Last (Minute) Christmas

Christmas is looming ever closer. Everywhere you go, the jingling of bells is present, and the smell of mulled wine is about. So we all know what this means.

Presents!

I love receiving presents as much as the next person, and I do actually love giving them, but, I can get a little bit stressed with it all. How much do I spend? How can I stick to a budget without giving rubbish pressies? These are the dilemmas which we are faced with. But alas, I have conquered this problem with the concept of the Christmas Stockings!
Okay, maybe I didn't quite come up with the concept of a Christmas stocking, but it will become clearer as you read on and start to understand my solution to this universal woe.

The Christmas Stockings

The concept is quite simple, low cost, and most importantly big impact! This works particularly great if you have a larger group of friends, because basically, all you need is some socks (preferable of the fluffy variety), enough sweets to rival Willy Wonker, and a little something something extra. A show stopper if you will.
Oh, and don't forget a bit of ribbon, and maybe clear cellophane like paper (I got mine from ebay for about £2). For mine I have decided to go with a bit of a pink theme, because we all know that the best sweets, are definitely the pink ones, and who doesn't love a bit of coordination?

I find that these work best when you have a special item in them. This really doesn't have to be anything big or too jazzy or expensive! Especially when you have Boots with their fantastic 3 for 2 offers on! When I saw this, my decision was made, everyone is getting Soap & Glory this year. Plus, as an added bonus, this means if you don't have a friend group which is a multiple of free, then you are totally justified in treating yourself, especially with all this generosity!

Candy Canes are Essential!

Click here for the Boots Soap & Glory page! 

 

Brighten Your Day: Soap & Glory Radiance Boosting Mask

It's that time of year again, coursework is piling up at an alarming rate, skin isn't looking too great, and the only five a day you're getting is chocolate! So, what is the only logical solution to all of this? A face mask of course! 

But here is the dilemma. Which one do you choose? There are so many on the market at the moment and it can feel a little overwhelming, but do not fear, because this just means that you have to be smart about ingredients and what they can do for you. Because of this, I've decided to go with the Soap & Glory Radiance Boosting Mask . It boasts quite an impressive line up of ingredients, so I shall give you a quick run through of the main players and why they are so good. 

 

Key Ingredients

Vitamin C - This is essential for maintaining youthful skin and protecting it from premature ageing, which obviously, I am all about (arguably a little obsessed with at the moment ngl...)

White flower brightening complex - This comes from the combination of several white flowers such as tiger lily, chamomile flowers, peonies, lotus flowers, etc. This all work together to create a unique blend which brightens your skin to give you a naturally radiant glow, and who doesn't want that?! 

Rooibos tea extract - This helps to naturally prevent ageing through anti-oxidants, and being quite soothing to sensitive skin, which is always a bonus!

Gotu Kola extract - Another fantastic anti-ageing product to keep skin looking youthful and simply fab!

Flatterspheres™- Radiance boosters to help illuminate and brighten the skin

On To The Review! 

I followed the instructions; cleaned my face, made sure it was dry, and tied my hair back (a serious struggle when you have a fringe...)
So this is a cloth  mask which you put on your face, complete with eye, mouth, and nose hole. I was overwhelmed by the incredible smell of grapefruit when I opened the package, it was incredible.
The scent was fresh and fruity. I couldn't help but smile. The smell alone made me feel brighter and boosted, which is pretty impressive when you have two pieces of coursework due in next week! So, desperate to put it on and experience the boosting and brightening power of the mask, I unfolded it and placed it carefully upon my face.

The mask was well soaked in the formula and instantly gave your skin a hydrated feeling. I loved the cooling sensation, as though you could feel it working straight away. You get quite a lot of excess liquid in the little pouch, which was an initial nuisance, but then, not wanting to waste any of the product, I decided to rub the excess into the rest of my skin like my arms, hands, and neck! This was a brilliant plan because it became an all over luxury experience!

I left the mask on for 20 minutes as advised, and just lay down to chill out. Enjoying just being still and content. This in itself was a thing of beauty and should not be underestimated. This definitely played a role in making me feel so fantastic, just switching off completely from the world and soaking up all the goodness!

I'm going to be honest, I did not quite feel like a super model whilst wearing the mask (that came afterwards, believe me) but I haven't laughed so much in a while! This really isn't a downside though, I think that this is well and truly part of the fun of face masks. You do look a little silly, but it makes you feel blooming good about yourself overall! It is important to laugh at yourself sometimes, and realise that the world isn't just perfect pictures, and instagram filters, it is looking a bit daft and having fun whilst feeling fab!

Final Thoughts

Overall, I really did love this product, from the beautiful and retro packaging, to the incredible way it makes you feel inside and out. I love the ethos behind the Soap & Glory company with their powerful stance against animal testing! So I am absolutely over the moon that their products are so brilliant. Since doing the mask, I have actually received several compliments about my skin, with people asking if I have tried something new! So now you all know my little radiance boosting secret!

These are currently £4 at Boots and are included in their 3 for 2 offer at the moment, so you could pick up a few bits as treats for your friends at Christmas (and maybe one for yourself, it is free after all!) I think that the price is really reasonable for what it is, and I think it is fab that Soap & Glory make skin care with genuine benefits affordable, and not just for the likes of mega celebrities!

Link for Soap & Glory Radiance Boosting Face Mask!

Link to Soap & Glory website! 

Discount Code: This is for 20% off when you spend £15 or more on Soap & Glory on the Boots website, so go on and treat yo self!

OFF20SG 

Before

After

Squirrel Sisters - Raspberry Ripple Bar

First Impressions

 I'm going to be honest, I didn't really know much about the Squirrel Sisters before writing this review, so I made it my mission to find out a bit more. I think I should start off by saying how absolutely stunning their entire brand aesthetic is. Their website is just beautiful, such an easy and fun website to use, with tonnes of character throughout! I shouldn't really be surprised because come on guys, have you seen this packaging?! It is just perfection! The pretty design just makes me feel better about the world-I really am that sad guys...

So basically, they are two sisters who want to make healthy food fun and accessible. I really like this idea, because when you say to someone that you are vegan, they just assume all you eat is lettuce and celery! If you have read my blog, you will know that this is certainly not the case! 

They have a range of four flavours, Raspberry Ripple (the focus of today's review), Cocoa Orange, Cocoa Brownie, and Coconut Cashew. All of the bars are vegan, gluten free, a source of fibre, raw, and created with no added sugar.

Without further ado, I shall move on to the review!

On To the Review

Upon opening the pack, I was greeted by these two mini bars of raspberry ripple. They were quite small, but made for a lovely snack with a cup of tea or coffee, leaving me satisfied after munching. There was a nice subtle smell of raspberry which I enjoyed, this definitely enticed me in and I couldn't resist it any more! 

The texture was nice, soft and squidgy, and it reminded me quite a bit of a Nak'd bar, which obviously, is a very good thing! The flavour was delicious. Raspberry shone through delightfully, with the sweet natural taste being utterly delightful. This was complimented by the more earthy, nutty flavour that made up the base of the bar. This overall made for a lovely treat!

Final Thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed this bar and would love to try the other flavours available! They all look and sound great, and if this one is anything to go by, then they definitely are! I absolutely love the feel of the brand though, they are a family business, they have a great message and ethos behind them, and their overall aesthetic is perfection! So I would definitely recommend picking up one to try!

Rating - 9/10

Calories - 87 per bar (there are two bars)

Buy Again? - Definitely!

Linda McCartney's Vegan Pulled Pork Burgers

First Impressions

I'm going to be honest here guys, I never really got onto the whole pulled pork thing. I was vegan when it became super popular a few years ago, so I didn't get to be part of it. Nowhere I was aware of made anything even remotely close to an alternative either, so I just gave up on every getting to experience pulled pork. That was, until now! 

The burgers are made from re hydrated textured soya and wheat protein. Alright, I'm going to be honest, I'm not entirely sure what these two things constitute, but I must say, I am intrigued by the way that they have created, what appears to be a meaty, flaked texture. 

The packaging is good. It is clear, easy to read, and the picture looks super appetising! I am a bit confused about why they don't just call them 'Vegan' burgers on the official name though, because they then make that point just underneath? Which, although only a minor issue, which probably only bothers me, I find this really quite peculiar because people who are actually vegan may not realise this and miss out on a great munching opportunity! 

Onto The Review! 

When I got these out of the box I was still a little perplexed. The burgers looked almost spiky and jagged (obviously this was due to the flaked style pieces). I liked this because it made the whole thing feel a little more fun and made it stand out from other burgers on the market currently. 

I popped it onto the tinfoil and placed it in the oven, eagerly waiting for it cook.As it cooked, it filled the house with an enticing sweet and smoky smell, and as you can imagine, it made my stomach rumble! 

The burger came out looking as though it had had a glaze put on it, like an actual BBQ! I thought that this was a really nice touch and definitely added another dimension to the flavour of the burger, as well as texture. 

The flavour was really good. It really did replicate an authentic BBQ taste as though there was a sweetness that went with the flamed flavour. I really loved this. The texture was a little strange, with the meaty pieces being quite chewy, but in small bits. They were bonded together well, so it wasn't as though it was falling apart whilst you are trying to eat it. 

Final Thoughts

I think that this is a really great concept and idea from Linda McCartney foods, because there are so many vegan burgers out there, and a lot are so boring and the same! This really tries to keep veganism mainstream, with them offering a delicious alternative to a popular meat dish.

Overall, I did enjoy this burger. The flavour was good, an odd texture, but I presume that this is similar to actual pulled pork? I'm not too sure, but it wasn't an issue and didn't stop me from enjoying this. 

Rating - 7.5/10

Calories - 150 per burger

Buy Again - Yes!

Tesco Free From Rocky Road Mini Bites

First Impressions

I'm going to be honest here guys. The mere concept of my favourite childhood treat, being turned into a vegan delight, is a little bit overwhelming. I mean, come on, they are claiming to have mastered, biscuit, chocolate, and marshmallow?! Combining them into these adorably cute, and bitesize pieces? I mean, come on guys, this is the kind of thing we vegans dream of!

The packaging is a tad basic. It does what it is supposed to do, the pieces came fully intact and super fresh, so it did the job. There was just nothing particularly exciting or fun about it, which is a bit rubbish, but I suppose that I would much rather substance over style!

There isn't much else to say here about my first impressions, other than the fact that they smell hevanely, so without further ado, onto the review!

Onto the Review

They are exactly what they say on the package. Indeed they are bitesize, something qhich I'm normally not the biggest fan of, because obviously, one is not quite enough. But due to the incredibly rich, sweet, and utterly divine chocolate throughout these bites, the size definitely works in their favour. I think that if they were any bigger, you would just be left feeling pretty sick after munching a fair few.

The texture is fantastic. Tesco really have managed to embody all of the flavours, textures, and overall feel of a rocky road - and if I'm honest, these tasted better than any non vegan version I can remember! The marshmallow was goey and chewey, just as you would want a marshmallow to be. I found this to work really well against the crunchy crumbly biscuit that formed the body of the bite, especially when combined with the juicy cherry pieces intermingled throughout.

Each bite was a little different, which just made the overall munching experience even better somehow! A little goes a long way with these, and they are great to enjoy any time of day.

Final Thoughts

I have a feeling that you know what my final thoughts on this is going to be, but I am going to say them anyway. I blooming love them! I really recommend that you try them (and let me know what you thought!) because I think that they are an absolute win from Tesco! I think that it really is great that they are making an effort for those who either make the ethical choice to not eat certain foods, and for those who have allergies and intolerances.

Rating - 9.5/10

Calories - 505 per 100 g

Buy Again? - YES YES YES!!!

A Bit of Change Does You Good

Hello!

I just wanted to start of with a massive thank you to every one of you who has ever read my blog, looked at my posts, and taken the time to comment. You should see the way my face lights up every time I get a comment, seriously...

So, I have been thinking about this for a while, and I really want to expand this blog and what it encompasses. When I started it, my life really did revolve around food. I would wake up and start thinking about what I would be having for breakfast, obsessing over what I could and couldn't have. 

It is because of this blog that I have been able to grow. My writing ability has absolutely flourished. I have developed my own style and vibe which I am actually really proud of. 

It is ridiculous how much my little blog has helped me to change and grow, and now I want to help my blog to do the same! 

I have decided to do a bit of a blog re-boot of sorts. It will still have the same vibe and feel to it, with me  writing various reviews, but it will be on a wider range of things. This means that I shall be delving into the world of cruelty free cosmetics, toiletries, and maybe even a little bit of fashion. But generally I just want it to encompass me as a whole person and my interests as a whole, because I no longer think solely about food and what I am to eat! I will be working on promoting the blog further to develop it into its own space of sorts.

I felt like a change of name was needed, and I'm going to be honest, I was a little emotional changing this before! But I am feeling excited about what is ahead of me and what this encompasses, and I really hope that you will all stick with me on this little adventure and journey! 

Love Erin x

What's New in M&S (Vegan Friendly)

Made Without Dairy Dark Chocolate Selection

Saag Aloo

Veggie: Sweetcorn and Chickpea Burgers

Prosecco Jelly Bubbles

Veggie: Mince

A Letter To Santa Jelly Sweets

Spirit of Summer (?) Velvet Houmous

Sweet Potato Chips

Veggie: Edamame Bean Burgers

6 Month Matured Christmas Pudding

Aubergine Masala

Veggie: Chunks

Padding Treats Sweets

If you want to find more vegan things in supermarkets then follow my brand new instagram account!

Click here and follow me for more!

Words of Wisdom and Confidence

So, it has come to my attention that I am turning 22 next month, and I don't know about you, but I'm not quite feeling 22... 

But this raises the question; what exactly am I feeling? And I think that the answer to this is confident. Maybe not in terms of where I'm going in my life, or what exactly I plan to do once I graduate (the mere mention of the 'G-Word' sends a shiver down my spine!). So, if I don't feel confident in the specifics of my future, other than the fact that I am going to own at least another four cats, then what exactly do I feel confident in? Well, the answer to that my dear reader, is Myself. 

I feel confident to wear whatever I want, not exactly without fear of people thinking I'm weird, but simply not caring what they think-even if some of these outfits I look back on a week later with a hint of regret (I'm looking at you gold pleated midi skirt...) Instead, I choose to embrace being a little weird and a creative freak. I am confident enough to speak my mind and tell the world that I, Erin, am a Crazy Cat Lady! 

Let's be honest though guys, I really wasn't born with this confidence. It's taken me nearly 22 years to get to this point, and I wish that someone would have had a good chat over coffee and cake (vegan of course) to tell me some of the things that I know now. So, I have decided to do this to myself, right here, right now, with a mug of coffee in one hand and a pen in the other-cake has to wait, or I will spend my time munching that rather than doing any work, don't judge me, you know you would too!

Speaking Words of Wisdom...

THE unwanted haircut

Now, I cannot stress how important this is Erin, but please, please, please do not cut your waist length hair off into that blooming bob! Because despite what everyone told you, and promised you, it did not quite look 'cute', and nor did it suit you. You will hate every minute of having hair that short, because, let's be honest, you never wanted it in the first place! 

You broke the golden rule and changed yourself to make someone else happy, and in the process, you didn't stay true to you. Because when you finally learn to be true to yourself, you will experience true happiness. Believe me girl, you will find this out, just wait a bit longer.

*sips coffee*

Leading on from that, definitely don't allow someone else to tell you what you can't wear or allow them to make you feel bad about it either! Especially when it is your absolute favourite vintage floral dress, which you got for an absolute bargain in the sale, (£10 just saying guys). Please don't stop wearing it, just because someone said that you looked like a granny, because you know, that Alexa Chung, Queen of Granny Chic, would so have approved of such a cute floral dress! 

The moral of the story is basically, don't allow other people to define who you are as a person, or dictate to you who you can be! Because all that that will result in, is you being boring, and just not you. 

*eyes up cake*

Selfie game was strong

The last thing that you need to know is listen to yo Momma! She really does know best girl and will be there through thick and thin. Your Mum is the one who will always have your back, whilst at the same time will keep you on the straight and narrow. She will be your best friend who will spend hours listening to you go on your rants (often about the unnecessary addition of milk powder in everything...) and go out of her way to understand the importance of cruelty free living. 

Those that selfie together, stay together

But she will be the one to give you the confidence to be whoever you want to be. Pushing you towards greatness and never letting you give up on your dreams! I assure you, Momma really does know best. Trust me!

Final Thoughts

I know that these may seem a little silly Erin, but they all apply to different aspects of life! Take that leap of faith. Throw caution to the wind. Fly in the face of adversity and every other inspiring cliche you can think of, because you will find people who will love you for you (doubt all you want girl, but I'm you in several years time. I've lived it!). 

There are probably a million more things that I could tell you, but I think that I would need another ten coffees, and part of the fun in lfe is making these mistakes! Because how else will you learn that bleaching your hair blonde isn't a great idea?! (spoiler alert). So I shall sign off here, leaving you to think about these things, whilst I go and munch my cake for review research of course...

...Let it Be

Ben and Jerry's VEGAN Ice Cream

First Impressions

It has arrived, and to say I was ridiculously excited by this prospect, is a massive understatement guys. I feel like I have been waiting for this my entire vegan life (about four years now) for this to happen. Vegan Ben & Jerry's. I know guys, this is life changing. 
This has been long anticipated in the UK, but I'm going to be honest, I didn't really know what to expect. Was the packaging going to be any different to distinguish it? Where they going to release exclusive flavours for vegans? And how much are they going to push the marketing and advertising of this? 
So far there seems to have been minimal marketing, no real adverts on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, and certainly no television or print ads. Personally I find this a bit disappointing, but perhaps they are waiting to establish the initial feedback and response before they fully try to push the product? Hopefully this will be the case! 
As for the packaging, it is pretty standard of Ben & Jerry's which I really love, there is nothing to make it seem strange or obviously different. I think this is a really clever idea from the brand, because it won't alienate dairy eaters or put anyone off with the sometimes dreaded 'V Word'. And as for the flavours, they have been pretty darn clever. They have done the classic chocolate brownie, brought back an old favourite in the form of Chunky Monkey, and they have created a brand new peanut butter cookie flavour! 
Okay, I think that I've prattled on long enough about this, so I shall move on to the part which we have all been waiting for; the review.

On to the Review!

Chunky Monkey
This is a banana base ice cream with chocolate fudge chunks and walnut pieces mixed throughout. The banana ice cream itself is absolutely delightful. The banana flavour is undeniable, and pretty natural in overall taste. I often find anything banana to have a painfully artificial taste to it, but this seems to avoid that pitfall (thank heavens!). This is probably because of them actually having used real banana in the ingredients. 
The main problem that I had with this flavour was how blooming sweet this was! Which although a nuisance on those days when you feel like gorging your feelings on ice cream, it does stop you from eating a whole tub in one go... 
This sweetness is somewhat combatted by the bitterness of the dark chocolate fudge pieces, and the crunchy nutty flavour of the walnuts. I also really enjoyed how these added elements created a whole new depth of textures, further enriching the whole experience. 
I'm really glad that they chose to bring this flavour back, it really is a fan favourite and tastes unique and blooming delicious!

Peanut Butter and Cookies
I'm going to be honest, this was the flavour I was really excited about. Peanut butter and cookie ice cream? Three of my favourite things all combined together in one tub AND vegan? Heck yes! 
I'm not even going to try and pretend that I didn't crack this bad boy open as soon as I got home to try this sugary enigma. Upon opening the tub, I was greeted by this delectable looking swirl which was all but calling my name. The ice cream again, was incredibly sweet. Now, this isn't a bad thing because it was somewhat balanced by the saltiness of the peanut butter. 
The swirl was well distributed and had a good amount of flavour to it. But the real star of the show here, was the cookie pieces! They were chocolatey and yummy, and simply heavenly! You honestly could not tell they were vegan. 
The main problem I had with this one is the texture. It was strangely gritty. I think this must have been from the peanut butter or the cookie swirl, not a deal breaker or particularly bad thing, but possibly a point of improvement.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I'm pretty darn impressed. They did not taste like healthy ice creams, or low fat, low sugar, or even remotely boring, mainly because, it was none of those things! They were cleverly created, and well devised ice cream flavours, and they did vegan food proud! Other than the intense sweetness, these were really delicious tubs of ice cream that I look forward to having once again! But probably when they are on offer, because £5.50 is a bit steep for ice cream.

Rating - 8/10

Calories Chunky Monkey - 262 calories per 100g
Calories Peanut Butter Cookies - 280 calories per 100g

Buy Again? - YES (When on offer)

Montezuma Black Forest Gateau Bar

First Impressions

Can we just talk about this packaging please guys? It is giving me such 60's vibes with the almost Modish Union Jack emblazoned across the front, with the font perfectly complimenting this design. I really enjoy this attention to detail, the care and consideration put into the packing and design of the brand as a whole. The name, is a little bit of a mouth full, and not quite the most exciting, but it gets the job done.
It felt quite luxurious with its cardboard packaging, strong and stable, one may even say...
The inner foil is, as with everything else, pretty darn snazzy. Once again it helps to create a feel of luxury to the whole experience, especially with their Montezuma logo tiled across it. Realistically, if this was going off the presentation of this bar alone, it would be getting a good 20/10! But we all know, that you have to have some darn good substance to go with this impeccable style!

Onto The Review

Upon opening the beautiful wrapper, I couldn't help but be enticed by the rich cocoa aroma, tinged with an almost sweet tang. This could only be the cherries. I could not delay it any longer, the munching began. The dark chocolate itself is of a nice quality, only to be expected from such a good brand as Montezuma. The bitterness of the chocolate was balanced to perfection with the sweetness of the cherry piece! It really did embody the flavour of a black forest gateau, an impressive feat I must say. The moreish quality of the bar was thankfully stunted by how incredibly rich the overall flavour was (thank goodness or I would have munched the entire bar in one go...)
The melt on the bar is fantastic, I really loved the contrasting textures, with the smooth and velvety chocolate working against the chewey cherry pieces.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I would definitely recommend this bar. Whether you love dark chocolate, or simply have a mild appreciation for it, this bar is worth a try. I'm going to be honest, whilst writing about this bar, I am kind of craving it terribly (a sneaky trip to Sainsbury's may be needed to grab another few).

Rating - 8.5/10

Calories - 572 per 100g

Buy Again? - I think we all know the answer to this... (YES!)

Ape Coconut Bites

First Impressions

Coconut has become such a boring thing, with it being relegated to the role of health food or the forgotten chocolate in the quality street box. 

I never tend to hold out much hope when something claims to be deliciously coconutty. But alas, I have not yet given up! I came across these whilst picking my snack in my Boots meal deal, and I was intrigued. Where thy sweet? Where they savoury? Or perhaps a mixture of both. 

I quickly grabbed them, rushing to the till to buy them and munch on as soon as I got home. 

The packaging is quite fun, with a playful feel to the design. The colours worked well to play on the traditional colours associated with coconut flavours (anyone actually know where this has come from...?). The font was great, both easy to read, whilst still giving you a feel for he brand and what they stand for. I really enjoyed this. 

With a variety of brilliant claims, such as high in fibre, and one of your five a day, I couldn't find a reason to resist.

On to the review

The serving size is pretty good. It doesn't look particularly generous at first, but it becomes apparent that a little certainly does go a long way with these. 

They were crunchy, and crispy, making you chew them thoroughly thus prolonging the munching. The flavour was delightful, totally natural and incredibly moreish. The coconut thankfully shone through beautifully, with the slight sweet and salty undertones only working to highlight this. This balance of flavours was done to perfection. I was left feeling satisfied and filled whilst drinking my coffee. 

Final Thoughts 

Overall, I think that these are simply brilliant. They work well as a mid day snack, or just part of your lunch instead of something like crisps. Plus, unlike crisps, they count as one of your five a day! 

I really want to try the rest of the range and find out if they are just as good, I have high hopes!

Rating - 9/10

Vegan - Yes

Calories - 148 per 30g pack

Buy Again - My new meal deal staple!

Green & Black's: Velvet Editions

First Impressions

What exactly does velvet mean in terms of food? Is it just a meaningless buzz word to draw us in? Or maybe it has a lot more substance? about it in terms of perhaps the connotations regarding the word velvet: luxury, the sublime, opulence, etc.

I don't know, but I feel as though I am about to find out with this new range from Green & Black's. The packaging is certainly luxurious, with its all new card cover, gradiated colour design and embossed gold writing. I really love these touches to the packaging, especially how they maintain this style throughout the range.

Green & Black's are committed to sourcing their ingredients, particularly their cocoa from ethical and sustainable means through the Cocoa Life program. Click here for more details!

I think this is an important message and ethos to have behind a company so large and built on a luxury image.

Both the mint and the raspberry hazelnut flavour are vegan friendly, free from artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives. The bars come in 90g so they are just 10 less than the standard bars, although you would probably struggle to notice its absence.

On To The Review

I shall start with the mint flavour because that is the first one that I tried. The chocolate was of a good quality, with a high cocoa percentage of 70%. This is pretty standard for Green & Black's and nothing to be too excited for. The excitement starts when you get to enjoy the melt and the enhanced flavour of mint shines through. I can only assume that the addition of peppermint oil is behind this luxurious experience. I really enjoyed this bar. The fresh and almost zingy flavour made it easy to enjoy and eat.

The raspberry hazelnut was a different experience I thought, certainly not a bad one, but quite different. The texture of the chocolate was smooth and delightful, but with an interesting texture due to the blended raspberry and hazelnut pieces. I really loved this, and thought that it helped to create little bursts of flavour. A very clever way of distributing flavour, whilst keeping the bar interesting. The tart berry was a great contrast against the rich chocolate, with a little earthiness with the hazelnut.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed this new range from Green & Black's, but I am absolutely devastated that the salted caramel flavour is not vegan! Obviously, I'm pretty happy that I have two flavours to choose from, so I can't complain too much, especially because they were so delicious!

I would definitely give these a massive thumbs up, and look forward to any other future flavours that they are bringing out!

Rating - 8/10

Calories - 619 per 100g

Buy Again - Yes!