Pepsi Strawberry and Cream (Tesco) By @Cinabar

We have a small Tesco Express near us, which is perfect for picking up essentials, but it is not always the first to get new products. While popping in for the inevitable bread and eggs, something caught my eye near the till. Neatly stacked multipacks of Pepsi Strawberry and Cream in their pink packaging. It sounded like an adventurous new Pepsi flavour, so I made an impulsive buy.

Once home, I chilled a can in the fridge, ready to enjoy with our pizza night dinner. As I poured it into a glass, the sweet strawberry aroma was immediately noticeable. Taking a sip, I was impressed by the bold strawberry flavour, which reminded me of strawberry sweets. This was followed by a creamy finish before the familiar cola taste took centre stage.

The flavours are intense, seriously sweet and fruity. They might be a bit much for some, and I generally think acidic flavours like lemon or lime pair better with cola. However, this was a fun and different take that worked for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would buy it again.

Little's French Vanilla Instant Coffee as seen on Dragon's Den [@NLi10]

 My Mom is very good at finding little snacks to review - and spotted this in the supermarket after it's appearance on Dragons Den in the UK.

It's a little jar of instant coffee - made by the nice people at Little's - and it is flavoured with my favourite thing - vanilla!

Only 4 cals per cup - but I'm adding milk so it's more.

But far less than the vanilla syrups the coffee shops want you to buy to make up for them breaking all the good soft drinks.

Indy snack blurb - check!

It looks pretty good though!

And the smell is fantastic.

Unfortunately I assumed I'd taken pics of it in the cup - but even though I took home enough for three mugs worth I forgot to take those.

The smell from the jar is great, and the smell from the made coffee is even better - but once you've had a few sips you'll be immune to it again.  The flavours are great - not as deep as the 'proper' coffees I've been working my way through - but for an instant this packs a mighty punch.

Apparently there is a different flavour my family actually wanted so once they've found it I'll have to pop around for another cup.  Brilliant.

Delicious & Light Hot Cross Pies (Iceland) By @SpectreUK

Hot Cross Bun season is upon us and we've already had a few strange buns, one resulting in melted chocolate pieces in the toaster. Stepping outside of the box are these Mr Kipling Delicious & Light Hot Cross Pies. I suppose they could be a substitute for mince pies, for those that really miss them.

I noticed on the box that these Delicious & Light Hot Cross Pies were reduced in sugar. Sounding pretty good for you is one thing, and some people like that, whereas, I like sugar. So, the reduced sugar worried me. I've stopped buying certain biscuits because the manufacturer decided to reduce their sugar. This is a treat, it's a snack, we know we're buying something naughty and nice, don't reduce the sugar and spoil it.

Apparently these Delicious & Light Hot Cross Pies have "real fruit pieces" in them, as opposed to those plastic ones you see on tables in IKEA. I'm in with that, I want a bit of fruit, fruit is good for me. I just want the sugar that goes with it.

The most depressing part about these Delicious & Light Hot Cross Pies was when I opened the box and noticed there was no sugar on the top of them. On taste they were full of mildly spiced fruit reminiscent of hot cross buns. They were light with melt in the mouth pastry. They were a little underwhelming, but probably didn't need much more sugar. They went perfectly well with my afternoon mug of tea, but come on, Mr Kipling, please give me some sugar on top.

Information on the box; Each pie has 192 calories, with 7.3g of fat, 9.4g of sugar, and 0.11g of salt. Please see photograph for the ingredients.

Terry’s Chocolate Orange Egg (Ocado) By @Cinabar

Most Terry’s Chocolate Orange products are, unsurprisingly, orange-flavoured chocolate. That is their thing. Their main product, of course, is the classic Terry’s Chocolate Orange. I have enjoyed the bars and miniature chocolates over the years, but this is the first time I can recall seeing an Easter egg.

I have to admit, the foil was folded so tightly that I couldn’t read the description properly. I assumed it was just two solid pieces of milk chocolate flavoured with orange. However, when I unwrapped the egg, the chocolate looked great, even featuring the Terry’s logo embossed on it. I took a bite and discovered something even better. It was filled with orange crème. This egg is essentially a giant Chocolate Orange Cream chocolate.

The filling was sweet, fruity, and an absolute delight, while the chocolate shell was thick and tasty. I absolutely loved it. This has to be a new classic for Terry’s. I have no idea why they haven’t done this before, but I will definitely be buying more before Easter is over.

Better Way Bar Milk Chocolate & Praline Bar (Hotel Chocolat) – By @Cinabar

I wish I lived closer to a Hotel Chocolat branch, but there isn’t one in my city. Thankfully, I can order online, which helps, especially for getting my hands on their wonderful hot chocolate. A review of their new flavour is coming later this week. That said, I do miss browsing in-store, as it’s much harder to spot new products online. Still, I came across this Better Way Bar Milk Chocolate & Praline Bar and decided to give it a try. Praline is my thing, after all.

 

Unwrapping the bar, it looked substantial. The filling was all about the cocoa, rich and indulgent, with the chocolate taking centre stage. The praline had a nutty element, but the cocoa overpowered it somewhat. Texture is a big part of what I love in chocolate, and this bar delivered. Soft cherry pieces added a sharp fruitiness, while biscuit provided crunch. The combination worked well, though I would have liked more biscuit and cherry to mix things up further. I also wished for a stronger nut flavour, as that was the main draw for me.

As much as I enjoyed this treat, paying over £3 for a snack-sized chocolate bar felt a bit steep. Still, it was undeniably delicious.

Holland & Barrett Muesli With Benefits - spiced apple & seeds mix [@NLi10]

 I like apples and the idea of a less intensely sugary breakfast but with flavours and texture too really appeals - so when Holland & Barrett popped this on the special offer table I figured I'd give it a go.

They have to know that "with benefits" has other meanings in English, but here they are suggesting that it's good for you and tasty too.

And it suggests that there are clusters?

The mix also doesn't have raisins or sultanas so that's a win

Looks more flakey than clustery - but lets give it a go

Oh - a cluster - top left!  Maybe they all sank and the final bowl will just be 100% clusters.

The apple smell is instant, and the crunch is a lot chewier than I'd hoped for but this works very well.  I don't think it's a rushed weekday breakfast cereal, and I'd not need to blend this with other things.

Not too sweet, not too spicy, not so healthy that you immediately hunt for the cornflakes either.  Probably a bit expensive if you eat stacked portions like I will, but otherwise a definite option for the days where you need a few more vitamins and energy and have time to chew before leaving the house.

Berliner Weisse Beer (Morrisons) By @SpectreUK

I have hotdogs and chips tonight. I love Frankfurters, so I reckon a German beer will wash them down well. Apparently Napoleon named this Berliner Weisse the Champagne of the North, so it must be pretty good at least. I am surprised that I haven't come across it sooner.

Brewed in Berlin, in Germany, Berliner Weisse is 4% in volume. I just noticed in pretty small print on the back of 330ml bottle that this is a sour beer. Of all the luck. I really don't like sour beer. It even says,"just don't add syrup, you weirdos." Just how sour is this beer? Berliner Weisse the Champagne of the North, so it must be pretty good at least. I am surprised that I haven't come across it sooner.

On opening the bottle there was a sweet aroma of wheat, with a hint of bitter herbal hops in the background. Very bright blonde in colour, I could see why Napoleon considered Berliner Weisse as champagne. On taste this German beer was more face twistingly sour than any beer I'd ever tasted before. It was super acidic, with not much in the way of other flavours. It was unfortunately not for me.

Nescafé Kit Kat Latte (Iceland) – By @Cinabar

The problem with Kit Kat is that it is mostly a chocolatey experience. The most distinctive thing about a Kit Kat when you eat it is the texture, the snap of a piece breaking off and the soft crunch when you bite in. These elements do not translate well to a coffee. So, naturally, my first thought was that this would just taste like a standard mocha, with coffee and chocolate being the dominant flavours. Still, I was curious, so I bought a box anyway.

Once home, I put the kettle on and opened the box. There were seven sachets (limited editions never seem to have eight anymore). As soon as I tore one open, I got a sweet aroma. I mixed the contents with hot water, and it blended smoothly with no lumps, leaving a nice froth on top.

The drink smelled like a mix of coffee and chocolate. On my first sip, I thought I could detect a hint of wafer, perhaps even something creamy like vanilla. There was a slight edge that set it apart from a regular mocha, but as expected, it was very similar. Still, it was a lovely, soothing, sweet chocolate and coffee drink, and I will happily enjoy the rest of the box.

Green Chocolate! Torrons Vicens Elaboracio Tradicional - Turron de te Matcha [@NLi10]

 Spain has lots of festive treats and traditions and while my sister was in Barcelona she spotted this huge bar of Matcha Green sweet stuff and brought it home for me.

                                                

While the translation calls it Nougat it's more of a fondant praline- with a crystaline sugar inner

It's a new nougat concept, with a common denominator! It's mostly white chocolate, but wow is it green in person.

I figured these lines meant portions and chopped us one each

You can see the lovely crystaline jaffa orange filling here - such sweetness!

The chocolate itself is a lovely blend - smooth but with a strong matcha flavour.  I could have had it stronger, but my partner was less keen than I so only had a taste of her bit so I had a double portion.

This turned out to be a little much matcha for a Thursday afternoon and so a nap was required.

Great luxurious flavours and gift experience, and a perfect after dinner treat.  Not something I'd recommend you sit and snack on while working though!

Lay’s Paprika flavoured crisps (Asda) By @SpectreUK

I do like to try snacks from abroad, as it feels like a mini adventure without leaving the house. I do like to gorge on crisps at times and the spicier the better. So, when I saw these Lay's Paprika flavoured crisps in a nearby supermarket, I had to try them with a picky-bits meal. Opting for some baked bread, a Scotch Egg, sausage rolls, and mini sausages, and a salad on the side, I poured these crisps into a bowl.

 

Lay's Paprika flavoured crisps were produced by Star Foods in Romania. Nice and red in colour, I was hoping these crisps would have more of a spicy smell on opening the packet. On first crunchy taste, they weren't all that spicy at all. Very mild in flavour, these Lay's Paprika flavoured crisps were a bit of a disappointment. Although, I have to say, their lack of spiciness didn't overpower the rest of the lovely flavours in my picky-bits meal, with beer on the side, whilst I watched a movie on the box.

Information on the bag; Per 30g is 155 calories, with 0.7g of fat, 0.7g of sugar, and 0.37g of salt. Please see photograph for the ingredients.

Limited Edition Fruit Salad Yoghurt (Iceland) By @Cinabar

I usually have a yoghurt with lunch every day, partly for the calcium and health benefits and partly because it adds a little sweetness after a sandwich. I tend to go for low-fat options, but now and then I treat myself to something a bit more indulgent, like a corner yoghurt. This Limited Edition Fruit Salad Yoghurt caught my eye, even though it is not something I would typically pick. I am not usually a fan of squeeze packs.

After finishing my sandwich, I gave it a go. The packaging suggested shaking it before eating, but since the yoghurt was quite thick, shaking did not seem to do much. I gave it a bit of a squeeze to help mix it up before opening the pack.

The flavour was surprisingly good, sweet and fruity, with plenty of pineapple and raspberry. The combination really does taste like the classic Fruit Salad sweet. I have to admit, it works well as a yoghurt, and I really enjoyed it. I would definitely buy these again as a treat because the flavour was just so much fun.

Mr Kipling: Strawberry and Cream Tarts (Morrisons) By @Cinabar

I suspect someone at Mr Kipling is missing mince pies from Christmas, just like I am. The difference is, they’re probably missing the sales, whereas I just miss the taste! Either way, they’ve released a few ‘pies’, though they call them tarts, to tide us over. We previously tried the rather lovely Birthday Cake edition, and now we have these: Mr Kipling Strawberry and Cream Tarts. They certainly sound more suited to summer, but I was still keen to give them a try.

Inside the box, the Strawberry and Cream Tarts looked delightful, topped with pink icing and sprinkles. They had the same cheerful, celebratory feel as the Birthday Cake edition. Flavour-wise, they’re really enjoyable, nicely balanced, not overly sweet, with the jam standing out beautifully against the buttery pastry. The jam layer is the real highlight, and while they’re a lovely treat now, I can’t help but think they’d be even more perfect in the sunshine.

Co-Op Irresistible - Hand Cooked All Dressed Seriously Saucy Crisps (mystery flavour?) [@NLi10]

Co-Op have their own range of a couple of posh things - including crisps! Here we have an unusual one - because it doesn't really have a flavour!

These are All Dressed Seriously Saucy crisps.  This is not sufficiently descriptive. 

There has been talk about this online - which I have a suspicion is the idea.

The potatoes are standard

The flavours are mysterious and important.  It does feel like these are the crisp equivalent of the everything bagel - they just put all the herbs and spices in.

They look decent and smell nice

And there isn't too much on the crisp itself.

Best I can describe them is 'herb and spice and vinegar' - a little hint of posh ketchup, brown sauce, sweet vinegar and a finish of paprika.  No real chillie kick, but otherwise like the shakers I use to liven up food.

So - nice - but confusing - and you'll eat the first 10 or so crisps just to figure out if you like them or not.

We did!

Vault City Brewing: Winter Berry Crumble (Morrisons) By @SpectreUK

I got quite excited about this beer when I first heard about it. Then I noticed on the can in small letters that it's a "modern sour beer". I rarely like sour beers so this could be a short blog. I'm going to try it with my Lamb Rogan Josh and chips tonight. Although it sounds like a pudding beer, its dark berry flavours may complement the lamb and all the spices.

At 6% in volume Winter Berry Crumble was created by Vault City Brewing, in Edinburgh. Blackberries, strawberries, pears, sloeberries, lactose and cinnamon were added in the brewing, for flavours of winter fruits and creamy spicy crumble.

On opening the can there was a dark fruitiness to the aroma, with a decent spiciness behind it. On pouring Winter Berry Crumble was a deep red murky maroon colour. On first tentative taste, this sour beer was definitely face twistingly sour. There was heavy sour bitterness from dark fruits to start with and throughout the flavour, followed by spiciness of cinnamon and a little creaminess into the aftertaste. I couldn't detect the malts. I really missed the malts.

If you like a fruity sour spicy beer for pudding this is it. Although It went pretty well with my Lamb Rogan Josh with chips too.

Exceptional Tiramisu Hot Cross Buns (Asda) By @Cinabar

These hot cross buns are part of Asda's luxury range for this year, featuring an unusual and intriguing flavour combination. As we usually see fruit-based varieties, the Exceptional Tiramisu Hot Cross Buns caught my attention.

Upon opening the pack, I was immediately struck by the abundance of chocolate chips in the buns. While a traditional Tiramisu dessert often has a sprinkling of cocoa powder, it’s not usually the dominant flavour. I also noticed that the buns were generously sized and had a lovely, plump appearance.

I decided to toast them, though I’ll admit it turned into a bit of a messy affair. The melted chocolate from the buns got everywhere, and I found myself wiping down the counter and trying to clean up the chocolate-covered butter (yes, there was chocolate in the butter too!). It was a level of mess I hadn't anticipated, though I’ve certainly toasted chocolate-filled buns before, it just wasn’t quite this chaotic.

Taste-wise, though, these buns were a delight. The chocolate flavour was rich, complemented nicely by a strong coffee taste. While they might not have fully captured the essence of Tiramisu, the coffee was a lovely touch. As a fan of chocolate and coffee together, I’d definitely buy these again, despite the mess!

Amicelli Hazelnut Wafer Tubes - Aldi [@NLi10]

 I received a Christmas box of goodies - that I'm only just fully exploring.  One of these is this giant box of Milky-Way Crispy Rolls!

Ok - so not Milky Way, these are Amicelli which sounds like pasta - but is actually Ritter's version of the lovely choc coated wafer roll.  And the middle is closer to a dark hazelnut spread than Nutella and no where near as light as the Milky Way

I am reliably informed these came from Aldi - and are 'perfect for gifting'

And neatly arranged too - 16 in a box is really 8 portions

They do look like feminine hygiene products though

But are lovely and chocolaty inside

With crispy layers and a hazelnut centre - like a lovely grown-up version of one of my favourite childhood treats.  Will have to see how long these last!

Swizzels Squashies Love Hearts (Asda) By @SpectreUK

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. It's a happy time for lovers, lonely time for those who seek a date, and worse for the broken hearted. Everyone has hard times, most people miss someone, and everyone wants to know they are loved by at least somebody. A time for love, a time for loss, a time for hope, and a time for reconciliation.

 

What I do know is that these Swizzels Squashies Love Hearts could be good to share whilst watching a romantic comedy like Four Weddings and a Funeral. There were six squishy flavours all with different words or faces embossed on them, just like Love Hearts.

Blackcurrant tasted of a very fruity blackcurrant flavour. Pineapple was mild to begin with, but as I chewed more the pineapple flavour shone through. Lime had a slightly face twisting tangy bitterness, and was my favourite so far. Orange had a fruity pleasant tanginess to it. Cherry had a dark cherry flavour, sweet and not unpleasant. Lemon had a bitter citrus fruity sweet lemon flavour.

I was impressed at how fruity all these Swizzels Squashies Love Hearts were. They were a fun combination of squishy sweets, as well as seeing what was embossed on each sweet, their squashy texture, and fruity flavours. Happy Valentine's Day, I hope everyone finds their heart's desires.