Tag: advent calendar for adults

Bonne Maman Advent Calendar 

advent calendar, Christmas, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Bonne Maman are known for their exquisite jams and spreads and more recently for thoughtful gifts too. This limited edition advent calendar contains all you need for a festive December where all 24 windows have a delicious treat inside!

This year, Santa’s elves have created a calendar of Santa’s workshop, complete with Christmas trees surrounded by helpers who are making jams and spread and transporting them to households worldwide. Behind the windows you’ll find not just jams but savoury spreads and even 6 varieties of tea bags. The jams and spreads are more than just what you’d find on the Bonne Maman shelf in the supermarket as some of them aren’t available in the UK so don’t be surprised by what the elves have made! Some of the specialties include Apricot & Banana Spread, Fig with Cardamon, Mara des Bois Strawberry and even Quince With Chunks for the savoury lovers.  The teabags are also specialities too including Morning Blend, Quiet Moment and Christmas Blend.  Behind window 24 for Christmas Eve, there’s a special surprise too…

The Bonne Maman Advent Calendar is available to ship to the UK only.  It arrived in a massive box too, probably to accommodate the size of the two leaves that open out to make the whole Santa’s Workshop landscape.  The windows hide a glass 30 gram jar of each of the jams and preserves, so you have the excellent quality of Bonne Maman which is kept fresh and safe from perishing. The glass adds to the weight of the calendar but is worth it for the mixture of jams and spreads inside. You’ll never get bored of the different flavours!

Speaking of flavours, I have never seen such a mix of fruits.  There’s not just the usual strawberry and raspberry jams (although they are included!) but delicacies such as fig, nectarine and peach, all of which are mixed with different spices to give whole new flavours.  If you only occasionally eat toast or scones but appreciate good jam and don’t want to open a whole jar each time, this is a brilliant gift. It’s also good for food connoisseurs who love trying new flavours or cooking with different jams. For example, the Apricot & Lavender spread would be scrumptious on a gammon joint to bring out the flavours.  Chestnut and orange would also be perfect for Christmas Day lunch or a Sunday Roast to add to the stuffing or as a side to the Yorkshire Puddings.

Once you’ve indulged in all the spreads, don’t forget the teas. I think there’s a reason each of the herbal teas are based around calming, soothing flavours at Christmas time, so make sure you make full use of them!

Available from £33.00: https://www.bonnemaman.co.uk/advent

LoveRaw Advent Calendar 

advent calendar, Children, chocolate, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Vegan, Vegetarian

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

LoveRaw have produced their first ever vegan advent calendar for 2023 on the back of their meteoric rise to chocolate heaven since 2013. LoveRaw have sent us one of their new advent calendars to review and the back story of how the LoveRaw team came about.

Back in 2013, Rini and Manar had what they called a ‘crazy idea’ to create vegan chocolate, but for it to also not taste vegan at all. This included using unconventional products (for the time) and trying to get the attention of lots of buyers. Along the past 10+ years, they have rejected Dragon’s Den offers, developed tons more products and probably become sick of the sight of chocolate to come to this point where they are able to sell vegan chocolate to the masses.

LoveRaw’s chocolate is made with no palm oil and no artificial ingredients. All of the base ingredients are plant based (such as chickpea protein concentrate) and are suitable for vegetarians and vegans. In fact, they say that it’s suitable for everyone, including ‘Unvegans’ who aren’t vegan at all but happy to eat something that has been produced in the vegan way.  Their chocolate contains sugar, but beyond that there are no other ingredients which you might want to. Stay away from. There’s a whole list of ingredients on the back that you’ll recognise.

The LoveRaw Advent Calendar is. The usual 24 windows we are familiar with hide medallions of LoveRaw vegan chocolate behind a foil covering which keeps them fresh as well as increasing the anticipation as you open them! LoveRaw isn’t aimed specifically at children, but the chocolate pieces are decorated with Christmas themes, just like the ones we had as children.  The pieces are only about the size of a 2 pence coin (3.3grams per piece) so there isn’t an indulgent amount that will spoil dinner but still gives you the chocolate hit. 

What was the chocolate like? I took it upon myself to try several pieces and I can confidently say that it does indeed taste like chocolate! The advent calendar is milk chocolate flavoured (we know there is no actual milk in it though) but the flavour is slightly more of a darker chocolate flavour, but not at all bitter. I think because there is added sugar, the LoveRaw chocolate tastes sweeter. There is no bitter aftertaste with it though, like some vegan chocolates have.

Whether for an adult or children, the LoveRaw advent calendar ticks all the boxes and no one will notice the difference between vegan and ‘unvegan’!

RRP £6.99

NOMO Christmas Chocolates

Children, chocolate, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gluten Free, Stocking Fillers, Vegan, Vegetarian

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

NOMO (No More Missing Out) have brought out a lovely range of Christmas chocolates for 2023, aimed at anyone who is allergic to the main allergens (dairy, gluten, egg and nuts) or lives a plant based life. We were sent some of the selection to review, and frankly, it’s the best part of our job when we have to force ourselves to eat chocolate!

The selection of NOMO Sharing Boxes contain 140 grams of chocolates, each individually wrapped and there’s about 12 chocolates in each box.  There are three flavours of the sharing boxes; Choc Orange Crunch, Caramel and Mint. All of the sharing boxes are vegan chocolate, plant based and free from eggs, dairy nuts and gluten so are suitable for the whole family.

If you’re familiar with the ‘big brand’ chocolates then you’ll recognise what type of confectionary these flavours are based on. The Caramel flavour is milk chocolate with a soft caramel filling. They’re arranged as two squares for each of the sweets, so you can take your time over eating them and the chocolate is surprisingly thick.  The Choc Orange Crunch isn’t a fondant filling but more of an enriched chocolate filling with piece of – you guessed it – crunchy flavoured orange pieces.  The last box is the Mint flavour which was my favourite. Again, there was generous chocolate but also a lot of the mint fondant filling which was soft at room temperature and reminded me of another famous brand.

We were also sent the NOMO Reindeers in Choc Fudge and Cookie Dough flavours. These individually wrapped chocolates weigh 33 grams and 30 grams respectively and are also vegan and free from eggs, nuts, gluten and dairy. They’re perfect for adding to children’s stockings or for Christmas parties where you don’t know if the kids are all able to tolerate conventional milk chocolate.  The Cookie Dough flavour is soft with slightly crunchy pieces covered in NOMO milk chocolate.  The child in me insisted on eating the reindeer ears first but there’s no obligation! The Choc Fudge flavour was my favourite though as it was rich, deep fudge that was slightly gooey and very indulgent. It’s a real chocolate lover’s treat.

The sharing boxes are an excellent idea no matter what time of year and are just the right portion size to be eaten after dinner over the Christmas period. They’re also great for school lunchboxes or for anyone who’s never tried plant-based chocolates before.  For those of us who are always scrambling for last minute gifts for the neighbours, these NOMO sharing boxes mean you don’t have to worry about offending anyone with an allergy by giving them something they can’t enjoy!  The NOMO Reindeers are a great pick-me-up for the supermarket too, or to enjoy on car journeys throughout the festive period.

NOMO are continuing to make great fun chocolate that’s appealing to everyone and more importantly, more accessible. There is indeed No Missing Out anymore when it comes to chocolate.

NOMO Chocolate Advent Calendar 

advent calendar, Children, chocolate, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Vegan, Vegetarian

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

If you’ve never heard of NOMO, then this Christmas you will certainly see the brand in the shops and especially on the advent calendar section of supermarkets.  NOMO stands for No Missing Out and relates to the fact that their chocolate is vegan and free from dairy, gluten egg and nuts. So no one who has any of those major intolerances will miss out on chocolate this Christmas.

The same size as most advent calendars, the NOMO chocolate advent calendar has 24 windows to cover the whole of advent.  Behind each windows is a scrumptious creamy chocolate drop made with Rainforest Alliance cocoa and is entirely plant based, hence there aren’t the allergens that other chocolates contain. The chocolate instead contains rice powder, shea oil, sea salt and flavourings with a dash of sugar too.

You really can’t taste that the NOMO chocolate is any different to traditional chocolate. It’s still smooth and creamy, still has the milk chocolate taste and no after taste.

At £5 for the calendar it compares to other brands too. If you’re giving this as a gift to someone you don’t know very well, it works perfectly because anyone can eat it no matter their intolerances or allergies!  Children will love the chocolate behind each window but adults will love it just as much as the packaging isn’t just for children. Father Christmas is dressed in blue though – like the NOMO logo colours!

You can find not just advent calendars by NOMO this Christmas but lots of other chocolate sweets which we’ll be reviewing later this week. You can find NOMO in supermarkets such as Waitrose, Co-Op, Morrison, Holland & Barratt, Nisa, Sainsbury’s and Tesco. 

Available from £5 at: https://nomochoc.com/products/advent-calendar-2

Bird & Blend Tea Advent Calendar 

advent calendar, Christmas, eco friendly, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Plastic free

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

One of the more brilliant ideas for discovering new foods, flavours or in this case teas is to ask for an advent calendar before Christmas. Bird & Blend Tea have created 24 days of different tea flavours for you to try, which circumnavigates having to spend money on a box of teabags you might not like.  This is becoming an increasingly clever way of trying new products without having to spend the time choosing something new, and is often much cheaper too. 

Celebrating Christmas and perhaps helping you buy the gift for the person who has everything (including excellent taste in tea!) the Bird & Blend Tea Advent Calendar also acts as a tasting menu.  Not really designed for children, although older teenagers who love tea will probably appreciate this, it’s decorated in yellow and blue with two teabags behind each of the 24 windows. The size of the calendar is bigger than the usual chocolate calendars, so taller than A4 and about letterbox side in width. As you’d imagine with teabags though, it’s pretty light and can be posted easily and not get ruined in the post.

Inside there’s instructions on how to read the teabags. Each bag has a key of how much caffeine they contain, how many minutes they should be brewed for and whether you should add milk. If you’re a real tea expert, it will also tell you the correct temperature to brew at, as apparently some need more heat and therefore 80 degrees centigrade is needed. Within the doors, there’s even a scoreboard for the top 5 blends you enjoy so you know what to buy later.

When you open the windows, there are two identically flavoured teabags behind them.  They’re not individually wrapped and each of them are plastic free so they’re compostable too. Some of the flavours include Chocolate Digestive, Treacle Sponge, Apple Strudel, Banana Bread Chai and of course, the Great British Cuppa!  My personal favourite (although I do appreciate a good British Cuppa) was Gingerbread Chai. You can tell that a lot of thought has gone into this selection with the mix of winter, Christmas and classic flavours. I don’t think any of the flavours are repeated and some of them I’ve never seen before. 

Whether you’re just a big fan of tea, or looking for something different to try during the winter, the Bird & Blend Tea Advent Calendar is a great choice and sure to make anyone smile this Christmas!

Available for £38 at: https://www.birdandblendtea.com/products/tea-advent-calendar

Maxtris Chocolate Advent Calendar from Sacla

advent calendar, Children, chocolate, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Everyone knows European chocolate is the best there is. It’s the ingredients, the way it’s made and a centuries old history that elevates it above all else out there.  The Maxtris Chocolate Advent Calendar from Sacla is Italy’s finest confectionary, all bundled up in Christmas in the form of 24 drawers each filled with chocolate.

The A4 sized boxed chocolates are extremely pretty, with doors that open up to reveal the 24 windows for each day of advent. Behind each drawer there is a chocolate from a range that includes Extra Dark 70%, Milk, Pistachio and Noisette. Each of the chocolates are reminiscent of another brand of round, individually wrapped European chocolates, with a coating of chocolate around a filling of softer fondant chocolate which melts at a lower temperature. After having tried several of the chocolates for this review (yes, I know it’s not Advent yet but I am testing them after all!) I can confidently confirm that these chocolates are actually much nicer. Maxitris chocolates don’t have the processed taste to them, they feel more natural and have the sweetness of the chocolate coming through instead of the added sugar that other brands have. They taste more authentic.

The advent calendar itself is gorgeous. The bright red packaging, which is very sturdy and suitable for posting, is well made and recyclable. The little drawers behind the doors are individually numbered save for a few which you can work out as you hunt for numbers. There’s cartoons of Santa, elves and a reindeer plus a shiny gold metallic finish to each of the illustrations. Once you get to drawer 24, Christmas Eve, there isn’t an extra special prize unfortunately, but if you felt like it, you could always add something yourself as the drawers aren’t fixed and can be opened and closed without ruining them.

This is a lovely calendar for adults or children. Children will like the bright colours and discovering what’s inside each drawer whereas adults will appreciate the exquisite chocolates.  The whole calendar can be re-purposed as well, either adding something different or extra to the drawers, or keep the whole calendar for next year when you put something different in it, even if it’s not chocolate or sweets. It’s not gender specific nor does it have any year assigned to it so this could be used again and again!

A perfect gift for chocolate lovers, anyone who loves Christmas or anything to do with Italy. Looks very pretty on the mantel piece too!

Available from £25.00 at: https://www.sacla.co.uk/products/advent-calendar-by-maxtris?variant=43821577175270

Pact Coffee Advent Calendar

advent calendar, Christmas, coffee, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Coffee makes a lot of people happy. I have an office which runs on either coffee, chocolate (or both) and the discussions around the finer points of both food stuffs are both daily and endless. Which is better, filtered or cafetiere coffee? South American or Kenyan? Dark roasted or lightly roasted? (apparently that’s a thing) and more importantly, where do you buy your coffee from?

Pact Coffee, the British coffee roasters have brought out their most extravagant coffee advent calendar to date.  Packed with 25 different coffee roasts, I wondered how it was going to arrive with enough coffee included in each day to allow at least one cup of coffee to be made. Surely they weren’t little windows like the chocolate calendars have?  Well, last week a box arrived and my questions were answered. Inside the slightly bigger than shoebox sized calendar were 25 filed packets of individually sourced coffees from around the world. If you can’t get your head around how they’re presented, have a look at the photo and it makes sense!

Now you might be wondering why there are 25 packets and not the usual 24? Well Pact Coffee have decided to include their Special Christmas Blend so that you can sit back on Christmas Day and enjoy a coffee, in the knowledge that you have spent the whole of December sampling everything from specialty coffees to luxury and rare coffees. Sourced from 8 countries and all carefully selected, the coffees showcase the best of stock that Pact have to offer. On the inside of the lid is a QR code so that you can access the menu online and choose to buy the coffee at a later date. There’s up to 200 different roasts to choose from online at any time and the menu changes over the year too.

For example, Day 1 is the Kiri coffee. The card has the packet attached, clearly stating that it’s Day 1 (so if they become slightly dislodged in the box, you can still match them up). The card explains that Kiri is grown by a collective of smallholder farmers in Kenya and on the back it gives more of a background – hints of blackcurrant jam, light roast and even the variety.  It’s grown in the high altitudes and the cooperative who grow it operates with a luxuriously lengthy washing process.

I tried several of the coffees over the weekend, but there are so many, it’s best to follow them in order and one a day if you want to get the full benefit! The best one out of the handful I tried was Kibirizi Washed. The Rwandan coffee has a hint of orange marmalade and is only lightly roasted with a silky mouthfeel. Divine!

If you’re not into advent calendars then this would make a lovely gift for a family or to create conversation in the office before you purchase a Pact Coffee subscription. It’s really easy to find the roasts online to be able to pick out anything you want from their menu, and the variety of coffees is a great way to sample something other than your usual. Coffee lovers will adore it!

Currently available for £29.95 at: https://www.pactcoffee.com/christmas/ground-pact-coffee-advent-calendar-23

Just Spices Advent Calendar

advent calendar, Christmas, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, secret santa

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Advent calendars are getting more and more exciting these days. No longer do we have the calendars of youth with just an illustration behind a window, or a little snowman shaped chocolate. Instead, every major retailer and even department store has something on offer. 

Just Spices have launched their 2023 Advent Calendar again, with the full 24 days to look forward to. If you’re not familiar with their products, Just Spices produce a range of seasonings, toppings and mixes to liven up any mealtime.  It’s not just spices though, it’s a mix of spices and salts which add both flavour and nutrients to your dishes.

The Just Spices 2023 Advent Calendar is bursting with samples from their range.  There’s pizza topping, curry seasoning, Texas BBQ mix to add to chicken or beef, and a whole host of other products which are for both sweet and savoury dishes. Each sachet is enough for one meal, which you can save for after Christmas. For door number 24, there’s a full sized spice mix which can be added to your store cupboard.

The Just Spices 2023 Advent Calendar differs from other manufacturers because they actually supply 24 days’ worth of gifts – most high end retailers opt for just 12 days now.  The cardboard calendar is easy to post or transport and recycle too, and the sachets last for ages. You don’t have to use them on the day you receive them! The full size mix will last you for weeks too, but you’ll probably find it handy to use over the Christmas festivities anyway. I love the range of seasonings available, often for dishes which I would never normally think of adding extra flavour to, like avocado on toast, and the variety of sachets means I get to try the whole product line without having to buy them individually, which can end up pricy and take up a lot of room at home. 

The Just Spices Advent Calendar would be great for older teenagers who are learning to cook or who are away at university and could benefit from some extra flavour to their meals, or for those who love cooking and perhaps don’t have the room for a full spice cupboard. Adults will love this calendar due to it not being completely reliant on chocolate, sugar or alcohol and actually something they can, and will, use throughout the rest of the year.

Montezuma’s Butter Nutter Advent Calendar

advent calendar, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him

Disclaimer – We received this advent calendar for the purpose of this review, all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Christmas is just around the corner and an advent calendar can really build up your excitement whether you are a child or an adult.

The magic of opening the calendars numbered doors each day in the run up to Christmas is a lovely tradition and one I really enjoy.

Montezuma’s have a fantastic range of advent calendars and we were kindly sent the Butter Nutter advent calendar to review.

Butter Nutter is a nut lovers dream, behind each of the 25 doors is a scrumptious milk chocolate peanut butter truffle which not only looks stunning but tastes incredible!

It’s nice to see an advent calendar that goes right up to Christmas Day as many stop on Christmas Eve.

The truffles are smooth and creamy and the nutty flavour of the roasted peanuts really works well with the milk chocolate.

FUNKIN COCKTAILS “Ultimate Advent Cocktail Calendar”

advent calendar, alcoholic drinks, Christmas, Drinks and Mixers, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him

Disclaimer – We received this calendar for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

Advent calendars are great no matter how old you are, they bring a great deal of excitement to those lucky enough to have one and the mystery of discovering which treat you have whilst counting down the days till Christmas is really fun!

This year FUNKIN COCKTAILS is shaking up the festive season with the launch of the first ever nitro-infused cocktail advent calendar – it’s like having your own personal mixologist serving up delicious, bar quality cocktails every day in the run up to Christmas.

Behind each window of this adult calendar is a delicious selection of award-winning Nitro cocktails, including the new FUNKIN COCKTAILS and FUNKIN COCKTAILS NITRO CAN’S range.

  • FUNKIN COCKTAILS Nitro Passion Fruit Martini – A fusion of exotic flavours with a splash of vodka – say hello to Funkin Passion Fruit Martini Nitro Cans. It’s the same quality, consistency, and taste you’d expect from a bar-quality cocktail – in a can. Best served chilled. Vegan Friendly. Gluten Free.
  • FUNKIN COCKTAILS Nitro Strawberry Daiquiri – It only takes a second to satisfy your Daiquiri desires. Just crack it open and let the flavour flow. Best served chilled. Vegan Friendly. Gluten-Free.
  • FUNKIN COCKTAILS Nitro Espresso Martini – A barista blend of the finest cold brew coffee, a hint of vanilla, and a kick of premium vodka. Expect the silky-smooth consistency of a bar-quality Espresso Martini – without a drop of effort. Vegan Friendly. Gluten Free.
  • FUNKIN COCKTAILS Nitro Pina Colada – Vibrant flavour and velvety smooth texture of a cocktail crafted at the bar. For the full experience, pour into a hurricane glass and garnish with a pineapple wedge. CONTAINS MILK
  • FUNKIN COCKTAILS Nitro Peach on the Beach – Sun, sand and sweet vibes. Funkin Peach on the Beach is a bold blend of peach cranberry, orange juice, and a kick of vodka.
  • FUNKIN COCKTAILS Nitro Zombie – Packed with a blend of citric flavours and a dash of spiced rum, it’s got more kick than a kangaroo. Enjoy straight from the can or in a glass. Best served chilled. Vegan Friendly. Gluten Free.
  • FUNKIN COCKTAILS Long Island Iced Tea – This serves up all the vibrant flavours of a cocktail crafted at the bar. For the full experience, pour over ice into a highball glass and garnish with a slice of lemon. Alcoholic sparkling drink with vodka, rum and gin and fruit juices.

The NITRO CANS hiss on opening to create an effortlessly delicious bar-quality cocktail with a velvety finish, and foamy head, no matter the time or location.

Get the Christmas decorations up, light the fire and peel back the window, for a grown-up Christmas countdown… Because whenever you’re feeling fine, IT’S FUNKIN TIME, and by little coincidence…it’s also soon to be CHRISTMAS TIME.

Pop the whole advent calendar in the fridge for instant satisfaction, or peel back the window in the morning and chill your special treat for later.

On a mission to make great tasting cocktails available to all and for all occasions, FUNKIN COCKTAILS offer the only nitrogen infused cocktails on the market.

So, whether you’re celebrating the festive period with your family, or having friend’s over for spontaneous Christmas drinks, FUNKIN have done the hard work for you – just crack open and pour a bar quality can.

Tony’s Chocolonely’s Countdown Calendar

Children, Christmas, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him

Tony’s Chocolonely’s countdown calendar makes the wait for Christmas incredibly tasty this year.

Enjoy 10 different flavours of Fairtrade milk, dark and white chocolate wrapped up in Christmas colours, ready for sharing.

Or hang them on your Christmas tree!

24 days, 25 tiny tony’s, 10 different flavours.

With each window you contribute to Tony’s Chocolonely’s mission to make 100% slave free the norm in chocolate.

Individually packed dark, milk, white chocolate with almond, hazelnut, nougat, sea salt, caramel, pretzel, freeze-dried raspberry, popping sugar.

Available to buy here

The 12 Days of Discovery Coffee Advent Calendar

Christmas, Drinks and Mixers, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Vegan, Vegetarian

Disclaimer – We received this product for the purpose of this review/feature. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

The 12 Days of Discovery Advent Calendar is a specially curated collection of coffees from the Chimney Fire Coffee 2022 Discovery Coffee range.

As a coffee love the idea of a coffee advent calendar really excited me and I couldn’t wait to dive in!

I received a calendar with coarse coffee and from the moment I unwrapped the packaging I was met with the truly delightful scent of coffee!

The packaging is recyclable and each of the 12 bags the 100% roasted coffee came in are 100% compostable which is brilliant for our planet.

Each of the coffees in the advent calendar has been carefully selected by the roastery team to satisfy different tastes, and introduce a new and interesting coffee from around the world – be that a new origin or region, a new process or varietal, or something seasonal with a unique flavour profile.

Each bag is numbered from 1 to 12 in line with the 12 days of Christmas which traditionally starts on 25th December but nowadays many start the 12 days on 13th December in order to count down to Christmas but whichever date you choose you will be spoilt for choice!

Included with each bag is a card insert which gives various pieces of information about each blend including the flavour notes, profile, farm it was grown on, process involved creating it and other snippets and fun facts including the altitude and varietals.

  • Day 1 – Costa Rica
  • Day 2 – China
  • Day 3 – Zambia
  • Day 4 – Nicaragua
  • Day 5 – Ethiopia
  • Day 6 – India
  • Day 7 – Peru
  • Day 8 – Brazil
  • Day 9 – Malawi
  • Day 10 – Burundi
  • Day 11 – Papa New Guinea
  • Day 12 – Mexico

The unique sleeve illustration was created by Sïan Angharad, celebrating the contribution of each team member to their operation, with a Christmassy twist!

The information leaflet also doubles up as a map so you can see where your coffee originated from and the QR code is great for learning even more about the coffees featured in this stunning Advent Calendar. The information leaflet also has a discount code printed inside for 15% off your first subscription or next Discovery Coffee order.

From Peru to Japan to Ethiopia you will be sure to find something new and exciting this festive season, these coffees can be enjoyed hot, cold, iced or even as a delicious ingredient to bake with! The possibilities are endless.

This amazing Advent Calendar is bound to put a smile on anyone’s face with the variety of great coffee available.

It’s a coffee lovers dream!

The 12 Days of Discovery Coffee Advent Calendar contains 12 stunning bags of 70g coffee (either whole bean, or pre-ground), a gorgous khaki green tote bag and an information leaflet about the coffees.

Available at http://www.chimneyfirecoffee.com from early November 2022

RRP £45

£1 from every 12 Days of Discovery Christmas Gift Pack will be donated to the Re-Cycle charity, who have helped increase school attendance by 30% and donated over 112,000 bikes, with 98% still operational after 3 years.

Re-Cycle are a small charity who refurbish donated bicycles from the UK, working with local partners to distribute them to rural communities in Africa.

Wickedly Welsh Chocolate Advent Calendar

Christmas, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Did you know they made not just chocolate, but EXTRODINARY chocolate in Wales? The Pembrokeshire based chocolatiers have sent us this advent calendar and other Christmas goodies to try out this year as part of their delicious seasonal range. And no, they did not last long in my house!

The Wickedly Welsh Advent Calendar is aimed at both children and adults so would work brilliantly for teens who have grown out of their cartoon calendars. The box is about A4 in size so it posts easily too, with just the right thickness for a letterbox.  I also like that this is a proper Advent Calendar going from December 1 to 24 instead of the new concept of ’12 days’ of Christmas. Another good reason children will like it!

As for the chocolates… even as a grown-up I felt guilty opening the windows so far before Christmas, but in the interest of research I had to. I did open them in numerical order though, starting at 1 and getting to the 5th window for my first tasting.  The first striking difference with this calendar is that the chocolates are definitely not High Street supermarket chocolates or the type you find in the children’s stocking. Each chocolate is handmade with fresh ingredients which you can tell with each bite.  They’re rich chocolate, but with subtle flavours that aren’t overpowering so children would be able to eat many of the flavours too. There’s a list of the flavours on the back, but as you open each window, it tells you what the flavour is behind the door, and as far as I can tell it’s very accurate too!

For the first few windows I found Spiced Milk Praline, Raspberry Cream in Dark Chocolate, Welsh Sea Salt and Dark Chocolate and Chai Tea in Milk Chocolate. You can see what I mean about different flavours! They are by no means synthetically sweet though, with a lovely balance of flavours in each chocolate. I’m glad there’s only one to eat per day though, I could get too used to these!