Snackmas Day 14- Tesco Finest Creamy Brie & Cranberry Crinkle Cut Crisps

It's a second crisp option for Snackmas Day 14 with soft cheese taking centre stage once more. We're hopping from Baked Camembert & Oak Smoked Garlic to something a bit fruitier - Creamy Brie & Cranberry Crinkle Cut, courtesy of Tesco. 

Creamy Brie and sweet cranberry flavour crinkle cut potato crisps. 

I actually found this 150g sharing bag in the normal crisp aisle rather than where one would think, amongst the seasonal items. Costing a very reasonable £1 exactly, the Veggie friendly, thick, ridge-cut chips are made using 100% British potatoes which are fried in small batches and carefully tumbled in seasoning to ensure for a perfectly even coating and the highest quality of crisp. 

Jeepers, it was like being engulfed by an old cheesy foot upon getting into the bag! - Not exactly what you hope for in a crisp but I suppose at least they were going to be potent.. And packed full of flavour, they were! Unfortunately however, it was of the repulsive kind rather than falling into heaven. The brie aspect was strong to the point of being artificial and somewhat plastic tasting with zero in terms of tart cranberry to help break things up. This made the crisps extremely sickly and not something I could bear to eat. They were of a good thickness though and plenty crisp.. So that's something. 

Creamy Brie & Cranberry Crisps, I had such high hopes for you but good god, you sit on a throne of lies! I cannot fathom how Tesco have made something quite so revolting and still managed to get it past taste testers. I am actually wondering if they even bothered at all. Please, whatever you do, don't buy them! It's a 0.5 out of 5 from me. 

Snackmas Day 6- Kettle Chips Baked Camembert & Oak Smoked Garlic

Crisps are a Christmas must. I expect many households are overrun with bags currently, just incase that unexpected visitor pops over who favours a savoury bowl of snacks to grab from rather than the likes of chocolate tubs. Play it safe with everyday flavours or go for something more of the season? That is the question. Be bold, I say and just maybe these Baked Camembert & Oak Smoked Garlic Kettle Chips can sway you..  

Capturing the spirit of winter food, this seasoning combines rich and creamy baked camembert with oak smoked garlic. 

I went on a hunt for these Limited Edition crisps as soon as I knew they existed. Luckily for me, they weren't difficult to find and I nabbed myself a 150g sharing bag in Sainsbury's for £1.50. Gluten free and containing no artificial flavours, colours, preservatives or MSG, these seem ideal for pretty much anyone.. Even those who go loopy over Lupin and the Veggies! 

These smelt just as their name suggested! - Nothing but potent cheese and garlic! Grabbing a handful, the chips proved to be up to the usual Kettle standard with the signature crunchy thick cut and base potato flavour. Taste wise, the smoked garlic flavour was an immediate punch to the face with strong oak tones and enough to send any lurking Vampire Vixens running for the hills. Given that it was such a strong flavour, I didn't notice the Camembert at first but a creaminess did come into play which helped mellow, a long with a smidgen of cheese - Not Quavers level though, by any means! 

Well, these Baked Camembert & Oak Smoked Garlic Kettle Chips didn't see out the day.. Something so munchy and more-ish is never going to last long in my house! - Heck, we've even already replenished our stock as we can't not make the most of them whilst they're around! If you're a fan of garlic, you need these in your life.. As do your guests! It's a 4 out of 5 from me. 

Review- Nutri-Bombz Box: Salted Caramel Protein and Coconut Flapjack Bombz & Raspberry and Toffee Apple Bitz

A couple of weeks ago, the unbeknown company to me, that is Nutri-Bombz, asked if I would like to sample some their 100% natural, gluten free, protein packed snacks which are currently wooing premiership footballers, celebrity personal trainers and a number of professional athletes. With such a list of clientele, I was hardly going to say no and a few short days later, a box arrived on my doorstep. 

Designed to fit through your letterbox, the biodegradable pack is also perfect for being delivered to your work place - Ideal if like me, you're only too tempted to go buy a sneaky Twix for Elevenses.. Followed by a Wispa to get over the 3pm slump. 

Opening up my mysterious package, I found 4 packs of different and individually segmented snacks - Salted Caramel Protein-Bombz, Coconut Flapjack Nutri-Bombz, Raspberry Nutri-Bitz and Toffee Apple Nutri-Bitz - Great for portion control and all made without added sugars, additives or preservatives. 

Salted Caramel Protein-Bombz

Dates, Whey Protein (Milk), Vanilla Extract, Coconut Oil (Nuts), Cacao Powder, Chia Seeds (Seeds), Natural Flavouring - 71 Calories Each, 10.7g Carbs, 10.3g Sugars, 3.7g Protein, 1.7g Fats, 0.6g Sat Fats, 0.08g Salt. 

I figured starting with the snack which most appealed to me was the way forward and cut into the little domed beauty using some real elbow grease - It was mighty dense and mighty sticky! This reflected in the texture as it proved to be ridiculously chewy and not to dissimilar to Date Hearts in both feel and flavour with the super sweet dates coming through prominently, a long with lots of vanilla tones. The outside of Chia seeds didn't add anything in terms of taste but did deliver a crunch to break up some of the continuous chew. A bit heavy going but overall, not unpleasant - A 3.5 out of 5 from me. 

Coconut Flapjack

Apricot, Oats, Raisins, Sunflower Oil, Coconut (Nuts), Honey, Cashew Nuts (Nuts), Coconut Oil, Linseed (Seed), Natural Flavouring - 85 Calories Each, 9.8g Carbs, 6.3g Sugars, 1.7g Protein, 4.4g Fats, 2.9g Sat Fats, 0.01g Salt. 

Moving onto the Flapjack and unfortunately the one that I couldn't eat given the use of cashew nuts.. Luckily, MSW offered up her sampling services! Very crumbly as the picture suggests, the Bombz were really quite dry and bitty thanks to being loaded with coconut to the extent of it being the only element with any flavour.. It was that potent! The vibrant orange apricot pieces added a smidgen of sweetness with help from the odd raisin but in terms of taste, didn't bring anything to the table.. Neither did those pesky cashew nuts apparently! It's a 3 out of 5 from MSW. 

Raspberry Nutri-Bitz

Dates, Whey Powder (Milk), Soy Protein (Soya), Vanilla Extract, Coconut Oil (Nuts), Cacao Power, Natural Flavouring, Brown Rice Protein - 60 Calories per 20g Serving, 10g Carbs, 9.8g Sugars, 4.3g Protein, 0.6g Fats, 0.3g Sat Fats, 0.11g Salt. 

Back to the offerings I could actually eat.. The Raspberry Nutri-Bitz! Smelling very fruity, the miniature dusted balls certainly delivered their namesake flavour which slightly bizarrely, transitioned into a Parma Violet sort of taste, mixed with the usual "earthy/dirt" flavour I always find to be present in said snacks - Not as repulsive as the grim Good4U Bites but still apparent. Texture wise, there was not much to complain about being almost fudgy combined with crispy nibs.. Perfect for eating by the handful - 3 out of 5! 

Toffee Apple Nutri-Bitz

Dates, Whey Powder (Milk), Soy Protein (Soya), Vanilla Extract, Dried Apple, Coconut Oil (Nuts), Cacao Power, Natural Flavouring, Brown Rice Protein - 60 Calories per 20g Serving, 9.6g Carbs, 9.4g Sugars, 4.1g Protein, 0.6g Fats, 0.3g Sat Fats, 0.1g Salt. 

Last up and perhaps coming with a slighty blurry picture.. The Toffee Apple version of the above. Once again, the feel and flavour was spot on - Dense enough to be a decent mouthful but plenty soft and squidgy with tons of undeniably, appley tones. I can't say I noticed much toffee but vanilla was distinguishable, pairing up with the fruit nicely and making for something which was somewhat like a sweet. One thing I have to mention however was that my tongue and throat did feel a bit weird and generally sore after eating both these and the Raspberry which I can only put down to the Soy Protein in the ingredients.. So, if legumes are an issue for you, best steer clear! It's another 3 out of 5. 

Overall, this Nutri-Bombz Box seems just about ideal for anyone who's health-conscious and/or looking for alternatives to the usual "bad" snacks - Each that I received is more than adequate in hitting ones sweet spot and filling an empty gap.. But as someone who doesn't exactly stick to the #fitfam way of life, I personally wouldn't feel compelled to order on a regular basis. That is of course just me though and if your diets are much more admirable, hop on over to the Nutri-Bombz website, create a list of your favourites from the plethora of snacks available and let the team select 4 trays to send to you at a cost of £4.99 - It may just be right up your street! Thanks Nutri-Bombz. 

Review- BeLoved NEW Rich Cocoa and Cocoa & Berry Date Hearts

I love BeLoved Dates. So much so, it doesn't often go a week when I don't pick up a pack of both the Original and Zesty Orange Hearts - I would hate to think how many of the things I have actually consumed.. It's got to be hundreds! 

I now have the option to switch things up however, as there are NEW flavours in town - Rich Cocoa and Cocoa & Berry which I picked up in Asda for 50p each. As always, the Hearts are 100% natural, gluten free, high in fibre, low fat with only 105 calories per pack and suitable for the Vegans amongst us. 

T-B Rich Cocoa, Cocoa & Berry

Yes, are identical in appearance.. And smell essentially the same. Are they the same? 

L-R Rich Cocoa, Cocoa & Berry (I think..) 

Cutting the Hearts in half, they still didn't look all that different inside.. Maybe the Berry was sightly grainier or I could just be imagining things. Extremely dense and chewy to the point of being almost fudge like, the flavour of date was as prominent as ever with an ever so slight hint of cocoa in the background, adding richness but not enough to overpower the main toffee tones. The Berry option lacked all berry taste (Yet was somewhat "bitty" from pips) which was disappointing but did have more sweetness to it than the plain option which I am convinced tasted like either a cereal or cereal bar I have had before.. Although I can't for the life of me, put my finger on what! Tasty but lack lustre! 

Overall, these NEW Rich Cocoa and Cocoa & Berry Date Hearts aren't a bad addition to the range at BeLoved.. They just need a lot more cocoa to make them stand out and actual berry in the Berry! Great if you're looking for a healthy snack but not so much if you're wanting a "chocolatey" hit - It's a 3.5 out of 5 from me. 

Review- Jacobs NEW Caramelised Onion Ciabatta

Jacobs Cream Crackers have always been a staple in our house and I expect most of yours too if like us, you favour something crunchy at lunch times! We manage to top them with pretty much anything and everything.. From the "norm" of cheese to pickles, chutneys, meats and of course, dunked in soup - Perfect now that the weather is getting chillier.

Jacobs being Jacobs however have obviously decided to up their game and go a bit posh with these NEW Ciabatta which come in three flavours - The Caramelised Onion of today, Sundried Tomato & Basil and a plain Cracker option, all available in Asda for £1.39 a box. 

Each box contains 5, individually wrapped packs of 3 Ciabatta, making them perfect for eating on the go.. Although I think you need at least 4 to make for a decent lunch but then again, maybe I am just a fatty.

The slightly floured Crackers smelt delicious upon opening with an authentic onion-y scent. Having a munch, the texture was certainly very dry thanks to the thin, crisp nature with big pockets of air throughout just as you would see with traditional bread Ciabatta. The similarity to the aforementioned in terms of flavour was somewhat there with a powdery taste and onion/herby kick that wasn't quite as strong as its aroma but still detectable enough - Anything stronger would have been far too overpowering especially with a topping! Munchy and more-ish! 

Overall, these NEW Caramelised Onion Ciabatta are a nice little edition of the Jacobs Cracker range with a decent flavour and pleasantly dry feel that makes for a good base to a plethora of toppings. I will most definitely be trying the Sundried Tomato & Basil which I can only imagine will be just as amazing loaded with cheese! It's a 4 out of 5 from me.  

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- Ritz NEW Crunchy Grains Breaks

Ah Ritz.. Who doesn't love them? No one I know that's for sure - The crackers (Or biscuits as MSW would call them) were a lunch box and road trip essential when we were kids with my personal favourite way of eating them being with Laughing Cow Cream Cheese. I hadn't had them for years until I stumbled across these NEW Crunchy Grains Breaks.. Whether they are actually new or not though, I wouldn't like to say. 

Good old Tescy was of course, the place of purchase where at the time, they were on offer for £1 - Sadly, they are back up to full price now at £1.89 so that's a bummer. Containing 6, 32.5g packets, the Veggie friendly, niftily breakable snacks are designed to enjoy on the go and even save some for later.. Because people do that.  

Baked savoury crackers topped with caramelised rice, wheat and barley cereals. 

The packet contained 5 rectangular crackers, each slightly perforated to be snapped into 3 - I didn't do this except for picture purpose and just got munching! As buttery smelling as ever, the Ritz were super crunchy and crisp with the usual satisfyingly light and airy texture. Taste wise, they were full on butter as expected with a real kick of salt which aside from leaving me gagging for a drink, was very pleasant and just how I remembered. As for the grains on top.. I am not sure they brought much in terms of flavour but the almost hard "nibs" made them, well.. Nibbly and as though there were a bit healthier than the "plain" original version. 

Overall and as snacks go, these Ritz NEW Crunchy Grains Breaks are more than adequate - They taste nice, have a fab texture and like they claim, are perfect for eating when on the move. I am not entirely sure how paramount the breakable aspect is as I wasn't remotely inclined to do so.. But I guess somebody might! Cheese or pickle, the choice is yours.. But do Put On The Ritz - It's a 4 out of 5 from me.