Review- Krispy Kreme NEW: Hersey's and Coconut & Raspberry

Oh hi little Bloggy, long time no post! It's been a while since my last review, almost a month* in fact..  But you know how life goes - "Busy" has a sneaky habit of keeping you just that! So what's new with everyone? Anything exciting to tell me? Has Spring, sprung where you are? New faves and foods? Gossip? Let me know!

Kicking things back off today, it's the NEW Hersey's Cookies 'n' Creme (Also available in Ring form) and Coconut & Raspberry Doughnuts from good old Krispy Kreme (Not Cream in name but said as cream, not krem. GOT IT!?), which I picked up in my usual Tesco cabinet. Price wise, I bought an assorted box of 3 for £4.85 but assume they are the usual £1.90 each. 

Hersey's Cookies 'n' Creme

Filled with Hersey's Cookies 'n' Creme Kreme, topped with white chocolate flavoured coating and Hersey's Cookies 'n' Creme pieces. 

I was so convinced that no filling was going to feature within my Hersey's number, I had a complaint tweet practically composed, ready to press send as soon as confirmed by the slice of my knife.. But the eager finger was soon shown the door when some Kreme did turn out to be present! - Not a lot mind but more than what it's weight suggested! Onto the eating and texture wise, the very bottom layer of the dough itself wasn't quite cooked and in turn a bit on the stodgy side. Thankfully, the rest was up to the usual fluffy KK standard and delivered that signature sweet flavour. As for the Hersey's aspect, both inside and on top.. It brought nothing to the party - No real creaminess, certainly not cookies whatsoever, perhaps some more sugary, wannabe white chocolate tones but generally, lacked all kind of flavour. It's a disappointing, 1 out of 5 from me. 

Coconut & Raspberry

Filled with coconut Kreme and topped with raspberry gloss and desiccated coconut. 

Moving onto the Doughnut which has been greatly longed for and the one that I had much higher hopes for.. The Coconut & Raspberry! Cutting in two, the dough still proved to be marginally raw a long the bottom but far less noticeable than the above and probably not something anyone would complain about apart from me! From first bite, the coconut aspect was instantly identifiable with plenty of creamy, tropical tones a long with sweetness, all packed into the super smooth, silky abundance of Kreme. The sticky gloss on top added a real pop of fruitiness which as expected, went wonderfully with both the chewy desiccated coconut and the aforementioned filling. YUM - A 4.5 out of 5 from me. 

Overall, it's a bit of a mixed bag here from Krispy Kreme. Hersey's is no Reeses in my opinion** so if KK are expecting it to catch on.. I can't help but think they've got another thing coming given what they've produced - Mine really did taste of nothing! As for the Coconut & Raspberry offering, it is a "spot on" delight and you would be a fool not to get yourself 1.. Or a dozen. Happy Doughnut munching! 

*Whilst I was MIA.. On the 23rd of March.. It was the Bloggy's 2 year birthday.. And I completely forgot. Whoopsie doodle. Happy Birthday Bloggy!! 

**What do I know, I don't even like Peanut. I'm just channelling my inner Nibby Nobs. She knows stuff, that one. 

Review- Maryland NEW: Cookie Bites and Crispies

Another day, another biscuit review and this time, it is the turn of Maryland with all that is NEW - 2 lots of Cookie Bites and Choc Chip Crispies, featuring both coconut and caramel! Oooh choices! 

I searched high and low for this little lot, across what seemed liked all of the supermarkets with no avail.. That was of course until the day that the ever so lovely, Charlotte popped the entire selection in the post for me - Sods law! Damn you, slow-poke Tescy! Suitable for Vegetarians across the board with absolutely no artificial colours, preservatives, flavours, hydrogenated fats, sweeteners or GM ingredients, one might go as far as to say that these are actually a health food.. 

Choc Chip Cookie Bites

Mini choc chip cookies bites covered in milk chocolate.

Starting with the "plain" Bites, the marginally smaller than a £2 coin sized rounds were all well coated in chocolate and smelt most inviting. Satisfyingly crunchy in texture with lots of buttery biscuit flavour combined with cocoa, the Bites proved to be extremely moreish and all too easy to eat one after another. On the flip side however, they were equally as pleasant when left to dissolve and savour on the tongue rather than when munched - Yum! It's a 4 out of 5 from me. 

Choc Chip & Caramel

Mini chocolate chip and caramel flavour cookie bites covered in milk chocolate. 

Moving onto the caramel option which I so wish you could smell, these Bites once again possessed the feel of above with the same generous chocolate coating but with the glorious addition of sweet, indulgent caramel to compliment. Despite having that sugary edge, I found these even more enjoyable than the lone Choc Chip version - A 4.5 out of 5 from me. 

Choc Chip & Coconut Crispies

Coconut flavour cookies containing milk and dark chocolate chips, coconut and crisped rice. 

Having not bought Maryland Cookies in such a long time, my memory was a little hazy over how big (Or little in this case!) the biscuits actually are - They really were quite diddy and no more than 2 mouthfuls of a pleasantly grainy, slightly chewy contrasting crispy, airy mish-mash texture! Taste wise, the flavour was just as I remember with the signature Maryland flavour at the forefront with a coconutty edge that brought lots of sweetness yet was balanced out by the nibs of darker chocolate throughout. Tropical and tasty! Another 4.5 out of 5. 

Choc Chip & Caramel

Caramel flavour cookies containing chocolate chips, caramel pieces and crisped rice. 

Last up and by no means least, the Choc Chip & Caramel Crispies. Taking a bite, this cookie struck me as having the strangest feel out of the entire lot - It was hard and crunchy but perhaps had a little too much going on with the crisped rice being far more noticeable and bizarre harder lumps which I can only assume to be caramel pieces. Speaking of the aforementioned, I found the flavour to be a tad more artificial than that of the Caramel Bites and therefore somewhat masking the full biscuit flavour and not quite floating my boat. I did however enjoy the chocolate element once again! It's a 3.5 out of 5 from me. 

So, I am thinking if I were to eat one more cookie, I might just turn into one myself? - This NEW range of Maryland's isn't too shabby at all and without a shadow of a doubt, addictive! The Caramel Cookie Bites are my overall winner with the Coconut Crispies coming in at a close second. It's only really the Caramel Crispies that don't do it for me.. But having said that, offer me a cup of tea and I'll pretty much dunk and eat an old boot let a lone a much more delightful, if only "average" biscuit! Grab yourself a 120g pouch or 145g pack and let me know your thoughts.. Merry Marylanding! 

Review- Ape Crispy Coconut Whirls: Lightly Salted and Slightly Peppered

It's no secret I like coconut.. I can't get enough, I'd eat it every day, it is safe to say I love it! These Ape Coconut Curls were one thing of the tropical stuff I hadn't tried however and after having read a certain someones review.. I knew I had too! Luckily for me, a few packets were forwarded on!

Having googled Ape, I discovered they are a very health focused company with the ethos that all snacks should be from a natural origin without the use of sugar, chemicals and certainly never part of any yucky processing. Both 20g bags (Lightly Salted and Slightly Peppered) are gluten free, high in fibre and even part of your five a day - It's a winner all round. 

Lightly Salted

Starting with the Lightly Salted which I considered to be the "tamer" option, at first whiff, I immediately decided they smelt like Bonfire Night. Don't be thinking I am mad.. They really did have an uncanny scent that I can only decipher to be that of gunpowder - Safe to say, the curls gave me warm fuzzy feelings before even tasting! Thin and crisp in texture, the salt aspect was clear from first munch and was really quite saline. This then mellowed to allow the traditional taste of unsweetened coconut to come through with the creamy, tropical tones really shining. Bizarrely, the two worked well together and I was only to happy to finish the bag! A 4 out of 5 from me. 

Slightly Peppered

Pepper - It isn't my favourite given that I find pretty much life too hot and spicy but once again, a potent "indian-esque" aroma lured me in. The dusted Curls felt much thicker in this bag albeit still pretty uniform in size with a crunchy feel. Cardamon really was the star of the show here with my hesitancy about the pepper falling way into the background - Even the coconut aspect didn't prevail! MSW claimed they tasted a lot like a Vegetable Samosa and was only to happy to nab to pack. Flavourful and consistent throughout - Another 4 out of 5. 

Overall, these Ape Coconut Curls are quite the delight and between myself and MSW, they didn't hang around for long! If you're into coconut big time or even if you just fancy a healthier snack, they are definitely worth a whirl.. It even looks like a Chilli edition might be coming to the range soon! Keep your eyes peeled, folks! 

Review- M&S NEW Spirit of Summer: Summer Tartlet Selection

Penultimate SoS review, Folks! One I was particularly looking forward since my discovery and now, undying love of the Banoffee version.. A flavour trio this time - Mississippi Mud, Coconut & Lime and Dulce de Leche & Pecan.. It's a Summer Tartlet Selection! 

The 178.5g (Oo precision), box of 6 cost £2.50 with 2 tarts of each flavour, all suitable for Vegetarians.. But not Mustard, Sesame or Nut allergy sufferers due to manufacturing methods. Talking of Nuts, the box also comes with a nice warning not to feed such a thing to your Sprog as small children can choke on nuts.. I expect so can some adults. 

The tartlets were presented in a nice little plastic tray and weren't too smooshed.. Unlike some of the other boxes on the shelf! It does make you wonder whether it is in transit that products get destroyed or could the shelf stackers be the blame.. I assume they aren't in such a state when they leave the factory. Someone let me know. 

Mississipi Mud

All butter chocolate pastry tartlets filled with a chocolate brownie and topped with a chocolate buttercream and chocolate sauce. 

Smelling extremely cocoa rich, the ooey gooey tartlet was a pure hit of chocolate from start to finsh - The buttery, soft pastry encasing a squidgy brownie and a thick, ganache like buttercream with a final hit from the runny sauce centre. The proportion of each element was spot on and texture wise, was not dry in the slightest. Nothing but a Chocoholics dream! - Divine.

Coconut & Lime

All butter pastry tartlets filled with lime curd and a coconut sponge topped, with a coconut buttercream, lime curd and desiccated chipped coconut. 

Moving onto the Coconut & Lime, the pastry here seemed to be a little too tender as in the process of cutting in half, the side broke.. Although faultless in taste! A real zestyness was apparent when munching through the tartlet but was not all that easy to identify as being lime - It could have quite easily been lemon and I wouldn't have questioned it! As for the sponge, it also had problems in feeling a tad to thick for a treat of its size and surprisingly didn't deliver in terms of coconut - Not in taste, signature chew or even with the sweet buttercream to heighten the potency! A strange one!  

Dulce de Leche & Pecan

All butter pastry tartlets filled with caramel and toffee sponge, topped with a Dulce de Leche caramel buttercream, a pecan nut and white chocolate. 

Last but by no means least, Dulce de Leche & Pecan. The tart halved well with no pastry lost or even a crumb out of place to reveal the golden sponge within which tasted very much like golden syrup! Soft and sticky, the butteriness was undeniable with bucket loads of sweet caramel tones to compliment. The Dulce de Leche aspect really shone in the buttercream however, as seen above, I do feel there could have done with being a little more! Topping the lot was of course, the choking hazard of a pecan which tasted fresh and crisp - A nice finishing touch! 

Overall, this Summer Tartlet Selection isn't to bad at all and with a few tweaks, could quite easily be amazing.. It's the Coconut & Lime which is the main problem and letting the team down! Hunt yourself down a box, give the aforementioned to some unsuspecting chum and enjoy the rest with afternoon tea whilst M&S still have them! - It's a 3.5 out of 5 from me. 

Review- Ikorn NEW Gourmet & Health Kick Popcorn: Sweet, Salted & Himalayan Salted

Last week, a lovely chap called Richard (Hi Richard!) from Ikorn Popcorn contacted me asking if I would like to try their recently released, brand spanking NEW Premium Gourmet Popcorn. I was never going to refuse such an offer and in no time at all, an assorted box of 12, 25g bags landed on my doorstep.

Ikorn is proud to present you with our Popcorn. We use the highest quality non GM, butterfly corn along with premium coconut oil to bring you this delicious snack. Using the finest corn, finest ingredients and finest recipes, we satisfy the finest popcorn connoisseur. We're sure you won't be disappointed. Gluten and Wheat free. 

Inside was 3 flavours, all having under 120 calories each.. Sweet Korn and Salted Corn (RRP £1.29) along with a Himalayan Salted (RRP £1.49) coming from the Health Kick range - With some very fancy thick packaging that was almost a struggle to get into, I might add! All made from the most poppy, voluminous corn known to man, the team at Ikorn tried and tested over 40 different varieties of the stuff to ensure only the best was to make it into their product with refined coconut oil and Virgin Organic coconut oil (Used in the Health Kick) being the catalyst to ensure for the most fulfilling, healthy snacking option - None of this "cheapy" Canola oil which is slowly killing us all. 

Tech to your eyeballs, Folks.. Or save and zoom for those less frivolous. 

Sweet Korn

Starting with the Sweet and my personal favourite when it comes to Popcorn flavours, upon opening the bag an immediate buttery scent was apparent with what I thought was lemon tones despite none being in the ingredients. Taste wise, the sweetness I envisaged wasn't quite there and certainly not the sugary stuff I am used to with some pieces being more coated that others, in turn being a bit hit or miss on the flavour front! It did however have that "cinema-esque" feel with a satisfying airy crunch, transitioning into melt in the mouth goodness. A 3.5 out of 5 from me. 

Salted Korn

Moving onto the Salted.. I have to say I was dubious - I have never been one for savoury Popcorns with the whole notion just not sitting well with me quite frankly! Trying to keep an open mind, the Popcorn once again had the buttery and lemon scents mentioned above but of course this time, not remotely sweet in taste. The salt was undeniable and at first a bit of a shock for me but thankfully with the buttery tones, things mellowed and along with another fantastic texture, it really wasn't half bad! It's a 3 out of 5 from me. 

Himalayan Salt

Some salt is good for you too, don't cha know! Get zooming and reading please.. Apologies for the blue hue!

Last but by no means least, the Health Kick Himalayan Salted, designed for those super duper health conscience. Tearing into the bag, as seen previously it was almost full to the brim with the decently sized Popcorn pieces although this time not having the familiar buttery aroma. I grabbed a handful and got munching.. Salt. That is all I can say. I found this variety to be overly salty - Almost to the point where it was unbearable. I can't fault the light, melty feel and total lack of hard husks or kernels but the sheer amount of salinity was all to much for me.. But brilliant, I expect if you're on a bit of a sugar rush! It's a 2 out of 5 from me. 

Overall, it is mixed bag from Ikorn. I really can't fault the texture and quantity found in an individual bag but I do feel the flavours need tweaking ever so slightly.. Ideally, more sweet in the Sweet and less salt in the Salt with a better distribution of coating to ensure the flavour flows throughout. The team at Ikorn are currently working on obtaining retail outlets (And expanding the flavour range!) so in the mean time, do check out Ikorn online if you fancy ordering yourself some Popcorn in bulk and go say "Howdy Do!" on Twitter. Thanks Ikorn!

Review- M&S NEW Spirit of Summer: Chocolate & Coconut Slices

Sorry if anyone was under the illusion that the Spirit of Summer reviews had finished - I've still got half a dozen more to trot out but am trying to stagger them in hope of not sending you all completely over the edge.. Is anyone still with me? Let me know your edge status whilst I crack on with todays Chocolate & Coconut Slices! 

As soon as I saw the pack of 2 slices, I knew that they had to be mine given my love of all things coconut and I gleefully skipped to the checkout with £3.50 in hand. As with a lot of M&S desserts, the chocolatey treats are suitable for vegetarians but not for the freezer and nut allergy sufferers should be wary due to the manufacturing methods. 

Supporting the 85g each slices was of course, the handy dandy plastic tray which is both a godsend and a nightmare - Thankfully these were relatively robust so didn't break but I do wish companies would add a little tab on the side to pull and slide out their desserts! 

A sweet pastry tart with chocolate (37%) and coconut (6%) layers topped with swirls of caramel and a decorated chocolate plaque. 

Cutting the slice in half, the texture proved to be satisfyingly dense thanks to all the layers with a glorious chocolate scent that screamed "eat me!".. So I did as I was told and fell into heaven. Super rich and fudge like, the top layer of ganache was so thick, a fork left imprints with an equally stunning flavour of dark cocoa and not much sweetness. The sticky, gooey coconut was really quite potent and went perfectly with the chocolate tones as expected, as well as adding a decent chew. A further hit of deep cocoa came from the softer layer of chocolate which wasn't exactly needed considering the sheer amount of richness already apparent but it certainly didn't ruin things in the slightest. As for the pastry, I can't say it added much in terms of flavour but it did make for a stable base.

Wow. These M&S Chocolate & Coconut Slices are sensational! They're everything any Bounty fan could want in a chocolate, coconut dessert with not enough sweetness to ruin things but enough to balance out some of the richness, making them all to easy to get down - They are definitely one for the chocoholics however! It would be top marks if the promised swirls of caramel were present but alas.. It's a 4.5 out of 5 from me!

Review- The Chocolate Smith's Ice Cream Sandwich Bizarre

Not to long ago I received a surprise package in the post from my dear old buddy chum and the Hand Snack Selfie King, Kevvie! It is safe to say I was giddy with excitement, especially since he had been teasing me with the prospect of summer goodies heading my way for about 2 months previous!

Is there anything that says "British Summertime" more than a trip to the seaside, or fairground? (Aside for the rain, we mean!). We can bring you the beach and the sun with this tropical ice cream sandwich! Coconut, banana, crispy wafer and creamy vanilla in Belgian white chocolate. Enjoy this limited edition Bizarre while you can!

Inside was this Ice Cream Sandwich Bizarre Bar by The Chocolate Smith's which I have to admit, I had been pleading for him to get me - If you ever want some of their wacky flavours, Butty is your man.. Although beware, he's a Bacon Chocolate pusher!

Unwrapping the bar, the smell of white chocolate was very much apparent with super sweet, vanilla tones.. No coconut or banana though as I expected! Not a glimpse of wafer was visible upon the first snap of the bar either - Perhaps the action was in the centre? Well, yes, the aforementioned did make a brief appearance, mainly causing the chocolate either side to go everywhere despite not being in abundance. Flavour wise, no banana was distinguishable bar a vague whiff in one chunk with the coconut aspect being just as MIA. The only real flavour was the pure sugary hit of white chocolate which I could have sworn to be MilkyBar - Creamy and enjoyable but hardly high quality! The wafer itself added a "wafer" ice cream cone flavour along with a slight crunch.. And that was it.

So, this Ice Cream Sandwich Bizarre is just a bar of white chocolate.. One which I don't even think is as nice as the what the Easter Egg Custard presented! It wasn't repulsive by any means but I can't quite fathom why The Chocolate Smith's have labelled it as coconut or banana - It oozes nothing of the sort! Absolutely zilch! Who's doing the taste testing to give the whole lack of flavouring the get-go? We need answers! Thanks Kev, Sorry Kev! It's a 2 out of 5 from me.

Review- Hotel Chocolat Coconut & Coconut

Last week, I received a rather lovely surprise in the post.. My Peanut had sent me goodies! There was an amazing Bakewell Flapjack that I scoffed immediately, DVDs, lip balm and of course, the obligatory chocolatey treats - Nibs knows the way to my heart thats for sure! 

Solid coconut flavoured white and milk chocolate blended with desiccated coconut. 

I was most giddy when I saw this Hotel Chocolat Coconut & Coconut.. You can't not get excited about double coconut! 

My excitement only grew when I saw that there was not just one but two 50g mini slabs, each with a fancy swirly pattern! 

It smelt good - Coconutty, chocolatey and all that it should. Breaking off a piece, the desiccated flakes were plain to see and I delved right in! Beautifully smooth and silky with a fantastic melt, the chocolate itself was superb and very much cocoa rich. The tropical tones came through a treat not overpowering but complimenting the aforementioned along with adding a nice chew in terms of texture. Despite being more white than milk chocolate the high quality of each seemed to balance one another out - It was definitely sweet but not overly so! Delicious! 

Ah Peanut, you've hit the nail right on the head with this Hotel Chocolat Coconut & Coconut - It is perfect and all to easy to eat in one go.. MSW was lucky to even get a look in, it was that good! If you are a coconut fan then you most definitely need to get yourself down to your local HC store and snap a couple up - It's a 4.5 out of 5 from me! 

Review- Ritter Sport Coconut

Good chocolate doesn't seem to be easy to come by nowadays.. Some may argue that this is due to us becoming fussier but we all know quality has slipped across the board - Long gone are the days where you could pop into Woolworths and come out with a cheap, decent tasting bar! Ritter Sport however are one brand I have heard nothing but praise about.. And yet it's one I have not tried!

Alpine milk chocolate with a coconut and milk creme filling (45%). 

Well, that was until my First Mate, Mrs 1T sent me a 100g bar of the German Chocolate.. Only in the best possible flavour too - Coconut! It was safe to say, I was giddy with excitement at the prospect of a luxurious Bounty-esque treat.

Given that the filling was so thick, the cubed chunks didn't break exactly evenly but no matter.. It smelt irresistibly delicious! Popping a piece in the mouth, the smooth chocolate was the first thing to hit me - Rich but milky in flavour with a fantastic melt. Next came the pure hit of coconut from the dense filling which contained crunchy/chewy nibs of the shredded stuff set within a soft, creamy milk, tropical creme. This provided a light contrast in texture and made for a decent pairing thanks to the ratio of coconut to chocolate being just right and ideally sweet. Very creamy, very indulgent and very yummy! 

Overall, this Ritter Sport Coconut is a cracker - I can't believe I've managed this long without it! It is far superior to the UK chocolate bar market and quite frankly, my much beloved Bounty now seems pathetic in comparison. I will definitely be getting another and trying some of the other varieties the company has to offer.. I suggest you do too! Thanks Kirks! It's a 4.5 out of 5 from me. 

Review- Tesco Finest The Coconut Egg

All together now! Come on, sing with me! I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts.. There they are, all standing in a row! ..Well, when I say all, what I actually mean is 2. I bought Tesco Finest, The Coconut Egg on Monday and then guess what turned up yesterday? Another one from the Nut to my Coco - Mrs 1T! I'm starting to think she only does these things to get shout outs.. That's 2 in 2 days now!

Belgian white chocolate with toasted coconut, hand decorated with milk chocolate and cocoa powder with coconut truffles. 

Isn't it glorious? £10 I paid at the beginning of the week for the 370g monstrosity of a Coconut accompanied by 5 Coconut Truffles which I thought was fairly reasonable.. But then again, I would probably sell my first born child for a Coconut given my love of the stuff! If you aren't quite as obsessed or don't fancy flogging your offspring, word on the street AKA Instagram is that the Egg is currently on offer for £7 so hopefully there are still a few knocking about!

Coconut Truffles

Starting with the pearlescent Truffles which today, appear to be on a blue background - Please excuse my horrid kitchen lighting! Slightly smaller than a Lindor in size, a crisp, thick, white chocolate shell encased a butter like centre that can only be described as perfect. The melt was exceptional with the most creamy, rich coconut flavour whilst being just the right amount of sweetness - Flawless.

The Coconut Egg

Moving onto the star of the show.. The Coconut Egg! Getting into the thing was a challenge - I bashed it on the table as a whole and it didn't crack as expected. I whacked it on the floor and still nothing. I took the biggest knife I could find and lobbed at it.. Nope, it wasn't going to budge. By this point, my Grandad who was sat at the Dining Room table having Tech Time, started giving me strange looks and thought it was an actual Coconut that I was trying to get into! My last resort was a sawing sort of action which finally did the job.. I was in! The chunky, Belgian white chocolate shell looked most inviting with visible coconut flakes running throughout with the outside most definitely looking the part thanks to a scraped coating of milk chocolate and cocoa powder. Taste wise, it was a case of love at first bite. Creamy and sweet with both vanilla as well as toasty coconut tones, the chocolate certainly didn't falter in terms of flavour or quality. Each piece melted on the tongue with a contrasting soft chew, from all the flakes which felt extra special and quite different! The cocoa went a long way in cutting any chance of things becoming to sweet and was all round, bloomin' marvellous! 

Overall, Tesco really have done a spiffing job here with this Finest, The Coconut Egg - It looks amazing.. It tastes amazing.. That is all I can say! The Coconut Truffles are also out of this world good as well as being far superior to their Lindt Lindor equivalent and I could quite easily eat them by the bucketful - I reckon they would make a fab addition to the all year round, confectionary aisle! 

Please do go seek out this Easter Egg if you are yet to have one (Or even if you do!), you won't be disappointed.. And if you turn out to be so, just send it my way - I am more than happy to have another to add to my collection! Thanks Kirks! It's full marks from me today.. 5 out of 5! 

Have a lovely Easter, Folks and enjoy your Bank Holiday! 

Review- The Coconut Collaborative: Mango & Passion Fruit and Blueberry

I've been hunting high and low for the NEW Chocolate Ganache from The Coconut Collaborative but sadly with no avail.. I did however find these Yogurts when having a peruse, which I thought were also new but after conferring with The Bananah, it turns out they're not quite as hot off the press as I thought.. Nevermind! 

I picked up both the Mango & Passionfruit and Blueberry Yogurt alternatives in Sainsbury's where they are priced at £1.40 a pop, for 120g. They're gluten, soya, dairy, pretty much everything free and only contain natural sugars. Fair warning though, they may be good for you thanks to all the coconut milk and water which boosts your energy levels a treat, but they are bloomin high in saturates with 8.6g per pot! 

Mango & Passionfruit

Am I the only person who gets a tad annoyed when a yogurt is sloshed all up the sides of the pot? I realise it's most unreasonable to expect anything else but still.. It does bug me! Digging down to the bottom, the orange coloured compote was plentiful and held its shape nicely when scooped. Taste wise, I was a little taken a back but how tart the yogurt was - I realise it doesn't contain any sweetener but I did find it to be particular sharp although very creamy and smooth.. A bit like a super strong natural yogurt, I suppose! I couldn't distinguish any coconut until the flavour of the fruity compote which was uncanny to a Solero Lolly, subsided. A pleasant, very mild coconut taste was left in the mouth and no claggy throat occured which goes a long way with me! It's a 4 out of 5. 

Blueberry

Being left a little let down by the potency of coconut, I took a whiff of this pot and it did smell quite tropical - A bit like sunscreen, if you will! Continuing to contrast with the above, the compote was a lot more liquidy and did kind of slop everywhere when trying to get some on my spoon. I found the yogurt to also be a lot milder in taste and almost sweet rather than tart, even when tasted without the deep purple bottom. An uncanny similarity to the squeezy kids Wildlife Choobs/Furbes was the flavour in general which I wouldn't know to be blueberry but was mighty tasty and took me right back to packed lunch days! Another 4 out of 5 from me. 

Overall, I'm quite pleased I didn't find my most sought after Ganache afterall - I don't usually go for Yogurts but have been pleasantly surprised by this duo from The Coconut Collaborative! There is also a Plain and Raspberry version which I will be keeping my eyes peeled for.. Who needs chocolate, ey?! 

Review- Lindt Lindor Spring Collection: Milk, Coconut, Stracciatella and Strawberries & Cream

Continuing with the Easter theme and persistent mentioning of Blogging buddies.. Mrs 1T also included these Spring Collection Lindt Lindor Eggs in the very lovely parcel she sent me a few weeks ago. Having read her shining review of the Milk, White & Dark Irresistible Smooth, I was pretty much excited to give this variation a go! 

Milk & white chocolate eggs with assorted filling 

I am not 100% sure where this Spring Collection can be purchased as I haven't seen them in my home away from home, Tesco but I don't expect they should be to hard to find in the supermarkets - A lot of Lindt does seem to be floating about at the minute!

The box contained 14 individually foil wrapped eggs in which 5 were Milk and 3 each of the Coconut, Stracciatella and Strawberries & Cream. 

L-R Milk, Strawberries & Cream, Coconut, Stracciatella 

Do feel free to face plant the screen of your Tech - No one should resist such glorious looking chocolate! Starting with the Milk, it had the standard Lindt scent that we all know and love with a almost cold feel once having cracked through the shell to reveal the very creamy, silky smooth, rich chocolatey taste within - Perfection! Up next was the Strawberries & Cream - I was slightly concerned that I wasn't going to like this one given how I think the Lindor Balls of the very same flavour taste both artificial and medicinal but thankfully, I had nothing to worry about here.. Very sweet due to the white chocolate with an unmissable strawberry kick from the melt in the mouth, baby pink centre, these eggs were delightful and nothing like the aforementioned! Thirdly and perhaps the one I was the most excited about - Coconut! Once again, the shell had a good snap to it and cocoa flavour which paired perfectly with the pure hit of pure tropical goodness of creamy, heavenly coconut. Last but by no means least, was the Stracciatella with its vanilla-y tones from possibly the best white chocolate known to man, velvety inner with a contrasting crunch from the milk chocolate pieces running throughout the shell. Delicious! 

Overall, this Spring Collection of Lindor Eggs is as expected.. Wonderful! Nothing seems to come close to the quality of Lindt Chocolate - Each here is full of flavour, has a fantastic melt and is dangerously moreish. I highly recommend you treat yourself to some or perhaps sweet talk Mrs 1T into buying you a box! It's a 4.5 out of 5 from me.  

Review- Good4U NEW Super Bites: Orange & Cocoa and Coconut

I like to be healthy.. Well, I try to be. The issue I often face is that most sweet snack bars contain some sort of problematic nut which prevents me from eating them and in turn I consume nothing other than Fruit - Don't get me wrong, I love Fruit but with the likes of Nakd having a smorgasbord of tasty healthy treats that I can't eat, things do get a little disheartening. Thankfully, Hannah has got my back and she sent me on a mission to pick up the Good4U Super Bites which contain nothing that can kill me.. Huzzah!

Asda was my port of call when buying the 40g bags of Truffles which are currently on a 2 for £1.50 offer. I opted for the Cocoa & Orange and the Coconut but a Banana option is also available if thats what floats your boat. The ingredient list on the back has nothing to turn your nose up at, comprising most notably of Dates, Milled Sunflower Seed, Raisin, Fat Reduced Cocoa, Chia Seed and Red Algae Seaweed with no added sugar. 

Cocoa & Orange

Cocoa & orange flavour raw seed and fruit bites. 

I had to pick this bag to start with - Chocolate Orange is one delicious combo! Sadly, they don't look all that appetising and were actually more solid than I anticipated, with a smell that can only be described as like a Garden Centre. With some hesitance, I popped one in my mouth and instantly disliked what I tasted - Gritty in texture but with a strange chewiness, the flavour was like flowers mixed in with some artificial orange that you would typically find in a cheap, jelly sweet! I couldn't taste any Dates or Cocoa.. Just a Soil. Absolutely grim - 0 out of 5 from me. 

Coconut

Cocoa & toasted coconut raw seed and fruit bites. 

On a scale of 1-10 on how much I wanted to try these.. I was on about a -7. Once again, they looked like Rabbit poop but this time were much more squidgy with a scent that was essentially, medicinal sun screen. With all the hesitance, I ate one and not so surprisingly, didn't like it - They tasted as above, shrubbery but this time mighty bitter as well. The coconut was sort of apparent but really was overpowered by whatever else was causing the yucky flavour and again, no Cocoa edge. Another 0 out of 5 from me. 

Good God. I have no idea what planet The Bananah was on when recommending these Good4U Super Bites to me - I have never pulled such repulsed faces when eating something in my life. If this is what healthy, Vegan, fruity, seedy snacks are like, well.. You can keep them! Me and my Fruit are going elsewhere! Jeepers. 

Snackmas Day 24- Tesco Finest Cookies

One More Sleep, folks - One more sleep until Santa Claus Is Coming to Town! Who's excited? I'm excited! I don't know about you but the build up to the 25th has always been my favourite and there is no happier day of the year than Christmas Eve!

Since we are intent on Keeping the Dream Alive here on R4R.. Cookies for Santa will most definitely be being left out tonight and what better way to spoil him than with 6 of the Finest that Tesco have to offer - Salted Caramel & Chocolate, White Chocolate, Cranberry & Pistachio, Quadruple Chocolate, Fruity Flapjack, Maple Syrup & Pecan and Dark Chocolate Ginger. I realise, you can't put a price on Santa but these do cost £1.59 a pop with 8 Cookies per box. 

Salted Caramel & Choc and White Choc, Cranberry & Pistachio

L-R- All butter cookies with milk chocolate chunks and caramel fudge pieces and All butter cookies with Belgian white chocolate, cranberries and pistachio nuts. 

Salted Caramel & Choc

I appeared to pick a bad Cookie to start with as these really weren't good. Texture wise, it was more like a crunchy Maryland Biscuit than anything else with a flavour that was of caramel but really artificial. I couldn't taste any sort of chocolate but a bland creaminess was most apparent which made them quite sickly. The salted part was redundant as usual, just to twist the knife that little bit further. A 1 out of 5 from me. 

White Choc, Cranberry & Pistachio

Up next a Christmas classic combo! Once again. the texture was more of a biscuit but no where near as crisp as above and much more buttery in flavour. Big fruity chunks of cranberry were present in each Cookie which although were pleasant, I do think would have been better if they were a bit smaller and more evenly, distributed. The pistachios weren't exactly identifiable but a nuttiness did linger but sadly, the white chocolate wasn't anywhere in sight. A 2 out of 5 from me.

Quad Choc and Fruity Flapjack

L-R- All butter quadruple Belgian chocolate chip cookies half coated in milk chocolate and All butter cookies with sultanas, coconut, apricot, hazelnut, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. 

Quad Choc 

At first, I was a little annoyed with this packet.. Quality Control had obviously taken a break when in production as 1 of my cookies looked like it had been half eaten! I made a cup of tea to get over it and got dunking. These were amazing - Very chocolatey and rich in taste with big chunks of milk as well as sweeter white chocolate running throughout. Extremely moreish and almost perfection - 4 out of 5 from me! 

Fruity Flapjack

Anything oaty, I am sold and these certainly didn't disappoint - They tasted homemade, would you believe it? A soft bite with a super chewy texture, the buttery flavour which was slightly salted which paired perfectly with a sweet syrupyness and subtle coconut in the background. The seeds added a nice crunch and almost nutty flavour with the sultanas and dried apricot adding a gummyness. A big 4.5 out of 5 from me! 

Maple Syrup & Pecan

L-R- All butter pieces with pecan nut and maple syrup and Stem ginger cookies fully coated in Belgian dark chocolate. 

Maple Syrup & Pecan

I have no idea how many recipes Tesco has on the go as these Cookies had a completely different texture to both the first "plain" Salted Caramel and White Choc versions - Very Bizarre! I would say these were the hardest of the lot and not just because of the pecans which were few and far between! Taste wise, maple syrup didn't really come to mind but popcorn sure did - It was uncanny to the sort you get at the cinema with a slight nuttiness. Not bad, but not really its namesake - A 3 out of 5.

Dark Chocolate Ginger

Last but by no means least is the spicy Cookies which really weren't all that spicy.. The heat was extremely mild and nothing compared to a Gingernut. These had a nice crisp bite which would dissolve on the tongue with chewy pieces of crystallised ginger throughout. The dark chocolate which coated the entire thing was nice and rich and went well with the not so fiery but still pleasant flavour. Another 3 out of 5 from me!

Well these are a bit of a mixed bag.. We started with rubbish in the form of the Salted Caramel and White Choc, things improved dramatically with the Quad Choc and Fruity Flapjack and then we came back to semi happy medium with the Maple Syrup and Dark Choc Ginger - Tesco is all over the place! I am thinking on that basis, I better leave out the middle duo for Santa to munch on to ensure I get a big present come tomorrow morning.. Tactics and all that. 

Enjoy the rest of your Christmas Eve and I'll be back later, to tuck you in with a Snackmas roundup!