The August 2024 Vegancuts Snack Box was themed Festival Season: On-the-go Snacking. I received 11 items and was excited to try some that looked new-to-me, and as always I saw some that my family might enjoy too. Read on to see what I received!
DEAL: Use the coupon code hellosub to get $5 off your first box on any Vegancuts subscription! It can only be used once per customer, but it can be used on multiple subscriptions at once so long as they are in the same transaction.
Stellar Mini Pretzel Braids Sweet & Sparky ($1) Hmm, this was an interesting flavor combo, but I’m not sure it’s working for me. I must admit I’ve never had a Buffalo wing so I wouldn’t know what it’s supposed to taste like, but these pretzel twists are spicy, tangy, and oddly sweet. I think I would have preferred them without the added sugar and monk fruit sweetener but my husband liked them.
Lenny & Larry’s Fitzels Protein Pretzels ($2.49) When I buy flavored pretzels I always choose honey mustard, but these have the mustard without the honey, and unlike the Buffalo pretzels above, this one could have used the sweetness, and also it needs a boost of vinegar tang. The bag claims it has 18 grams of protein, but that’s only if you eat the whole bag, which has 3 servings and 370 calories. I rarely eat pretzels but when I do, I would prefer that they not have a gritty texture like Fitzels. I know they add pea protein but it gives these a weird texture and combined with the lack of flavor, I wouldn’t buy these for myself.
The Froot Thief Mango Real Fruit Whips ($6.49 for a box of five) Subscribers received one box of fruit snacks (and each box contained 5 individual packages) out of three possible flavors. I received mango, which I love, and these were a good nod to my childhood snack of homemade fruit leather. They are sweetened with apples and apple juice and have a sweet, realistic mango flavor. The whips are a long rope, but I don’t have time for that (and it makes my hands kind of sticky) so I just bite it off somewhere in the middle and repeat.
Wellah Perfect Pick-Me-Up Energy Complex ($2.05) There’s a reason I don’t buy packs like this or the one below — this one is sweetened with stevia, which leaves behind an aftertaste, but other people might be fine with alternative sweeteners. I poured the pack into a bottle of water and then gave it a good shake and when I tasted it I can tell you it wasn’t chalky or gritty. The flavor was super sweet, bitter, and had that aftertaste that I was expecting. The overall berry-ness was good, kind of like berry fruit punch, and I am thankful that the color comes from beets rather than Red 40. This drink provides 100mg of caffeine and L-theanine for an energy boost plus some vitamins such as B-6 and B-12, but wow is it sweet.
Four Sigmatic Think Organic Black Tea ($0.83) is an instant powder that you mix into hot water for a hot drink, or warm water for a cold drink, which you then pour over ice. It also has L-theanine plus Lion’s Mane extract and this drink is supposed to boost energy and help one focus. I tried it hot first and it was very bitter, but it also had an aftertaste thanks to monk fruit (which some people are sensitive to). The black tea had an earthy note and lots of lemon but it was so awful. I added some plain old white sugar while it was still warm and then poured it over ice. It was way better that way, except for the aftertaste. I would suggest using more water to prepare, like at least 8 ounces of water instead of the 6 ounces that were called for.
DryBox Healthy Snacks Dried Apples in Cinnamon & Cubed ($2.19) Subscribers received one of three different types of dried fruit and I received apples. These are dehydrated apples (as opposed to freeze-dried apples, those tend to be crunchy) with cinnamon, and that’s all there is to the ingredients, simple and real. It has a chewy texture, it’s not too sweet, and the cinnamon is bold. It is something you can stick in your work bag or desk and forget about until you have a snack emergency!
Kibo Veggie Crunch in Sea Salt are snacks that I would buy again. They were very crunchy. almost like a sturdy Chex cereal, but not sweet. They were pleasantly salty and along with potato starch and rice flour, they also have pea protein, which gives it that texture I liked. It has less fat and more protein than Lay’s chips, but more sodium and less fiber too.
Freestyle Snacks in Green Olives Subscribers received either this bag of olives or a bag of shitake mushroom jerky. I’ve always liked green olives, but this is a little different than the kind you get at the grocery store – you know, the ones with the pimento in the center? These are softer, while I prefer my olives to be on the firmer side. These are less tangy, and they also have a kick to them, so I would suggest serving them alongside some vegan cheese and crackers, because they are spicy.
Kojo Ginger Teriyaki Jerky ($6.99) I was surprised by the meaty texture of this plant-based jerky. It was extra chewy and took some jaw work to break it down. The first ingredient is soy flour and the rest of the ingredients were pretty natural. Please note that this bag contains 2.5 servings and if you don’t eat it all in one go it should be stored in the fridge. Subscribers received one of three different flavors.
Jooliettes Date Nibbles Blood Orange Dark Chocolate weren’t listed on my card, so I guess this is a bonus item and may vary by box. I remember getting these in a previous box, but it looks like the brand has stopped making this product. I could tell when I opened my box that something wasn’t right – all of the little chocolate-covered dates, which vary in size between a raisin and an almond, were melted together into one giant ball. A rap on the desk didn’t break it up, I had to hit the mound with a meat mallet, and some pieces were still too big. I received these during the hottest week of the year here in Austin, where the temps were above 100 degrees, but otherwise they still taste great. They don’t taste like chocolate covered dates, the mixture inside is kind of like crystalized orange jelly candy, but again, that could be because of the shipping conditions. The outside of the chocolate has a white bloom but the flavor is spot on, like chocolate covered orange jellies, with the zing of citric acid too!
I appreciate that the Vegancuts Snack Box comes with travel-friendly snacks that are just right for trying before buying. They also make it easy to grab a snack on my way out the door for work,since I don’t have to give it any thought other than whichever taste I think I might crave later: sweet, salty, chewy, crunchy, all of the above. Some of the snacks have multiple servings, which is perfect because then I can share with my family. My favorite snack this month was the Kibo Veggie Crunch, mainly because I liked the salty crunch, kind of like a healthier version of Bugles. I also liked the Froot Thief Mango Fruit Whips, which made me feel like a kid again. My own kid likes them, so I’ve set the rest aside so she can take them back to college next time she visits. My husband surprised me by mentioning that he really liked the Kojo plant-based jerky, I wasn’t expecting that comment. I know that the Jooliettes chocolate/orange/date candies came in one giant melted ball, but I also thought those were quite tasty.
Vegancuts Snack Box is a monthly vegan food subscription that delivers 10 or more organic and vegan treats each month. Snacks can include a pantry item or drink and most snacks are gluten-free. Each subscription box costs $24.95 monthly, or save a bit with a longer pre-paid term.
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