I can't quite remember where I had the chance to request a sample of Quaker's new porridge but suffice it to say that I did and was extremely surprised at the result! I expected a small amount of the product to try but I received 30 sachets of their new smooth porridge - now that's what I call a sample. The sachets were in a large jiffy bag (which will be reused) and they even included a flattened box for me to see how they would appear in the supermarket.

I normally have Quaker Oats So Simple for breakfast during the winter months which is a microwaveable porridge having the rough texture of the oats. Apparently some children don't like this texture so Quaker has developed Paw Ridge which is a smooth version.

Since this is such a new product I don't think it is readily available but I have found it on the Ocado site where a box containing 10 sachets and currently cost £1.99. As far as I know there is currently only one flavour available which is the original unsweetened one but since Oats So Simple comes in a variety of flavours I am guessing that Quaker will produce more flavours of Paw Ridge if the cereal becomes popular.

The box is smaller and squatter than your average cereal pack. It has the Quaker Oats name and the logo of the Quaker at the top. The rest of the pack depicts a blue sky over a green field with mountains in the background and a cartoon red panda and brown bear in the foreground with a bowl of porridge.

The writing tells us that this product is 100% natural; it will microwave in 90 seconds and has no lumps in it. Along the bottom of the pack there is the usual nutritional information to show how much sugar, salt etc there is in the product expressed as a percentage of a child's guideline daily amount.

On one side of the pack there is the full nutritional information and the ingredients which I will list here - 100% Quaker finely rolled wholegrain oats. On the other side are the instructions showing how to prepare the porridge either on the hob or in the microwave.

The information on the back of the pack is aimed at the children and this is where Brenda the red panda introduces herself and tells us about the website and how to find the other animals there.

It also tells us why the name of the porridge is Paw Ridge - just say it out loud to yourself - Paw Ridge = porridge and yes, I hadn't realised this until I read it on the pack! I had not had any reason to say the name out loud so it hadn't dawned on me - yes I am that thick!

Inside the box the porridge will be found in individual sachets. Each sachet has one of the five Paw Ridge animals on it together with some interesting facts and something for the child to do such as how to draw Marv the Bear. There are also instructions on how to make the porridge in the microwave.

To make the cereal you just empty the sachet into a bowl, then refill the sachet with milk up to the line drawn across near to the top of the sachet, empty that into the bowl and then microwave for 90 seconds on full power - simple!

If you want to make this in a saucepan on the hob just put the oats and 160ml of milk in the pan and simmer stirring occasionally until all the milk has been absorbed.

The smell as the cereal cooks is just an ordinary porridge smell, so very nice but nothing out of the ordinary.

The taste is not at all sweet as the product is just purely oats and nothing else. Obviously it can be sweetened with sugar or taken with salt as the Scots do if that's what floats your boat! I have eaten mine with a squeeze of Golden Syrup or with a spoonful of my St Dalfour no added sugar jam. I must admit that I found the taste to be lovely either way. I could eat it with no sweetening but I would rather have the jam of the syrup if I am honest.

The porridge itself is very smooth as advertised and, although I do prefer the rougher texture of the ordinary oats, I have enjoyed eating my free samples. Incidentally you may remember that I said at the start of this review that this new smooth version has been developed because children don't like the rough texture of ordinary oats. My sister also had a free sample of Paw Ridge and her partner's 8 year old son doesn't like it because it is too smooth! You can't win them all!

The nutritional information per 25g sachet made up with 160ml of semi skimmed milk is as follows:

Calories 164
Protein 8.6g
Carbohydrate 22.7g
Of which sugars 8g
Fat 4.9g
Of which saturates 2.2g
Fibre2.3g
Salt 0.2g

Obviously if you are counting calories you would need to add the calorie value of any sweetener that you add to the porridge.

In conclusion I have enjoyed eating my free sample but I will stick to buying the Oats So Simple as I prefer the texture of that particular porridge.