The sun seems to have put his hat on now…phew! With the fickle nature of April weather, here’s a mix of new products that will suit all conditions.
Jolly Good Bacon
There’s bacon, and there’s proper bacon.
I was delighted to find that British meat brand The Jolly Hog has launched ‘Proper Posh’ Extra Thick Cut Bacon.
This is a noticeably extra thick cut, giving each rasher a fuller, meatier bite (plus the addition of black treacle, making it like ‘Suffolk cured’ black bacon). Also, it doesn’t ooze all that white goo that so many other brands produce when frying. ‘
Proper Posh’ Extra Thick Cut Back Bacon is in Sainsbury’s Tesco and Ocado now and look out for ‘Proper Posh’ Extra Thick Cut Streaky Bacon in Waitrose and Ocado soon RRP £4.00.
Potty About Potts
If you’re feeling saucy, I thoroughly recommend the Potts range.
In recyclable cans, the sauces, stocks and gravies are made with the kind of ingredients you will recognise. No nasties. No shortcuts.
There are Italian, Mexican and Indian sauces and really useful cans of stock. A fabulous and tasty store cupboard staple, they are stocked mainly by butchers and farm shops and sensibly priced.
They’re also available online from pottspartnership.co.uk where you can buy a range of assorted bundles to try out.
Worth Giving a Toss!
In the hope that we will soon be enjoying ‘salad days’ I must tell you about TOSS dressings.
These squeezy bottles are flavour-led and made using 100% clean, recognisable ingredients and vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar–free.
There are some delicious new distinctive flavours alongside reworked classics: Green Goddess; Miso Magic; Sweet Tahini Chick; Viva La Vinaigrette; and King Caesar. Beyond salads, TOSS is designed to be used every day – to dip, dunk, marinate, wrap, and spread.
Only launched earlier this year, they are already available from Holland & Barrett at £6.50 a bottle or online at toss-world.com
A Really Good Brew
Steenbergs has spent over 20 years blending organic teas and was voted the number one choice for ethical consumers by The Ethical Consumer Society.
Its loose leaf teas are now dressed in new packaging that feels every bit as thoughtful as what’s inside: illustrated designs inspired by British wildlife, hedgerows, moorlands and meadows. This matches the brand’s ethos – sustainability, purity and a deep connection to nature – while celebrating one of life’s simplest pleasures: a really good brew.
With plenty for herbal tea fans alongside classics like Organic English Breakfast and Earl Grey, every blend is created and hand-blended in rural North Yorkshire.
The range is available online at steenbergs.co.uk and from selected health food shops, farm shops, organic retailers, food halls and delis.
A BBQ Kick with Kikkoman
Looking ahead to BBQ weather, Kikkoman, makers of the UK’s number one soy sauce, has launched Teriyaki BBQ Sauce in Korean Style.
Embark on a flavour-filled journey with this fusion of two hugely popular flavours -Teriyaki and Korean – in one umami-rich barbecue sauce. Made with fine quality ingredients, it’s based on Kikkoman Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce, ginger, garlic and sesame oil, plus apples for that sweet and tangy Korean-style taste. Also, it’s additive-free and vegan-friendly too.
Available from Ocado at £3.35 for 250ml and Amazon
Hot and Sweet
Another great new product following food trends is Hilltop Tracklements Fresh Chilli Jam Hot Honey.
Two top brands have come together – pure, authentic honey and Fresh Chilli Jam from the UK’s multi-award-winning best-seller – with a chilli-and-honey combo that delivers a tasty fusion of heat, fruity undertones, and subtle savoury depth. It’s a great finishing touch for cheeses, meats, pizza, burgers and sandwiches.
Hilltop Tracklements Fresh Chilli Jam Hot Honey, RRP £4.25 for 340g, is available from www.tracklements.co.uk and www.lovehilltop.com.
An Easy Cookie
I’ve written before about Doughlicious and I’m pleased to tell you about its latest Ready to Bake Cookie Dough flavour: Cookies & Cream (RRP from £3.20 per box of six cookies), available from Sainsbury’s.
There’s dark cocoa and black cocoa for that iconic deep, almost black colour and rich chocolate flavour, then creamy white chocolate pieces for the ultimate cookies and cream experience. Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, these gluten free certified cookies are made with 100% British oats and other natural ingredients to deliver a great snack in minutes – no mixing bowls, no washing up – just take from the freezer and pop in the oven or air fryer and go!
A Bottle of Jarr
With lots of talk about fibre-maxing, JARR Kombucha fits neatly into this new era.
Naturally fermented and crafted in small batches, it delivers a really refreshing, delicious, crisp, tangy kick in flavours including Original, Ginger Lemon, Peach Yuzu, and Passion Fruit.
Rich in fibre and containing 3g per serving, JARR is a tasty and convenient way to boost your daily intake. It’s also a source of the antioxidant vitamin C, which contributes to a normal energy-yielding metabolism, helps reduce fatigue and supports the normal functioning of the immune system.
JARR is stocked in select retailers nationwide and available to buy online via Amazon.
Tesco Triumphs
Not surprisingly, Tesco is IWC’s Supermarket of the Year 2025, and it has some exciting new launches alongside award-winning wines, including this lovely Nepenthe Adelaide Hills Grüner Veltliner that showcases the pinnacle of Adelaide Hills, South Australia, quality.
This wine opens with aromas of dried pineapple, lemon, and delicate florals. Bright citrus and tropical fruit flavours are elegantly balanced by a fine texture and a long, graceful finish. Perfect for spring dining, it is a perfect accompaniment to seasonal dishes such as asparagus risotto or a fresh pea and mint salad.
12.5% ABV it’s £16 a bottle.
Another fab wine is the Grão Vasco Dão Vinho Tinto from the Dāo region of Portugal.
This rich and inviting red opens with vibrant fruit flavours that instantly deliver. Smooth and approachable, it has fresh berry and plum notes, finishing clean, and it’s ideal for sharing with friends or pairing with simple home-cooked meals.
13% ABV is £8.75 a bottle (currently £7.75 for clubcard holders)
