Costa UK Coconut Vanilla Latte review

With dairy free alternatives becoming increasingly popular in coffee shops, Costa have introduced coconut milk to their menu. For my first taste of coconut milk coffees, I opted for this coconut vanilla latte which is served topped with coconut chips and vanilla seeds. This drink comes standard in a small latte glass and is only 111 calories per drink and so is also great for anyone watching their calorie count.

I have heard that coconut milk is very watery and so was slightly concerned that this drink would lack the creamy flavour and texture of a standard latte. On my first sip, although I did notice that it had a slightly more watery taste than a standard dairy milk latte, it was still really tasty and I really wasn't bothered by it. The coconut flavour was certainly there but was also quite subtle and the vanilla added a nice sweetness. The coconut chips on top were a great little touch and I will definitely be ordering more of these now that all of the festive coffees have left stores. I highly recommend this drink to any coconut lovers and it is great to see more dairy free alternatives available for those with intolerances.

The Collective Limited Edition Pear 'n' Maple Yogurt review

I have only ever tried one yogurt from The Collective dairy range and although it wasn't unpleasant, the lack of sweetness meant that I haven't been tempted to pick up any other varieties since. Despite this, the unusual flavours of pear and maple in a yogurt resulted in me caving and buying this 150g individual pot. This gourmet yogurt combines The Collective's signature creamy yogurt with a William pear and maple syrup conserve and also contains a pinch of sea salt.

I lifted the lid and the two sections were easily distinguishable. There is a spoon included with the pot and so I tasted each section separately. Maybe its because I knew what to expect this time but I did enjoy the standard yogurt more than I remembered. It was very thick and creamy with a slight vanilla flavour and subtle tang. The conserve was delicious with a sweetness that wasn't overpowering it worked perfectly against that sharpness of the standard yogurt. I cant say that I particularly noticed any maple or salty flavours but the pear definitely had an enhanced sweet flavour. There were small chunks pf fruit throughout the conserve that were also a great addition to the texture.

Trying this limited edition flavour has certainly changed my view of The Collective Dairy company and I am now much more inclined to pick up their products in future! As an added bonus, 5p from every tub goes to  The community Heartbeat Trust who are working to provide defibrillators to local communities. This Yogurt was not only delicious but is also made from natural ingredients, is suitable for vegetarians and is gluten free. This limited edition product is one that is well worth picking up whilst it is around in my opinion.

Walkers Sensations Poppadpms Mango & Red Chilli Chutney review

Walkers Sensations are one of the slightly more sophisticated brands of crisps available and a firm favourite of the majority of people that I know. Being a slight exception, I personally am not massively keen on them but being a poppadom lover, I decided that these mango and red chilli chutney mini poppadoms were at least worth a try. Promising a sweet spicy aroma, a fruity mango flavour and a warmth from the chilli I was eager to taste these. I opted for the multipack variety with 6 bags inside. These poppadom are made from potato, chickpea & rice flour, are suitable for vegetarians, contain no artificial colours and are MSG free so you don't have to worry too much about any naughty hidden ingredients.

I opened the pack and there weren't a lot of mini poppadoms in the 16g bag but then again for only around 70 calories I didn't expect a lot more. Having said that, there were enough in the mini bag to satisfy a savoury craving of one.... as long as your not particularly hungry. I could smell a slightly spicy flavour as promised and so took y first bite. These were light and crispy in texture with that familiar poppadom snap. The flavour had a subtle heat that certainly wont blow your head off but it had just the right amount of heat. The mango flavour isn't strong and instantly noticeable but is lingering there in the background providing a slight sweetness that works really well against the mils chilli.

These are actually quite a nice little snack to have in the cupboard on a cold and dark evening. Although not particularly filling, poppadom's generally aren't a snack that you would turn too when feeling hungry so these certainly do a good job at providing a light savoury snack. Although I am not a sensations fan, I would recommend these and happily pick them up again.

ASK Italian Sausage Cannelloni review

ASK Italian is infamous for its lasagne amongst my friends and family, however I do like to try something new and so I was more than happy to try out this new sausage cannelloni on my recent visit. Filled with sausage ragu, baked with tomato and basil sauce and topped with crème fraiche, this al forno pasta costs £11.95 and is served with a side salad. I don't think that I have ever heard of let alone tasted a sausage cannelloni before and so was interested to see what a sausage ragu would be like. 

This dish came and looked pretty impressive. The tomato and basil sauce was thick and sweet with a slight tang from the basil. The pasta had crisped up perfectly in the oven on the outer layer but remained soft and chewy on the inside. The sausage ragu had a distinctive herby yet meaty flavour that was really tasty, especially when paired with both the tangy sauce and creamy crème fresh. At first I didn't know what to make of the texture of the sausage in a soft ragu form but the more of it I ate the more I enjoyed it. This dish had a rich meaty flavour yet wasn't too heavy to eat due to the light and crispy pasta. I really enjoyed this new addition to the ASK Italian menu and is well worth trying if you are a pasta lover and fancying a change from your standard Italian al forno. 

Tesco Limited Edition Gingerbread Flavour Milk review

Now that Christmas is officially over, all of the festive products are being cleared from the shelves and so I have been determined to get my hands on them all before they disappear for another year. One product that I really wanted to try as this limited edition gingerbread milk from Tesco's which is available in individual sized cartons making it convenient to drink on the go, or in a litre bottle to store in the fridge. This is a 1% fat drink that has no artificial preservatives, flavours or colours and is also a source of calcium and vitamin B12. Being a lover of gingerbread latte's I was eager to try this drink but also slightly nervous that the ginger flavour would be a little overwhelming without the coffee element to balance it out.

I gave the carton a good shake, took my first sip and was slightly taken back by the spiciness of the drink. I then had more of an idea of what to expect so took another sip and actually really liked it. This is exactly like a liquid form of gingerbread and so if you like gingerbread then you will love it, if you don't like gingerbread then this drink definitely isn't for you! It had quite a thick texture but I really enjoyed the spiciness of the drink and although it was still pretty sweet, it is a lot sharper than most milkshakes that are available like your typical caramels and strawberries. This is worth trying while it is still available for any ginger fans and I'm glad that I got round to trying it.