Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
National Picnic Week is here and with warm and sunny weather forecast for the weekend it’s looking like it’s going to be perfect picnic weather.
Crisps are one of my staple picnic snacks, crunchy and packed full of flavour they are great to munch on whilst chatting with friends and are the perfect accompaniment to sandwiches, salads or even a bottle of beer! If you’re looking for an extra special crisp then you really need to try some of the hand cooked Artisan Olive Oil Company crisps – made in Italy they will add a real touch of luxury to any picnic basket.
The Fox Salt and Truffle Vintage Crisps are thickly cut and have a satisfying crunch which you bite them. I’ve never tried a truffle before so I can’t tell you how close the flavour is to a real truffle but the earthy flavour combined with the saltiness of the crisp works really well and you find yourself reaching for more!
The Fox Italian Vegetable Crisps are made from the finest root vegetables including beetroot, parsnip and carrot. Baked to perfection and lightly salted they are lovely and crispy and incredibly moreish! They’re a reasonable thickness and well-seasoned and the saltiness really enhances the flavour of the root vegetables.
With a RRP of £4.25 they are in the more pricey, premium crisps bracket however for a special treat they are certainly worth the extra money.
Disclaimer : We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
The 3rd week of June is National Picnic week so if you are looking for some tasty treats to pop in your picnic basket this weekend then the new BBQ Pulled Pork Slices from Ginsters really need to be on your shopping list!
With a recipe crafted by expert chefs, the BBQ Pulled Pork Slice is made from 100% British Pork, cooked in a smoky BBQ sauce and encased in golden puff pastry which has a delicious crunchy applewood smoked crumb topping.
The BBQ Pulled Pork slices are incredibly tasty, the meat is lovely and moist, and the flavours work really well together, bringing the delicious taste of a BBQ to summer picnics.
As well as being a great picnic food they are also delicious warm, they can be warmed in the oven or pop them in an air fryer for really crispy pastry and then serve with a tasty salad for a lovely summer lunch.
With a RRP of £1.95 the Limited-Edition BBQ Pulled Pork Slice is available at Tesco, Morrisons, Waitrose and ASDA whilst stocks last.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
I am always on the lookout for tasty treats to pop in my children’s lunchboxes and the new Kingsmill Fruit Fingers have been a big hit this week.
The soft, brioche-style fruity fingers are available in two fantastic flavours, Mixed Berry and Apple & Raisin and as well as tasting delicious they are also a great source of fibre.
Available in packs of four they are perfect for lunchboxes, picnics, breakfast or anytime you fancy a quick snack! As well as packing them in lunchboxes I have been enjoying them with a cup of tea in the morning. They are delicious eaten straight from the pack or toasted with plenty of butter.
We all think they are really tasty and at 147 calories a finger they aren’t too bad for the waistline either!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
We love curry in our house so when we heard Ginsters, had created a Butter Chicken Bake we couldn’t wait to try it. With a recipe crafted by expert chefs, the Butter Chicken Bake is made with 100% British chicken cooked in a rich butter sauce with a blend of spices, coconut and lemon, encased in a light puff pastry.
It can be served hot or cold although we prefer it hot as the pastry crisps up nicely when warm. It’s not too spicy and is the perfect lunchtime treat.
With 1 in 5 people in the UK tucking into a tasty curry on a weekly basis I can see these bakes being very popular, curry isn’t an easy food to eat on the go and these bakes bridge the gap perfectly.
Pop one in your lunchbox for a tasty lunch or serve with salad and naan bread for a delicious evening meal.
RRP £1.50 available from Asda, Sainsburys and Morrisons
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Think back to the sweets you had when you were young. Were Refreshers among them? What about Drumsticks and Love Hearts? Swizzels Sweets have a treat for Dads this Father’s Day with a bumper selection perfect for Dad; or Grandad to keep him occupied during the weekend. We were sent a huge assortment of Swizzels sweets to test before the big Father’s Day onslaught of chocolate, sweets and treats so we hope you get some inspiration from these for your Dad!
First up is the big box of Swizzels Sweet Shop Favourites. At 650 grams net it’s a pot pourri of favourites including Parma Violets, Refreshers, Double Lollies, Fizzers, Fruity Pops and Love Hearts. There’s also Drumsticks and Drumstick Squashies which are the same flavour but the Squashies are obviously softer on the teeth! Each of the sweets are as you remember them as a child and in this enormous round box, you can share them out within the family too. They’re great for dipping into when you need to get a sugar rush or to give out after dinner. Dad will love them for the memories too.
Also in the review package were variety packs with a packet of another favourite – Swizzels Luscious Lollies. There’s 16 lollies in this 176 gram pack which include Drumsticks, Fruity Pops and Double Lollies. Yes, there are some repeats here from the box of Sweet Shop Favourites but they are delicious and you probably don’t want to be taking a whole box out with you when you picnic or go on days out so 16 in a pack is ideal. All the lollies featured in this pack are also vegan and free from artificial colours.
There’s two more similar packs of sweets with the Swizzels Curious Chews at 171 grams and Swizzels Scrumptious Sweets at 173 grams. The Curious Chews contain Drumsticks (again), Refreshers, and then Sour Refreshers, Puds (sticky toffee pudding flavour) and Fudg-eee Fudge Chews. None of those are recognisable to me so I’m guessing they’re new in the last few decades. They are indeed very chewy! I would stick to one at a time for these if you have anywhere near loose fillings but they are very addictive and the Fudg-eee and Puds really do taste as they’re supposed to. The Scrumptious Sweets are some of our familiar Swizzels favourites including Drumsticks, Refreshers and Fizzers which again, are universally liked.
Finally, we have the Love Hearts! Everyone knew these sweets growing up so it’s only right that Dad gets them on Father’s Day too. The messages are slightly changed from the less-politically correct ones we might have had but the sentiments are the same. Love Hearts are vegan and free from Artificial Colours and this pack weighing 127 grams has approximately 12 little packs of sweets included, each with love messages on each sweet.
If you’re looking for a fun treat for Dad for Father’s Day, Swizzels Sweets are definitely going to be a favourite for any sweet tooth Dad!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Snacks with a difference, this time with some protein and grown-up toast crisps, Bodega Snack Boxes are for lunch, snacks or even handy for picnics.
Each pack has under 250 calories and are ready-to-eat with either Smoky Salami or Chorizo plus creamy Cheddar slices and crisp toast pieces fashioned like little pieces of toast! They’re high in protein too and Bodega pride themselves on making all their snacks tasty and varied. The savoury snacks are low in sugar so you won’t get the sugar high, or low, during the afternoon in the office.
Bodega’s Chorizo Snack Pack combines paprika seasoned chorizo with slices of Cheddar cheese and 8 pieces of crisp toast. You can eat them together, building a sandwich or open sandwich or as individual pieces. I stared by eating them as pieces but realised some butter on the crisp toasts or some pesto or tomato purée would add an extra bit of flavour too. There’s texture with the crisp toasts as well as chunk with the meat.
The Bodega Smoky Salami Snack Pack is the same set up but with Salami from the North Rhine Westphalia region. Seasoned with pepper and paprika then beechwood smoked, it’s a softer flavour than the chorizo and blends with the Cheddar slices. This is especially good for children who aren’t used to flavoured meats and might want to be introduced slowly to the smoked flavours.
Either pack can be used as ingredients in larger meals such as sandwiches, a buffet or adding to spaghetti Bolognese or with a jacket potato. Students will love these as an easy way to snack that isn’t sugar, and as they last a few weeks in the fridge, you’ll find a use for them soon enough – if the rest of the family don’t raid them first!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
The St Michel Muffin, Waffle, Burger and Donut Choco snacks have recently been launched in the UK and we were sent a sample of each to try for this summer.
Made completely free from palm oil with no preservatives, interestingly they are made with cage-free eggs, giving a better life to the hens. St Michel is France’s premiere cake and biscuit brand, in business since 1905 and very proud of how they select the best quality ingredients.
St Michel Choco DonutSt Michel Choco Burger
Each box has 6 individually wrapped cakes, each one weighing around 30 grams each. Each variety has a different shape and use of the chocolate, so you’ll soon have a preference as to whether you like your chocolate in the middle (Choco Burger) or a Choco Donut, dipped in chocolate instead. The Choco Muffins are just as tasty and probably more suited to adults wanting a snack in the office or on the go and the Choco Waffles make a fun treat for anyone.
They’re made in France with French ingredients including French wheat with each sponge cake in a different shape or formation and topped or filled with smooth chocolate. They certainly have that chocolate-y taste which gives you the sweet hit when you need it. The sponges are feather light and contain sunflower oil instead of palm oil to not only save the palm oil forests but the sunflower gives a different hit to the texture of the sponge. The chocolate, which is made of hazelnut paste, is deliciously decadent and just what you would imagine from French patisseries. Just keep them less than 25 degrees centigrade otherwise you’ll end up with a sticky mess this summer!
St Michel Choco snacks are a fabulous snack idea for anyone who loves cake, needs a snack or wants something with a bit more goodness than sweets during the day. Perfect for chocolate lovers too.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
You know it is summer when your neighbours start advertising on WhatsApp that they’ve got a free BBQ to give away, which is what happened to me this morning… and I realised that it probably is outdoor weather from now on. The Garden of Eva have a lovely array of condiments which are made of garden products you probably wouldn’t have ever thought of making relishes out of! I’m all for trying new flavours and new ingredients so the lovely team at Garden of Eva sent us some to try. Any excuse to get the posh cheese out!
Chili-Watermelon JamAmerican Southern Chow Chow
The Garden of Eva array include American Southern Chili-Watermelon Jam, American Southern Chow Chow and American Southern Pickled Watermelon Rind. Starting with the Chili-Watermelon Jam, this watermelon heavy relish contains garlic, ginger, chili peppers and cinnamon with a generous helping of Jalapeno chili to give a beautiful rich flavour. You can taste the watermelon in it because the juicy sweet flavour comes through, but the hot Jalapeno gives it a beautiful kick that certainly makes you remember it! I tried it with a very strong Cheddar cheese and the two flavours hit it off.
Inspired by the use of watermelon, I then tried the Pickled Watermelon Rind. These are chunks of watermelon rind which have been marinated in sugar and vinegar with only a little salt and cinnamon. They’re absolutely delicious though! They’re not hot to taste, but you can taste the watermelon in them and the slight cinnamon. They’re not tough either, which is what I was expecting from a rind. Instead, they’re really soft and like marinated garlic pieces you get with sushi. The sweet watermelon taste is there and I can totally see these being eaten straight out of the jar although I’m thinking on a salad to give a different taste, or definitely in a sandwich.
Lastly, the American Southern Chow Chow contains tomato, cabbage, bell peppers onion and spices with some mustard and celery seeds too. This again wasn’t too hot, so children could have it, but it does have a tang to it from the vinegar. It was again wonderful! It would go really nicely at a BBQ or with a burger. I’ve never tried Chow Chow before but Garden of Eva makes it taste like it’s homemade. The flavours of the mustard and spices are all there, and the different textures really make it stand out. Delicious!
If you’re making up a charcuterie board or a hamper for someone who loves food, I guarantee that these are going to be a winner! They’re unusual ingredients but exquisitely put together with just the right amount of vinegar and time to make them a new addition to your fridge this summer. I’m already planning my BBQ around which relishes I want to use up first!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
NOMO want to ensure that Easter this year is available to everyone, so with their mantra, “No Missing Out” they are ready for anything! The NOMO range this year incudes chocolate which is dairy-free, gluten-free and egg-free plus plant based so there’s no excuses to buy something for everyone. We were sent a yummy selection to test before the big Easter Weekend… did we find something we all liked?
The NOMO Creamy Choc Egg and Mini Bars is a conventional Easter Egg with four mini bars of NOMO chocolates in flavours Choco Orange Crunch, Caramel, Mint and Caramel Sea Salt. All of them are usual flavours of NOMO chocolate and found in shops, but together they make a package of chocolate and eggs for Easter. The mini bars are just like the creamy chocolate (which is comparable to milk chocolate just without the dairy!) in that they all taste like you expect chocolate to taste, but without the dairy, gluten, nuts or egg and are plant-powered. They’re also all vegan too!
Next we tried the NOMO Choco Fudge Egg & Bunny. This is probably for older children or even dairy-free adults as the chocolate is much richer, more fudge filled and has tiny fudge pieces in it. The accompanying bunny is also a treat and filled of fudge too! Like the Creamy Choc egg, this too is dairy, gluten, nut and egg free with no palm oil and yes, it’s also vegan. Can you see where the theme, “No Missing Out” comes into play? No matter what you might be intolerable to or what you can’t eat, there’s a flavour of NOMO chocolate waiting for you.
Finally, the snack of grown-ups is the individually wrapped Choc Fudge Bunny. It’s part of the aforementioned Easter Egg combination but for 90 pence you can buy these on their own and enjoy a creamy chocolate hit. The outside chocolate is creamy choc with a filling of a rich fudge flavoured centre. At only 30 grams they are a sweet afternoon treat, or something to add to lunch to give you the chocolate hit but without the environmental guilt or having to think about what it might contain. Also great for friends if you want to get them something for Easter but not something they might be allergic to, or if you’re unsure if they are vegan or vegetarian!
The Choc Fudge Easter Egg and the Bunny are probably my favourite because I love richer chocolate and the fudge makes a nice change. You really can’t tell if they’re conventional chocolate or free-from chocolate because they’re so well made and have all the flavour and sweetness of High Street chocolate.
No matter who you’re buying Easter Eggs for, this year you have a lovely choice from NOMO and no matter what someone’s need, or taste in chocolate, there is no reason for anyone to miss out.
NOMO Creamy Choc Eggs and Mini Bars (154 grams) MRRP £6.50:
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
Anyone with teenagers knows it is essential to keep your cupboards well stocked with food as no matter how much they eat at mealtimes, they are invariably hungry an hour or so later. My teenage sons are always raiding the cupboards for nibbles, so when we were given the opportunity to try some snacks from Tropical Sun Foods I certainly didn’t need to be asked twice! Fortunately the box arrived quickly and it contained a fantastic selection of snacks to feast on, which I hoped would keep the boys satisfied for at least a week!
The first snack we tried was the plantain chips, there were four different flavours in the box –Lightly Salted, Sweet Chilli, Sweet and Chilli and Lemon. Plantain chips have a flavour that is reminiscent of potato crisps but the thicker chips have a more exotic taste and unlike their counterparts, offer a hint of sweetness alongside the saltiness. Made from ripened plantain, they are hand-sliced and then batch-cooked following a traditional recipe with no added sugar. The standout feature of these plantain chips is their irresistible crunch and as they are thicker than potato crisps, they are also great with dips and salsa and with less fat they are a much healthier option. My favourite is the Lightly Salted, it has just the right amount of crunch and saltiness, making it the perfect snack to eat at my desk or whilst watching a film. My younger son who has a sweet tooth loved the Sweet chips, the sweet flavouring is very similar to sweet popcorn and again is a great snack when watching a film. Those who like a kick to their snacks will enjoy both the Chilli and Lemon and the Sweet Chilli chips. The Chilli and Lemon flavour is surprisingly mild, it’s not a flavour combination I have tried before but the lemon pairs surprisingly well with chilli and we all found them incredibly moreish. The Sweet Chilli plantain chips have more of a bite and were the first to disappear.
A 450g tub costs £4.49 and they get a big thumbs up from my teenage taste testers.
I love peanuts so was very intrigued with the selection in the box – Crunchy Coconut, Crunchy Coffee, Crunchy Sriracha, Crunchy Wasabi and Crunchy BBQ peanuts. The delicious nuts are roasted to perfection and have a very satisfying crunch when you bite them. They are great as a snack but can also work really well as ingredients in cakes and biscuits, the Crunchy Coconut peanuts were a tasty addition to both my peanut cookies and Rocky Road and my bakes didn’t last long when I took them into work. My sons loved the Crunchy Sriracha and Crunchy Wasabi peanuts best, but I found these a little hot – much to their delight as it meant there were more for them!
RRP from £0.99
The Crunchy Mixed Crackers were a big hit with everyone, an irresistible mix of seaweed, green peas, soy sauce, garlic, spices and more, these little snacks have a pleasant hot kick to them and look nice and colourful in a dish. They are perfect for parties or even a mid morning snack.
RRP £2.99 (150g)
The final snack we tried was the Cassava Chips, made with cassava root they are thinner than plantain chips and are a delicious alternative to traditional crisps. The thinly sliced chips are light and crispy and the 80g bags are the perfect size for sharing (or not!!)
RRP £1.49
Tropical Sun’s snacks are now a staple on my weekly shopping list and the winning combination of flavour and crunch is helping keep the hunger pangs at bay – no mean feat with teenagers. So whether you’re craving the tropical sweetness of the plantain chips, the crunch of roasted peanuts, the mix of heat and flavours of the mixed crackers, or the light and crispy crunch of the cassava chips, Tropical Sun have a snack for you.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
LoveRaw started in 2013 with the crazy idea of founder Rini to create vegan chocolate that tasted like regular chocolate. In the 10+ years since then, the website has grown and the product line has exploded to include all sorts of varieties of chocolate, including the Nutty Choco Balls (milk chocolate) that we were sent this week to try!
LoveRaw chocolate is not only vegan but is completely plant based, has no palm oil and no added artificial ingredients either. LoveRaw product chocolate bars which are similar to commercial treats on the market, and are less about blocks or bars of pure chocolate or they type of chocolate you can cook with. The LoveRaw chocolate bars are the type of treats you’d buy for yourself for lunch, or as snacks for children. The fact that you can buy them in bulk (typically packs of around 16 bars) means you can keep them for lunchboxes or even use for children’s parties where anyone, even though with dairy allergies or who are vegetarian or vegan can eat them.
The Nutty Choc Balls are based on a famous commercial chocolate that the Ambassador would enjoy… each one is individually wrapped and contains a hazelnut surrounded by hazelnut cream, wafer then milk chocolate and finally a coating of hazelnut pieces. Guessed what it is yet? The pieces are easily eaten after dinner, during a meeting or as they were in our house, as a snack in the afternoon when you need just one or two for a quick sweet hit of sugar.
You really can’t tell the difference between the commercial chocolates and the LoveRaw variety. The chocolate still has a smoothness to it and tastes like chocolate should. The added hazelnut pieces and hazelnut cream are still silky and indulgent and the wafer adds the decadent touch we look for in these chocolates. The team at LoveRaw also sent me some Cream Wafer Bars in milk and white chocolate which I have tasted before, and the LoveRaw Peanut Caramel Bar in Milk Choc which is new to me, but I will make room for!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
The Protein Ball Co do what they say they do, except have you ever thought about what they really are? 50% baked cookies, 50% sweets, they’re 100% natural, gluten free, high fibre and no added sugar so it’s as if you’ve made them yourself in the kitchen this morning! The treats come in handy packs of 6 balls which are easily transported around – they don’t need refrigerating.
We were sent a selection pack of 12 different flavours, from Lemon & Pistachio to Cacao & Orange as well as favourites such as Raspberry Brownie. See what I mean about half cake, half sweets? Their newest flavours out this month are Salted Caramel and Choc Chip Muffin which of course, were also in the variety pack.
The base of each of the protein ball recipes is dates along with peanut or nut butter, cashews and different juices for flavourings. The Salted Caramel Protein Balls (as seen in the photo) also contain Pink Himalaya Salt and almond nibs for that crunchy texture. They contain 8 grams of plant protein per pack to satisfy your enough to fill you up, but also to give you a sweet treat as a pick-me-up. When I tried these as an afternoon snack, they are indeed filling and you can taste the caramel in them but I also got a distinct peanut butter flavour. The added almond nibs are lovely too, for adding texture.
The second of the new flavours is Choc Chip Muffin flavour. This flavour contains 9 grams of plant protein and boasts added cacao nibs and gluten-free oats to add fibre and texture too. This is one of the cake-style alternatives which give you a sweet treat as well as providing health benefits such as B12, C and D3. These are just the right size and amount to give you a lift in the afternoon without the sugar hit, and they’re great for children’s lunchboxes too.
My favourite flavour? Probably the Choc Chip Muffin for the delicious chocolate cake-like texture and because I can fool my taste buds into thinking I’ve had a whole piece of cake instead!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
I had never heard of Barebells before, but as someone who is (meant to) eat low carb, these indulgent looking snack bars were tempting! We were sent a variety pack of 4 flavours; Caramel Choc Soft Protein Bar, Banana Dream Soft Protein Bar, Cookies & Cream Protein Bar and White Salty Peanut Protein Bar. Barebelles also have a larger range of protein bars on their website, suitable for all tastes and a lot of them would appeal to children too.
Barebell’s Protein Bars contain between 15 grams and 20 grams of protein per bar and have no added sugar. Most of the bars are covered in chocolate and aren’t identical to chocolate bars you find on the supermarket shelves, so there’s something different about them. The vegan bars also contain 15 grams of protein and are topped with cocoa for that delicious chocolate taste.
The first bar I tasted was the White Salty Peanut bar. With 20 grams of protein, it’s at the upper end of the range of protein per bar, which probably has a lot to do with the peanut content. It’s dense but not heavy – there’s no air involved so you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth with this bar. You can taste the peanuts in it and although I don’t like white chocolate very much, this was a nice bar. I think it’s more for adults though as it’s not a taste children would enjoy. The next bar was the Caramel Choco. This has 16 grams of protein and is one for the chocolate lovers! Children will enjoy this too but it’s a thick, caramel and chocolate covered bar which is really filling. There’s a lot of chocolate on this bar, and a lot of caramel for the 55 gram sized bar!
The Cookies & Cream protein bar is another massive 20 grams of protein. This bar is more creamy with the familiar cookies & cream flavour we are used to in ice cream. Again, it’s not like anything I’m already familiar with on the market, but that doesn’t mean it’s not enjoyable! It’s a taste which anyone, including children would enjoy because it’s the right mix of sweet and tasty. The Banana Dream has a banana base and a caramel topping, finished off with an all-over layer of chocolate. I again couldn’t find anything similar on the market to compare it with, but there’s a really lovely banana flavour, and anyone who loves bananas will enjoy this.
Each of the bars are 55 grams which I found to be a bit too much. They’re quite sweet and with their density I found I could only eat half of one at a time. Maybe I’m used to shrinkflation and the size of chocolate bars getting smaller, but if I needed a snack to fill me up that was also high in protein, I now know that Barebells fulfil both criteria, and any of the flavours would satisfy me!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
This one is especially for vegans! Ginsters, famous for making the pasties we all love, have created a gorgeous Creamy Garlic Mushroom Slice with all vegan ingredients. Using their finely-honed knowledge of what makes a great pasty, Ginsters bring you this lunch, or snack that incorporates a garlic twist to give you that afternoon flavour.
Made with vegan puff pastry, the pasty contains chestnut mushrooms in a white wine sauce which is also vegan. The filling also contains coconut milk, garlic puree, potatoes, onions and a mix of herbs to give it that extra flavour. I’m also told there’s a touch of lemon zest in there too, to compliment the mushroom flavour. At 170 grams, the Ginsters Creamy Garlic Mushroom Slices can be eaten as a snack, or even as a lunch, particularly if you’re adding a salad to it. Alternatively, there’s enough slice here to make a dinner if you add some vegetables to it too! It’s recommended that you eat it hot, probably oven baked, which I agree with because if eaten cold, it loses some of the extra flavours that the herbs and garlic bring to it.
Once heated, the aromas of the garlic and mushroom fill the room and you can see the generous white wine filling. I enjoyed this as a lunch because it has such a hearty punch to it with the mushrooms and potato but the flavour of the garlic and herbs comes out too. The pastry is lovely and you wouldn’t know it was vegan because it’s so flakey and soft. There’s a real taste to the mushroom sauce from the white wine which comes through with the vegetables, and why it’s best that this Creamy Garlic Mushroom slice is eaten hot. Delicious!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Britain is known for many things but did you know the flavours of our crisps is one of the things tourists go mad for? Walkers are probably the grand masters of this trend, with not only a huge array of flavours available on the market already but with limited edition flavours coming out all the time.
Walkers have released three new flavours, all of which are vegan AND limited edition, to enjoy in 2024; Vegan BBQ Pork Ribs, Vegan Grilled Cheese Toastie and Vegan Flame Grilled Steak. How can meat flavours be vegan? Well it all has to do with the salts they use, which aren’t necessarily from the animal products any longer. Whether you’re doing Veganary or just like me, like different flavours to try, these new Walkers Crisps are worth a try.
We were sent a lovely selection of all the crisps, so I was able to pick which flavour took my mood! I started with the Vegan BBQ Pork Ribs crisp flavour, which is in the familiar 24 gram packet. The crisps are usual Walkers quality, sharp and cracking when you bite into them but it’s the flavour that stands them apart from supermarket offerings. The BBQ Pork Ribs crisps hit you with the BBQ flavouring first when you open the packet. The crisps have the BBQ flavour too, then as it dissolves in your mouth, the hearty pork flavour comes through.
Next up were the Walkers Flame Grilled Steak crisps. These are again strong, meat flavoured crisps and I really enjoyed the steak flavour coming through. These were probably my favourites out of all the crisps I chose because it’s not a taste you usually get with crisps, nor is it easy to get the taste with anything other than a flam grilled steak which you probably won’t be able to eat every day! As part of a lunch box or a snack in the afternoon, I thought these were a great way of making you feel full from the flavour, but not overindulging with the whole meal. They also work great with sandwiches because of the strength of these flavours.
Last were the Grilled Cheese Toastie flavoured crisps. If you’re a fan of cheese, then these are delicious! I like cheese toasties so I can see the flavour in these crisps because it’s not only the cheese but the slight toast taste comes through too. They’re very cheesy though, with more of a mature cheddar taste to them. I liked them too, and I realise that a lot of vegans won’t be able to compare the taste of the meat flavours with the real thing, so this is probably more appropriate to start with as a flavour if you’re a vegan or vegetarian. If you’ve converted from meat eating to vegetarian or vegan, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the range of flavour to the crisps as well as the depth of flavour.
I really enjoyed all the flavours of crisps but my favourite was the Flame Grilled Steak. Can’t beat a bit of flame grilled when you’re famished and Walkers Crisps in Flame Grilled Steak make the ultimate snack!
Available is varying sized packs from lots of retailers. See details here: https://www.walkers.co.uk
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
We’ve never really done a proper Blind Test before. That is, officially comparing one brand of a product against another, without knowing which brand is which and not being able to tell them apart. So when LoveRaw Chocolate asked us to test and review their product against other brands, it was quite the coup! Naturally, we love anything that’s a challenge but when it involves chocolate too, we’re all ears…
LoveRaw are a chocolate brand with a difference. They produce chocolate products which are largely vegan (allergens are listed so you can check easily) and they have a whole host of products available which seem to be ever growing and includes white, dark and milk chocolate alternatives.
We were sent a Blind Tasting Pack which had three different LoveRaw products; Nutty Choc Balls, Cream Wafer Bar (milk chocolate) and Cream Wafer Bar (white chocolate. Each of the LoveRaw products was teamed up with the High Street equivalent and all the items were in clear packaging, just marked with their numbers for easy identification. The LoveRaw products are all plant based, contain no palm oil and have no artificials. The High Street versions are not any of those (ie not plant based, contain palm oil and have artificial ingredients.) A sealed black envelope was also included so that after the tasting you can find out which were the real LoveRaw items. How exciting!
First up was the Nutty Choc Balls. Looking at them, I couldn’t tell the difference. They look incredibly similar and when I bit into them, the chocolate didn’t give me any clues as to which one was plant based. I guessed that A1 was the High Street variety only because it tasted slightly more processed. A2 had a smoother texture which led me to think it was made with more love. We shall find out the answers at the end of the testing (even I haven’t opened the envelope yet!)
Second was the Cream Wafer Bar in Milk Chocolate. These bars looked different. B1 looks like it’s intricately made by a machine in a factory and the bar is slightly longer. B2 is smoother, and the chocolate looks darker so I suspect that this is the LoveRaw one to look at. Tasting them, B2 has a lighter texture to it and has more layers but the chocolate between the two tastes the same. B1 has more additives, you can tell that from opening the packet and the smell of the chocolate is artificial. In this testing, I think B2 is the LoveRaw product.
Finally, it’s the Cream Wafer Bar with White Chocolate. I’m not a huge fan of white chocolate so this is going to a different type of test. C1 looks like it’s made in a factory because it’s got intricate designs on it whereas C2 looks like it could be handmade and dusted with chocolate flavouring. As for the taste, I started with what I thought was the High Street version (C1). It’s light and wafer-like and I like the texture of it. C2 is densely packed and doesn’t melt as easily but both taste of white chocolate and have some fun sweet flavours going on. I think C2 is the LoveRaw version.
So to recap, before we go to the big finale, this is what I think the products are:
Nutty Choc Balls: A1 is the High Street Competitor; A2 is LoveRaw
Cream Wafer Bar (milk chocolate): B1 is the High Street Competitor; B2 is LoveRaw
Cream Wafer Bar (white chocolate): C1 is the High Street Competitor, C2 is LoveRaw
Let’s scroll down to see the results in the black envelope…
So I was right for the Milk Chocolate Cream Wafer Bar but wrong for the Nutty Choc Balls and White Chocolate Cream Wafer Bar! Goes to prove that you really can’t tell the difference between LoveRaw and the High Street Competitors!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
By this point in January, we think the New Years Resolutions have probably worn off, so if you’re like me and in that time after all the Christmas treats have been eaten but you’ve not bought any snacks in your weekly shop yet then this is for you!
Wonderful Pistachios are probably the best known pistachio company in the world, producing a variety of different pistachio finishes from their California headquarters. We were sent two types of pistachio to try – the No Shell Roasted & Salted Pistachios (100 grams) and Shelled Roasted and Salted XXL Pistachios (220 grams). The Wonderful company also produce other varieties of pistachios as well as almonds, which isn’t surprising as they’re all from sunny California.
If you’ve never tried pistachios as a snack before then let me enlighten you. Pistachios are packed with protein, with more than 21 grams worth per 100 grams of pistachio, that’s higher than cashews, walnuts and hazelnuts that are all around 15 grams each of protein per 100 grams. Pistachios also contain Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) and B6 plus Potassium, which is great for the nervous system.
The Wonderful range of pistachios come in different sizes. We were sent the 220 grams size of shelled pistachios which, yes, means you have to shell them yourself! They’re both roasted and salted which means they’re ready to eat just as long as you shell them yourself, but as the shells are already open it only really takes fingernails to prise them apart. You don’t need a nut cracker or anything. The pistachios are roasted to perfection and are easy to eat as the salt is a complementary flavour to the slightly sweet body of the pistachio.
If you’re on the go and you don’t want the hassle of shelling the pistachios, then the 100 gram Roasted & Salted No Shell Pistachios are probably better for you! There’s absolutely no shelling, no chipping your nails or having to dispose of the shells anywhere so you can eat them as if they were sweets straight out of the packet. I think this is my preferred way of eating them, without the shelling fuss, so I particularly enjoyed these. They’re roasted and salted so the flavour is all there, and pistachios aren’t difficult to eat because they don’t have the toughness of other nuts. They would go well with a cheese platter or even to top off a salad but I ate them after lunch as a mid-afternoon snack. They were delicious!
Wonderful Pistachios are a great alternative to the sugar-laden snacks on the supermarket shelves and you might find they provide more nutrients than you think!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Daily life nowadays means you are running errands, looking after children and/or parents and probably juggling that with a full-time job and adding in a social life of your own. Oh, and don’t forget you need to get exercise too, and lots of it! We look for gadgets and life hacks nowadays to make life easier but to also improve the quality of life.
Carrying water around is essential nowadays, and especially for children. Brita have a range of water bottles for everyday use but they also contain filters to make the water extra clean. The Brita Water Filter Active Bottle is a clever 0.6 litre bottle which includes a filter in the top so you can filter tap water when you’re out and about and not have to worry about the nasties.
The bottle is made of 100% BPA free material with a sports cap (so you can use it when exercising or to prevent it falling over and spilling) and has flexible sides so that you can squeeze it to direct through the sports cap. The filter is made of natural carbon and originates from coconut shell material so it’s more sustainable too. The Brita filter cartridge used in the Brita Water Filter Active removes chemicals found in tap water such as chlorine and some herbicides, pesticides and hormones but leaves the useful elements like Magnesium and calcium. So if you’re out of the house without your Brita filter, any tap in a café or restaurant, or even at the gym will fill the Brita Active Bottle and the water will be cleaner than just taking out of the tap.
The bottle is also multipurpose because it’s adapted for sport. Not just squeezy sides but there’s a sports loop to attach it to your belt as you’re working out or to pick it up and hold it, and it comes with a cup that fixes to the base snugly so that you don’t lose it. The same cup works as a lid to protect the spout. Taking this out with a pram where you can attach it to the handle bars with the loop or put it in the cup holder, it can also help a toddler drink from a cup as you dispense it into the attached beaker. If you’re going to the gym and don’t want the attached cup, it’s easy to leave behind and 0.6 litre capacity is probably enough for an hour’s session.
The Brita Water Filter Active Bottle comes with a cartridge already but when you need to replace it, it only takes taking off the top screw cap and placing the filter in the neck of the bottle. No fuss, and easy to carry around with you if you’re on holiday for instance. The whole bottle with filter and full of water is light to carry too, so it fits into hand luggage. If you can’t take a bottle of water onto a plane, you can take a Brita Water Filter Bottle when it’s empty, then fill it up when you’re airside or on the plane and you’ll know you have filtered water for the journey. Think how great this would be for camping too!
The more you use this Brita Water Filter, the more uses you have for it and realise how versatile it is for everyday life. It’s a great gift item too for new mums, sports lovers or commuters alike. Have fun this summer with Brita Water Filter Active Bottle!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Whether you’re an old hand vegan or starting out on your vegan journey this January, Costa have a surprising amount of food items on their menu which are perfect for you. We were sent out to our local Costa Coffee to see what was available and check out the new items on the menu.
For 2024, there are their new Hot Milkshakes. In three flavours, White Chocolate and Strawberry, Salted Caramel Coffee, and Chocolate Hazel they are thick like a milkshake, but made with warm milk and topped with different flavoured sprinkles, dependant on what flavour you order. They’re a cross between a hot chocolate and a milkshake, especially with the Light Whip cream on top to make it extra indulgent.
We tried items from the Plant Based menu, including this Plant Based Saucy Chicken Fajita Wrap. It doesn’t contain chicken at all; every ingredient is plant based, but the substitutes taste like chicken and even have a chicken-like texture. They’re slightly lighter than the meat version though, with the ‘chicken’ pieces as you would imagine, a tortilla wrap, roasted peppers and a spicy tomato sauce. We paired that with a beautiful Chocolate Tiffin Cake, which although it’s not plant-based, it is vegetarian. If you’re not into chocolate for New Year, then there’s a new range of cakes (which are also vegetarian) such as new Banana Loaf Cake and new Orange and Raspberry Victoria Sponge. Anyone who remembers the Lemon Drizzle Loaf Cake will be very pleased to see that it’s back on the menu and as delicious as always!
Lastly, there are the assortment of Costa drinks. It sometimes feels like you could have a different drink every day of the month and still not try all of them in their different configurations of milks, toppings and additions but the staple drinks we all love are still there – namely coffee. We tried a Salted Caramel Frappé which was made vegan with coconut milk instead of cow’s milk and the whipped cream on top was vegan too. The drink is laced with Salted Caramel and topped with tiny caramel pieces which not only add to the flavour but add a gorgeous texture as well. I found that the Chicken Fajita Wrap, Chocolate Tiffin and Salted Caramel Frappé were all very filling and no different to a meat-eating lunch I would normally choose.
Costa Coffee Plant Based items are available in store and you can see their menu and prices here: https://www.costa.co.uk/menu
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Over the years, Mr Kipling has become not only a household name but synonymous with Christmas. Most of our Christmas favourite foods are now table staples including mince pies and this year is no exception. The Signature K Collection from Mr Kipling have these fabulous ‘Best Ever’ mince pies in shops now and we couldn’t wait to try them!
Unlike other mince pies, Mr Kipling’s Best Ever range have only 4 in a box. The Signature K Collection mince pies also vary in aesthetics and taste too which makes them stand out from the rest and dare I say it, look homemade! The pastry is deliciously crumbly, due to the amount of butter in the ingredients. Even before you can eat it and you’re taking it out of the foil, there’s a certain amount of ‘crumbing’, just to remind you how mince pies are meant to taste and how rich and indulgent this Mr Kipling variety is going to be! The pastry is light and delicious and holds together beautifully!
The filling is made of vine fruit mincemeat with added apple and spices. The mincemeat is infused with cider and brandy to give a richer taste, but you really can’t taste the alcohol at all, so these are suitable for children too. The pie is topped with a delicate pastry snowflake and lightly dusted for that festive look which will shine on the Christmas Lunch table. The mixture of the fruits, in combination with the powdery pastry and light icing sugar decoration make these Mr Kipling Mince Pies irresistible, and perfect for Christmas.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
I’m always on the lookout for new snacks, especially ones that aren’t unhealthy or might be a better option than a multipack from the supermarket where no one in our household likes certain flavours! LoveRaw are a plant-based company who produce milk and white chocolate bars that suit the whole family. We were sent a selection box with a mix of both types of chocolate to see how we liked them…
Inside the box was:
LoveRaw Cream Wafer Bar, milk chocolate (43 grams)
LoveRaw Peanut Butter Caramel Bar, milk chocolate (40 grams)
LoveRaw Cream Wafer Bar, white chocolate (45 grams)
LoveRaw Cream Wafer Bar Caramelised Biscuit, white chocolate (45 grams)
You’d be forgiven if you think you might have seen some of these bars on the supermarket shelves before, or at least a few of the supermarket elements in these bars as LoveRaw have invented some new varieties. All of the chocolate is plant-based and therefore it’s vegan and suitable for everyone to eat. Instead of milk or cream, coconut milk is used instead to give the creamy texture to make the chocolate, both milk and white variations.
Starting with the Cream Wafer Bars, there are two in each pack and they’re individually wrapped. Neither the white nor the milk chocolate bars contain anything artificial (“No Artificial Nonsense” as it says on the packs!) and are palm oil free. The bars are hazelnut filled wafers with either a vegan white chocolate flavoured coating or a milk chocolate flavoured coating. The Caramlised Biscuit Cream Wafer Bar has more bite to it with cinnamon filled wafters and have a caramel flavoured coating. These Cream Wafer Bars are great for snacks at lunchtime, they’re pretty filling and taste like chocolate too.
The LoveRaw Nutty Choc Balls are only 81 calories per ball and also vegan and plant based. Each Nutty Ball has a whole hazelnut in a cocoa coating and nut croquante on the outside. They’re about the size of a lychee and also individually wrapped so you can share them, or eat them at different times!
Available directly from EatLoveRaw.com, promotions include:
20% off 6 packs
30% off 12 packs
40% off 24 packs
Promotions start from Friday 24th Nov – Sunday 26th. With an extra 5% off on Cyber Monday.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Just in time for Christmas, Joe & Seph have launched their delicious Chocolate Orange Popcorn Bites. That’s right, not just popcorn, not just chocolate but Chocolate Orange flavoured chocolate!
If you’ve never had Popcorn Bites from Joe & Seph’s before, I’ll try and explain what they are. Perfectly popped pieced of popcorn are encased in cups of rich chocolate. They look like popcorn pieces set in thimbles of chocolate and turned out to create each little bite which you can pop into your mouth easily. The popcorn and chocolate melt at different rates so as you chew, you get a hit of chocolate, then the texture of popcorn and then the richness of the chocolate again.
Joe & Seph’s are famous for their gourmet popcorn with over 80 flavours and more being added all the time. The popcorn is cooked to the highest standard with no ‘crunchy bits’ at the bottom of the bag and no unpopped kernels. The milk chocolate meets the same exacting qualities as the popcorn, with it’s melt-in-the-mouth smoothness and no fake sugary taste. You can taste both the chocolate and the orange in each Popcorn Bite, and the popcorn itself is velvety caramel, but not too sweet.
The Popcorn Bite grab bag is 63 grams, vegetarian friendly and gluten free. There’s no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives either. It’s the perfect size for sharing or an afternoon snack and a great treat for children to share after school. You can see that it’s great for the cinema, or would be perfect as a stocking filler too!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
There’s two new flavours of Lo Bros’ Kombucha in town, and just in time for the Christmas festivities too! Lo Bros sent us some samples to try, along with some of their famous cans. Just as the summer is ending (can you tell I’m working from my outdoor office this weekend?) we think about going into Christmas and how it probably isn’t great for our overall health. Kombucha is your friend this time of year; let me explain why.
What is kombucha?
Kombucha is a fermented drink, which by the nature of how it’s made is filled with live, good bacteria. This good bacteria is great for your tummy and balances out the bad bacteria that can make us feel sluggish, but also causes lots of health problems. The good bacteria is an antidote to our lifestyles as well, where we probably don’t eat as wholefully and healthily as we should. The fermentation happens with very low sugar in the juices which are used so there’s not a lot of glucose in the drinks, and kombucha is naturally fizzy. The end products is an effervescent fruit flavoured drink which also contains live culture.
Lo Bros have several flavours, some of which we’ve reviewed before: https://thereviewstudio.co.uk/2023/07/26/lo-bros-kombucha-cola/ but this week we were sent two new flavours: Raspberry & Blackcurrant and the limited edition Fruit Crush. Fruit Crush is made with black tea, mango, orange, passion fruit, apple and raspberry, all fermented together to make the fizzy kombucha. The Raspberry & Blackcurrant flavour is made the same way, with a slightly sweeter flavour to it and the hints of raspberry and blackcurrant coming through. The Ginger & Lemon and Raspberry & Lemon flavours are just as delicious, with the subtleties of each fruit coming through and the sparkling texture plays on your tongue. You can almost imagine it is like an alcoholic drink – but healthier!
The bottles are eco-friendly as they’re not made of plastic, they’re all glass and the cans are recyclable too. In fact, Lo Bros are a Net Plastic Brand, meaning they don’t put any plastic into the environment.
Lo Bros was born in Byron Bay, Australia 20 years ago and has since transported to the UK.
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
We get through a lot of cereal bars in our house, I often pop them in a rucksack or pocket as a snack to refuel when out hiking or cycling and my teenage sons, who seem to have hollow legs, snack on them at any time – day or night! We do usually stick to stick to the same old brand, so it was nice to have a change and try the new Chocolate Chip Cashew bars from KIND. The bars are packed full of cashews, almonds and peanuts and topped with chocolate chips and I knew my family would enjoy them.
Founded in 2004, KIND believe you shouldn’t have to choose between delicious & nutritious and have created a range of tasty bars that are the perfect choice for those looking for a balanced snack option on the go. The Chocolate Chip Cashew bars are made with over 80% nuts and contain a good balance of protein, healthy fats, and fibre that have helped keep us sustained on our recent hikes and bike rides. The bars easily fit in the pocket of my cycling jersey and really hit the spot when we stop for a quick refuel, the chunks of nuts and chocolate are really tasty and give my energy levels a much needed boost.
Whether you are climbing a mountain, undertaking a gruelling cycle ride or simply want a quick snack then a Chocolate Chip Cashew bar will definitely hit the spot. Made with natural ingredients the bars are high in fibre and are gluten free too.
RRP £1.39 available from Sainsburys, Boots, WHSmith and Tesco
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Remember the Hellmann’s Turkey advert from the 1980s? “Don’t save it for the summer” was the slogan they used to encourage us to eat mayonnaise with Christmas dinner and since then, it’s been a staple in households all over the country along with other favourites such as Colman’s Mint Sauce (great for roast lamb) and Colman’s English Mustard. In fact, I think my first ever taste of mustard was at the Christmas dinner table when I was little, and not ready for the taste that was adorned on my roast at my insistence!
Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise isn’t just for salads. Made with just egg, oil and a dash of vinegar, it’s a time old recipe that is the basis of lots of recipes. With such simple beginnings, it can be used on most meals but at Christmas time, it’s particularly useful with cold meats, especially on Boxing Day. Turkey sandwiches are one of my yuletide memories and they’re usually made with piles of carved turkey and lots and lots of Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise. There’s something about the mixture of the two textures and the cool mayonnaise flavour that make the two go together so well.
If you’re not into mayonnaise, then Colman’s have the taste alternative. Colman’s Mint Sauce and Colman’s Mustard have been in our pantries for decades since the company started in Norwich in 1814. Colman’s Mint Sauce, grown in Norfolk, uses the meat tenderising enzymes found in mint to compliment lamb. Using the sauce cold and eating with a hot lamb joint, the mint brings out the lamb flavour. It’s also particularly good with roast potatoes and adds a completely different angle to home cooked meals.
Colman’s Mustard (English) is a completely different taste. This mustard isn’t as hot as you might think, but still has that peppery taste to it that works so well with beef. You can put this straight on your plate and eat it as an accompaniment to beef, but I have discovered that it works brilliantly if put over your beef joint before going into an air fryer. As the meat cooks in the super hot air, it heats the mustard allowing it to break down the outer fat of the joint and seeping in flavour. I tried it in my air fryer and it created this lovely crust to the outside of the cut, which was super easy and protected the outside from scorching. I also use mustard in my salad dressings, adding a certain hotness to summer lunches which you can’t get anywhere else.
Lastly, we would not talking about condiments if we didn’t mention Marmite. Available all over the world now, it is particularly special at Christmas for ex-pats who crave the special taste. If you’ve ever lived abroad or go on holiday where many Brits congregate, you’ll know that Marmite is on all the supermarket shelves. The phrase ‘Love It Or Hate It’ is now part of the English vernacular and recognised as a polarity due to Marmite‘s unique taste. If you’ve never tried it before (and I suggest you do at least give it a go once!) then I can only describe it as a slightly tangy version of beef gravy, only much thicker and spreadable. It goes nicely on toast as most of us will remember from our childhoods, but there are ample recipes available on the Marmite website. There’s a particularly good recipe for Marmite, Ham & Camembert Festive Toasties; perfect for after Christmas dinner or on Boxing Day when you have plenty of leftovers and not many ideas!
The Review Studio 