Everyone says they like it hot. Most people are lying.

Here's how the Scoville scale works in practice: a standard chilli con carne uses dried chilli flakes, coming in around 30,000–50,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). A Birds Eye chilli — the thing that makes a Thai green curry feel spicy — sits at around 100,000 SHU. Jalapeños are 8,000. Tobasco is 5,000.

The Carolina Reaper? 2.2 million SHU.

The Ghost Pepper? 1 million SHU.

The Trinidad Moruga Scorpion? 2 million SHU.

These aren't novelty figures. These are real chillies, with real heat, used in real Spicentice recipe kits — built as genuine recipes that taste exceptional, not just burn-for-the-sake-of-burning heat bombs.

If you're ready to find out what you're actually made of, read on.

The Scoville Heat Scale: Where Our Kits Sit

We recommend working your way up this list before you commit to the Carolina Reaper. Many people skip the middle section and regret it.

The Extreme Heat Range

👻 Ghost Pepper Curry Kit (Bhut Jolokia)

The Ghost Pepper — Bhut Jolokia — held the title of world's hottest chilli from 2007 to 2011. It's since been overtaken, but don't let that fool you. This is still an extraordinarily hot chilli with a slow, building, creeping heat that arrives about 30 seconds after you swallow and doesn't leave for a while.

What makes our Ghost Pepper kit different from just "hot food" is that the recipe is genuinely delicious. The heat is supported by a complex base of aromatics — the kind of depth you get from a really good curry house, but turned up to a volume that will clear your sinuses from three rooms away.

Who it's for: experienced chilli eaters who want genuine heat without sacrificing flavour
Who it's not for: people who consider Nando's Extra Hot brave

👉 Shop the Ghost Pepper Curry Kit

🦂 Trinidad Moruga Scorpion Kit

From 2012 to 2013, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion was the hottest chilli in the world. It has a distinctive fruity, almost sweet quality in the first moment — which is either a blessing or a cruel trick, depending on how you look at it — before delivering a wave of heat that's been described by professional chilli tasters as "relentless."

This kit is for people who've done the Ghost Pepper and found themselves reaching for a second bowl. You know who you are.

Heat note: The Scorpion has a deceptively pleasant initial flavour. Do not let this mislead you.

👉 Shop the Scorpion Curry Kit

🔴 Carolina Reaper Curry Kit — The Nuclear Option

In 2013, the Carolina Reaper was certified by Guinness World Records as the hottest chilli pepper in the world. It has held or contested that title ever since. At up to 2.2 million Scoville Heat Units, it is approximately 440 times hotter than a jalapeño.

Our Carolina Reaper curry kit uses real dried Carolina Reaper, not extract, not flavouring — actual Reaper chilli in a recipe that's been engineered to be hot enough to be genuinely extreme while still tasting like an actual curry rather than a punishment.

This is the one people buy as a challenge. The one that ends up on YouTube. The one that becomes a story.

Serving suggestion: Have dairy on standby. Milk, yoghurt, or ice cream. Water does not help with capsaicin heat — fat does.

Genuine warning: If you have any heart conditions, digestive sensitivities, or are pregnant, please skip this one.

👉 Shop the Carolina Reaper Curry Kit

The Spicentice Chilli Challenge

Think you can handle the full heat ladder? Here's the official Spicentice Chilli Challenge:

1. Start with the Ghost Pepper Kit
2. Progress to the Scorpion Kit (same week, or when recovered)
3. Attempt the Carolina Reaper Kit

Rules:

• You must finish a full portion
• No dairy until the meal is complete
• You must film it and tag us

The number of people who've completed all three in the same sitting is... small.

Are you in? 👉 Shop the Chilli Challenge Bundle

Why Extreme Heat Chillies Taste Better Than You Think

Here's something that surprises people: the world's hottest chillies actually have extraordinary flavour. The Carolina Reaper has a fruity, almost chocolate-like quality underneath the heat. The Ghost Pepper has a complex, slightly smoky depth. The Scorpion has a tropical fruitiness.

Most people never experience these flavours because the heat overwhelms them before they can process it. Experienced chilli eaters — people who've built their capsaicin tolerance over time — will tell you that the extreme end of the Scoville scale offers some of the most interesting flavour experiences in cooking.

We built our extreme heat kits to honour that. These aren't novelty products. They're proper recipes, with proper flavour, that happen to also set your face on fire.

Extreme Heat Kits as Gifts

Our hot kits are one of our most popular gift choices — particularly for:

• People who claim to love spicy food (the gift that finds out the truth)
• Chilli enthusiasts who've tried everything available in supermarkets
• Groups who want to do a chilli challenge together
• Anyone who thinks they're the spiciest person they know

👉 Shop the Hot & Fiery Gift Box

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these kits actually dangerous?
Extremely hot food can cause discomfort, sweating, and digestive distress in some people. For the vast majority of healthy adults, they are completely safe — just very, very uncomfortable if you're not used to the heat. We recommend building up your tolerance gradually rather than jumping straight to the Carolina Reaper.

What should I do if the heat is too much?
Reach for dairy — milk, yoghurt, or cream. The fat in dairy products binds to capsaicin and neutralises it. Water and beer do not help. Bread can absorb some of the oils but is less effective than dairy.

Can I use less of the spice mix to make it milder?
Yes — all our kits are flexible. Use half the mix for a hot (rather than extreme) experience, and keep the rest for a future cook when you're feeling braver.

Do the kits contain any other heat sources beyond the featured chilli?
Our blends are pure herbs and spices. The heat comes entirely from the chilli itself — no artificial heat enhancers or extract.

Ready to Find Out What You're Made Of?

Browse the full Spicentice extreme heat range — from moderately terrifying to genuinely life-altering.

👉 Shop Extreme Heat Kits →

Enter at your own risk. Keep dairy nearby. We accept no responsibility for what happens next.

Spicentice — made in Leicester since 1994. We've been helping people discover what they're made of for over 30 years.

Finding a genuinely great gift for someone who loves spicy food is harder than it sounds. A generic bottle of hot sauce from the supermarket won’t cut it. You need something that shows thought, delivers an experience, and — ideally — makes them sweat.

We’ve put together 12 of the best gifts for spice lovers UK shoppers can find right now, from extreme curry kit collections to artisan chilli products and fiery cooking experiences. We’ve listed our own product first because we’re genuinely proud of it — but the rest of the list is honest.

1. Spicentice World’s Hottest Curry Gift Set — Our Top Pick

This is the spicy food gift set we’d reach for first, and not just because we make it. It’s a genuinely thoughtful, experience-led gift that does something different to most food presents: it invites the recipient to cook something extraordinary and share it with people they care about.

The Carolina Reaper kit alone is one of the most extreme curry gift boxes available in the UK. The progression from Vindaloo → Phaal → Reaper gives it a structure that rewards the brave and punishes the overconfident.

•       Perfect for: dads, boyfriends, husbands, anyone who claims to love heat

•       Occasions: Father’s Day, Christmas, birthdays, Secret Santa, ‘just because’

•       Ships: Free UK tracked delivery on orders over £20

➡️  Shop the World’s Hottest Curry Gift Set at spicentice.com — £14.99

2. Personalised Spice Kit Subscription Box

For the spice lover who likes to cook regularly, a monthly subscription of hand-selected spice kits is a gift that keeps on giving. Several UK brands offer personalised options based on heat preference and cuisine style.

•       Look for options that let you set a heat level rather than defaulting to mild

•       Monthly subscriptions typically range from £12–25/month

•       Works especially well as a birthday gift or ‘experiences over things’ present

3. Artisan Hot Sauce Collection

A well-curated set of small-batch artisan hot sauces makes an excellent gift. Look for collections that go beyond basic supermarket bottles — fermented sauces, smoked sauces, and fruit-forward habanero blends are popular with serious heat hunters.

•       UK producers like Tubby Tom’s, Leap of Faith, and Wiltshire Chilli Farm are well regarded

•       A box of 4–6 bottles at different heat levels is more impressive than a single sauce

•       Typically £20–45 depending on the range

4. Chilli Growing Kit

For the spice lover with a garden or windowsill, a grow-your-own chilli kit is a gift with months of reward. Premium kits include exotic varieties like Carolina Reaper, Moruga Scorpion, and Naga seeds with soil, pots, and growing instructions.

•       Best for: patient, horticultural-minded spice lovers

•       Chilli of the Month Club and South Devon Chilli Farm both do excellent UK kits

5. Curry Night in a Box

Beyond our own offering, several UK companies sell complete curry night gift boxes that include spice pastes, rice, naan bread, and chutneys for a full Indian night in. A step up from a takeaway, and far more fun to receive as a gift.

•       Look for kits that include restaurant-style quantities, not sample-sized sachets

•       Great paired with a bottle of Cobra beer or mango lassi ingredients

6. Hot Sauce Making Kit

Ideal for the creative cook. A DIY hot sauce kit includes chillies, vinegar, salt, and sterilised bottles — letting the recipient craft their own signature sauce. Kits from Sauce Shop and others retail around £25–40.

7. Chilli Chocolate Collection

The marriage of dark chocolate and chilli is genuinely excellent — the fat in the chocolate carries the capsaicin beautifully, creating a slow-building burn. A well-chosen box of chilli chocolate (look for 70%+ dark with Carolina Reaper or Scotch Bonnet) makes a refined, sophisticated gift at any budget.

8. Spicy Snack Subscription

If they’re more of a snacker than a cook, a subscription to a global spicy snack box delivers hot crisps, nuts, noodles, and jerky from around the world each month. Companies like Spicy Subscription Box and Universal Yums carry hot varieties.

9. Chilli Farm Experience Day

For an experiential gift, UK chilli farms including South Devon Chilli Farm and Edible Ornamentals offer open days, farm tours, and chilli picking experiences in summer and autumn. A unique gift for the serious enthusiast.

10. Extreme Chilli Sauce Roulette Game

A set of identically-labelled hot sauces in wildly varying heat levels (from mild to mouth-destroying) — players take a hit without knowing what they’re getting. A popular spicy Secret Santa gift and excellent for groups.

11. Curry Cookbook for Heat Seekers

Not every gift needs to be edible. A book dedicated to regional Indian cooking with a focus on authentic spice and heat — think Dishoom’s cookbook or ‘Kolkata’ by Rinku Dutt — is a thoughtful gift that complements a spice kit beautifully.

12. Sampler of World’s Hottest Chillies (Dried)

A curated selection of dried super-hot chillies (Carolina Reaper, Scorpion, Naga, Habanero) lets the home cook experiment with real chillies in their own recipes. Sold by specialist UK chilli retailers and typically under £20.

How to Choose the Right Gift for a Spice Lover

Not all chilli fans are the same. Before you buy, consider:

1.    How hot do they actually go? A Vindaloo devotee and a Carolina Reaper challenger need very different gifts.

2.    Are they a cook or a snacker? Curry kits and spice blends suit cooks; hot sauces and snack boxes suit everyone.

3.    Is it for sharing? Our World’s Hottest Curry Gift Set is brilliant for a group challenge night — serves four.

4.    What’s the occasion? For something to unwrap at Christmas or Father’s Day, presentation matters. Look for gift-ready packaging.

You’ve heard the name. Maybe you’ve seen someone eat one on YouTube, face turning beetroot, eyes streaming, dignity evaporating. The Carolina Reaper is the world’s hottest chilli pepper — officially — and its Scoville rating is genuinely staggering.

But what exactly are Carolina Reaper Scoville units, how does the Scoville scale work, and — crucially — can a normal person actually cook with this thing?

Short answer: yes. And we’ll show you how.

What is the Scoville Scale?

The Scoville scale was invented in 1912 by pharmacist Wilbur Scoville to measure the pungency (heat) of chilli peppers. It works by measuring the concentration of capsaicin — the chemical compound responsible for that burning sensation — in Scoville Heat Units (SHU).

The higher the number, the hotter the chilli. A bell pepper sits at 0 SHU. A jalapeño reaches around 8,000 SHU. And the Carolina Reaper… well, we’ll get to that.

How Many Carolina Reaper Scoville Units Is It Exactly?

The Carolina Reaper averages 1,641,183 Scoville Heat Units, according to the Guinness World Record it first achieved in 2013. Individual peppers have been measured at over 2.2 million SHU — nearly 300 times hotter than a jalapeño.

To put that into perspective: a single drop of pure Carolina Reaper extract, diluted into 1.6 million drops of sugar water, would still taste hot.

Why does the Scoville number vary?

You’ll see different numbers quoted across the internet for Carolina Reaper Scoville units. That’s because heat varies naturally between individual peppers based on:

•       Growing conditions (soil, temperature, water stress)

•       Ripeness at harvest — fully red, ripe peppers are hotter

•       The specific part of the pepper (the placenta near the seeds is hottest)

•       The year and batch of measurement

The widely accepted average is 1.5 million SHU, which is the figure used in Guinness records and most food science literature.

What Does Eating a Carolina Reaper Actually Feel Like?

Heat from a Carolina Reaper doesn’t hit immediately. There’s typically a 5–15 second delay, then a wave of intense, escalating burn that starts in the mouth and spreads to the throat, chest, and sometimes the entire face.

Common reported effects include:

•       Intense sweating

•       Hiccups and stomach cramps

•       Watering eyes

•       Thunderclap headaches (in rare cases, from extreme consumption)

•       A euphoric ‘runner’s high’ from endorphin release — the reason chilli lovers keep coming back

The burn from a Carolina Reaper can last 30 minutes to over an hour. Milk, yoghurt or ice cream help by binding to capsaicin. Water does not — it spreads the oil around and makes things worse.

Can You Actually Cook with Carolina Reaper Chilli?

Yes — and when you do, it’s extraordinary. Beneath the ferocious heat, the Carolina Reaper has a genuinely fruity, slightly sweet flavour that pairs beautifully with the deep, fragrant spices of an Indian curry.

The key is using it in the right quantity, balanced with the right ingredients. A skilled blend of complementary spices can bring out the Reaper’s flavour while making the heat manageable enough to enjoy the meal — rather than just endure it.

That’s exactly what we’ve done with our Carolina Reaper Curry Kit.

Carolina Reaper vs. Other Super-Hot Chillies

The Carolina Reaper currently holds the Guinness World Record, but there are other seriously hot contenders worth knowing:

Naga Ghost Chilli (Bhut Jolokia) — ~750,000 SHU

The Ghost Chilli was the world’s hottest from 2007–2011. It’s fragrant, slow-burning, and forms the backbone of a classic Phaal curry. Used in our Phaal Curry Kit.

Habanero — ~350,000 SHU

Fruity, floral, and fiercely hot, the Habanero is far more widely used in cooking than the Reaper. It delivers manageable heat with excellent flavour. Forms the base of our Vindaloo Curry Kit.

Scorpion Pepper — ~1,200,000 SHU

The Trinidad Moruga Scorpion briefly held the world record before the Reaper. Similar heat level, slightly different flavour profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Scoville units is the Carolina Reaper?

The Carolina Reaper averages approximately 1,641,183 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), with individual peppers measuring up to 2.2 million SHU. The commonly cited figure is 1.5 million SHU.

Is the Carolina Reaper still the world’s hottest chilli?

As of the most recent Guinness World Records confirmation, yes. New contenders are regularly tested, but the Carolina Reaper remains the record holder in mainstream food science.

Can eating a Carolina Reaper hurt you?

For healthy adults, the pain is temporary and passes. However, extremely large quantities can cause vomiting, intense abdominal pain, and in rare cases, ‘thunderclap’ headaches. Always treat extreme chillies with respect — and don’t rub your eyes.

What’s the best way to cook with Carolina Reaper?

Use it sparingly, balanced with rich base ingredients (onion, tomato, cream or coconut), and freshly ground whole spices to support the flavour. Our Carolina Reaper Curry Kit does exactly this — all the blending is done for you.

What’s hotter — Naga or Carolina Reaper?

The Carolina Reaper is roughly twice as hot as a Naga Ghost Chilli by Scoville measurement (1.5M vs 750K SHU).

Friday night rolls around, the sofa is calling, and that familiar craving hits — a big, saucy, proper takeaway. But you're on plan. You've had a great week. You're not throwing it away for a £30 delivery that'll leave you feeling sluggish by 9pm.

Good news: you don't have to.

With the right spice kit, a fakeaway at home can taste every bit as good as the real thing — sometimes better — and come in at a fraction of the calories, cost, and guilt. Here are five of our favourite slimming fakeaway recipes that are genuinely low-calorie, completely gluten-free, and seriously delicious.

What Is a Fakeaway?

A fakeaway is simply a homemade version of a takeaway dish — same big flavours, same comfort factor, but made at home with fresh ingredients and a proper spice kit so you know exactly what's going in it. No hidden sugars, no mystery oils, no salt overload.

For anyone following Slimming World, calorie counting, or just trying to eat a bit better without giving up Friday night excitement, fakeaways are a game-changer.

Why Spicentice Spice Kits Are Perfect for Slimming Fakeaways

Every Spicentice kit is:

• ✅ Low calorie — our kits contain no added salt, no added sugar, and no fillers
• ✅ Gluten-free — every single one
• ✅ Vegan-friendly — all recipes can be adapted for plant-based diets
• ✅ Free from nasties — 100% pure herbs and spices, nothing artificial

You control the protein, you control the fat, you control the portion. That's how a fakeaway should work.

5 Slimming Fakeaway Recipes to Try This Week

1. Chinese Chicken Curry Fakeaway

This is the one that converts people. Rich, warming, slightly sweet — it tastes like the real thing from your local Chinese, only you're using lean chicken breast and a proper spice blend with zero hidden nasties.

Why it works for slimming: Swap the oil for a spray, use lean chicken or Quorn, and serve with cauliflower rice instead of white rice to slash the calories even further.

Approx. calories per serving: 280–350 kcal (depending on protein used)

👉 Shop the Chinese Chicken Curry Kit

2. Chicken Tikka Fakeaway

Tikka is one of those dishes that feels indulgent even when it isn't. A proper tikka marinade — warm with cumin, coriander, and a hint of chilli — chars beautifully under the grill and pairs perfectly with a fat-free yoghurt dip.

Why it works for slimming: Marinate overnight for maximum flavour so you're not tempted to add extra sauce. Serve with a big salad or syn-free rice.

Approx. calories per serving: 250–320 kcal

👉 Shop the Chicken Tikka Kit

3. Firecracker Chicken Fakeaway

For those who like a bit of heat with their Friday night, Firecracker Chicken delivers a sweet, sticky, spicy kick that completely satisfies a takeaway craving. It's become a Spicentice cult favourite — and once you've tried it, you'll understand why.

Why it works for slimming: Use a light spray instead of oil when frying, and pile it into a lettuce wrap instead of a bao bun for a seriously low-carb, high-flavour result.

Approx. calories per serving: 290–360 kcal

👉 Shop the Firecracker Chicken Kit

4. Coriander Chicken Curry

Lighter than a tikka masala but punchier than a plain chicken curry, this one is beautifully fragrant and works brilliantly with whatever vegetables you have in the fridge. It's the kind of recipe that makes you look like you know what you're doing in the kitchen.

Why it works for slimming: A great base for bulking out with spinach, peppers, and courgette — add loads of veg, same spice kit, bigger portions for the same calories.

Approx. calories per serving: 240–310 kcal

👉 Shop the Coriander Chicken Kit

5. Chilli Con Carne Fakeaway

Sometimes a fakeaway isn't about copying a takeaway — it's about making a proper comfort meal from scratch, fast, with maximum flavour. Our Chilli Con Carne kit is exactly that. Deep, smoky, rich, and endlessly adaptable.

Why it works for slimming: Use extra-lean mince or turkey mince, load up with kidney beans and peppers, and serve with cauliflower rice or a jacket potato for a filling, satisfying meal well under 400 calories.

Approx. calories per serving: 300–400 kcal (with lean mince)

👉 Shop the Chilli Con Carne Kit

Top Tips for a Slimming-Friendly Fakeaway Night

1. Swap oil for spray
Most fakeaway recipes only need a light coating of oil to cook. A spray saves you 100+ calories before you've even started.

2. Bulk out with vegetables
Any curry, stir fry or chilli can be doubled in volume with zero impact on calories by adding peppers, spinach, courgette, or mushrooms. More food, same kit.

3. Swap white rice for cauliflower rice
A full portion of white rice is around 200 calories. Cauliflower rice is around 25. You do the maths.

4. Make your own sides
Homemade raita (fat-free yoghurt + cucumber + mint) and a simple salad turn a fakeaway into a full spread — and keep it firmly on plan.

5. Prep in advance
Marinating your protein overnight doesn't just improve flavour — it means your Friday night fakeaway takes 20 minutes from fridge to plate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Spicentice kits suitable for Slimming World?
Our kits contain no added salt, no added sugar, and no artificial additives — just pure herbs and spices. This makes them a great choice for anyone following Slimming World or similar plans. Always check your plan's guidance on spice blends, but our kits are as clean as they come.

Are the kits gluten-free?
Yes — every Spicentice recipe kit is completely gluten-free.

Can I use the kits with Quorn or plant-based protein?
Absolutely. All our recipes work brilliantly with Quorn, tofu, jackfruit, or any plant-based alternative. The spices do the heavy lifting regardless of what protein you use.

How many calories are in a Spicentice spice kit?
The kits themselves contain minimal calories — they're pure spice blends. The overall calorie count of your dish depends on the protein and method of cooking you choose, which means you stay in full control.

Ready for Fakeaway Friday?

You don't have to choose between enjoying your food and staying on plan. With a Spicentice spice kit, a Friday night fakeaway can be the highlight of your week and completely guilt-free.

Browse our full range of slimming-friendly recipe kits and find your new Friday night favourite.

👉 Shop Spicentice Slimming Recipe Kits →

Spicentice is a family business based in Leicester. Since 1994 we've been making award-winning spice blends from 100% pure herbs and spices — no nasties, no fillers, just brilliant flavour.

“I’ll just go for the usual please”

A cold, rainy Friday night, cuddled up on the sofa with a great film. The perfect time to pick up the phone and order yourself a Chinese takeaway.

The Chinese chicken curry is that staple item on the menu that we know is going to be a safe option. It’s full of flavour and generally tastes great, whichever takeaway you go to. Maybe you’ll add some chips, throw in some prawn crackers and enjoy a few won-ton's on the side too.

Friday nights are never the night to worry about calories but some of you might just be wondering if there are any lower-calorie options that are just as easy to get your hands on. We decided to test the takeaway against a supermarket ready meal and our own Spicentice recipe.

The takeaway Chinese chicken curry

Generally speaking, we will share a large curry and a large rice container between 2 people. It can be quite difficult to set to portion control when you’ve got leftovers hanging around though.

We took an average calorie count from a couple of different calorie tracking websites including My Fitness Pal which counted a ½ container.

Curry = 336 calories

Egg fried rice = 230 calories

It’s a slippery slope though when you’ve got that bag of prawn crackers and the large array of appetisers to choose from on the menu. Prawn toast, wontons, noodles and the like can soon double or triple your calorie intake with all their fried goodness.

Total = 566 Calories

The Tesco ready meal

The Chinese chicken curry is a firm favourite offered in Tesco and likely in most other big brand supermarkets. These meals come as pre-portioned meals for 1 and this particular version weighs around 450g for the chicken and rice together. It also contains a lot of additives to preserve shelf life and of course, isn’t fresh.

It’s a mediocre alternative to the takeaway if you want a quick microwave dinner but according to our tests, actually comes in higher in calories than a takeaway meal!

Total calories = 615 calories

The ready meal portion is fairly large, but we aren’t convinced we could enjoy a smaller portion and stop ourselves eating the whole lot! It might actually be a tastier AND healthier option to get down to the Chinese if you really can’t resist the urge to indulge, we think you’ll enjoy it more.

The Spicentice Chinese chicken curry

Total calories = 377

Of course, we won!

We developed a recipe that doesn’t use any coconut milk, cream or other high-calorie, high-fat additions. Our recipe uses some key things like garlic and onion, a good amount of chicken stock and a simple but special mix of herbs and spices from our seasoning mix – Add in a smidge of flour to thicken it all up & you’ve got an authentic curry in not much time at all with just under 200 calories to spare.

You could add in some shop-bought prawn crackers or spring rolls without making it a hugely calorific meal – or even add a glass of rum & ginger beer on the side to make to perfect Friday night.

A woman who discovered she was spending more than £100 a week on food has explained how she managed to slash that bill.

The Full Article can be read at the Mirror Newspaper here.

Melita Latham found a way to overcome her fear of the kitchen - and as a result is not only eating better food, but spending more quality time with her partner and helping the environment too.

A woman who discovered she was spending more than £100 a week on food has explained how she managed to slash that bill.

Melita Latham found a way to overcome her fear of the kitchen - and as a result is not only eating better food, but spending more quality time with her partner and helping the environment too.

“Growing up, my mum would always do the cooking but unfortunately I didn’t inherit her culinary skills, so when I moved out I quickly fell into the habit of buying pricey convenience food that was ready made or which I could just throw in the microwave," the 34-year old explained.

And her habit of buying prepared food only got worse when she moved in with her partner Mark two years ago, who also didn't cook.

"When I met Mark, we fell into a routine of ordering the same non-adventurous food from the same takeaways and restaurants – but it was never nutritious and wouldn’t fill us up, so we’d snack throughout the day too."

Then one day Melita added up just how much she was spending.

“It finally dawned on me just how much money Mark and I were spending every month on food – and actually how much of it was going to waste," she said.

“Because we’d nip to the shops every day, we’d buy more than what we needed and in bigger quantities than necessary, and we’d often end up throwing a lot of it away which was really wasteful."

Adding it all up, Melita worked out she was spending an incredible £118.40 a week on food - despite not eating breakfast most days.

Things had to change, there was just one problem - she still didn't know how to cook.

“I’d always been a bit scared of the kitchen and I just thought because I’d had so many bad experiences, everything I would make would turn out terribly," she said.

But a post on social media was about to change all that - after Melita discovered there were companies that give you step-by-step instructions along with all the spices you need and a shopping list of what to buy.

And by combining Spicentice- the firm she chose - meal kits with fresh, ingredients from the local supermarket, Melita managed to save £32.58 in three days compared with what she had been spending.

And the meal-specific shopping lists that came with the kits meant she could also cut down on waste.

“One of the best things about cooking with Spicentice kits is that they include a full ingredients list on the back of each, so you know exactly how much of everything you need to buy and there’s rarely any waste at all," Melita said.

And that wasn't the only benefit the Essex resident found.

“It’s also much quicker to prepare the ingredients and cook a full meal for us both than it would be to order food and wait for it to be delivered, so we haven’t sacrificed anything timewise either,” Melita said.

Melita, who runs the travel accessories business melitalathamlondon.com, also found it helped with her relationship.

“Mark and I get so excited for dinner now, which is something I never thought would happen," she said.

"We text each other throughout the day to decide which kit we’re going to use and who’s going to pick up the ingredients.

“Normally every evening we’d just order a takeaway, do our separate things until it arrived, then sit on the sofa and eat whilst watching TV – again, not talking.

“Now, we spend quality time with each other nearly every night, whenever we’re cooking.”

Melita's £118.40 weekly food bill

Day 1:

• Breakfast - Cup of tea
• Lunch - £3 - Vegetarian Sushi x 2, Mr Kipling Cherry Bakewell
• Dinner - £25 - Chinese Takeaway

Day 2:

• Breakfast - Cup of tea
• Lunch - £1.70 - Supermarket bought cheese and onion sandwich, Beef crisps
• Dinner - £3 - Sausage and microwave mash with onion gravy

Day 3:

• Breakfast - Cup of tea
• Lunch - £2.70 - Vegetarian Sushi x 2, Beef crisps
• Dinner - £5 - Supermarket bought Spinach & Ricotta Tortellini

Day 4:

• Breakfast - Cup of tea
• Lunch - £3.50 - Crisps, chocolate bar and a bag of mini eggs
• Dinner - £7.80 - Chicken Kiev, Salad, Potato Wedges

Day 5:

• Breakfast - £8 - Full English
• Lunch - £0
• Dinner - £25 - Takeaway pizza, cheesy garlic bread and mozzarella sticks

Day 6:

• Breakfast - Cup of tea
• Lunch - £3.70 - Cheese and tomato Pasta pot, cheese crisps and Kinder Bueno Chocolate Bar
• Dinner - £5 - Takeaway burger and chips

Day 7:

• Breakfast - Cup of tea
• Lunch - £3 - Sausage and cheese baguette
• Dinner - £18 - Chicken pasta and Garlic Bread, Chocolate Pudding in restaurant

Our fantastic customer Laura was featured in the daily mail recently, showing how you can cut your food bill in the kitchen by almost half by changing the ingredients you use in your cooking. Full article:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/…/Frugal-mother-two-reveals-cut…

A frugal mother of two revealed how she cut her food bill in half 'overnight' while still cooking tasty dinners for her family.  

Laura Light, 33, from Southampton, dishes up mouth-watering meals for herself,  husband and two young daughters every night, costing as little as 78p a head. 
By using store cupboard ingredients and ready mixed spice kits from Spice-n-tice, the busy mum serves up nutritious meals daily in less than 30 minutes.
The thrifty mum told that though it was a 'challenge' to get her family eating fresh and healthy, meals on such a strict budget the meal kits and planning ahead has made it 'easy' for her to prepare high quality meals for less money.

 'When we first started living to a stricter budget, our monthly food bill was the first thing I looked at', Laura said. 

 'Pretty much overnight I managed to reduce it by over half, simply by shopping around and planning the meals in advance.

'With two school age children, keeping that spend down but at the same time making sure my family eat a varied diet, cooked from scratch with lots of fresh vegetables, can be a challenge.

 'The Spicentice recipe kits make it really easy for me. Each comes with a great shopping list and easy to follow recipe.'

Laura's family favourites include chilli con carne, Italian meatball marinara, vegan shepherd's pie and Chinese chicken curry, and she told how the easy meal kits mean each meal takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. 

'They're very quick to make too. The Chinese Chicken curry, including all the prep, takes around 10 minutes. 

'The longest any of the Spicentice kits takes is around 30 minutes, which is nothing when you take into account all the fresh ingredients used and that everything is prepared from scratch.' 

Laura went on to explain that the kits fit into her busy lifestyle, meaning that it's easy to fit meals into everyone's individual schedule.  

She said: 'We often all eat at different time – the kids when they get home from school, me after they're in bed and my husband, who works shifts, when he gets in.

'I tend to prep dinner while Holly and Abigail are at school, cook it for them and heat up for me and Matthew. These kits work perfectly for that too.' 

Laura can cook up the meals for as little as £3.13 for four which works out at just 78p a head with the average price for the meals coming in at around £1.26 per person and says the food is better than 'anything from a takeaway'. 

'It's such an easy dinner to prepare and tastes amazing. It's just as good – if not better – than anything you'd get from a takeaway', she told. 

Laura keeps the costs low by following the shopping list on the Spicentice recipe kits and by making the most of store cupboard ingredients. 

The mum has been living frugally since having her first daughter Holly six years ago. She follows practical money save rules like always shopping with a list and planning meals each week. 

'I also find it's a great way to conceal vegetables for my fussy daughters. The vegan shepherd's pie is packed with them – potatoes, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, carrots, celery, onions, tomatoes and garlic – and they absolutely love it. 

'Little do they know just how much healthy stuff is hidden in it! 

She also batch cooks and shops around the supermarkets, discount and online retailers for the best deals.    

Laura continued: 'Before I tried the Spicentice kits I would have told anyone I was cooking up flavoursome meals every night. 

'Now I've used them, I've realised how bland some of our meals were and when I checked the cupboards, I realised I only had one tub of mixed spices.

'Spicentice has definitely played a part in helping me feed my family mouth-watering meals, cooked from scratched and within budget.'