Nestle Mixed Milkybar & Smarties Mini Eggs Pouch

February 2, 2018, 12:57 am

≫ Next: Cadbury Dairy Milk Oreo Sandwich, Oreo Bites, M&M's Crispy Spread etc (Spotted In Shops)

≪ Previous: Marks & Spencer Jazzie Eggs

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Phew, the Easter treats have been flowing thick and fast this week, with this being my third review in a row of Easter eggs. What can I say - avoiding the sweets during January has made me go a little crazy!

As well as Reese's Creme Eggs, Milkybar Mini Eggs and Marks & Spencer Jazzie Eggs, another one I had to include on my list to try was this mixed bag of Milkybar and Smarties Mini Eggs, notably available from Tesco but I've also seen it in B&M Bargains. This bag is actually better value than purchasing a bag of Milkybar Mini Eggs and a bag of Smarties Mini Eggs from Tesco for £1 each, as they only contain 90g per bag, whereas for £2 this contains 300g! You really can't argue with that when it comes to sugar.

The best thing about this bag is that not only does it contain the lovely Milkybar Mini Eggs, it contains regular Smarties Mini Eggs AND Orange Smarties Mini Eggs, so you're getting the best of all three worlds! And to top it off they're all #glutenfree, woohoo!

I loved popping these in my mouth without looking so I wasn't sure what I would be getting. The Milkybar Mini Eggs were my favourite followed by the Orange Smarties Mini Eggs. The plain ones are just...plain, nothing to write home about but they add a different colour variation to the bag I suppose?

Overall, this mixed Sharing bag is a fantastic idea from Nestle and one I would highly recommend to fans of Smarties and Milkybar Mini Eggs. It's the perfect Easter Egg Hunt pack for the kiddies and great for getting a nice mix of differing flavours.

8.5 out of 10.

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Cadbury Dairy Milk Oreo Sandwich, Oreo Bites, M&M's Crispy Spread etc (Spotted In Shops)

February 4, 2018, 9:54 am

≫ Next: Nestle L'atelier Chocolates & Hazelnut Butterfinger Cups (Spotted In Shops)

≪ Previous: Nestle Mixed Milkybar & Smarties Mini Eggs Pouch

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A handful of new products from Mondelez (always Mondelez!) and Mars have appeared in shops this week...so I thought I would honor the occasion with a quick Spotted In Shops post. Enjoy!

First up, these Oreo Bites that are currently available in Asda. Bite size chocolates filled with Cream and Oreo pieces, these are similar to Dairy Milk Oreo bars although aren't labelled as Dairy Milk - presumably so Mondelez can use their cheaper milk chocolate on them.

Also new is this Cadbury Dairy Milk Oreo Sandwich bar:

It contains a layer of milk chocolate in the middle, with cream filling on each segment and an Oreo cookie piece above. It's similar to the Dairy Milk with Ritz and LU bars they did a few years back. Currently it seems to be an Asda exclusive although I'm sure will be available in other shops shortly.

Also new at Asda is this M&M's Crispy Spread:

Basically chocolate spread with crispy M&M's thrown in. Not particularly imaginative but I'm sure it's very nice!

Last but not least, McVitie's Hobnobs Nibbles Hazelnut!

These are also currently only available at Asda, alongside the Orange Milk Chocolate Nibbles launched last year.

If you have tried any of these treats, do let me know in the comments, and as always keep an eye on my Instagram feed for the latest new products!

Nestle L'atelier Chocolates & Hazelnut Butterfinger Cups (Spotted In Shops)

February 6, 2018, 10:33 am

≫ Next: New M&S Blond Chocolate, Vegan Gianduja Bars & More! (Spotted In Shops)

≪ Previous: Cadbury Dairy Milk Oreo Sandwich, Oreo Bites, M&M's Crispy Spread etc (Spotted In Shops)

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Another Spotted In Shops quick post - this time for some new Nestle products gracing UK supermarkets!

First up, following on from the success of the Peanut Butter and Coconut Butterfinger Cups, Nestle have launched a Hazelnut version. So far they've only available in Asda.

Nestle Les Recettes de L'Atelier Blonde Roasted Almonds & Hazelnuts:

Nestle have launched their premium L'Atelier range exclusively into Sainsbiury's stores. This range has been very popular in various European countries so it seems Nestle are testing the waters over here. This blonde chocolate sure does sound tasty - but at £3.50 a block it ain't cheap! (though I have been told it's worth the price).

There's also this L'Atelier Blueberries, Almonds & Hazelnuts Dark Chocolate, available in smaller bars for £2:

Plus L'Atelier Orange Zest & Cacao Nibs Dark Chocolate:

As well as L'Atelier Raisins, Almonds & Hazelnuts Milk Chocolate...

Plus L'Atelier Roasted Almonds Dark Chocolate:

There's also a Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate bar in the range.

Have you tried any of these Nestle L'Atelier bars or the Hazelnut Cups? If so let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

New M&S Blond Chocolate, Vegan Gianduja Bars & More! (Spotted In Shops)

February 8, 2018, 1:14 pm

≫ Next: Lurve is all around...it's Valentine's In Shops!

≪ Previous: Nestle L'atelier Chocolates & Hazelnut Butterfinger Cups (Spotted In Shops)

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Another Spotted In Shops, and today it's the turn of M&S with some of their interesting new chocolates - first up one that will no doubt excite many, it's their new Blond Swiss Chocolate! It seems that 2018 is the year of blond chocolates, what with Nestle also selling their L'Atelier Blonde Hazelnuts & Almonds bar at Sainsbury's...I wonder how long until Cadbury's follow suit? (they recently launched a blonde chocolate called Cadbury's Caramilk in New Zealand and it looks amazing!).

This M&S variety is made with caramelised sugar, cocoa butter, milk and dried whey...see the ingredients list above. Do want!

M&S are also doing some new filled bars such as this White Chocolate Cappuccino, with a creamy coffee ganache filling.

Plus there's Milk Chocolate Stracciatella, with a creamy filling and dark chocolate pieces:

And this Italian White Chocolate with Whole Pistachios...

And Italian Milk Chocolate with Whole Almonds:

And something rather special since it's dairy free and suitable for vegans - this Italian Gianduja Bar, made with dark chocolate and whole hazelnuts!

They're also doing some coated nuts, including Belgian Dark Chocolate Almonds, Milk Chocolate Almonds and Salted Caramel Covered Almonds!

Plus this Marks and Spencer Luxury Chocolate Coated Fruit and Nut Selection which is "an assortment of delicious chocolate coated almonds and blackcurrants".

There's also this new Swiss Chocolate Giandor bar, with a smooth creamy almond filling:

Plus this Swiss Chocolate Chunky Triple Nut Milk Chocolate:

And some new varieties of single origin Dark Chocolate, from this 71% Sao Tome Bar:

to this 71% Single Origin Madagascar Bar:

and also this 75% Single Estate Los Palmitos Bar:

There's also some new "added superfood" bars, including this White Chocolate, Raspberry & Matcha Bar:

Plus for a caffeine boost there's this Latte Coffee Kick Chocolate, made with coffee beans and "melts in the mouth like chocolate":

There's also a Turmeric Milk Chocolate bar in the range, plus these heatlhier filled bars...

M&S Coconut, Cashew & Pineapple bar coated in white chocolate:

Plus a Date, Walnut and Pumpkin Seed Bar coated in milk chocolate:

As well as these treats M&S are also doing their usual yearly selection of wonderful Easter Eggs, but I will share those with you all in another post!

If you have tried any of these chocolates or would like to see any reviewed - do let me know in the comments!

Lurve is all around...it's Valentine's In Shops!

February 12, 2018, 7:56 am

≫ Next: New Diet Coke Exotic Mango (UK)

≪ Previous: New M&S Blond Chocolate, Vegan Gianduja Bars & More! (Spotted In Shops)

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It's nearly time for the day of luuuuurve, so I thought I'd do a round-up of some special Valentine's Day treats I've seen in the shops recently. Enjoy!

First up is the latest limited edition from The Chocolate Smiths, "Love is Bizarre", a milk chocolate bar containing strawberry and caramel. Potentially sweetness overkill? Available from Fenwicks.

Hotel Chocolat Raspberry Heart Lolly:

This white chocolate and raspberry lolly looks super special, and is one of the more affordable items from HC's range this Valentine's Day. Available from Hotel Chocolat stores, online and John Lewis.

Hotel Chocolat Melting Hearts:

Also on the more affordable end of the scale, these Hotel Chocolat Melting Hearts sound scrummy. Spotted in John Lewis.

Hotel Chocolat So Good Together Slab:

A blend of rich milk chocolate and caramel chocolate with a melting pink strawberry heart in the middle...this sounds delicious! Spotted at John Lewis, also available in Hotel Chocolat stores.

Holdsworth Handmade Peanut Butter Caramel Truffles:

One for the #peanutbutterlovers, these sound divine! Available online or at John Lewis.

Holdsworth Milk Chocolate Banoffee & Chilli Truffles:

Something for the more adventurous, Holdsworth also produce these Banoffee truffles with a spicy chilli kick. Available at John Lewis or from Holdsworth Chocolates website.

Holdsworth Sensational Sea Salt Caramel Truffles:

And the classic combination of sea salt and caramel. Also available at John Lewis or online.

House of Dorchester Carrot Cake Truffles:

Featuring white chocolate and carrot cake spices, these don't actually contain cake so are #glutenfree. Thank goodness. Available at John Lewis or Selfridges.

Montezuma's Mini Chocolate Library:

One for fans of richer chocolates is this Mini Chocolate Library from Montezuma's. Available from Montezuma's stores, John Lewis or online.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Miniatures 56 Ounce Bags:

Another one for the #peanutbutterlovers are these huge 56 ounce bags of Reese's Miniatures Cups, available from Home Bargains. What a treat!

Tesco Heart Chocolate Cubes:

Cube shaped cakes with chocolatey hearts on top. Find them in Tesco and Tesco Express.

Tesco Finest Rhubarb, Orange and Vanilla Bean Creme Pots:

These pots sound lovely and come complete with white chocolate hearts!

Tesco Finest Passion Fruit & Raspberry Cheesecake Slices:

Also with little white chocolate hearts on top!

Mr Kipling You're Baking Me Crazy:

Also available in Tesco are these Special Edition Mr Kipling slices.

Mr Kipling Pink Fancies:

As well as these Mr Kipling Pink Fancies. Because cake is always a sign of love!

Waitrose Raspberry Mousse Hearts:

Heart shaped raspberry mousses, one for you and one for your lover!

Waitrose Sicilian Lemon Cheesecakes: 

Mini cheesecakes with a heart shaped splodge of jam on top. Cute!

Waitrose Strawberries in Heart Boxes: 

A simple, but lovely touch. If you're into #cleaneating or have any food allergies these would make a lovely gift. Providing you're not allergic to strawberries of course!

Marks & Spencer Chocolate Heart Gift Cake:

Featuring a pink Jazzie heart on top, this looks like the perfect gift for your Valentine!

Marks & Spencer Chocolate Heart Cupcakes:

Perhaps one of the nicest looking Valentine treats in today's post, these cupcakes contain pink chocolate hearts on top.

Marks & Spencer Pink Himalayan Salted Caramels:

You can't beat a good salted caramel, but M&S have gone a step further and made not just any salted caramel, but Pink Himalayan Salted Caramels. Yum!

Marks & Spencer Blackforest Rose Desserts:

The perfect way to say I love you - rose shaped black forest desserts!

Marks & Spencer Raspberry & Prosecco Spheres:

Ignoring the fact these potentially look like something else, these look really cool with their heart shaped white chocolates on top!

Krispy Kreme Donut Shaped Chocolates:

Who needs a chocolate donut when you can have a donut chocolate? (see what I did there? har har). Spotted in Next.

Heart Marshmallows:

Last but not least are these heart shaped marshmallows, featuring corny Ed Sheeran lyrics. Available from Home Bargains.

Well, that's all for this years Valentines In Shops - if you are lucky enough to receive any of these treats do let me know in the comments! And have a great Valentine's Day!

New Diet Coke Exotic Mango (UK)

February 12, 2018, 11:22 pm

≫ Next: New Coca Cola Zero Peach (UK)

≪ Previous: Lurve is all around...it's Valentine's In Shops!

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It's not often that Coca Cola bring out a new flavour, so when they do it's always an occasion worth shouting about. The last one was when Vanilla Coke was brought back (wayyyy back in 2013 - it feels like only yesterday!). More recently we had a Pepsi Max Ginger variety, which is about as exotic as the cola world gets these days.

So it's quite exciting indeed that Coca Cola have gone for such a bold, fruity flavour to pair with Diet Coke - Mango!

I was super surprised to find this in Tesco Express recently, I had heard rumours about it on Instagram but thought it would take a while to make it here up North. I immediately bought a bottle, not really caring about the price (turns out it was £1.10).

I waited until I got home to try this just so I could drink it from my bona fide special Coca Cola glass:

It's described as "sparkling low calorie mango flavour soft drink with vegetable extracts and sweeteners" and the ingredients are pretty much fizzy water, flavourings and sweetener. It also contains caffeine.

Taking a sip, I immediately tasted the mango and it was quite strong albeit artificial. This quickly gave way to the standard diet coke taste. It was kinda pleasant and definitely makes a change from regular diet coke, with the flavours both fighting for attention as you sip it. I wouldn't say the flavours blend together perfectly but it's an interesting drink for sure.

Would I recommend this? Yes, since it's more interesting than a regular Diet Coke, but I can't see it sticking around though as it's not super special or "unique" enough but it's still a nice change. I imagine it will be popular in the Summer months.

Available at Tesco. 

Nutrition Information (per 100ml): 0.3 Calories, 0g Carbohydrates, 0g Sugars.

Ingredients: carbonated water, colour caramel E150d, phosphoric acid, sweeteners aspartame & acesulfame k, natural flavourings including caffeine, acidity regulator sodium citrate.

8 out of 10. 

New Coca Cola Zero Peach (UK)

February 15, 2018, 7:25 am

≫ Next: Marks & Spencer Swiss Blond Chocolate Review

≪ Previous: New Diet Coke Exotic Mango (UK)

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When I bought the New Diet Coke Mango flavour the other day I didn't realize that there was also a Peach variety, in the Coca Cola Zero Sugar range and exclusively available from Tesco. When someone informed me via Instagram I had to go and look for some, and luckily found this bottle in the same Tesco Express as the Diet Coke Mango. This cost £1.25, quite a lot for a small bottle!

Described as "Sparkling Low Calorie Peach Flavour Soft Drink with Vegetable Extracts with Sweeteners" these come in both 500ml small bottles and also larger bottles.

Like all Coca Cola products this contains caffeine as well as the sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame k.

I waited until I got home to try it, as with the Mango variety I had to drink it using my authentic Coca Cola glass!

I took a sip...unlike the Mango variety the flavour here is a lot tamer, you get an initial peach taste that is very refreshing but it quickly gives way to the stronger cola flavour. It's very nice indeed, but I would have preferred the peach to be a lot stronger. I think the Diet Coke Mango variety works better because Diet Coke doesn't have a "strong" taste like Coca Cola Zero does, so the fruit flavouring isn't overshadowed quite so much.

Overall, this is definitely a nice and different drink from Coca Cola but it's not perfect, so I hope to see more new UK varieties in the future (maybe the Diet Coke Ginger Lime and Zesty Blood Orange cans recently launched in the US?):

Ingredients: Carbonated water, colour caramel e150d, phosphoric acid, natural flavourings including caffeine, sweeteners aspartame & acesulfame k, acidity regulator sodium citrate.

Nutrition: 0.4 calories, 0g carbohydrates, 0g sugars.

7.5 out of 10. 

Marks & Spencer Swiss Blond Chocolate Review

February 16, 2018, 12:34 am

≫ Next: Nestle L'atelier Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Review

≪ Previous: New Coca Cola Zero Peach (UK)

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With two new Blond chocolates to choose from in shops I feel we are being spoilt here in the UK. There's the Nestle Les Recettes De l'Atelier Blonde with Whole Roasted Almonds & Hazelnuts available from Sainsbury's (currently on offer for £3 - still too pricey for me!) and this more affordable, and probably better quality Marks & Spencer Swiss Blond Chocolate that costs £1.50 for 100g.

Described as "A unique recipe with aromas of caramel, shortbread and fresh toasted notes - which stands it apart from milk and white chocolate" this sounded very tempting indeed. It's basically a white chocolate made with caramelised sugar to give it the "Blond" effect.

Now the first thing that springs to mind when trying this was always going to be Caramac - because it's a bar that many of us in the UK grew up on and has been available forever. It's always had a special place in my heart, despite the poor quality and use of cheap ingredients over the years. So it was quite a revelation for me to finally try something of a higher standard made with not just any ingredients, but M&S approved ingredients!

The first ingredient listed is cocoa butter, and taking a bite of the chocolate it's immediately evident in the texture. The chocolate melts in the mouth beautifully, it's so silky and creamy, moreso than most white chocolates. The description of shortbread is quite apt because it definitely tastes quite biscuty, as well as of caramel. The flavour is superb, it's the perfect middle ground between milky white chocolate and toasty buttery flavours. It just works, and in comparison to a Caramac it doesn't leave you feeling sick or like you've dirtied yourself by eating it. It tastes clean, smooth and downright delicious!

Overall, this is a winner from good old M&S and I'm pretty certain it will become a big seller for them. It's unique on the market and I'm so pleased they brought it out. Whilst Nestle L'atelier's Blonde Chocolate may be getting all the attention, this deserves it just as much. If you like white chocolate or Caramac - seek this out!

Ingredients: Cocoa butter, sugar, dried whole milk, caramelised sugar (5%), dried whey, emulsifier soya lecithin, flavourings. Milk solids: 23% minimum. 

Nutrition Information (per 20g): 119 Calories, 8.3g Fat, 9.8g Carbohydrates, 9.8g Sugars, 1.3g Protein.

9 out of 10. 

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Nestle L'atelier Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Review

February 19, 2018, 4:07 am

≫ Next: Nestle L'Atelier Cranberries, Almonds & Hazelnuts Milk Chocolate

≪ Previous: Marks & Spencer Swiss Blond Chocolate Review

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Recently, Nestle launched their range of premium chocolated Les Recettes De L'Atelier into Sainsbury's stores. This range has proven very popular in Europe so they are testing the waters in the UK it seems. There's some interesting flavours in the range, most notably L'atelier Blonde Chocolate with Roasted Almonds and Hazelnuts, although at £3.50 per large bar I have been put off trying it. A bit more reasonably priced is this thinner Dark Chocolate Sharing Bar with Salted Caramel pieces, usually £2 but reduced to £1.50 per 115g bar recently.

Most of the bars in the range have the added ingredients clearly visible on top, with the salted caramel pieces clearly visible on this one:

The bar can be broken into 5 pieces, although it's a bit difficult to get a clean split.

The underside has an unusual pattern on it, presumably due to how it is moulded:

Unfortunately, despite being dark chocolate this bar isn't suitable for vegans as it contains butterfat and cream, boo! The percentage of cocoa solids is listed as 54% minimum.

Taking a bite, it has a nice sweet flavour and was quite rich and flavoursome, moreso than I was expecting for such a low percentage of cocoa. The butterfat adds a pleasant buttery creaminess, with the caramel pieces providing bursts of sweet crunch whilst eating. They didn't taste particularly like salted caramel although there was the faintest hint of salt there. Overall, this is a pretty nice tasting bar and the salted caramel definitely makes it a bit different from most types of dark chocolate, although I'm not sure it's better than Lindt Dark Crunchy Caramel.

All in all, not a bad bar and this looks visually interesting but it's not something I would say justifies a very high price tag. £1.50 is about right as a standard price so I would only recommend buying this when it's on special offer.

Ingredients: cocoa mass, sugar, salted caramel pieces (8%) (sugar, cream powder, whole milk powder, salt, cocoa butter, whey powder, natural flavouring), butterfat, emulsifier sunflower lecithin. 

Nutrition (per 100g): 547 Calories, 34.5g Fat, 47.2g Carbohydrates, 44g Sugars, 7.8g Protein.

8 out of 10.

Nestle L'Atelier Cranberries, Almonds & Hazelnuts Milk Chocolate

February 21, 2018, 10:14 am

≫ Next: Marks & Spencer White Chocolate, Raspberry & Matcha Bar

≪ Previous: Nestle L'atelier Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Review

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As well as the Nestle L'Atelier Salted Caramel bar I reviewed the other day, I also picked up this 100g bar of Milk Chocolate with Cranberries, Almonds & Hazelnuts in Sainsbury's Express recently. It was on offer for £1.50 - usually it's £2. It comes foil wrapped which I love, since most chocolates are plastic wrapped nowadays and I'm sure it makes a difference in the taste.

It's described as "Smooth milk chocolate with dried sweteened cranberries and whole hazelnuts and almonds", and the chocolate contains 30% minimum cocoa solids and 18% milk solids.

Like the other bars in the range, the cranberries and nuts are clearly visible in each block which is nice as it means you know exactly what you're getting.

Breaking a piece off, it had a nice chunky feel and reminded me a little of the Nestle Double Cream bars from many many years ago. Anyone remember them?

The chocolate tastes pretty creamy and melts in the mouth nicely, but definitely has that distinctive "woody" taste that you just know is Nestle. It's kind of like a higher quality version of the chocolate they use in their other products. I wouldn't say it screams high quality but it was pleasant. The cranberries and nuts are really where the bar shines, they're so plentiful and combine well with the chocolate, making this feel like a posh Fruit and Nut bar. In fact considering Cadbury's Fruit and Nut tastes rather greasy these days, I'd say this tasted better.

Overall, this is a pretty tasty bar and worth picking up if you spot it on special offer. I wouldn't go out of your way for it though, the other bars in the Nestle L'Atelier range like the Blonde Chocolate with Nuts look a lot more interesting!

Nutrition Information (per piece): 77 Calories, 4.6g Fat, 7.5g Carbohydrates, 7.3g Sugars, 1.2g Protein. 

Ingredients: Sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, dried sweetened cranberries (6%) (sugar, dried cranberries, sunflower oil), almonds 5%, hazelnuts 5%, emulsifier sunflower lecithin. 

7.5 out of 10. 

Marks & Spencer White Chocolate, Raspberry & Matcha Bar

February 22, 2018, 11:23 pm

≫ Next: Kitkat Senses to return with Salted Caramel, Hazelnut & Double Chocolate!

≪ Previous: Nestle L'Atelier Cranberries, Almonds & Hazelnuts Milk Chocolate

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Whilst buying the delicious Swiss Blond Chocolate bar from M&S recently I thought I'd also try one of their new smaller "treat" bars with "healthy" additions. I went for this White Chocolate with Matcha tea and raspberry added because it sounded pretty unusual if not delicious. It's in the same range as the Latte Coffee Kick and Turmeric Coconut treat bars and costs 60p for 25g.

Described as a "matcha green tea flavoured white chocolate bar with freeze-dried raspberries" it's split it into two chunks - one for the AM and one for the PM. Really, M&S?! This may not be just any chocolate, but I certainly ain't saving half for later!

The dried raspberries were clearly visible on the underside of the bar. I can't say it looked all that appetizing to be honest.

Starting with the AM square (it was actually in the PM - so I had a good excuse to eat both pieces!) I took a bite, and thankfully it tasted a lot better than it looked! The chocolate is super creamy but this is offset by the sharp flavour of the matcha tea, which actually blends really well with it. Opposites attract it seems! The raspberry pieces added some nice crunch and bursts of tart flavour, which complimented the chocolate well. All in all this is a strange bar that's actually pretty tasty, a nice mix of creamy, sharp and tart flavours all in one.

Overall, would I recommend this bar? If you're a white chocolate fan then yes, definitely, it's something a bit different and not quite as odd as it sounds on paper. Only for the adventurous though!

Ingredients: Sugar, cocoa butter, dried whole milk, freeze dried raspberries (2%), dried matcha green tea, emulsifier soya lecithin, vanilla extract. Milk solids 21% minimum. 

8 out of 10. 

Kitkat Senses to return with Salted Caramel, Hazelnut & Double Chocolate!

February 24, 2018, 9:09 am

≫ Next: Ben & Jerry’s Birthday Cake & Topped Pretzel Palooza (Spotted In Shops)

≪ Previous: Marks & Spencer White Chocolate, Raspberry & Matcha Bar

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A quick post today with some interesting snacks news: Nestle are going to relaunch their axed Kitkat Senses brand in a miniature version, which will come boxed and contains Kitkat wafers with three different fillings: Salted Caramel, Hazelnut and Double Chocolate. The boxes will retail at £3.99, containing 20 bars and will be available in Tesco in the next week, and other supermarkets in March. This is intended to be a permanent release and not limited edition. The Salted Caramel variety will contain a layer of caramel and crunchy sugar shards, the hazelnut a layer of praline and crunchy pieces of nut, and the double chocolate will have a layer of ganache and cocoa nibs.

The bars are being launched in box format to meet the demand for sharing products and will be situated next to products like Ferrero Rocher and Maltesers. A hazelnut only version will also be launched.

Are you excited? Do you remember the original Kitkat Senses bars? Which flavour takes your fancy the most? Let me know in the comments!

Ben & Jerry’s Birthday Cake & Topped Pretzel Palooza (Spotted In Shops)

February 25, 2018, 7:31 am

≫ Next: The Primal Pantry Double Espresso Protein Bar

≪ Previous: Kitkat Senses to return with Salted Caramel, Hazelnut & Double Chocolate!

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Another quick edition of Spotted In Shops today, this time for something always worthy of shouting about: New Ben & Jerry's flavours! It seems they've been busy again and released two new flavours onto the U.K market: Birthday Cake, containing Vanilla Cake Batter Ice Cream with Pink Frosting, Strawberry Swirls and Cake Pieces. It comes in lovely packaging that enables you to gift the tub to someone on their birthday - such a nice touch! I would actually do this if it wouldn't melt in the post! Currently available at Sainsbury's for £4.

As if that wasn't exciting enough they've only gone and bloomin' launched another variety, this time in their "Topped" range called Pretzel Palooza. This one contains Vanilla malt ice cream with a chocolatey hazelnut swirl (11%), chocolatey covered pretzel chunks (7%), chocolatey chunks (2%) and chocolatey topping (9%), and it's currently £3 in Sainsbury's. What are you waiting for? Get yourself down there pronto!

Maybe a bit less exciting, but I had to include this since we are talking Ice Cream - Cadbury Crunchie Ice Cream tubs are now a thing!

Have you tried any of these new Ice Creams? Would you recommend them? Let me know in the comments!

The Primal Pantry Double Espresso Protein Bar

February 26, 2018, 11:38 am

≫ Next: NEW Haagen Dazs Peanut Butter Crunch, Magnum White Chocolate Honeycomb & Almond (Spotted In Shops)

≪ Previous: Ben & Jerry’s Birthday Cake & Topped Pretzel Palooza (Spotted In Shops)

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When I'm trying to eat healthy (#thestruggleisreal!) I do like a nice refined sugar, gluten and dairy free snack to munch on. There's always the trusty, tasty Nakd bars on hand in most shops, but a lesser-known brand is The Primal Pantry, who make Paleo and Vegan approved bars with ingredients like nuts, dried fruit, coconut sugar etc. I've tried their stuff before and really enjoyed it. So when I spotted this caffeine infused Espresso variety in the Co Op recently I got very excited indeed - probably too excited, must have been the thought of that shake-inducing caffeine!

Described as simply a "Double Espresso Protein Bar" it contains real coffee beans and seemed to be promising an energy boost in bar form - protein AND coffee all at once?! Can't get more #fitfam than that ey?

Unfortunately, the bar turned out to be a bit pants. Overlooking the fact it looked like something you'd find in your pants, the texture was my first point of contention: it tasted gritty and unpleasant, no doubt due to the hemp used to boost the protein content. If that wasn't bad enough the density was neither firm nor chewy but sort of soft and squidgy, because Primal Pantry have used coconut nectar as the sweetener and it didn't work well to hold the texture of the bar. On top of that, the espresso flavour was not a strong shot of the good stuff but instead tasted of cheap coffee.

Overall, I don't really care how much protein or caffeine this contains, those are just bonuses because the most important thing is the taste, and it just didn't deliver. Sorry Primal Pantry - as much as I liked your other bars this one really falls short.

Ingredients: Dates, hemp protein 26%, coconut nectar, almonds, coffee beans 5%, caffeine extract from coffee beans (0.18%).

Nutrition Information (per bar): 196 Calories, 4g Fat, 24g Carbohydrates, 21g Sugars, 3g Fibre, 15g Protein.

5 out of 10.

NEW Haagen Dazs Peanut Butter Crunch, Magnum White Chocolate Honeycomb & Almond (Spotted In Shops)

February 28, 2018, 12:00 pm

≫ Next: Marks & Spencer Italian Dark Gianduja Bar with Whole Hazelnuts

≪ Previous: The Primal Pantry Double Espresso Protein Bar

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Another quick Spotted In Shops, and it seems that it's not just the weather that's getting colder this week - so are the new snacks! There's been a lot of ice cream releases lately, from the Ben and Jerrys Birthday Cake and Topped Pretzel Palooza, to some new Haagen Dazs Peanut Butter Crunch sticks, as well as a Peanut Butter Crunch Tub. Both are available in Asda but unfortunately mine has none of the tubs in yet - boo! They feature peanut butter ice cream, swirls of peanut butter sauce, crunchy caramel and milk chocolate.

Magnum White Chocolate Honeycomb & Almond:

Featuring Honeycomb flavour Ice Cream with White Chocolate and Almonds, these new sticks from Magnum sound potentially dangerous! Available at Asda in boxes of 4.

Rowntree's Fruit Blaster Lollies:

Also new at Asda are these Rowntree's Fruit Blaster ice lollies - a variation on Rowntree's traditional fruit lollies.

Asda Hand Cooked Thai Green Curry Crisps:

An interesting new limited edition flavour from Asda in their Hand Cooked range.

Asda Hand Cooked Hoisin Duck Crisps:

Another interesting limited edition - Asda sure do excel with their crisp varieties!

Asda BBQ Flavour Popped Chips:

Asda are also getting on the popped crisps bandwagon with their BBQ flavour "popped not fried" chips (errrr we say crisps here, Asda?!).

That's all for now...have you tried the new Haagen Dazs Peanut Butter Crunch Ice Cream? How does it compare to the new Ben & Jerry's flavours? Let me know in the comments!

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Marks & Spencer Italian Dark Gianduja Bar with Whole Hazelnuts

March 2, 2018, 2:50 am

≫ Next: Ombar Centres Raspberry & Coconut Raw Bar

≪ Previous: NEW Haagen Dazs Peanut Butter Crunch, Magnum White Chocolate Honeycomb & Almond (Spotted In Shops)

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I've been itching to try this Dark Chocolate Italian Gianduja bar since it appeared in the new M&S Chocolate range recently. As much as I loved the Swiss Blond Chocolate Bar from the range, I do prefer to avoid dairy so this dairy free, vegan bar sounded right up my street. It also reminded me of the lovely (but not so fortunately named) Vego Hazelnut Bar I once tried which was LOVELY, so I had high hopes!

Described simply as a "Gianduja dark chocolate bar with whole hazelnuts" this costs £1.50 and contains 65g per pack. Although it's dairy free, don't eat it if you're super lactose sensitive as it's made in a factory that uses milk ingredients.

Like the Vego Bar, it comes in two thick chunks with an eerily identical symbol that I think is supposed to be cocoa pods? I wonder if this is made by the same company..

On the underside of the bar the whole hazelnuts looked very plentiful indeed - I do love chocolate bars that don't skimp on the nuts!

Taking a bite, it was every bit as delicious as I had anticipated - like the Vego Bar it's pretty much "Nutella in bar form"! The hazelnut paste mixed with the chocolate gives it a super smooth, melt in the mouth luxurious texture, so it feels like you're eating praline rather than chocolate. In fact it didn't taste like dark chocolate at all - the taste and texture of the nuts makes it feel like a milk chocolate bar! The whole hazelnuts add a lovely nutty crunch and taste very fresh; these are not just any nuts, but M&S nuts...(sorry - I had to go there!)

Overall, whether you're vegan, dairy free or not this is an exceptional tasting chocolate bar that I would recommend to anyone (unless of course you have a nut allergy!) The perfect treat for a cold snowy day, these would go down well with a coffee or hot chocolate.

Nutrition (per half bar): 13.3g Fat, 189 Calories, 13.2g Sugars.

Ingredients: Cane sugar, cocoa mass, hazelnuts 18%, hazelnut paste 16%, cocoa butter, emulsifier soya lecithin, vanilla extract. Cocoa solids 31% minimum. Suitable for vegetarians. 

8.5 out of 10. 

Ombar Centres Raspberry & Coconut Raw Bar

March 3, 2018, 3:45 am

≫ Next: Karma Bites Popped Lotus Seeds: Caramel & Himalayan Pink Salt

≪ Previous: Marks & Spencer Italian Dark Gianduja Bar with Whole Hazelnuts

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I do love Ombar chocolates, if you can’t tell by now from my previous reviews of their bars! Not only are they dairy free and vegan they’re also made with “raw” cacao which is quite a rarity amongst chocolates. This gives them a sharper more authentic cocoa flavour, although it may not be to all tastes I personally rather enjoy it.

I’ve been keen to try this Ombar Centres Raspberry for ages now, I've seen it in shops locally but kept umming and ahhing over whether to buy it. Luckily I was offered some of the range along with the new Karma Bites snacks to review recently so I couldn't say no to that!

Weighing 35g this usually costs around £1.99. It’s a lot, but bear in mind this is high quality organic raw cacao made by a small company. It’s worth the price, and nicer than other raw chocolate bars on the market. The bar contains a centre of coconut cream and raspberry powder and is coated in 60% cocoa chocolate.

I cut a piece off the bar so you can see the centre - look, it’s pink! It reminded me of a Raspberry Ruffle bar. I took a bite, and at first I could taste the punchy flavour of the raw chocolate - kind of earthy and very flavoursome. The coconut sugar used in place of white sugar further adds to this flavour. The centre is where it’s taken to a new level - it’s creamy thanks to the coconut, but with that characteristic tart edge of raspberry. It’s the perfect pairing and not too strong that it's overpowering, but just enough to get a good fruity hit.

All in all, this bar is a delightful and I’m so glad to see Ombar going from strength to strength since I first reviewed them several years back. I hope to see more varieties in this Centres range and dare I say a large bar version too?!

Are you a fan of Ombar? Which is your favourite dairy free/vegan chocolate? Let me know in the comments!

Nutritional Information (Per 35g Bar): Energy 837kj (202kcal), Fat 15g, of which saturates 9.9g, Carbohydrates 16g, of which sugars 11g, Protein 2.9g, Salt 0g.

Organic ingredients: creamed coconut*, coconut sugar*, raw cacao*, coconut oil*, cocoa butter*, raspberry powder*, ground vanilla pods*. *certified organic. Cocoa solids 60% minimum.

9 out of 10.

Karma Bites Popped Lotus Seeds: Caramel & Himalayan Pink Salt

March 4, 2018, 8:43 am

≫ Next: Barratt Fruity Coconut Mushrooms (Poundland)

≪ Previous: Ombar Centres Raspberry & Coconut Raw Bar

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Today I'm reviewing something a bit new and innovative on the UK "healthy snacks" market, one that is truly a first: popped lotus seeds! Who knew such a thing even existed? I've heard of lotus seeds and roots before - I've tried fried lotus root in fact and it's rather nice, a bit like fried potato. But popped seeds is something I didn't think possible. Turns out it is and it makes for a tasty, light popcorn-like snack!

According to the pack Lotus seeds come from the Euroyale fox flower - a type of water lily. They contain protein as well as fibre and iron. They make a nice substitue for popcorn if you're grain sensitive or looking for something a bit lighter.

Caramel:

Being more of a fan of sweet rather than salty flavours, of course I went for the Caramel variety first. The flavour here is achieved simply through sugar and vanilla coating the popped lotus seeds.

And they tasted rather nice indeed! The sweetness isn't too overpowering like what you get from caramel coated popcorn, rather it's gentle and subtle and works well with the texture of the seeds. They're nice and crunchy and super moreish, and somehow feel pretty substantial.

Overall, as my first introduction to the brand I was pretty impressed with these!

Himalayan Pink Salt:

Saving the trendy Pink Salt variety for second, these had a slightly paler colour when I poured the bag onto a plate.

There were little specks visible on them which I presume is part of the lotus seed kernal. They tasted very nice, again they were light and puffy like the Caramel version, but also crunchy and rather moreish. They're very easy to eat!

Overall, for a healthier snack Karma Bites are a great alternative for anyone avoiding grains like corn or gluten, or if you're vegan or dairy free. I'd definitely buy a bag of these again if I see them in shops, it's always nice to have alternatives to regular old potato crisps!

8 out of 10. 

For more information on Karma Bites and to buy online, check out their website: https://www.karmabites.co.uk/

Barratt Fruity Coconut Mushrooms (Poundland)

March 6, 2018, 12:47 am

≫ Next: Haagen Dazs Peanut Butter Crunch, Toblerone Cookies etc (Spotted In Shops!)

≪ Previous: Karma Bites Popped Lotus Seeds: Caramel & Himalayan Pink Salt

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You can't beat coconut mushrooms. They're one of those classic Pick & Mix sweets that many of us know and love, and now Barratt have only gone and made a Fruity variety. Happy days! I was expecting these to taste of just regular coconut mushrooms when I saw them in Poundland recently, but to my surprise they actually turned out to have different individual fruit flavours.

How pretty do they look? A lot nicer than regular coconut mushrooms that's for sure!

There's classic fruit flavours like strawberry, lime, lemon, orange and er...blackcurrant? They contain no artificial colours or flavours, which is always a plus, but unfortunately aren't suitable for vegetarians as they contain gelatin.

They're super tasty and moreish, with the coconut giving them that unmistakable tropical edge and the fruit flavours enhancing them even more. These were a lot nicer and more interesting than regular coconut mushrooms, and it's very easy to scoff most of the bag!

Overall, I reckon Baratt are geniuses for making these, they're a simple twist on a classic but they work so, so well! If you happen to be in Poundland and spot these pop some in your basket - you won't regret it! They'd be particularly good for snacking on at the cinema.

9 out of 10.

Haagen Dazs Peanut Butter Crunch, Toblerone Cookies etc (Spotted In Shops!)

March 7, 2018, 4:37 am

≫ Next: Plamil So Free Organic White Chocolate Alternative

≪ Previous: Barratt Fruity Coconut Mushrooms (Poundland)

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Asda are outdoing everyone this week with new icy desserts, so once again it's time for another Spotted In Shops focused on some new things there! 

Firstly - Haagen Dazs Peanut Butter Crunch has arrived in tub format, hurrah! Featuring peanut butter ice cream, swirls of peanut butter and caramel this is most definitely a peanut butter lovers dream come true!

One for fans of fruitier iced treats, there's also these new Rowntrees Watermelon Lollies:

Another addition to the Rowntrees range are these Fruit Pastilles Push Up Lollies:

Robinsons, the famous fruit squash makers are now doing Fruit & Barley Ice Lollies. These sound refreshing!

Even Swizzels are getting in on the act, with these Love Hearts Fruit Flavour Ice Lollies:

Asda are taking on Magnum and have launched a new Raspberry & White Chocolate Moments variety:

Plus Asda Moments Mint:

Also out at Asda are these Freshly Baked Daim Cookies, containing real Daim pieces and toffee pieces:

Plus Toblerone Cookies!

Asda have also launched this new All American Ice Cream Sundae Cake, complete with lots of sweeties. Perfect if it happens to be your birthday soon!

Asda Unicorn Cake:

And last but not least, they're aso doing a unicorn cake. Of course. As well as the million and one other unicorn products they are also selling!

Well that's all for now, but there's more new products to come! Have you tried any of these? As always, leave a message in the comments to let me know your thoughts!