Trufree, the UK manufacturers of wheat and gluten-free foods, have just
released some new products, and I'm pleased to say that I've been sent
some samples for review. I'm even more pleased to say that the samples
were of Cookie Bites, Chocolate Brownie Bites and Choc Dippers. Mmmmmm.
(Pause for Homer Simpson-esque gargling noise).
When you're following a gluten-free diet, like I have done for the past seven or eight years, there are so many foods that you have to cut out from your diet. Luckily in recent years there has been an explosion of good quality gluten-free foods, and although they are often pricier than their glutenful counterparts, and sometimes can't match the taste and texture of the standard foods, they are still very useful.
I use a range of gluten-free foods, and I tend to think of them as being in two different categories - the staple stuff and the fun stuff. Staple foods include bread and pasta, boring necessities, and the fun stuff covers things like biscuits, cakes and doughnuts. Gluten really does get in everywhere, and if you're wiping it out completely from your diet then it means foregoing a whole stack of scrumptious goodies.
So that's where the gluten-free alternatives come in. I should tell you that all of the products mentioned in this review are gluten and wheat-free, and no, gluten and wheat are not the same thing. Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, rye and barley (and to a lesser extend oats, oats always cause a big argument for some reason). So if a product is labelled wheat-free but not gluten-free then it could well contain rye or barley, and therefore gluten.
OK, first up, the Cookie Bites. These are mini versions of the classic chocolate chip cookie, in a cute little resealable tub rather than a packet. They were certainly very tasty, although in common with other gluten-free biscuits I have tried they were a little on the dry side, but that's no doubt due to the limitations of the rice, potato and other flours that the manufacturers have to use instead of normal flour. Still, they disappeared very quickly nonetheless. I would give these a seven out of ten.
Next, a Choc Dipper, which is not something that I thought would ever be available for us gluten avoiders. The Choc Dipper comes in a little pot, and you get small breadsticks to dip into some Nutella-like chocolate spread. Again very tasty, and a generous portion of the choc spread was appreciated. Another seven out of ten.
And finally, another cute little tub, this time containing Brownie Bites, another mini version of a traditional chocolate recipe. These were my favourite of the lot. They were nicely soft and squidgy with a proper cake consistency, and plenty of choc pieces to boot. Highly recommended, and I'd give these a nine out of ten.
You can find these new products in branches of Waitrose and Asda, and you can also check out the range of Trufree products on their site at http://www.trufree.co.uk (the products I have reviewed are so brand spanking new they're not on the website yet, but you can see lots of other stuff there including breads, other biscuits, pasta and more).
Do you guys have any favourite gluten-free products, or do you recommend any of the Trufree range? Let me know by leaving a comment.
When you're following a gluten-free diet, like I have done for the past seven or eight years, there are so many foods that you have to cut out from your diet. Luckily in recent years there has been an explosion of good quality gluten-free foods, and although they are often pricier than their glutenful counterparts, and sometimes can't match the taste and texture of the standard foods, they are still very useful.
I use a range of gluten-free foods, and I tend to think of them as being in two different categories - the staple stuff and the fun stuff. Staple foods include bread and pasta, boring necessities, and the fun stuff covers things like biscuits, cakes and doughnuts. Gluten really does get in everywhere, and if you're wiping it out completely from your diet then it means foregoing a whole stack of scrumptious goodies.
So that's where the gluten-free alternatives come in. I should tell you that all of the products mentioned in this review are gluten and wheat-free, and no, gluten and wheat are not the same thing. Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, rye and barley (and to a lesser extend oats, oats always cause a big argument for some reason). So if a product is labelled wheat-free but not gluten-free then it could well contain rye or barley, and therefore gluten.
OK, first up, the Cookie Bites. These are mini versions of the classic chocolate chip cookie, in a cute little resealable tub rather than a packet. They were certainly very tasty, although in common with other gluten-free biscuits I have tried they were a little on the dry side, but that's no doubt due to the limitations of the rice, potato and other flours that the manufacturers have to use instead of normal flour. Still, they disappeared very quickly nonetheless. I would give these a seven out of ten.
Next, a Choc Dipper, which is not something that I thought would ever be available for us gluten avoiders. The Choc Dipper comes in a little pot, and you get small breadsticks to dip into some Nutella-like chocolate spread. Again very tasty, and a generous portion of the choc spread was appreciated. Another seven out of ten.
And finally, another cute little tub, this time containing Brownie Bites, another mini version of a traditional chocolate recipe. These were my favourite of the lot. They were nicely soft and squidgy with a proper cake consistency, and plenty of choc pieces to boot. Highly recommended, and I'd give these a nine out of ten.
You can find these new products in branches of Waitrose and Asda, and you can also check out the range of Trufree products on their site at http://www.trufree.co.uk (the products I have reviewed are so brand spanking new they're not on the website yet, but you can see lots of other stuff there including breads, other biscuits, pasta and more).
Do you guys have any favourite gluten-free products, or do you recommend any of the Trufree range? Let me know by leaving a comment.
The only truly delicious gluten-free products I've ever tasted were made by a small (British) company (Crayves) that then went out of business!
Oh, I have just looked them up on the internet, and find that they are back! I recommend all their products wholeheartedly. It seems they have a mail order service for people living outside London - hurrah!
If anyone has any other recommendations, I would be very grateful. A lot of gluten-free food I've tasted has been very disappointing (and that is a huge understatement!).
Thanks for the reviews, Sophie. I really look forward to tasting the Brownie Bites - they sound lovely!
P.S. I fear that I may inadvertently have given the impression that Crayves went bankrupt, or something. I don't know why they ceased trading for a while (I think it's a small, family-run business, so it could have been for any number of reasons), but, having tasted all their excellent products, I doubt it was due to any kind of financial failure.
Their stuff is amazing, in a home-baking, unprocessed, wholesome kind of way. It's organic too. Really gorgeous and well worth trying! They have a website, where you can get further information. Definitely 10 out of 10.
I frequently raid the Sainsbury's free from section for chocolatey goodness. Although I don't avoid gluten as I have not noticed a discernible difference between eating and excluding it, I know that it seems that it's often easier to get gluten free than dairy free snacks (lactose intolerant :-(). I know that people who avoid gluten will find that difficult to believe...
I especially love the rice crackle soya choc bar, and at one particularly low point consumed 6 of them in one sitting. Which, looking at the empty packet in front of me, (full packets don't exist for very long) means I consumed 120ish grams of sugar and explains me going uncontrollably hyperactive. They also do chocolate sponge puddings and another personal favourite, double chocolate sponge cake, oh and chocolate brownies (looking at the Sainsbury's site (search for free from on the top right)).
These are all calorific and sugar filled so I suggest using more self control than I usually do, but they do allow for those times where you just have to comfort eat, or even if you want a birthday cake you didn't have to bake yourself.
It's important to note that local Sainsbury's stores may not stock the products mentioned, I find support for these products vary greatly.