely a product aimed at any health kicks starting in January. It's available in Chardonnay, Rosé, Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling, with only a third of the calories of regular wine.

Pukka Herbs Clean Green Tea: This is a blend of pure organic green tea with a little lemony lift. I love green tea and drink it most days, but I've never tried a lemon flavoured version. I've also never tried any of the Pukka tea range before so I'm looking forward to giving this Clean Green tea a try soon.

Kent's Kitchen Meal Kits: Degustabox have featured the Kent's Kitchen Meal Kits before in their October Degustabox where I received a Bengal curry kit. I'm pleased that I received a different meal kit this time - the Brazilian Moqueca Capixaba - which is designed to be used with fish. It sounds delicious! These authentic pots contain all natural ingredients and are great for keeping in the store cupboard, I like the fact that they inspire me to cook something a little different.

Gloworm: A completely new brand to me - Gloworm are a premium range of stimulating drinks, specifically designed to be used as mixers and compliment a selection of spirits. Their formula is sugar-free and taurine-free and contains added caffeine. I'll be passing these onto family and friends as they are not really for me, however, the four flavours certainly look interesting; Raspberry & Orris (for Vodka), Cucumber & Apple (for Gin), Pear, Spice & Lime (for Rum), and Ginger & Lemongrass (for Bourbon). 

FryLight Infuse Chilli: A very useful product to have in the store cupboard. It's made with natural chilli extract and adds a spicy kick to any pan fried or roasted food. I'll have to use this the next time I'm making a curry or peri-peri chicken! I really want to try the garlic infused version of Fry Light too.

If you're a subscriber of Degustabox then I'd love to know what you thought of the December box in the comments below. Personally I like the fact that it has a healthier angle to it this month, and most of these products are ones that I find appealing. I know some subscribers were expecting more of a Christmassy box this month, but since I've been stocking up for Christmas for quite some time, it's actually nice to have some healthier products too. I'm especially pleased with The Chia Co Chia+Oats, the Pukka Clean Green Tea, and the Bonne Maman marmalade, as they are all products that I would buy for myself. 

For more details:
Degustabox website: www.degustabox.com

Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DegustaboxUK
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DegustaboxUK

I received a Degustabox in order to provide an honest review.

Review: Sakura Matcha Kit Kat (Japan)

Sakura Matcha Kit Kat are only available in Japan during their beautiful cherry blossom season in springtime. Sakura is the lovely word for cherry blossom, whilst Matcha refers to superior green tea in it's finely ground, powdered form. Visiting Japan during the cherry blossom season would be a dream come true for me, it all looks so picture perfect and beautiful, so I was thrilled when a friend found these wonderful limited edition Kit Kat. 

The packaging is so pretty with it's soft pink and green colouring. The box itself is identical to the Dark Chocolate Kit Kat I reviewed recently from Japan (see review here). It's the same sleek cardboard box which opens up to reveal three mini Kit Kat bars. 

The colour inside is a gorgeous green, it sounds odd but it suits the theme perfectly. The initial scent is very sweet from the white chocolate base, with notes of subtle cherry and cinnamon coming through too. 

The flavour of these Sakura Matcha Kit Kat completely wowed me. The sakura and matcha flavoured chocolate has a wonderfully sweet and delicate flavour. The white chocolate base provides plenty of creamy sweetness that is joined by a light cherry flavour with the barest hint of floral. It's hard to describe because I don't mean that they taste flowery, it's just more of a delicate sweet cherry rather than a fruity one. There is also a subtle background spiced flavour of cinnamon which perfectly complimented the sweet white chocolate. I thought the Sakura Matcha Kit Kat were going to be similar to the regular Matcha Green Tea Kit Kat (see review here), which have a very strong matcha flavour. However, that's not the case here, as the matcha flavour in the Sakura Matcha Kit Kat takes a back seat to the sweetness of the other flavours. These are without a doubt the best Kit Kat I have ever tried.  

UPDATE: Thanks to the readers who left comments below pointing out the following UK stockists:

Tofu Cute: http://www.tofucute.com/product_info.php?products_id=1199
Sushi Noms: http://sushinoms.com/product/sakura-matcha-kit-kat/

Grocery Gems Verdict: Sakura Matcha Kit Kat

RATING: 10 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Yes.
Nutrition: 64 calories (per mini Kit Kat).

OyatsuBox - Japanese Snack Subscription Box!

OyatsuBox is a monthly subscription service from Oyatsu Cafe that sends out a box full of the latest snacks and candies direct from Japan. It costs $25 (which is about £14.92) with no delivery charges on top. There were 11 items in total in my OyatsuBox, and the box was filled to the brim! I was delighted to find my favourite Japanese brands such as Pocky, Hi-Chew and even an exclusive Kit Kat flavour included in the box alongside many others treats and a helpful information sheet in English which describes all the products.

It's such a fun idea and a great gift for anyone who is a fan of Japanese snacks (or just snacks and candies in general!). More details online: www.oyatsubox.com. Take a look at what I received in my OyatsuBox!

Dagashi Super Pack: Even though this counts as one item it's actually a large pack filled with 10 individual Dagashi items. Dagashi is the term for classic small snacks, a bit like what we would call pocket money sweets. This pack had two Umaibo which I have reviewed previously HERE, large corn puff snacks that taste delicious. Also included are UmaiJelly, Mochi-taro, Choco Daifuku, Kakinotane-Choco, Classic Fruit Gum, Happy Pandaro and rare mini-Umaibo.

Such a fantastic selection here which we all enjoyed. My kids thought that it was Christmas again when they got to open all this all up! And of course this was just one item in the OyatsuBox, now onto the rest!

Pocky Matcha Chocolate: I can't shop for Japanese snacks without including some new Pocky so I was pleased to see some included in the OyatsuBox, especially as I have never tried this particular variety before! I love matcha (green tea powder) as a flavour so these look wonderful.

LOOK Sparkling Lemonade Chocolate: Described as a chocolate infused with a lemonade flavour that actually fizzes and sparkles when you eat it. I can't wait to try this!

Big Black Thunder Chocolate Bar: I've heard of this iconic brand before but never had the opportunity to try it. This Japanese chocolate bar brand carries the tagline "Delicious taste in a flash of lightning!" and this BIG version is for serious fans with double the impact. Sounds epic!

Kit Kat Dark Chocolate: A beautifully presented box of mini Dark Chocolate Kit Kat, an exclusive Japanese flavour made with dark Asian chocolate. I couldn't wait to try these and they were utterly delicious, with the most luxurious dark chocolate flavour and no bitterness at all. Full review coming soon.

One Piece Gum & Poster: One Piece is a popular anime series that has apparently taken the world by store. OyatsuBox is proud to include this awesome box of One Piece Gum and a bonus collectible poster. The packaging here is really unique with anime art on all sides and my eldest son can't wait to investigate the contents!

Big Katsu: This is such an interesting snack! It's a savoury strip that is covered in breadcrumbs to emulate a Japanese Katsu (cutlet). The texture is similar to beef jerky but the flavour is slightly spicy and salty. It was quite greasy but I shared it with my hubby and we both enjoyed this unusual snack.

Black Black Mints: Super strong mints with a big dose of caffeine! These are described as being perfect for studying or long nights at work. I could have used these during my Uni days, I had to rely on endless cups of coffee to get through my studying! Full review coming soon.

Pokemon White Chocolate Corn Puffs: These are Pokemon shaped corn puffs with a white chocolate flavour and each box comes with a limited edition sticker. 

Seriously cannot wait to try these! I've never had a white chocolate and corn puff combination before, or was even aware that such a thing existed. 

Hi-Chew - Suppaichu: If there is one Japanese candy I recommend that everyone should try it's Hi-Chew. They're uniquely chewy sweets that always deliver a full flavour. I've reviewed a few HERE and HERE but I've never tried this lemon version before. Each lemon Hi-Chew candy has little sugar bits within it that add a little kick of sour flavour. Just like every Hi-Chew I've tried before these are so addictive and tasty.

Russian Roulette Gum: This is such a fun idea! Each pack contains three pieces of chewing gum. Two have a sweet liquid centre and one piece is insanely sour! I tried them on the three Grocery Gems boys (I include hubby in that!) and my eldest son was the one who got the sour. It was so funny seeing his face react when the sourness hit, luckily he's at the age where he loves this kind of stuff and took it in good spirits!

A photo of all the goodies together! All the items are full sizes and the box really was crammed full. Even though I often try Japanese products it was still exciting opening the OyatsuBox, and especially finding that everything inside was new to me. This really would make a fantastic gift for anyone who loves trying new food products, and is also perfect as an introduction to the exciting world of Japanese snacks.

Grocery Gems Verdict: Cherizena Banoffee Pie Coffee

RATING: 10 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Yes! 
Purchased: Available from www.oyatsubox.com
Price: $25 (which is about £14.92) with FREE shipping.

I was sent an OyatsuBox for an honest review.

Japanese Snacks from Oyatsu Cafe - Megapost

Last week I posted a review of lots of yummy Japanese sugary treats. Well today I'm focusing on the more savoury snacks (with a few sweets included too!). They're all from Oyatsu Cafe, a fantastic Japanese online store that stocks all kinds of goodies - click on the product title under each photo for direct links and more product information.

Dondon Yaki 

This DondonYaki snack is based on a traditional type of Japanese street food of the same name that is especially popular around festival times - certainly explains the cute festival scene on the packaging. The snack itself is a kind of fried cracker, with a lovely light but still crunchy texture. The flavour is absolutely delicious - an addictive meaty mix with a salty edge. Extremely tasty and one that everyone wanted more of!

Calbee Jagarico 

I've heard of the Calbee brand and have always wanted to try some of their snacks, so I was delighted to find this Calbee potato sticks included in my parcel.

These are described as The Crunchiest Potato Stick Ever... and they're not wrong. These are so super crunchy, it's almost as if they are made up of compacted potato crisps all rolled together into a stick shape. The flavour is so delicious too, just like a buttery baked potato! Seriously good and utterly moreish too - these did not last long once opened. I'll definitely be stocking up on these in the future.

Ninja Meshi - Ume Flavour

These are technically sweets but the flavour is more savoury to me so I decided to include them here. The packaging is so odd I really had no idea what to expect from the product inside. It seems to feature a ninja wearing a suit with lots of flowers around them. If you have any ideas what this is about then please leave a comment below!

The Ninja Meshi are slightly soft in texture, a bit like a gummy sweet. The flavour "Ume" is literally a type of sour plum but in snacks like this it usually denotes a pickled salty taste. I have to say the flavour was not for me AT ALL and I wasn't able to finish one - I found it quite horrible. Imagine super salty, sour and FISHY all at the same time. I defy anyone to be able to stomach these for more than a few seconds, let alone actually finish a whole one. 

Glico Kocochi Matcha Chewing Gum

And just to end on something a bit sweeter. These sugar-free Kocochi are a Limited Edition for 2013 and the first time a matcha flavoured chewing gum has been released.

The flavour is a refreshing combination of mint and matcha, giving a lovely twist on a traditional gum. I've long enjoyed peppermint tea with a bit of added matcha powder, a "minty matcha" if you will, as the flavours work together very well, and it's just as tasty and invigorating in this gum version. A great choice for any matcha green tea fan.

Discount Code: Don't forget you can use the code GROCERYGEMS for 15% off any Oyatsu Cafe order! More details here: http://grocerygems.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/oyatsu-cafe-discount-code.html

These products were very kindly sent to me by Oyatsu Cafe for review but all views are my own.