The lovely people at Filbert’s Fine Foods have been down to the Post Office again and sent us another box of snacks to review. I feel like Mr Filbert, with his rainbow selection of aprons (a different colour for each snack packet) is almost part of the family. Certainly, his exciting and varied selection of snacks has been making an appearance in my snack cupboard, the children’s lunchboxes and my weekend picnic basket with notable frequency… but here were three more flavours and textures which were new to the household.. and to the Fabulous Farm Shops Review Panel.
Step forward:
Café Espresso Coffee, Chocolate and Nut Mix
Spicy Barbecue Crunchy Corn
Moroccan Spiced Almonds
Café Espresso Coffee, Chocolate and Nut Mix
Mr Filbert’s pride themselves on seeking out new and delicious (and slightly unusual) flavour combos and these little packeted nuggets possibly top that list. Mr Filbert is on the front of this beautiful packet sporting a cappuccino-coloured apron and offering a “luxury trail mix”.
Forget boy scouts on a muddy hike, I’m immediately imagining a deluxe safari yurt with a pure white mosquito net draped over my luxurious king-sized bed. In my head, I’m a tad peckish, lounging like a maharaja across said bed, popping decadent snacks in my mouth – just to boost my energy levels before heading out to spot giraffes.
All this just from the words “luxury trail mix” – that and the beautiful, succulent, glossy photographs of gleaming “mixed nuts, chocolate coated coffee beans and caramel pieces” featuring on the front of the packet.
Filbert’s Fine Foods do a grand job of titillating photography and the packet would be extremely hard to resist lined up on a farm shop shelf. These snacks get the juices flowing well before the packets are even opened and the contents poured into a bowl.
Can the taste and experience live up to my imaginary scene? Absolutely! There was a resounding “hell, yeah!” from the review panel for this snack.
“Fresh AND salty, with a lovely hit of coffee chocolate. I’m smitten”
wrote one taster.
“The perfect combo of flavours ”
scribbled another.
“Just what I love to have with a glass of wine! ”
exclaimed another.
“This is my perfect drinks companion ”
I won’t tell her husband if you don’t!
Spicy Barbecue Crunchy Corn
So far, so good. That packet of trail mix had been an absolute, unanimous smash. Snack pouches were going on reviewer’s Christmas lists. Could the rave reviews last?
Step forward the Spicy Barbecue Crunchy Corn.
The packet looks clean and fresh and enticing with its close-up photos of crunchy corn kernels interspersed with some silver glitter giving it the jazz hands. The description is pretty tempting too…” crunchy corn kernels .. gently fried and tumbled in a spicy bbq sauce to create a gluten free deliciously high fibre snack!”
The pouch is the perfect size and the volume of kernels is very decent for a roaming snacker. As with all of Mr Filbert’s pouches, they are perfect for picnic or a lunchbox or just to pop in your pocket for a long journey, but they would be equally at home on the beach blanket or at a drinks party. They really have thought it through beautifully.
There was unanimous delight in the texture of the snack.
“When you bite down on the kernel, you get a fabulous crunch”
raved one reviewer.
“Chuck a little handful in your mouth and you let your teeth get to work. Fab snacking”
wrote another.
“I’d take this to the cinema instead of popcorn”.
The taste of the kernels, however, somewhat divided opinion.
“Like teeny tiny doritos. I love these”
wrote one panel member.
“Absolutely delicious – a fabulous, corny, savoury popcorn flavour”
scribbled one, running out of room for anymore adjectives!
“Didn’t love these. A bit blah!”
wrote another who is known to indulge in chilli-eating competitions on a night out. She was first in line for the Moroccan spiced almonds.
Moroccan Spiced Almonds
A little palate cleansing took place and the review panel moved on to the third and final pouch. It is worth noting how easy these pouches are to open. I have had my fair share of tussles with packaging in the past. I have sliced fingers on tough foil or, like a caveman, resorted to tearing plastic with my teeth. None of this with Mr Filbert’s. The pouches tear open like a dream and open up to pour out their contents with ease. A small point to note but it certainly adds to the whole enjoyment. No-one wants to work up a sweat opening their snack!
Back to the almonds….
These are one beautiful snack. The glossy nuggets shine in the light, a beautiful colour and shape.
“As soon as I poured them into the bowl, my mouth was watering”
wrote one reviewer.
I knew what she meant. I was aware that a little happy squeal escaped me when I saw them nestling in their bowl. My neighbour popped in shortly afterwards, possibly alerted by the noise or perhaps the scent of “the warm chilli flavour with a contrast of cool mint” and she pulled up a chair to join in the tasting.
“Wow, these are gorgeous”
she managed before taking another couple.
“Not too spicy but just enough of a kick to make you want more” –
which she obviously did because she put her feet up and tucked in!
“Crunchy and fresh in the mouth”
scribbled another reviewer. I wondered if she’d also had a visit from the neighbours.
“Perfectly sweet and savoury with a lovely warming feeling from the spices”
“A kick with no heat. Aftertaste lasts. A perfect peppery pick me up”
Looks like the entire review panel, plus neighbours, had found their favourite. These Moroccan Spiced Almonds won a Great Taste Three Star Award last year and the Fabulous Farm Shops review panel are not going to argue with that. Their mouths are too full anyway!
So, if you’re a farm shop wondering whether there’s a space on your shelf for these pouches, we suggest you make a space. They are very hard to resist, look good, taste great and are refreshingly different and, just as it says on the logo, “a dash more delicious”.
If you would like to stock these fabulous little snacks in your farm shop then get in touch with Filbert’s Fine Foods:
by phone 01458 833744
by email sales@filbertsfinefoods.co.uk
or online mrfilberts.com/pages/trade
If you have a product you would like us to review, please contact
theAteam@fabulousfarmshops.co.uk
0 Comments