September has rolled around once again (funny how that happens each year), children are back at school thank fuck and with PSLs FINALLY back in store (yaaas queen) this means one thing, and one thing only - sweater weather has made its annual return! No longer must we slather factor 50 all over our bodies. No longer must we endure the discomfort of brushing up against fellow sweat-ridden passengers on the tube (metro/subway). No longer must we be ridiculed for the comfort, ease and, lest we forget the fashion credentials of socks and sandals. However, for those self proclaimed summer babies who long for #endlesssummer and suffer in cooler climes, I have chosen to review a cereal that simultaneously nods farewell to the hazy days of summer while also looking forward to the return of cool, crisp cuffing season.
I'll confess, I went away this summer (did you not see the Instagram of me and my pink inflatable flamingo?!) but please, fellow cereal enthusiasts, I implore you not to look upon this post as a means to brag about my tan - read factor 50 to understand the lack thereof - or the life changing experience and affinity I felt with the locals. No, I spent most of my time in Lisbon riding the trams and eating and drinking my way around the city's various establishments. While I'm an advocate of going to work on a bowl of cereal, I do like to mix up my routine while on holiday because, well, it's a holiday and that's apparently the prescribed norm on holiday, a means to escape the daily grind. My Portuguese breakfasts consisted mostly of pasteis de nata which are undisputedly delicious, yet unfortunately are not conducive to the healthy lifestyle I lead back home. For this reason I couldn't help but sneak a box of the finest cereal money can buy into my suitcase to sample back home and satiate my #wanderlust. Even with my embarrassing lack of mastery of the Portuguese language - hello Brit abroad - I was able to deduce that estrelitas means 'little stars', and who doesn't want to start their day shining bright like a star in the words of Rihanna?! This particular variety of Estrelitas are flavoured like a Maria biscuit, something I have never tried per se, yet in cereal form the Maria biscuit translates into a mighty fine bowl of breakfast: a strong base with a demi-sweet overtone. Granted, some of the flavour ends up rubbing off on the milk, but that just prolongs the Maria experience. The aesthetics of this cereal are noteworthy. Nestle have chosen a biscuit theme and have 100% stuck to said brief; the cereal itself is a wonderful golden brown colour imitating what I can only imagine to be the original golden bake of the Maria biscutt. Estrelitas fare well in the soggy trials, keeping their wonderful galaxy shapes for an impressive 10 minutes. For me, Estrelitas sit on the cusp between summer and winter: with a nod to my time spent in Lisbon, the cereal itself defies seasonal change and, in my opinion, can be enjoyed at any time of the year. Overall I was wholeheartedly impressed buy this celestial cereal and will definitely be probing the depths of the internet to get my hands on another few boxes to keep me cosy this autumn.
Here are my ratings for Nestle Estrelitas:
Flavour: 4/5
Crunch Factor: 3.5/5
Flavour: 4/5
Aesthetics: 4.5/5
Filling: 3/5
Overall Rating: 3.75/5 