Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Who needs lessons in cocktail making when you can buy the cocktail mixers ready-made nowadays, and enjoy your cocktail without any of the mess!
Marty’s Virgin Bloody Mary is a pre-mixed Bloody Mary cocktail but without the alcohol. If you’re a fan of just the tomato juice, apple juice and apple cider vinegar summer drink then pop this in the fridge and drink away. Hugely hydrating, Marty’s Virgin Bloody Mary has no additives, is vegan and only contains natural sugars. You can of course, add your favourite alcohol to it to make up your own cocktail (conventional Bloody Marys have vodka but you can add anything you like to this!) or you can use it to create a completely new cocktail by adding other ingredients. The high tomato content in this 750ml bottle can also be added to cooking – Bolognese sauces will never be the same!
Marty’s Mild Virgin Bloody Mary comes in a 750ml bottle but we were also sent the spicy version in 250ml. This had more of a kick to it and I would recommend the spicy version for cocktails where the alcohol balances out the spices. Both drinks are sold alcohol free though, so you can really taste the rich tomato flavours coming through in them, the spices that add the summer flavour and best of all, there’s no pulp from the tomato that you have to wade through in order to get to the flavour! It is best to shake up the bottle first though as the natural juice does settle.
Best of all, Marty’s has won the Great Taste award in 2023 and A in the Aurora International Taste Challenge. Whenever a food wins such prestigious awards, I always like to find new ways of using it, so my lasagne is going to taste amazing this week, and I have ideas for a new salad dressing too!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Gin and tonics are becoming more sophisticated these days, especially with home-grown gin from the British Isles. Not only is Clean G a non-alcoholic gin though, but it has the botanical flavours you’d expect of a rhubarb gin, plus none of the sugar. Oh, and it’s vegan too!
Clean G Rhubarb won 95 points in the IWSC Awards 2021 and is becoming a favourite amongst those who love gin, rhubarb gin and particularly people who are not drinking alcohol. Think post-lockdown, where everyone is trying to give up alcohol, save money and still work from home. There’s no harm in a 2pm G&T if it’s made with Clean G non-alcoholic gin but it still feels like you’re celebrating or winding down because of the flavour.
Let’s talk about the flavour. It’s a take on a London Dry Gin, so it has the flavour of rhubarb by with a dryness that makes it more like a grown-up drink. Added perfectly to a tonic (we were sent a set of Fever Tree tonics to try it with!) you can still add lemon or any of your favourite garnishes and the flavour of a gin and tonic is still there. The texture of a London Dry Gin is also there, with the tangy aftertaste of the rhubarb to remind you that it’s still got spirit, if not any sugar or alcohol.
There’s no reason why you couldn’t use Clean G Rhubarb in cocktails as well. The Clean G website has some fantastic cocktail recipes based on well known bar cocktails at: https://clean.co/blogs/clean-cocktails?spirit=clean_g_rhubarb We particularly like the Clean Applepolitan which includes apple, cranberry and lots of ice along with the Clean G Rhubarb of course!
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own.
These days there is so much choice when it comes to Easter Eggs and no matter what your taste there is an egg for you. Some of my friends and family are vegan and there’s also a couple with dairy intolerances so it’s fantastic to see such a good selection of plant based chocolate this year, meaning they don’t need to miss out on this chocolately tradition.
Love Raw make the most delicious plant based chocolate and they have just launched a limited edition Easter box, although you’ll need to be quick as it’s only available from the 22nd to 24th March!
Nutty Choc Balls are a crunchy hazelnut coated in a delicious vegan cream and then covered in a crisp wafer shell and finished with Low Raw’s iconic m:lk choc and hazelnut pieces. They are absolutely scrummy and it’s probably a good job there’s only 9 in the box!!
3 x White Choc Cream Wafer Bar Each bar contains a deliciously crispy wafer, oozing with Love Raw’s signature cre&m® filling and generously smothered with vegan white chocolate. Whether you’re vegan or not you need to try these!
3 x Milk & 3 x White Choc Peanut Buttercups Each cup oozes smooth, creamy peanut butter and is covered in Love Raw’s iconic m:lk® and white choc. In my opinion peanuts and chocolate are a winning combination and Love Raw are definitely on to a winner with these.
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.
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.
Ava May of Mayfair have just released the first ever Fairtrade wax melts to the UK market, made from products cultivated in Sri Lanka and the result of 2 years’ work to produce some beautiful home fragrances. Wax melts vary from candles because although they are made of ‘wax’ like candles, they don’t have a wick and are instead melted over a flame in a special wax burner. The aroma from the wax melts fills the room and slowly melts away but has the advantage of lasting longer than a candle.
We were sent a box of 7 of Ava May’s most popular wax melts to try:
Lavender, Geranium & Chamomile
Bergamot, Coconut & Tonka
Rose Water & White Musk
Saffron, Pepper & Oud
Damask Rose, Cedar & Oud
Pear, Patchouli & Orange Blossom
Neroli, Eucalyptus & Musk
Each of the waxes lasts for about 8 hours and can be re-melted in that time so if you don’t get a continuous run of 8 hours, the wax solidifies and can be melted later. There’s no cleaning up after a candle either, but it is recommended that you clean out the wax burner after each fragrance so that you don’t get cross-contamination.
All of the ingredients of the Ava May wax melts are 100% natural, and certified Fairtrade meaning there is a fair deal for all the producers who supply from around the world. The Ava May products are cruelty-free and vegan too with one of the main ingredients being coconut oil with added pure essential oils to create the different scents.
The fragrances are all designed to help relax you and take you to another place at the end of the day, especially in winter when we all need a bit of help. The sensory impact of scents such as Damask Rose and Lavender & Chamomile help with relaxation when the evenings are long. My favourite (and I haven’t had a chance to sample them all yet) is the Rose Water & White Musk scent for its fresh melodies and reminder of clean laundry. The wax melts take just a few seconds to start releasing the fragrances and filling the room and they linger on for longer than the 8 hours melt time.
Ava May of Mayfair Wax Melts are an elegant way of adding comfort to your home, or being able to gift to someone the ability to relax at home.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Here’s a world you didn’t know existed – jars of beans! And we don’t mean baked beans; no these Bold Beans Co beans come in huge 700 gram jars of all sorts of beans to add to recipes, make fajitas, create sauces with and even ear raw if you want to!
Why are beans becoming such an important piece of our diets nowadays? Along with the vegan and vegetarian update since lockdown, beans are the unsung heroes of farming. Did you know that legumes are natural fertilizers? The nitrogen nodules produced by the roots of beans actually put nutrients back into the soil without any work being put into them. This benefits future crops and other food being grown around them. Beans are also an easy, cheap source of protein and fibre plus they can keep you full for longer thereby making meals go further. The versatility of the bean means it can be added to lots of dishes, mashed up and used as a base or even turned into snacks.
The shear variety of beans available out there probably passes you by unless you are an avid bean gardener. Think about all the different dishes available and cuisines from around the world; you probably know of more beans than you realise! Do you actively cook with these superfoods though?
Bold Bean Company have a range of beans available so sent us a selection of their bestselling beans which is also available online as part of their ‘Taste the Range’. The 6 jars that were sent to us were;
Queen Red Beans
Queen Black Beans
Queen Chickpeas
Queen Butter Beans
Organic White Beans
Organic Chickpeas
I’d heard of most of them but didn’t really know anything about them nor how to cook with them. Thankfully, there are recipes available on the Bold Bean Co website, but we decided to try the Queen Butter Beans in this mince casserole (along with olives and a tomato sauce) and to roast the Queen Chickpeas in the oven with some oil and spices to make a snack.
The first thing I should note in reviewing these jars are that they are BIG! If you aren’t used to storing big jars or don’t have a fridge big enough, then I would suggest with the smaller varieties. I had to rearrange my fridge shelves for the opened jars and find a space for the unopened ones to use later. Secondly, some of the jar lids were very, very tight and required a trip to my neighbours’ house for them to open!
Each of the bean varieties have been sourced for their flavour. Once they are slow cooked to bring out the natural taste and preserve the nutrients as best as possible, they are seasoned and jarred. They’re not suspended in water though – this is bean stock, created so that the beans can marinate in a proper legume stock to keep in the flavour, nutrients and ensure the beans remain soft and don’t dry out. The bean stock can be used in soups or stews after the jar is finished with, saving you time but probably adding nutrients and flavour to a dish you wouldn’t normally use.
I added the Queen Butter Beans to a mince meat stew I had stored in the freezer in order to make a quick meal. Adding the beans along with some olives made it not only healthier but tasty too. The Queen Butter Beans (which won a Great Taste Award in 2021) are surprisingly not like butter beans you’re used to on the salad counter. These giant sized beans are creamier, but not mushy and have a slightly sweeter taste to them than canned beans that have been saturated for too long. There’s a proper taste to them, and adding them to another dish means they soak up the flavours whilst adding a texture all of their own. These Queen Butter Beans would be great for babies who are weaning onto solid food. They’re easily mashed!
The second beans I tried were the Queen Chickpeas. Bigger than the jar of Organic Chickpeas (which are great for salads, soups, broths etc) I chose these because of how I wanted to cook them. Forking a handful off onto kitchen paper, I dried them out slightly, put them in an oven dish with some oil and sprinkled them lightly with chilli. As I was already cooking the mince meat stew, at the same temperature (180C) I roasted the chickpeas as a snack that can be eaten later. 35 minutes in the oven and they were lightly roasted, but not mushy at all, and had soaked up the oil and the chilli. Careful not to use too much chilli though because it goes a lot further than you think!
As there are 500 grams of beans in the whole jar (200 grams of the bean broth makes up the full amount of 700 grams) then I will be pacing myself on using the rest of the beans. The Queen Black Beans will be brilliant for fajitas (my favourite dish!) and tacos; the Organic Chickpeas for salads when I will be able to use them cold and the Queen Red and Queen White Beans can be used in stews and casseroles where I don’t normally use them, and give some lovely colour.
I’ve only had one meal and one snack from the beans so far… I suspect the giant 700 gram jars are a ploy to get me addicted to each of the beans slowly so that I become reliant on them in my every day cooking and the easy of just opening the jar and taking what I want but so far, I’ve enjoyed what I’ve tried and been nicely surprised by the texture, taste and quality of them.
I think once more people cotton onto the properties of beans and how healthy they are, Bold Bean Co will become a favourite for everyone!
Bold Bean Co have recently won a BOOM award from the Soil Association for being able to demonstrate their support for the organic industry.
Taste the Range set of beans available for £25 at:
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
We are in full swing of summer now, and I’ve lost count of the amount of places I’m meant to be, want to be or end up finding myself thanks to the beautiful weather. With friends coming round too, there’s always a need for endless snacks to go with the wine, Prosecco or chats with the girls.
The Artisan Olive Oil Company sent us these crisps and vegetable chips to try, as part of their artisan Italian snack range, all of which are found on their website. This was one of those times when I opened a box and kept delving to find more and more yummy treats; my mind whirling with how I was going to try all of them in such a short space of time… but don’t worry, the girls with the wine, Prosecco and chatter helped me out!
Included in the bundle was;
Vintage Truffle Potato Chips (120g)
Vintage Potatoes with Sweet Chilli (120g)
Vegan [vegetable] Crisps (150g)
Lightly Salted Tortilla (125g)
Blue Corn Tortilla (125g)
For anyone looking for summer snacks, this is only a small selection of what the Artisan Olive Oil Company offer, and you can see that there’s more than just your run of the mill crisps just in this selection. The flavours are varied as well, which helps when you don’t know what everyone will be drinking.
It is surprisingly fast how quickly so many packets of crisps disappear when you open them! We did study them first though, noting how each of the crisps were of high quality. The potato crisps were sharp, fresh and there were no burnt edges or green crisps in the packet, and none of those monster crisps you used to find as a child! All of the vegetables were of high quality and were cooked in high quality oil. The Vintage Potatoes with Sweet Chilli are not as hot (in taste) as some of the other brands on the market, but have more of a sweeter taste to them. The crisps are still precise though, and make for a lovely texture.
The same goes for the Vintage Truffle Potato Chips, which have a subtle taste but are great with the flavour of the oil coming through and the quality of the potatoes. I really liked the Vegan Crisps which were vegetable chips of carrot, beetroot and parsnip. Not only are they some of my favourite vegetables but they have a taste all of their own once they’re cooked, and the added seasoning makes them irresistible.
Finally, the Lightly Salted Tortilla and Blue Corn Tortilla are more gritty, but flavoursome corn chips, with a tiny bit of flavouring to them but just as delicious. These went really well with white wine and their slightly sour tastes of Pinot Grigio and I think would be even better eaten with a dip or salsa, all of which are found on the Artisan Olive Oil Company’s website where you’ll find even more summer treats!
Crisps and snacks available online from £4.25 per 120g bag at:
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
We have had face creams for daily repair for a few decades now. Then there were night creams, designed to repair whilst you’re asleep and your skin is rejuvenating. Nowadays, we have serums to take care of your epidermis during the day, or in the case of the Superfood Face Firming Serum Made by Coopers, this serum works during the night to keep your skin soft and supple.
The Coopers Superfood Firming Serum is made with a blend of bio-active plant oils to instantly firm and regenerate cells. The vegan serum, which contains organic black cumin, pomegranate, chia, broccoli, baobab and passion flower also contains no parabens and isn’t tested on animals. The combination of all the plant extracts gives you a brighter, more youthful complexion.
Although vitality serums are usually used at night, and under moisturisers, the Coopers Superfood Face Firming Serum can be used on clean skin during the day as well and on the neck. Just a few drops warmed in the finger tips and massaged into the skin gives extra moisturisation. The serum is a rich, oily texture with a strong cumin fragrance which reminded me of the CBD oils, although this formula does not contain CBD. It takes a while for it to soak into your skin but when it does, it leave the skin super hydrated thanks to its rich texture. The effects last over night until the morning when you can either apply it again, or use your usual daily skin routine.
This is especially good for vegans who want products made of plant extract but also not tested on animals but still has the same moisturising effect as High Street cosmetics.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Thankfully, it has become well known in the last few months that all types of bathroom wipes aren’t good for the environment. They cause blockages in your own domestic plumbing but beyond that, the wipes cause devastation to the wildlife once they are released into the reservoirs, rivers and seas. They may say they’re disposable, but many are not.
MyPura Baby Wipes are NOT disposable via the toilets in homes and plumbing system across the UK. They are however, designed to be more environmentally friendly in many other ways, so there is less guilt about using them once you throw them away. Made of 99% water and organic aloe vera, they don’t have any plastic content and therefore are 100% compostable and 100% biodegradable, so landfill isn’t a problem.
Each pack contains a generous 24 wipes and perfect for baby, they are perfume and alcohol free. Alcohol often dehydrates the skin, so with the aloe vera, they help to hydrate baby’s skin and can be used by you too. Brilliant for taking off make up! I was particularly pleased to see that the packaging is 100% recyclable and the wipes are verified vegan and Allergy Friendly too.
Do they work though? I particularly liked the MyPura wipes because they could be used on me as well as children, and they didn’t have any scent that put me off or made me feel self-conscious. Sometimes when you use wipes on your face, there’s the alcohol smell or a fragrance left behind that you’d rather not be smelling all day, and these MyPura ones don’t have that. They’re also really efficient because they are made of aloe vera and a high content of water, so don’t dry out as soon as you take them out of the packet. The packet is also really handy too as it seals up again quickly after use!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Winter plays havoc with my hair and I am constantly looking for ways of repairing my locks. Benecos have a range of Oat Repair shampoos and conditioners which do just that – repair with the benefits of oats and the assets the oats contain. If you’ve ever had a baby with eczema, one natural remedy is to place a hemp bag filled with oats under a running tap and let the oat water fill the bath to sooth itchy skin, so oats are well known for their restorative properties.
An additional benefit of the Benecos Oat Repair Shampoo & Conditioners are that they are completely vegan, so will suit everybody. Along with oats, the shampoo contains olive oil (known for conditioning hair) and grapeseed oil too.
I tried the Oat Repair Shampoo first. It doesn’t lather as much as High Street shampoos because it hasn’t got the sulphates but it does clean your hair. Both the shampoo and conditioners have a distinct aniseed fragrance, not what I was expecting from an oat-based product but it isn’t unpleasant. It was easy to get my hair squeaky clean from the shampoo and not use too much product either.
The Oat Repair Conditioner (called: My Oat Milk Brings All The Repair To My Hair) has a slightly different scent but still contains oat milk, along with organic jojoba oil and regional organic apple juice to provide the best nutrients to condition your hair. As with other conditioners, you just leave in for a few minutes after shampoo, and rinse off completely afterwards.
My hair was left in better condition after just one treatment, so I’m sure that if I keep using it I will see more of an improvement over time. At £13.95 per bottle, there is 500ml of each shampoo and conditioner which gives you weeks worth of washes, which means ample time for your hair to get repaired, and in time for summer too.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
If you’re unable to eat chocolate due to being lactose intolerant, have an allergy to nuts or are vegan, you used to struggle to find chocolate on the High Street. Nowadays, there are a lot more options available to you though including NOMO chocolate. No More Missing Out? That’s their slogan. Does their chocolate live up to it though?
We were sent a selection of different flavoured chocolate Easter Eggs and Easter character chocolates. Although not necessarily aimed at children, anyone can enjoy them but we are also treated to an Egg & Lolly character egg for very young children. All of the chocolate are vegan and free from egg, nut, dairy and gluten.
The adult Easter egg flavours included Cookie Dough, Orange Crunch and Caramelised biscuit. Each Egg weighs 160 grams and has an extra Bunny included in the egg. The chocolate is listed as ‘an alternative to milk chocolate’ which is slightly darker than conventional milk chocolate but not bitter like dark chocolate is. We particularly enjoyed the Orange Crunch chocolate which had a distinct flavour of orange with a slight texture to it which added an interest to the confectionary. The Cookie Dough flavour is similarly textured and very sweet whilst the caramelised biscuit is as grown-up as it sounds with crunchy biscuit pieces and the sweetness of the caramel. The added bunnies (a character chocolate, each one weighing 30 grams) are similar milk chocolate substitutes but just as tasty!
The Egg & Lolly character Easter Eggs are also vegan and free from egg, nut, dairy and gluten. The 92 grams cute little eggs are perfect for younger children who won’t know the difference between milk chocolate and these free from eggs. Inside the egg there’s a chocolate lolly to enjoy, as well as some fun activities for children to do over the Easter holidays.
You can also buy the NOMO Easter Bunny separately. At 30 grams, the chocolate bunnies are also vegan, dairy free, gluten free etc and are filled with flavoured truffle in either Orange Crunch or Cookie Dough like the Easter Eggs.
Dairy free, Gluten free and egg free chocolate has come a long way in the last few years, and for anyone who needs a ‘free from’ diet, NOMO Chocolate Easter Eggs and Bunnies are so similar to the real thing, you won’t know the difference!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
For those who don’t know, NOMO stands for ‘Never Miss Out’ again! NOMO make chocolate which is vegan and free from dairy, gluten, eggs and nuts, so there’s no nasties in there for anyone who might be sensitive or indeed has a known allergy to what you might find in other chocolates this Easter.
NOMO have a range of chocolate products available now, and sent us a delicious box for us to try. The range isn’t just bags or bars, there’s a selection of different ways in which you can enjoy their chocolate. For instance, there’s 110gram grab bags of giant buttons which come in Caramel & Sea Salt flavour or Creamy Choc. There’s also a 89gram bar of deliciously creamy chocolate in Choc Orange Crunch Bar flavour and 38gram bars in Hazelnut Smooth Choc and Caramel Choc. Is your mouth watering yet?
What does the chocolate taste like? There isn’t much difference between NOMO chocolate and the well known High Street brands. NOMO is still creamy, smooth and has a chocolatey taste to it, but it’s not greasy or oily at all, nor does it have an aftertaste. If you’re vegan, gluten free or looking for an alternative chocolate, you won’t miss your usual chocolate when snacking on NOMO.
As an added bonus, NOMO is also certified Rainforest Alliance to protect the people and nature.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Haircare products have come a long way in the last decade, with more products on the market and a far larger range available. The boom of internet selling has made it easy to find the exact product for you and have it delivered to your door.
Umthi haircare products include restorative shampoo, leave-in cream and hair oil, all of which were sent to us to test on this curly-haired reviewer. Umthi was developed by Lolita Sanders who was motivated to find, and ultimately develop new hair products for women who lost their hair after birth. Lolita however, was devastated by her hair loss due to medication after the birth of her second son, and so during lockdown, she developed the Umthi products for friends and family. Like and good entrepreneur story, what started in her kitchen during lockdown soon became much bigger, and the story of Umthi began.
Sent to us were Restorative Shampoo, Restorative Conditioner, Restorative Leave-in Cream and Hair Oil. Based around afro hair but suitable for everyone to use, the products are vegan, cruelty free, sulphate free, as well as paraben and silicone free. So there’s nothing nasty in them to harm either you or the planet!
The first thing that struck me about the products is the smell. They are made from natural products and that includes the scents which are added to them. Each of the products has a slightly different scent but all of them have a slight lemongrass freshness to them.
The obvious product to use first was the Restorative Shampoo. Made with shea butter and almond oil with rose and fenugreek, it has a really strong but floral smell, which stayed on my hair long after I showered. Using it, I realised that it wasn’t going to lathe up because it doesn’t contain sulphates, but it does clean exceptionally well and left my hair soft and smelling lovely!
Also in the shower, I used the Restorative Conditioner. Again it had a lovely fresh smell to it, and as it’s in a tin rather than a bottle, it was easier to handle in the shower. As well as shea butter, the conditioner contains andiroba oil, aloe vera, castor oil, mango butter, and amla. The combination of fatty acids and vitamins are well known in African skincare regimes to be beneficial.
After washing my hair, I used the Leave-In Conditioner and Hair Oil at different times. Using the hair oil the first time I washed my hair, I think I used too much as it left my hair a bit greasy looking. I think it would work well on much longer hair and whilst your hair is still wet so that it had some chance to evaporate. The second time I used it, I was more sparing and used it on just the ends. It isn’t the kind of oil that creates big curls but it does define, and I think it would be great if you are creating a swept back, glossy look.
Finally, I used the Leave-In Conditioner the next time I washed my hair. It’s quite heavy, so again you don’t need much and I found it was best to run it through my hair when it was still wet and to use less than you think. It left my hair feeling softer and the ends didn’t dry out as much. Over time and with the combination of the oil and Leave-In conditioner, I hope it will balance out and leave my curls both conditioned and defined.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
With Veganary in full swing, it is still difficult for a new vegan to find plant based items around, unless you know what you’re looking for.
Available in Tesco stores, we were sent a selection of Vegan cupboard staples to try for Veganary and with some surprising results – both easy to cook and delicious!
First, we tried the Paxo Meat Free Meatball Mix and the Meat Free Burger Mix. The packets both contain 120g of mixture and cook at the same temperature so I made a batch of each at the same time.
The Burger mix makes 4 good sized burgers. The instructions are similar for both the burgers and the meatballs; add 180ml of cool water to the mixture and stir in, then leave for 5 minutes for the mixture to firm. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees centigrade (180 degrees for a fan assisted oven) then shape into patties or meatballs.
The mixtures are actually quite different in texture and taste, so starting with the burgers, I made up the mixture and let it stand. You can smell the aromas of the added herbs and spices as soon as you open the packet, so even just letting it stand, you can smell what they’re going to taste like. I used a spoon to put the mixture onto a baking tray, with grease proof paper underneath to make them easier to remove. They kept their shape very well, and if you wanted to get to ‘expert level’ with these mixtures, you could use a ramekin or something to hold a perfect patty shape if you wanted to. I made up the meatballs in the same way but this time instead of spooning the mixture onto the tray, I used wet hands to shape the meatballs.
Into the oven and each mixture only takes between 16 and 18 minutes to cook. You can fit other things in the oven at the same time as well such as onion or in my case, sweet potato fries.
The burgers came out looking like the same shape I created but the meatballs had lost a little of their firmness and were a bit more like patties rather than meatballs, but it didn’t really matter. The burgers had the same texture as their meat counterparts, just without the little bits of fat in the middle, and had a savoury taste to them. I thought they were a bit dry though, so eating them with a vegan cheese or salad would help, or experimenting with the amount of water you use. The meatballs were a similar texture but had different flavours because of the herbs and spices added to them. They would work well in a tomato sauce though, so again, experimenting would be beneficial.
We also had two different flavour lunch pots; Plantastic Protein Boost Cajun Rice and Plantastic Protein Boost Satay Noodles with Sweet Pepper. These are great for children or for adults as a snack as they’re easy and quick to make. With boiling water, fill the cup to the ‘fill’ level and stir, leaving for 2 minutes. Stir again after another 3 minute and they’ll be ready to eat.
Each pot is 68 grams net and 100% plant based. They’re high in protein and have virtually no fat.
The flavours of Cajun Rice and Satay Noodles make a change to the usual bland plant based recipes you find in shops, and are probably more closely associated with other brands who do similar pot meals. The Cajun Rice with Tomato and Pepper transformed the room with its flavour emanating from when I opened it to when I poured on the boiling water. I really enjoyed the flavour as well as the texture of the rice and tomato pieces. It was a hot flavour too, which was great on a cold day! The Satay Noodles with Sweet Red Pepper was also tasty and had an authentic satay flavour to them. I don’t normally eat noodles though so this was a nice change for a snack.
Lastly, we had the Plantastic Millionaire’s Flapjacks with Chocolate and Caramel. Combining both a millionaire’s shortbread and a flapjack but completely plant based, this was a nice snack in the afternoon which the whole office enjoyed! The ‘biscuit’ base was a bit grainy and more like a shortbread than a flap jack, but you could taste the chocolate and caramel easily. Apart for the slight grainy-nss, you couldn’t tell that they were entirely plant based.
Available from Tesco Asda and Sainsburys:
Plantastic Protein Boost Pots from £1.29 each
Plantastic Millionaire flapjacks from £2.25 a box
Paxo Meat Free burger and Meatball mixes from £2.25 a box
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review however all thoughts and opinions are our own
New Year – New Me. At least that’s my intention!
I’m trying to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables that I eat and as a glass of juice counts as one of the 5 a day I was really pleased to receive a selection of delicious mixed juices from B.fresh. The fresh, cold pressed juices and juice shots are made from 100% natural ingredients, with no added sugars or sweeteners and are produced on their farm in Shropshire.
The three juices I tried are
Happy Greens
Get Up and Glow
Strawberry Shines.
The Happy Greens drink has an apple base with kale and spinach. I really loved this one, the earth tones of the spinach and kale were perfectly balanced with the natural sweetness of the apple juice.
The orange, Get Up and Glow, cleverly mixes carrots with orange juice and apple with a hint of turmeric for that on trend health boost. Packed with antioxidants and vitamin C a glass of this juice is a great way to start the day.
The Strawberry Shines drink combines 35% strawberry with apple, carrot cucumber and beetroot, I was expecting the strawberry flavour to be stronger but the flavour that stood out more was the apple with the strawberry coming in as a very pleasant aftertaste.
Each 250ml bottle counts as one of my five a day and with no added sugar makes a great healthy start to my day. I’ll pop one in my bag for a lunchtime treat too!
Available from the B.fresh website from £3.65 per 250ml juice
Disclaimer : We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review but all words and opinions are our own
There are so many chocolate advent calendars in the shops at the minute but spare a thought for those with allergies and intolerances who can’t eat milk chocolate. Luckily NOMO have come to the rescue and sent me a couple of their “No Missing Out” dairy free advent calendars along with some other free from chocolatey treats.
NOMO’s Advent Calendar is the UK’s No.1 vegan and free from advent calendar. The bright blue calendar is very eye catching and festive and has 24 numbered doors to count down to the big day. Behind each door you will find a selection of NOMO’s signature creamy chocolate drops and caramel & sea salt drops along with a festive message which is bound to put a smile on your face each morning.
RRP £5
The triangular Gooey Caramel Celebration Advent Calendar is full of NOMO’s signature indulgent caramel flavoured choc drops. In a stunning golden tree-shaped box there are 24 foil wrapped chocolates along with a full-size Caramel Chocolate Bar to enjoy on Christmas Day!
RRP £10
The Advent Calendars are available at Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda, Waitrose, Morrisons, Co-op, Nisa and Holland & Barrett.
For stocking fillers or secret santa gifts why not buy one of the NOMO gift boxes. Available in 2 flavours, Cookie Dough and Caramel they are filled with 12 delicious treats that are not only dairy free but free from gluten, eggs and nuts too. Be warned they are very moreish!!
Back once again for the festive season is NOMO’s Cookie Dough Reindeer. It is made with NOMO’s creamy choc and is filled with their delicious cookie dough. It’s no wonder it was the number one selling vegan and free from impulse product in 2021.
The newest member of the NOMO squad is the Choc Orange Reindeer which hit the shelves this year. The combination of zingy orange truffle and NOMO’s tasty smooth chocolate make this a real Christmas treat. These were a big hit with my sons who said they couldn’t tell they were dairy free!
RRP 80p and available from Sainsburys
I hadn’t tried NOMO chocolates before and was really impressed with the taste, the chocolate is smooth and creamy and there is definitely no compromise on flavour.
Nomo only uses Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa, which helps to build a more sustainable cocoa industry for communities and the planet.
Disclaimer: We received these sweets free of charge for the purpose of this review but all words and opinions are our own
My children love Haribo and I always make sure I put some in their Christmas stockings. Our current favourites are Starmix, Tangfastics and the Christmassy strawberry Giant Trees and they are all available in festive tubes this Christmas.
HARIBO Starmix 120g tube is full of all the HARIBO favourites, cola bottle, heart, egg, ring and bears all packaged in a festive gift box. It’s a merry mix that makes a great stocking filler.
HARIBO Tangfastics is my absolute favourite HARIBO selection and the Tangfastic tube has 120g of these tangy sweets. With a perfect hit of sweet and sour they certainly tantalise the taste buds. With sour cherries, dummies, crocodiles and fizzy cola bottles – which is your favourite?
HARIBO Giant Trees are a Christmas version of the Giant Strawbs sweets. Perfect for vegetarians and those that love strawberry flavoured sweets they are shaped like a Christmas tree, complete with a star on top!
HARIBO has been a family favourite for over 25 years and is loved by both children and adults alike so why not treat your family this year?
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own
Looking for a new snack for winter? Are you a fan of peanut butter or even a vegan or vegetarian looking for a new snack? Knotty’s have a selection of different butters, and nutri butters on offer which will tantalise your tastebuds this winter!
We were sent some Smooth Peanut Butter and Smooth Cashew Butter. If you’ve never heard of cashew butter before, then you could do worse than trying Knotty’s variety. A lot like peanut butter I thought it had more of a bitter taste and was smoother than peanut butter. I tried it on homemade crackers but it would work well in a recipe or with something sweet – like cashew butter and jam sandwiches!
The Smooth Peanut Butter has a richer, more course texture to it than the cashew butter but you can taste the peanut butter flavour in it. Knotty’s Smooth Peanut Butter will go great in a recipe for tray bake cakes or brownies. So get cooking!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own
Joint pain and muscle ache are unfortunately a feature of life, especially as we get older or if you’re into sports and gym.
Actimas have launched a new muscle and joint rub made with essential oils to alleviate the pain. Made with Boswellia and Commiphora (which is actually frankincense and myrrh!) are used in conjunction to relieve pain of strained or stiff joints. It’s no wonder, as the spices have been used together since ancient times as an effective painkiller.
You may also be familiar with Arnica, which is used on bruises and for overall healing. Arnica is also included in Actimas’ new muscle and joint rub, making all the ingredients vegan friendly!
I tried out the rub on a strained back after lifting boxes all day. My middle back was hurting (this is a problem area for me) so I put some Boswellia & Commiphora Muscle and Joint Cream on. The cream has a lovely fragrance to it, which always helps! I put another generous amount on my back before bed and didn’t take any pain killers on purpose. It takes a little while for it to start working but slowly, the muscles began to relax more and hurt less. I’m sure the aroma of the spices also helps to relax anyone using it which is a great help when you’re already stressed and in need of some pain relief.
The great thing about Boswellia & Commiphora Muscle and Joint Cream is that it can be applied as much as you need and doesn’t interfere with painkillers if you need to use them. Made in England, it’s not tested on animals either.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Around Christmas time, we are all guilty of stocking up on snacks for the table, either to watch in front of the TV or just in case those unexpected guests turn up and we’ve nothing to feed them.
Robert’s Dorset snacks came about in 2011 when the team set about to make the most delicious snacks possible. Their efforts were more than rewarded with the feedback they received in Dorset were highly appreciative of the quality of what they have created. Now, their products are available all over the country in independent shops and via their website.
We were sent some snack to try; Proper Pork Crackling (Sea Salt and Sweet Chilli flavours) Delicious Cashews (Salt and Vinegar flavour) and Fabulous Fudge.
I started with the Fabulous Fudge, which comes in pouches of 180g. Made Gluten Free and with full cream condensed milk, this is possibly the best fudge I have ever tasted! It is not only decadently sweet but it’s not gritty at all like some commercial fudges. It’s light too, and doesn’t burn your gums with the amount of sugar.
The Delicious Cashews, which are vegan and gluten free, are salt and vinegar flavoured. The cashews are nicely soft and easy to eat, almost melting in the mouth. The flavouring reminds me of the crisps I had a as a child which you salt yourself as there is a lot of flavour to them! I’d happily take these to have as a snack on a day out but might be a bit strong for children?
I’ve never tried pork scratching before so this was going to be an education. The pieces are like light crisps with flavouring. I tried the sweet Chilli flavour first, which isn’t too strong. The crackling isn’t as tough as I thought it was going to be, but did leave a slight texture in my mouth afterwards, much like burnt meat which I suppose it is! It wasn’t offensive though and the flavours of Sweet Chilli or Sea Salt give it an extra kick.
Whether in front of the TV this Christmas or as a stocking filler, Robert’s Dorset snacks provide something for everyone.
Disclaimer: we received the product for the purpose of the review and all words and opinions are our own
These days the market for meatless products is thriving. Whilst my family isn’t vegetarian, we have been trying to eat less meat and generally have one or two meat free meals a week. As we are still experimenting with vegetarian food I’m always on the look out for new veggie items to try so was really pleased when Biona Organic asked if we would like to try some of their plant based burgers.
Like many food brands, Biona began life on the kitchen table, founders Noel and Donata began experimenting with simple home-made granola, which they packed and sold in their pioneering organic shop, Windmill Wholefoods. It became so popular, they quickly outgrew the kitchen table and Biona was born. Today, the company bring more than 350 organic products to lovers of good food in 30 countries across the world.
We tried three different burgers and as today is National Burger Day it is the perfect opportunity to tell you about their delicious organic vegetarian burgers.
Organic Black Bean Cashew Burgers
These delicious vegetarian burgers are made with black beans, fresh vegetables and crunchy cashews and are expertly seasoned with a delicately smoky and mild nutty flavour. The burgers are made with all natural, organic ingredients and are free from artificial colours or flavours.
Organic Edamame Bean Burgers
The delicious Edamame Bean Burgers contain a nutritious blend of wholegrain rice, edamame beans and a subtle hint of seaweed.
Red Lentil Sunflower Seed Burger
A tasty vegetarian burger made with red lentils, pumpkin and sunflower seeds and a hint of spice. Made using all natural, organic ingredients and free from artificial colours or flavours.
The burgers were a nice size and easy to cook, you simply heat lightly in a pan until golden brown. As they cooked, they developed lovely crispness to the outside, similar to the crispness you get when you cook a beefburger. Once cooked, I chose a nice soft bun, sat the burger on a bed of lettuce, added a dash of mild chilli sauce and topped it with a homegrown tomato. Taking a bite, I was pleasantly surprised with how flavoursome all three burgers were, the flavours all worked well together and made a tasty meal.
If I had to pick a favourite it would have to be the Black Bean Cashew Burgers, the combination of beans, red pepper and cashew nuts melded together nicely and the smokiness added an extra dimension to the flavour.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Supplement tablets are a thing of the past, and we can prove it with the new Re:Nourish supplements in Immunity, Calm and Uplift. Not your usual flavours of supplement either, are they?
I’ve never really been a fan of bottles of supplement tablets; they’re too difficult to take, you forget to take them and they don’t seem to compliment anything you eat. Re:Nourish have launched these super supplements though in powder form, with individual portions. Think the kind of sugar sachets you get in coffee shops and it gives you an idea of the serving. How do you take it though?
Well, Re:Nourish have some excellent ideas in how you can add the supplements to your everyday meals and snacks. From adding it to your porridge or cereal in the morning, in soups or on a salad, or added to the top of a meal. You really don’t know that you’re taking supplements when they’re part of another meal, as my photos show. I’ve been taking one of the supplements daily with meals, which with traditional tablets, it would have been difficult to take them so easily, especially on the go.
The Re:Nourish supplements come in three different varieties; Immunity, Calm and Uplift. Each of the supplements are vegan, no dairy, gluten free, no preservatives and low fat. Can you see why they’re fast becoming a fabulous alternative to the pills? They’re also sugar free and no GMO. Each sachet is 2g which sounds like a small amount, but actually it adds quite a lot to a meal in terms of texture. There is no taste to any of the supplements though, so they won’t affect your enjoyment of whatever meal or food you add them to.
What a brilliant way of getting your supplements, and we haven’t even talked about how handy they are for getting children to take supplements, or for someone with a restricted diet! And you can pick and choose which of the supplements you have with whichever meal.
Disclaimer – We received this item for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Moving Mountains pride themselves on creating plant based foods on three fronts: Taste, Environment and Health. Founder Simeon van der Molen started the company in 2016 with a view of, “bringing real, radical change to people’s everyday diet by providing a plant-based alternative that is genuinely competitive in taste, texture and satisfaction to animal meat.”
We were sent some of their fish-alternative plant based products to test. I’ve never tried plant based fish before so this was an interesting test!
Moving Mountain Plant-Based Fish Fingers
The Moving Mountain Fish Fingers look almost identical to commercial fish fingers (so no trouble convincing the kids!) complete with breadcrumb coating and white filling. Apart from being fish-free, the only difference is that the filling is not flakey like fishfingers are. Instead, it’s a slightly smoother texture and they cut without tearing as much. From frozen, they cook in about the same time and can be stored in exactly the same way.
The plant based fish fillets were similarly very similar to the fish fingers in texture, with the filling being white but not as flakey. They had the familiar battered coating though, and also cooked evenly and crisply as if they were similarly frozen fish fillets. What surprised me the most about these was that they filled me up just as much as meaty fish fillets, and you soon forget that they are plant based!
How did they taste? Well whether you’re a fan of white fish or not, these are a great alternative to fish, or a new find which are also flavoursome and hearty. I dressed them up with some coleslaw and a bit of pepper on top which alters the flavour if you’re looking for a bit of difference, but one bonus of plant based fish – they’re not greasy at all!
Available at Ocado, Waitrose, Sainsburys, Cote Brasserie, Hard Rock Café, Booth’s Grocers and Odeon.
Disclaimer – We received this item for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Nowadays, even protein can be vegan. Bodyhero produce lots of different vegan products which are also packed with protein including protein bars, protein powders and these shakes. Their newest is the Madagascan Vanilla shake, cleverly called a M*lkshake to distinguish it as being plant based and not dairy!
Made from European yellow split peas, the shake are completely vegan and dairy-free, with a massive 20grams of vegan protein in each one. There’s also 5grams of prebiotic fibre and only 5grams of sugar per 330ml serving. Oh, and 137 calories too!
As each carton is the same net amount as a can of fizzy drink and the drinks have a shelf life of up to 12 months, they make excellent lunchbox replacements for children’s packed lunch, or for picnics out. They are best consumed from chilled though, and shaken well to make sure the flavour evens out throughout the drink.
You can’t tell that each drink is vegan and not dairy based; the Madagascan vanilla taste shines through with the texture only being slightly thinner than a normal milkshake. They definitely taste better cold though, or ideally, over ice!
Available online for £2.95 each or as part of a bundle:
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