It’s shopping time! Our team selects for you new products to put you – or not – in your mouth.
Posted at 11:00 a.m.
A hit with the kids
Berries and chocolate: the marriage is promising… But is it happy? “Oh yes”, answer our young testers, who now classify this sweetness among their favorite desserts, nothing less. “It’s good in the belly”, summarizes, from the height of its 4 years, one of them. We love the convenience of these frozen fruits coated in semi-sweet chocolate. Simply leave the desired portion at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before enjoying. The 57% dark chocolate is not bitter, which might have put some people off. VeriFruit treats come in three varieties: strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. We fell in love with this last option, since it is wild blueberries from Lac-Saint-Jean. In this sense, VeriFruit’s product is reminiscent of that of the Chocolaterie des Pères Trappistes, which we also like very much. Enjoy as is or use to decorate a cake, a fruit salad or even a bowl of ice cream.
VeriFruit, chocolate covered strawberries, raspberries and wild blueberries, $6.99 for a 200g bag, available at Metro
Ketchup for a good cause
PHOTO PROVIDED BY PASTENE
Gourmet Italian Herb Ketchup from Pastene
Heinz ketchup lovers looking for a similar product, skip your turn. Pastene’s Gourmet Italian Herb Ketchup is much more fragrant. Oregano, marjoram, basil and thyme are among the spices that give this product prepared in Quebec a Mediterranean touch. Although it can be used as a condiment, its creamy texture is a nice addition to sauces. We especially tried it on a pizza and it was a success. Are you wondering why the photo of Sophie Prégent, Charles Lafortune and their son Mathis appears on the label? A sum of 50 cents per bottle sold will be donated to the Autistic & Major Foundation. Available since December, the product will remain on shelves for a limited time.
Pastene, gourmet Italian herb ketchup, $5.99 for 355 ml, available at all grocery stores
Energy in bites
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SIMPLYPROTEIN
SimplyProtein’s New Energy Bites
These new SimplyProtein brand energy bites are keto-certified — they contain 10g (or 11g) of protein, 13g of fat (vegan) and 2g of sugar for three bites — but you don’t need to be a follower of the ketogenic diet to appreciate them. We like their low sugar content, the fact that they are rich in fiber (11 g for three bites) and made only of plant-based ingredients, and above all their very balanced taste and pleasant crunchy texture. As a snack, they calm hunger for several hours and provide energy thanks to ingredients such as fiber from chicory root, peanuts, soy protein, sunflower and chia seeds. Available in two flavors: chocolate and peanut butter or chocolate and coconut.
SimplyProtein, vegan, gluten-free and non-GMO, $8.99 per bag of 10 bites (150 g), available online, at Maxi and Provigo
Infusions that stand out
PHOTO KATE INCE, PROVIDED BY FIREBELLY TEA
Warm & Toasty, one of 20 varieties of teas and herbal teas offered by Firebelly Tea
David Segal, co-founder of DAVIDsTEA, is from the team behind Firebelly Tea, a new brand launching in 2021, which really charmed us with its modern and original tea and herbal tea blends. After leaving the company that bore his name in 2016, the entrepreneur returned to the world of tea, but differently. Forget the sweet and fruity blends of DAVIDsTEA, the 20 infusions offered by Firebelly Tea are all made from natural ingredients and quality tea leaves. Examples ? After Dinner Mint brings together organic rooibos, chocolate, mint and valerian root; Warm & Toasty, our favorite, combines organic green tea, cinnamon and licorice root. Purists can also get Indian or Nepali black tea, Chinese or Japanese green tea, ceremonial matcha. Everything comes in a nice minimalist cardboard packaging that contains a compostable pouch made of plant material.
Firebelly Tea, between $17.95 and $39.95 for 45g, from $19.95 for a trio of samples, available online