Taste tests
The FoodChain team sample a selection of new and innovative foods and drinks
Clever condiments
Gourmet condiment brand Rubies in the Rubble hand makes its range in the UK from fresh fruit and veg that would otherwise go to waste. A recent focus for Rubies has been the launch of a classic ketchup, which contains half the refined sugar and twice the fruit of its famous competitor. Its plant based mayos have also seen a revamp, with new larger jars, improved recipe and the launch of a chilli flavour. Smooth and creamy, the vegan mayo is made with aquafaba, the protein-rich water left over from cooking chickpeas which would normally be thrown away.
https://rubiesintherubble.com
“I reach for the Rubies chilli mayo pretty much any time I am having something that would benefit from a good dunk!” said our tester. “Chicken goujons and chips are favourites, but it’s also delish on a burger, or a sarnie when you want a good hit of heat but also a nice creamy consistency. I also love the ketchup, which again I find has a spicier edge than normal ketchup and is great on anything where you’d normally use a dollop of red sauce! The fact that the products help reduce food waste is a brilliant added bonus.”
Top choc
The chocolate products from Enjoy! began with its founder Chris, a determined man with food intolerances on a mission to open up the pure joy of eating chocolate to as many people as possible. The chocolate he created from a few pure, natural ingredients was not only delicious, but also raw, organic, vegan and free from dairy, gluten, soya, nuts and refined sugars.
One part of the Enjoy! Range is its drinking chocolate. Made with the same top quality organic raw cacao powder and coconut sugar as the chocolate bars, the drinking chocolate is equally delicious made with dairy or nut milks, depending on your preference.
www.joyofenjoy.com
“Now this is what I call a drinking chocolate,” said our tester. “When made to the instructions it was incredibly rich and thick – to the extent I actually used less than recommended and still made a really fabulous enjoyable hot choc. Topped with a bit of squirty cream and some marshmallows – heaven.”
Caffeine hit
The New Orleans-inspired and female-founded cold brew brand, Bottleshot, launched in the UK in 2019, with its Black Cold Brew flavour. Not to be confused with iced coffee which is simply ‘hot’ coffee poured over ice, Bottleshot steeps its premium, ethically sourced Arabica beans in cold water for 18 hours before mixing with a dash of chicory, resulting in a strong, bold, sweet, and nutty beverage, which is as strong as two espressos.
The eco-conscious brand also aims to continue improving its environmental and social impact – its cans are recyclable and its coffee beans are Rainforest Alliance Certified.
A further launch also happened as recently as 1st March, when Bottleshot released its new deliciously light Oat M*lk cold brew coffee option.
https://bottleshotbrew.com
The serious coffee drinkers on the team were very keen to try the Bottleshot, and both had high praise for the product. “This really got me going in the morning! What I also noticed was that it was much less acidic than regular coffee. I also liked the touch of chicory. As it’s cold brewed there was no bitterness either – it was really smooth to drink.”