The Tea Lady’s Apricot Jam

The Tea Lady is the work of Liz Walker, a brilliant Norfolk preserve maker who has a real knack for getting the balance just right. Her apricot jam is beautifully simple, made with just apricots, lemon and granulated sugar, allowing the fruit to do all the talking.

The apricots themselves come from an orchard in Ely with a lovely story behind it. The orchard is now owned by Rob, who first worked there as a Saturday boy. Years later, when the business was at risk of closing, he stepped in and bought it, helping to keep the orchard going.

The result is a proper, fruit-filled preserve with a wonderful depth of flavour and just the right balance of sweetness and sharpness. It’s delicious on toast, crumpets or scones, but equally good spooned over yoghurt or used in baking.

A simple jar, but one with a lot of story, care and good ingredients behind it.

Little Big Flavour Kits

Little Big Flavour Kits are designed to bring the flavours of Sri Lanka into your kitchen without the need for a cupboard full of different spices.

Each box contains a carefully selected combination of whole and ground spices, coconut milk and chillies, along with a secret authentic Sri Lankan recipe to guide you through the cooking.

All you need to add are a few simple fresh ingredients, such as vegetables or meat, onion, garlic, chopped tomatoes and a little oil for cooking.

There are two recipes to discover: a comforting sweet potato curry and a flavour-packed vegetable curry. They’re a lovely way to experiment with Sri Lankan cooking, particularly if you love the idea of cooking from scratch but don’t necessarily have all the specialist ingredients already at home.

Everything is portioned out for you, so you can concentrate on the fun bit: cooking, tasting and enjoying some seriously good flavour.

FIL Shatta Jam

FIL’s Shatta Jam takes inspiration from shatta, a much-loved traditional Palestinian chilli sauce, and gives it a modern twist for today’s kitchen.

Rooted in Palestinian heritage, FIL began by making small batches for friends and family and has grown into a brand that celebrates its culture through food.

Their Shatta Jam uses fermented habanero chillies and peppers to create something that is sweet, tart, aromatic and gently spicy rather than overwhelmingly hot. The fermentation brings an extra depth of flavour, while the jammy texture makes it incredibly easy to use.

It’s also a Great Taste Award winner.

Although its roots are firmly Palestinian, this is very much a condiment designed to cross cuisines. Spoon it alongside eggs at breakfast, add it to sandwiches or wraps at lunchtime, or serve it with grilled meat, vegetables, rice dishes and sharing plates.

A really versatile little jar that brings freshness, sweetness and a gentle kick of chilli to the table.

Nocrudo Tommy’s Margarita

Nocrudo creates alcohol-free cocktails designed for people who still want the flavour, ritual and enjoyment of a proper cocktail, just without the alcohol.

Made in Norwich, their Tommy’s Margarita is a tangy take on the classic, combining lime and agave with tequila-style flavour notes for a drink that feels familiar, fresh and grown-up.

It’s also infused with L-theanine, a nootropic ingredient chosen to complement the drinking experience while keeping the cocktail completely alcohol-free.

You can enjoy it chilled straight from the can, but for the full serve, shake it with ice and pour into a chilled martini or cocktail glass. Shaking helps create that lovely foamy finish you’d expect from a cocktail bar. Finish with a wedge of lime and, if you fancy, a salted or sugar rim.

A really good option for anyone looking to drink less alcohol without feeling like they’re missing out on the occasion.

NoCrudo Passion Fruit Martini

Nocrudo’s Passion Fruit Martini is a fruity, alcohol-free take on the much-loved cocktail classic.

Made in Norwich, it combines ripe passion fruit and smooth vanilla with a refreshing squeeze of lime, creating a drink that feels indulgent without becoming too sweet.

Like the rest of the Nocrudo range, it’s also infused with L-theanine and designed to deliver the flavour and ritual of a cocktail while keeping things completely alcohol-free.

You can drink it straight from the can when you’re on the go, or shake it with plenty of ice and pour into a chilled martini glass for a more bar-style serve and a lovely foamy finish.

It’s a great option for anyone who wants the fun of a cocktail without the booze.

Maji Chai with Dairy

Maji takes a slightly different approach to chai: this one is designed to develop its flavour overnight.

The mix already contains the tea, spices and milk powder, so there’s very little you need to add at home. Simply combine it with around 300ml of water in a saucepan, bring it up to the boil and allow those spices to start working their magic.

Once prepared, strain the chai into a bottle or container and leave it to chill overnight. While you sleep, the flavours continue to mingle, creating a deeper, creamier chai that’s ready for you in the morning.

Give the bottle a good shake before drinking and serve it cold or over ice. Prefer your chai warm? Heat it back up and enjoy it that way instead.

As Maji puts it, make it tonight, drink it tomorrow. Although when it comes to chai, we’re not going to tell you there’s only one right way to enjoy it.

Chickaron Chicken Crackling

Chickaron takes a much-loved street-food style snack and gives it a crunchy, flavour-packed twist.

Made from hand-cooked chicken skin, this crispy chicken crackling is inspired by snacks and side dishes enjoyed across Asia, where chicken skin is prized for its texture and rich savoury flavour.

There are two flavours in the range to try. Original keeps things simple and lets that crisp, savoury chicken flavour shine, while Korean Barbecue adds a touch of smoky sweetness for something a little bolder.

Crunchy, high in protein and very easy to keep reaching for, Chickaron is a fun alternative to more traditional savoury snacks. Or, in the brand’s own words, it’s clucking delicious.

Backyard Pit Rubs

Backyard Pit Rubs are designed to take the guesswork out of barbecue seasoning, with ready-to-go blends for smoking, grilling and everyday cooking.

Usually sold in larger tubs, this tasting selection gives you the chance to try three different flavours.

Backyard Pork Ribs is sweet, smoky and gently warming, ideal for sticky ribs but just as good on other cuts of meat or roasted vegetables.

Backyard Brisket is made for bold, beefy cooking and works brilliantly with a big piece of brisket, though there’s no reason to stop there.

Backyard Chicken Down Under brings an Australian-inspired mix of herbs, spice and light chilli heat, keeping things full of flavour but family-friendly.

Across the range you’ll find familiar barbecue favourites such as paprika, garlic, pepper, thyme and oregano, with just enough sugar to help create that all-important caramelised finish.

And who says barbecue season has to end with summer? Not us. Keep it going.

Taste of Xiangxi - Garlic Bliss

If you love garlic, this is one I think you’re going to want to keep in the fridge.

Taste of Xiangxi is a brilliant street-food business based in Leeds, with dishes packed full of flavour. Garlic Bliss is their rich, non-spicy condiment created very much with garlic lovers in mind.

Slow-cooked garlic is blended with extra virgin olive oil, soy sauce, vinegar, mushroom powder and seasoning to create something deeply savoury, mellow and incredibly versatile, but without the chilli heat that often accompanies this style of condiment.

At the Taste of Xiangxi street-food stall, they use Garlic Bliss to make a wonderfully simple chicken salad with cold chicken and onions. Having tried it myself, I can confirm that it’s absolutely gorgeous.

It’s equally good drizzled over vegetables, spooned onto bread or baguette, used as a finishing sauce for chicken or added to pretty much anything that could benefit from a generous hit of mellow garlic.

Taste of Xiangxi will also be joining us in the Fabulous Food Finds Marketplace at this year’s Good Food Show, so you can go and discover more from them in person.

Royal Umbrella Thai Hom Mali Jasmine Rice

Sometimes the simplest products end up becoming the ones you recommend most, and Royal Umbrella Thai Hom Mali Jasmine Rice has become a genuine staple in our house.

I’ve been buying it for a couple of years now and it completely changed the way we cook rice at home. It even converted my partner into someone who actually enjoys eating rice, which is quite an achievement.

Thai Hom Mali is Thailand’s celebrated fragrant jasmine rice, known for its naturally delicate aroma, long, slender grains and soft texture once cooked. Royal Umbrella contains 100% Thai jasmine rice, with no additional ingredients.

Royal Umbrella is produced by C.P. Intertrade, one of Thailand’s major rice exporters, and the brand is sold internationally. It has also received multiple Prime Minister’s Export Awards in Thailand.

Cooking it is wonderfully straightforward. The pack recommends rinsing the rice just once before cooking. I use a rice cooker, which has been another game changer in our house, but you can of course cook it conventionally too.

The finished rice is fragrant, soft and just slightly clingy, making it brilliant alongside curries, stir-fries, grilled meats, vegetables or anything with plenty of sauce.

It’s also currently available through Ocado’s Thai food range, so thankfully this is one find that’s particularly easy to replenish when your tasting-box sample disappears.

Autumn Tasting Box - Guided Tasting Video Coming Soon!

With each Tasting Box comes a live call where you'll be joined by special guests, makers of some of the products in the box and your fellow Tasting Box Subscribers. The call below is a shortened version where you've just got me talking through the products...