My cheesy nibbles for the evening (Snackrite Temptations)

Member Name: yummy87

Product:	Snackrite Temptations
Date:	23/08/04 (374 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Taste absolutely wonderful, Cheap

Disadvantages: None

We have always been fans of savoury snacks to nibble on in the evenings, and are constantly on the look out for something different to tempt our tastebuds. We all have a bit of a thing about cheese in our house and despite my children not eating a hunk of cheese on its own very often they both adore savour cheese flavoured delicacies.

For the past year and a half my brother has been in and out of hospital after being in a serious car accident, and while we were all visiting one afternoon last summer my father arrived with a bag of goodies in hand. As he piled the goodies onto the bedside table my eyes feasted upon a pack of Snackrite Temptations which looked particularly yumsome and my initial thoughts were proved to be spot on when the pack was opened and they were wolfed down by all of us within a few minutes. On the way home I decided to visit Aldi who manufacture the treats, to buy some for ourselves and we?ve not looked back since.

Snackrite Temptations are the sort of thing you find in the Tesco Finest selection or the Sainsburys Be Good to Yourself range. They?re one of those yummy little treats you?d buy for a buffet because they look so special sitting on the table and they?re a lot posher than the normal old cheese straws Mum or Gran knock up the morning before a party. Although they are in essence a cheese straw, they?re a posh one and are shaped into a delightful twisted shape which of course is going to encourage you to buy them more than if they were a plain old rectangular cheese straw.

The Temptations are packed in posh old packaging as well ? a foil packet, predominantly silver in colour envelopes the cheesy treats in its crinkly wrappings. Considering that Aldi are known for their bargains the packaging is rather luxurious and gives the impression that the snacks within are going to be pretty special. I did a quick pric
e comparison on the Tesco website and their version of the Temptations retail at £2 whereas these cost me a not to be sniffed at 69p for 160g! I suppose my biggest fear when we first bought then was whether they?d live up to the high standards of the Tesco finest range as surely they couldn?t be wonderful quality considering the price?

As you undo the crinkly foil wrapping you?ll find a plastic container inside which holds the snacks. I suppose there?ll be some of you protesting at the amount of packaging but Temptations are delicate let me tell you, and they?d be smashed to smithereens during transportation if it wasn?t for their plastic trough to keep them safe from harm so I have no complaints on that score.

The packaging states that the twists can be served either straight from the box or they can be warmed in a conventional oven for a few minutes. I?ll admit here and now that we?ve had these a fair few times and not once have they made it to the oven because we?ve been in such a hurry to eat them straight from the pack before they all disappear. Yep, they?re that moreish alright!

The first thing that strikes me every time I open a packet of Temptations is the absolutely mouth watering aroma of cheese that bursts forth from the packaging. I?ve bought so many cheesy flavoured things to find that the smell is really quite revolting, and in some cases like mouldy cheese, but Aldi have used one of my favourite cheeses in the manufacture of these which probably has something to do with it. The delicious smell of Gruyere seems to surround the sticks and no matter where you sniff it?s evenly spread and smells divine. Each Temptation is approximately 14cm long by 2.5cm wide so they?re pretty big and even more reason for you to rush off to Aldi right now and pick up a packet. The snobs amongst you who think Aldi produce is beneath you really don?t know
what you?re missing! The pastries are formed into a twist, a bit like a corn dolly really, and are slightly brown in colour with small pieces of yellow Gruyere cheese dotted across their surfaces giving them a bumpy feel as I roll them over in my hands. But wait?..there?s more. Not only do these smell of gorgeous Gruyere, there?s an absolutely rapturous smell of butter ? not margarine, but proper butter. It?s unbelieveable that these snacks have such fine ingredients in yet are so ridiculously cheap but I?m not complaining!

If you like cheese you will find these pastry delights positively moreish. Because the products are formed from puff pastry they are crisp and crunchy and very, very light. Of course they are messy, and tiny flakes of pastry do fall from the twists when eating, but it is worth it for the divine taste. The cheesy flavour is very apparent, but I can?t help thinking if these were not flavoured they would not have half of the appeal. Aldi do stock plain versions of Temptations, which I would imagine, are not half as tasty. The pastry is delightfully buttery in taste, which combines well with the bumpy cheese pieces and the pastry is so light that it has the ability to melt in the mouth if you can leave it for long enough on your tongue without wanting to bite!

Unfortunately, there is no nutritional information contained on the packaging, but I think we can safely assure ourselves that they are going to be fattening due to the large amounts of cheese and butter in the sticks.

I shall definitely be buying these again and again and again. We have bought similar snacks from Tesco and have paid over double the price for them, so I will be popping into Aldi more frequently now I know these are in stock. They have become so popular that I?ve even taken to hiding some away just so I am guaranteed a few before the rest of
the family scoff the lot and yes I have been tempted to stick them on the table at family parties and pretend I can make posh cheese straws!

Aldi Stores,
P.O. Box 26,
Atherstone,
Warwickshire.
CV9 2SH

Capital letters courtesy of: http://www.chuckleweb.co.uk/fixit.php

Summary: