Pollen + Grace Mexican Smoky Chipotle Burrito Bowl Review

Today’s review takes us to Ocado, where I picked up the Pollen + Grace Mexican Smoky Chipotle Black Bean Burrito Bowl.

This wasn’t a new product or anything, but it was on flash sale for £2.55, and I think it normally costs £4.25, so I thought I would try it out. Not every product we try will be new. We either like to taste products we haven’t tried, try them again, or show our favourites. Basically, no rules.

I have tried one of these before, but I’m not sure if it was this exact one. It wasn’t. I just remember it not being the best, so I’ll be honest, I didn’t have high hopes for this. I really didn’t.

📦 What’s in the Bowl

The description says it is a colourful Mexican-inspired salad bowl, made with black beans, brown rice, corn salsa, zesty edamame smash, and a smoky chipotle dressing.

It also says it is made from fresh whole food ingredients, is a source of fibre, gluten-free, and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

We’re not vegan anymore, or plant-based anymore, but I still thought I would try it. I do still eat vegan food and that sort of thing. I haven’t gone to the other side where I’m anti-vegan everything.

Looking at the ingredients, there are a lot of them, but from what I could tell, it was mostly proper ingredients rather than loads of E numbers or anything like that. So that is a good thing.

✂️ The Sauce Packet Problem

The first problem was opening it.

If this is meant to be a lunch for busy days, there could maybe be issues, as I needed scissors to open it. But I have got dyspraxia/clumsy syndrome, so that could be the case. I couldn’t see an easy way to open the sauce, and it got a bit messy. If you were at work or out somewhere, that would be mega annoying.

When you get a lunch deal, always remember to get some scissors, apparently.

Once I finally opened the sauce, it looked alright. I still wasn’t hopeful, but we gave it a go.

⭐ The Review

Taste-wise, it was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Hooway.

That might sound like a compliment, and I suppose it is a little bit. I thought this could easily be a one out of ten, but it wasn’t that bad. I actually finished it all.

It does have a bit of spice, and the spice started going up my throat a bit, but the main problem is that it is still a little bit bland.

I’m not going to sit here and pretend I’m a Mexican food connoisseur, because I’m really not. I don’t think there are loads of Mexican dishes I know well, apart from things like Taco Bell, and most of that is dairy, so I’ve never had it.

So maybe someone who knows proper Mexican food would have a much stronger opinion on this. A Mexican person would probably say it wasn’t the greatest. That’s all I’m saying.

For me, it was just very mediocre.

It had some good bits. There was sweet potato, black beans, brown rice, corn salsa, and the sauce did bring something to it. It was also pretty healthy, or at least healthier than a lot of other quick meals. It has vegetables in it, so generally it is better than nothing.

I know someone will probably say it isn’t healthy because of the sauce or whatever else, but it has vegetables in it, so we’ll take it. There are a lot worse products out there.

On the plus side, it is an easy meal, especially when you’re tired and can’t be bothered. It would probably also be good on a hot summer’s day.

On the day I tried it, I had been to the doctors, came home, and my energy levels were rubbish. I had been asleep most of the day, so for something easy, it was alright.

💷 Price and Value

At £2.55 on flash sale, I can see why someone might pick it up. I probably would get it again if I saw it on offer and needed something quick.

But at £4.25 full price, no. I wouldn’t pay that. I really wouldn’t.

That is where the score starts dropping a bit, because for that price, I think there are better ready meals or better lunch options out there. I’d probably rather have a sandwich and skip this, to be honest.

It’s not awful. It’s not the worst thing in the world. But I wouldn’t rush to get it again either.

Still, I can only go by what I think, and I think this is just okay.

🧾 Score

I’m giving the Pollen + Grace Mexican Smoky Chipotle Black Bean Burrito Bowl a 5 out of 10.

It’s alright, but nothing spectacular. It’s better on offer, not worth full price, and the sauce packet could definitely be easier to open.

I think I’m being generous with the five, to be honest. Hopefully the next product is better.

🕶️ Stay Sneaky, everyone.