Eisberg Wine

First wines in the That's Food and Drink Virtual Wine Festival is Eisberg Alcohol Free Wines

At one time if you wanted the pleasure of drinking wine but without the alcohol, Eisberg was your only option.

Now Eisberg has been joined by many other alcohol free wine producers. But Eisberg is still there and is still the name most people associate with alcohol free wines.

Some would be tempted to rest on their laurels, but that's not the Eisberg way! Over the years Eisberg has updated and refined its offering to the wine drinking public who want the taste of wine but without the alcohol. Some people don't consume alcohol for religious reasons and other for health reasons. But everyone needs good, tasty wines.

Which is where Eisberg comes into its own.

There's their Sauvignon Blanc.  It is a light and delicate version of this wine type which has a nice bouquet and a good, fruity finish to it.

Next we look at their Chardonnay

It is a delicious and fresh Chardonnay. There are citrus notes and a touch of vanilla, too. The one thing that is missing? Just the alcohol, of course!

Sparkling Blanc

This is, I have to admit, my favourite wine in the range. It's light, crispy, fizzy, with a delicate citrusy edge and  it loves to be served chilled! 

Sparkling Rose is another firm favourite. It is juicy and ripe tasting and is filled to the last bubble with red fruit notes. 

Eisberg point out that you can use their wines to make cocktails and also in cooking, too. They taste so good that if you are going to use them in cooking I'd suggest buying at least two bottles one for cooking with and one for drinking!

To find out where you can buy Eisberg wines visit https://eisberg.co.uk/stockists/

On Amazon 6 bottles of Eisberg Sauvignon Blanc will cost £41.73, plus delivery. 6 bottles of Sparkling Rose will cost  £21.87.

The That's Food and Drink Virtual Wine and Beer Festival is on the way

After the continuing success of our Virtual Tea Festival, That's Food and Drink will be running a Virtual Wine and Beer Festival.

Our friends in the industry will be helping us to source wines and beers that you might not have heard of.

We will let you know what is available, where you can buy them and how much they will cost.

If you have wines or beers that we can help you to promote (for free. We don't charge!) please email us at afj_uk@yahoo.com.

Tea India brings real tea from India

As part of the continuing That's Food and Drink Virtual Tea Festival we look at the offerings from Tea India.

"Tea India was established when its founder immigrated from India to the west back in 1981. He brought his own family's tea recipes and the  time-honoured traditions of chai. 

"Together with master tea blenders, who also hailed from India, he created a range of genuine and authentic tea blends inspired by their motherland. 

"From rich spiced chai to single estate regional teas to wellness blends infused with authentic Indian herbs, each blend offers something unique and indulgent.

"Tea India’s tea is sourced from some of the most established tea gardens in India, each of which sits in a unique region of the country, rich in natural beauty and culture. Single-estate teas benefit from the mix of soil and climate in their region, with the very best picked for your cup.

"Masala Chai is a traditional spiced chai taking the heat and sweetness of cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, black pepper, and anise. Using his family recipe, Tea India’s master blender has taken these heart-warming spices and the finest quality Assam tea to create a truly authentically Indian chai experience. Inspired by aromatic Indian spices and flavours he has also created sweet cardamom chai, spicy ginger chai, warming turmeric chai, and indulgent coconut chai. Each Tea India chai honours the traditions that go along with a cup of tea: family, home, heritage, and comfort."

The above information was very kindly provided to us from Tea India, for which we are very grateful.

But what about the tastes of the teas?

I was introduced to the magical tastes of genuine chai by my wife whose family also hails from India so any teas that claim to be Indian have to pass her stern test.

We are tasting Masala Chai, Cardamom Chai and Coconut Chai.

I had not heard of Coconut Chai before and we found that it is a very tasty chai blend which tastes and smells of real coconuts. And is nicely creamy.

It's a great morning blend and really motivated me to get on with the day's work!

Cardamom Chai from Tea India has a real and genuine cardamom taste to it, which is aromatic and heart-warming. Ideal for a cold British winter!

Masala Chai from Tea India is certainly my favourite blend of tea from Tea India. Might this be because this was the blend of chai that my wife introduced me to? Possibly!

It's aromatic, warming and delightfully spiced and herbal.

What is available?

Tea India Masala Chai: A rich, warming blend of black tea, cinnamon, cloves and anise for a distinctive 'real' Chai experience. RRP £2.89 for 40 bags.

Tea India Turmeric Chai: A truly authentic Turmeric Chai using our Master blender’s family recipe of natural spices and Assam tea. RRP £2.89

Tea India Coconut Chai: A creamy blend of black tea, coconut and spices for a delicious cup of chai.

RRP £2.89

Tea India Ginger Chai: A warming blend of black tea with spicy ginger for a heart-warming cup of chai.

RRP £2.89

Tea India Assam Tea: This strong and malty single estate Assam tea hails from the Margherita tea gardens on the low-lying plains of the Brahmaputra River delta in northeastern India. Full-bodied in taste and rich in colour, this tea will take you to the temples and silk bazaars and peaceful river islands of Assam.

RRP £3.29

Tea India Darjeeling Tea: This deliciously citrusy and delicate, our Darjeeling tea is grown on the foothills of the Himalayas, sourced from the Badamtam tea garden. Savour this cuppa and let it take you on a journey to the Darjeeling hillscape.

RRP £3.29

Tea India Kashmiri Kahwa Tea: Kahwa, or sweetened green tea blended with herbs and spices, is the traditional tea from the Kashmir region. It will transport you to crystal-clear northern lakes, the beautiful city of Srinagar with its houseboats and gondolas, relaxing gardens, and bustling bazaars.

RRP £3.29

Tea India Nilgiri Tea: This deliciously dark and aromatic single estate Nilgiri tea hails from the Craigmore estate. Whilst you enjoy your cuppa, imagine a journey on the Nilgiri Mountain Train, boating down the backwaters to Kerala, sampling rich South Indian cuisine, and visiting cherished temples and old palaces. 

RRP £3.29

Available from: www.teaindia.co.uk, and other retailers.

Journey's End Vineyards Launches Sustainable Spekboom Sauvignon Blanc

The award-winning Journey's End Vineyards, which is based in Stellenbosch, South Africa, is pleased  to announce the launch of its Spekboom Sauvignon Blanc 2021. 

This fresh and crispy, white wine is so named in honour the vineyard's latest green project, the planting of a spekboom thicket on the farm.

It will retail at £10 per bottle and should already be available at Sainsbury's supermarkets.

Since the Gabb family founded Journey's End in 1996 by the Gabb family, it has always beenat the forefront of ecological, sustainable and ethically wine production. 

It makes gorgeous wines for all occasions. And Spekboom Sauvignon Blanc is no exception to this rule. 

Made using 100% sustainably sourced Sauvignon Blanc grapes, the vine's location also influences the flavour profile of the wine. Typical of coastal wine growing regions, the vineyards benefit from the cleansing and cooling winds which help the grapes retain their fresh, clean and elegant fruit flavours.

Winemaker, Leon Esterhuizen, said: "The first thing you notice will be the intense aroma of the wine; winter melon, green apple and a lovely subtle citrus, there are also some herbal and green fig notes in the background. These flavours follow on the palate and are supported by a vibrant, fresh acidity and an elegant mouthfeel."

The wine's namesake, spekboom (Portulacaria afra and also known as 'Elephant Bush'), is a succulent native to South Africa, widely considered to be a 'wonder plant' due to its impressive abilities to absorb carbon dioxide relative to its low water consumption. One hectare of mature spekboom thicket can remove up to 15 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, about 7.5 times more than mature woodland.

Because natural seedlings are somewhat rare, restoration of thickets requires active replanting. As part of Journey's End Vineyard's continued promise to reduce overall carbon emissions, the company has planted over 6,000 spekboom in open areas of the farm since September 2021.

This green initiative contributed to the vineyard becoming carbon negative, as well as being recognised in The Drinks Business Green Awards 2021 as the winner of both the Ethical Company award and Water Management award. This was the second year running that Journey's End was named Ethical Company, after receiving the award at The Drinks Business Green Awards 2020, too.

Managing Director, Rollo Gabb, adds, "We're really pleased to be launching our Spekboom Sauvignon Blanc with Sainsbury's. As ever, our commitment to creating more sustainable projects on the farm continues – and we felt that the recent planting of 6,000 remarkable spekboom plants warranted a wine named in its honour. We hope you enjoy it!'

Wine Buyer for Sainsbury's, Georgina Haughton, says "We're thrilled to be introducing Spekboom into our range, offering our customers the opportunity to explore a unique South African Sauvignon Blanc, and one with great sustainability credentials. This Sauvignon Blanc from renowned Journey's End bolsters our already strong range from South Africa. Perfect as we near Spring, we're sure this new white is going to be a hit."

Honey Heaven Teas

Continuing with the That's Food and Drink virtual tea festival we take a look at the teas from Honey Heaven.

The herbs and spices used in the tea blends are all grown in Hungary (except for one, which I'll tell you about later) and guaranteed to be 100% organic and are made to a natural naturopath approved formulation.

We start with Refresh tea blend.

This blend contains peppermint, rosehip, hibiscus and lavender.

It is easy to make and also easy to drink. one or two teaspoons of tea, pour 250ml of water (that's about 8.8 fluid ounces) that should be 90 to 100c in temperature.

You should steep it for 10 minutes and then strain it and it is ready be drunk. You can sweeten it with honey or sugar, or drink it unsweetened. It's delicious either way, there's a good blend of flavours combing the peppermint, though the hibiscus rosehip and lavender also make themselves known.

It is designed as a tea to refresh the mind and calm the spirit and does this very well indeed.A particular favourite of my wife and myself is the Honey Heaven Oolong Detox.

It is a combination of oolong tea, ginger, cinnamon and gingko biloba.

You can definitely taste the oolong tea, but the ginger and the cinnamon spices really do give this particular blend of tea some spicy, warming oomph!  And the recommended three cups a day will help you to detox but in a natural way.

Preparations for this tea are exactly the same as for the Refresh blend. 

Now we look at the Honey Heaven Morning Time tea blend.

If you want a drink of tea to set you up for the day which doesn't contain a nerve shattering jolt of caffeine, then Morning Time tea blend is going to be your cup of tea. And quite literally, too.

It's ingredients are rosehip, hibiscus and calendula which combine together to deliver a cup of tea that is refreshing but with a fruity undertone to it, which makes for an extremely refreshing cup of tea.

Something that is a little different in the range is the Energise CBD Herbal Mate Tea. 

It contains Mate tea, orange peel, lemon peel, elderflower, rosemary and rose petal. Plus there is organic hemp which is harvested in Ireland.

Having drunk it it reminds me of an advert for a stout that was widely seen as a rival to Guinness. An older chap would say: "It looks good, it tastes good and by golly it does you good!" And that's pretty much my view of the Energise CBD Herbal Mate Tea. Obviously my judgement isn't scientific, but I know how it tastes and how I felt it made me feel better.

The instructions for preparing this tea are a little different to the other tea blends in the range. one to two teaspoons of the tea, but the water needs ideally to be a little bit cooler, between 70 to 80c. However, the steeping time and the amount of water used is about the same.

Obviously if you are making a cup for two or more people just double or triple the amount of tea and water that you use.

Other blends of tea are available and they also sell CBD oils, meads, honeys, Organic Hungarian Acacia Honeycomb, skincare products, etc.

To learn more please visit them at www.honeyheaven.co.uk

A Little Cup Tea Company

As part of our virtual tea festival, That's Food and Drink would like to introduce our readers to the teas that are supplied by the A Little Cup Tea Company.

The first tea we tried from their range was their Lemon Grey. It is a classical tea, Earl Grey, but with an extra special twist.

As well as the more usual natural Bergamot flavouring this blend contains Sri Lankan Black Tea, Rose Petals, Lemon Thyme and Rosemary.

The water temperature should be at boiling point and the recommended brewing time is three minutes.

Although this blend is suitable for drinking with or without milk I, a confirmed milk in my cup of tea person, really enjoyed it without milk. Which surprised both myself and my wife!

It delivers a delightfully refreshing cup of tea with a floral hint from the rose petals and a herbal undertone from the rosemary, with a zippy hint of lemon from the lemon thyme. However confirmed Earl Grey aficionados will appreciate the underpinning of the bergamot. 

You'll also be pleased to know that the tea bag, the pouches and the clear bags are entirely free of plastic and completely biodegradable. 

The next tea we tried in their range is the jauntily named Easy Feeler. A jaunty name but a tea that is clearly designed to help you relax.

It's described as a Sleep Tea Blend and believe us, it does work! The ingredients of this tea are Chamomile, Linden Blossom (which is from Lime trees), Cardamom, Apple Pieces, Rosehip, Hibiscus, Rose Petals, Orange Peel, Lavender and Natural Flavouring.

Brewing instruction are as for their Lemon Grey Tea, but they do specify no milk when you serve it.

The taste is a nifty blend of essences of floral and fruity flavours with a hint of lavender peeping through. 

Does it help relax you? Yes, it does. And you'll note that there is naturally no caffeine in this recipe. 

On the other hand, what if you need a bit of a boost for your day, a pick-me-up? Then there Yes Mate! energising blend of tea will really fit the bill.

It contains Ginger, Yerba Mate Tea, Apple Pieces, Rosehip, Lemongrass, Liquorice, Lemon Peel, Mallow Flowers, Orange Peel and Natural Flavouring.

Every one of the individual ingredients plays together very well and provides a delightfully fruity ensemble tea that really does give you a nifty boost whenever you need it.

Another caffeine free tea from their range is their Coco Chilli Mint. They describe it as a Warming Tea Blend, which it certainly is.

It contains Rooibos Tea, Peppermint, Coco Shells, Black Peppercorns, Red Peppercorns and just enough Chilli to give it an interesting kick. Plus some Natural Flavouring, too. 

In all it is a cornucopia of flavours, you can taste the rooibos, the peppermint, the chocolate, the peppercorns and the hint of chilli is making my tongue sing!

Other blends are available, plus check them out for special offerings, etc.

Who is behind A Little Cup? Meet George, who is not only an artist, but is also an expert and very creative tea blender.

George tells the story of how he started blending his own teas whilst he was an art student at university and providing them to other people. 

He reveals that he was troubled by loneliness at that time, but found that inviting people round for a cuppa was a great way of combating loneliness by meeting new people over a drink of tea.

George is a passionate believer in the efficacy of tea in bringing people together by the medium of tea.

George is also organising workshops that bring together tea blending and art. You can check out amazing examples of artwork inspired by tea on his website.

To learn more about ordering the tea please visit www.alittlecup.com.  

Would you like to be featured on That's Food and Drink? It's easy!

Would you like to be featured on That's Food and Drink? It's easy!

If you produce or retail food and drink you need publicity. But you need the right kind of publicity.

Rather than shouting loudly, just quietly tell select people who will be interested in what you have to offer.

Readers of That's Food and Drink visit us because they want to learn about what food and drinks are available and they want new recipes to try out for themselves or with their family members and friends.

They also want to know about food supplements, too.

If you contact us, we'll be able to provide you with your own unique post on That's Food and Drink. Sometimes as part of a special feature or as an individual stand alone post. Whichever you prefer.

We don't charge for our services but if you can send us samples, these are always very gratefully received. 

To learn more please email us at afj_uk@yahoo.com.

Valentine’s Day Porridge Bowl

With Bioglan Superfoods you can give the one you love a Valentine’s Day Porridge Bowl

And not only is it a tasty treat that they'll really appreciate, it has the added benefit of being chock full of tasty Superfoods, too!

One of Australia's greatest exports (in my opinion!) Bioglan Superfoods have been working very hard hard, harvesting the world's top quality ingredients, to make better tasting healthy products to ensure everyone can get the necessary vitamins, minerals and superfoods into their diets.

Bioglan Superfoods have also developed some tasty recipes that are quick and easy to make, all with added superfoods to give you an extra health benefit.

Valentine’s Day Porridge Bowl. With Superberries

What could be better than presenting your Love with A porridge bowl filled with love and all good things? 

This Valentine’s Day Porridge Bowl with Superberries was made by one of Bioglan Superfoods ambassadors, SpamellaB. It's a gorgeously pretty pink porridge with a fantastic topping of crunchy granola, berries, jam, and little white chocolate hearts.

Serves 1

10 Minutes

Ingredients

• 50g oats

• 3 tsp Bioglan Superfoods Superberries 

• 300ml milk of choice

• 2 tbsp maple syrup

• Top with

• Frozen berries

• Reduced sugar jam

• White chocolate hearts

• Granola

Method

1. Cook the oats in a pan with the milk for 5 minutes until thickened, then remove from the heat and stir in the berries powder and maple syrup.

2. Spoon out into a bowl then add your toppings. Enjoy!

You can find a whole host of other recipe ideas at  https://bioglansuperfoods.co.uk/.

Range available at Holland & Barrett, Amazon, Boots and Ocado.

RRP Superfood Powders: £9.99 for 70g Superberries, Green Boost, Supergreens or the Cacao Boost. £12.99 for 100g Super Protein or Beauty Protein. £12.99 for 70g Digestive Boost.

RRP for the Superfood capsules: £14.99- £16.99 for 60 capsules.

That's Food and Drink would liker to thank Bioglan for asking us to share this recipe with our readers.

We'd also like to thank SpamellaB for creating this recipe and for allowing us to use their image to illustrate this blog post.

 

The Sound of Tea set to infuse the UK this summer

Yorkshire-based arts organisation Manasamitra is returning to the stage this summer after a year of cancellations due to the pandemic. 

The Sound of Tea, which is a multi-sensory celebration of the tradition of tea across a range of different cultures and incorporates musical performance and digital technology, creating a unique performance each time.

The Sound of Tea, will be performed exclusively at York’s National Centre for Early Music on 17th June, incorporating live music mixes with specially designed lighting and soundscapes, participatory tea rituals and cutting-edge digital technology, which is employed to capture and reflect audience responses in real-time. 

Creator and musician Supriya Nagarajan uses her experience of the condition synaesthesia to examine and explore the interplay between sound, sight, smell, taste, and touch. 

The Sound of Tea will also feature a number of unique interactive digital tables, which have been designed and developed by Professor Mick Grierson from the University of Arts London (UAL). 

This technology will enable the audience to influence the performance, resulting in a bespoke performance each and every time. 

The Manasamitra team have developed the show with the assistance from tea consultant Beverley Wainwright, alongside actress and cultural educator Fenfen Huang who will undertake a demonstration of a tea ceremony as an integral part of the performance. 

The show premiered in London in early 2020, but due to the pandemic restrictions the remainder of the tour had to be postponed.

Clearly excited to get back on the stage, Supriya said: “Our team is incredibly happy to be able to bring The Sound of Tea to a live audience again after such a lengthy postponement. 

“The last year was incredibly difficult for musicians and performers so we are really excited to be able to return to the stage and interact with audiences in a live capacity. Despite the recent challenges, I'm immensely proud of the industry’s resilience and determination, it truly has shone through during the pandemic.

“While a lot can be achieved via online platforms, nothing will ever compare to the experience of attending or performing in a live show. The energy and atmosphere simply cannot be replicated online or  digitally.

“The whole team worked very hard to bring this project to life in a fully immersive way to capture the story of tea and its role in different cultures, as well as exploring the fascinating phenomenon of synaesthesia. 

“Individuals who experience synaesthesia may see sounds or hear colours, providing a multi-sensory experience. The Sound of Tea will embody that harmonious relationship between the senses, shared with a general audience.” 

Supriya will take centre stage for The Sound of Tea alongside Duncan Chapman on flugle horn, electronica and digital management, James Cave on piano, Marc Layton-Bennett on percussion and Fenfen Huang as dancer and tea celebrant.

Belgium-based flutist, Karin de Fleyt is unfortunately unable to join the team in person due to the continuing travel restrictions, but her music will still be incorporated into the performance.

Tickets are available now via the National Centre for Early Music: www.ncem.co.uk/events/sound-of-tea. 

Beware of online Valentine's Day Scams!

 That's Food and Drink has been publishing posts about the finer things of Valentine's Day. But there are some nasty people out there just itching to scam unsuspecting folks, especially on Valentine's Day.

So please do not fall victim to scammers.

This information has been supplied by KIS Bridging Loans and is used with their kind permission. 

https://www.kisbridgingloans.co.uk/guide-to-fraud-prevention/

Women in Food Hamper

In celebration of International Women's Day, the folks at Macknade have put together a fantastic hamper designed to showcase some of the dedicated, hard-working, passionate women who create fantastic food and drink products.

It'll be a great gift for the strong and inspirational women in our own lives. It's available to order online and can be delivered nationwide.

The cost is £60.

Which women are included and what are their products included in the hamper?

Quinta da Mariposa, Dão Branco Wine - led by oenologist Lúcia Freitas

Choc Affair, Dark Chocolate - founded by Linda Barrie

Brindisa, Salted Marcona Almonds - from Founder & Owner, Monika Linton

Goupie, Ginger Vegan Chocolates - founded by Janet Simpson, with all recipes developed by her mother

Teastones Peace Mother Tea - led by Owner & Tea Connoisseur, Sev Michaels

Fudge Kitchen Rocksalt Peanut Brittle - led by Managing Director, Sian Holt

Benchmark Brewery, Pale Ale - from female Brewer, Amelia

Kent Crisps, Oyster & Vinegar - from Owner, Laura Bounds MBE

How can you order this gift hamper? Just click here:- 

https://macknade.com/products/women-in-food-hamper

The Sound of Tea

The Manasamitra band, with FenFen Huang 

Manasamitra is a Yorkshire-based arts organisation, which has brought to fruition a truly stunning and fully immersive musical performance which is based around the themes of tea and of tea ceremonies.

It is called The Sound of Tea and it is a multi-sensory celebration of the varied traditions of tea across differing cultures.

It skilfully incorporates musical performances and digital technology, creating a unique performance each and every time.

The Sound of Tea incorporates live musical events that are combined with specially designed lighting and soundscapes, participatory tea rituals and cutting-edge digital technology, which is employed to capture and reflect the responses of the audience in real-time.

Supriya Nagarajan

Creator and musician Supriya Nagarajan uses her experience of synaesthesia to explore the interplay between sound, sight, smell, taste, and touch. 

The Sound of Tea also features a number of unique interactive digital tables, developed by Professor Mick Grierson from the University of Arts London (UAL). This technology will allow audience members to influence the performance. Of course, this means that each and every performance is totally unique resulting in a bespoke performance every time.

In more recent times the Manasamitra team has carefully adapted the show into a corporate experience day, which is an immersive, mindful experience for the corporate workplace.

A spokesperson said: "Teams and work colleagues have been physically separated for many months as a result of the pandemic and as we return to workspaces and new ways of working, it is vital team members and colleagues are able reconnect and rebuild."

They went on to point out: "Not only has the time apart altered the dynamic of many groups, but there may also be new staff members or elements of restructuring that will benefit from shared experiences.

"Team building is a vital component of any workplace, helping boost productivity and improve morale.

"After the turmoil of the couple of years, a focus on wellbeing is needed to help individuals readjust to group situations and make a smooth return to the workplace. And what better way than with tea and with The Sound of Tea?"

For details please visit https://www.manasamitra.com/our-work/the-sound-of-tea/the-sound-of-tea-corporate-experience-days/

The images used are courtesy of Duncan Lomax.

That's Food and Drink Tea Festival

That's Food and Drink is running a Tea Festival over the next several weeks.

There will be stories about tea and the myths and legends that have grown up around tea drinking all over the world.

Plus, of course, with the help and assistance of many of the friends of That's Food and Drink we will be tasting and sampling different teas and letting you know what our opinions are.

As far as tea types we will be looking at loose leaf teas, teas in paper bags, teas in special cloth bags, herbal teas and more besides.

So if you like tea, or need to buy some tea for a special gift for a confirmed tea lover in your life (a collection of different teas might make an unusual and romantic Valentine's Day gift, perhaps?) then please watch this space!

We offer our thanks to Viren Kumar and Pixabay for allowing us to use the video to illustrate this posting.

Bring Appleton Rum to Valentine's Day

When I mentioned, in passing, to a friend that I had a bottle of Appleton Estate's 8 Year Reserve Rum, he a became quite animated. He said: "Wow! Jamaican rum has the reputation of producing some of the best Caribbean rum available. And Appleton Estate's Rum is the best of the best!"

And, of course, he was absolutely right!

The Appleton Estate's 8 Year Reserve Rum is a special rum carefully crafted for a very special occasion, the 250th anniversary of the founding of Appleton Estate in 1749, created by Master Rum Blender Joy Spence. Interestingly Joy was the first woman to hold the title of Master Blender. In recognition the government of Jamaica bestowed on Joy the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Officer (OD) for her service to industry.

Appleton Estate's 8 Year Reserve Rum is blended to include specially selected pot-still rum stocks from their inventory of aged rums.

This is not the strongest rum available, it's 43% alc/vol, but then this has been carefully crafted to provide a well-balanced and delicious rum, which is designed to provide a modicum of strength with a Zenith of taste.

The bouquet is inviting with a hint of cane sugar and the taste is deliciously warming and so very, very smooth.

By itself, or on the rocks, or with some high quality mixers. After all there's no point in skimping on mixers if you have a very high quality rum such as Appleton Estate's 8 Year Reserve, is there?

But what about cocktails? Here Appleton Estate's 8 Year Reserve really comes into its own. From simple cocktails using Cola, to more advanced cocktails, you will be in for a real treat.

My wife introduced me to a recipe that was a favourite of her brother. Rum and Cider.

The recipe calls for two thirds cider and one third rum, although, of course, you can adjust that to suit your own taste.

Obviously, only high quality cider should every be used and in this instance we used some Brothers Toffee Apple Cider which proved to be an admirable choice.

A 70cl bottle should cost about £25 to £30 or you can buy it in some restaurants, hotels and pubs. For example Wetherspoon pubs stock Appleton Estate's rum as part of their Rum Shack offering.

Or you can stay at home, create a Valentine's Day feast and finish the evening in style with Appleton Estate's 8 Year Reserve Rum!

Glebe Farm for truly oaty oat drinks

Rebecca & Phil Rayner

In the fields of rural Cambridgeshire brother and sister farming due Phil and Rebecca Rayner are not just championing good, high quality home grown British products, they are getting down to it in the fields of their family farm, Glebe Farm, and not only growing oat crops they are also milling the oats and also 'milking' them, too. 

And what's more, the oats they produce are gluten free, too. So they're ideal for people who are coeliacs.

Phil and Rebecca have turned their hands to producing a pair of utterly delicious and incredibly smooth oat drinks.

There's the Creamy and Enriched variety, which has added calcium and vitamins so is ideal for breakfast cereals, a nice cold drink, creating some awesome smoothies or replacing dairy milk in cooking and baking.

There's also the Barista blend which is carefully designed to be a super addition to your coffee (fresh or instant) for helping you produce top tasting cappuccinos and lattes. As a confirmed hot chocolate lover, I think that I'll be trying Glebe Farm Barista blend in my hot chocolate! Will it be good for tea? Let's find out together, OK?

They also sell oat granolas, too. Actually, Glebe Farm oat granola served with Glebe Farm Pure Oaty? That sounds like a real winner to me!

They also sell Soya, Almond and Coconut drinks, too.

Check out their website for some recipe ideas, too.

As an ageing hippy(!) I've long been interested in ecology and self-sufficiency since the early 1970s actually, so it was with considerable pleasure I found out that Phil and Rebecca are confirmed sustainable farmers and that Glebe Farm uses solar power and biomass boilers and only uses locally grown oats, thus helping keep food miles to a minimum.  

Where can you buy Glebe Farm products? On Amazon, from Central England Co-operative Stores, Booths Grocers and all Holland and Barret Stores.

And Glebe Farm’s gluten free bread and rolls can be found in all National Trust Cafes.

Or you can buy it directly from their online farm shop at https://www.glebefarmfoods.co.uk/shop/.

If you are interested in learning about stocking Glebe Farm Products, using them in your baked goods or in your café, restaurant or catering business you can visit them at https://www.glebefarmfoods.co.uk/trade/ or call them on +44 (0) 1487 773282 during office hours.

Bonne Maman ideal for your Valentine's Day repast

I absolutely love Bonne Maman jams and conserves. My all time favourite is their Strawberry & Wild Strawberry Conserve. And every year I would put together a hamper of Bonne Maman miniature jams and conserves for my late mother every Christmas, birthday and mother's day.

However, Bonne Maman are far more than jams and conserves. They also now produce a delectable hazelnut chocolate spread, too.

But Bonne Maman also have a range of products that are ideal for a desert for a Valentine's Day feast at home.

There's a stunning variety of chilled deserts, including Strawberry Mousse, Chocolate Mousse, Clementine Mousse, Black Currant Mousse, Rhubarb Mousse.

Also check out their Salted Caramel Crème, Coffee Crème, Dark Chocolate Crème with a touch of sea salt, Milk Chocolate Crème, Riz Au Lait, Baba an Rhum (with high quality, high strength rum. Delicious!) Crème Caramel, Crème Brûlée (which can be baked or eaten cold) Red fruit tarte and Tarte au Citron.

And take a look at their cakes, biscuits, yoghurts and compote deserts, too!

They even have some recipes to help you create some truly scrumptious Valentine's Day treats for your love. Just check them out here https://www.bonnemaman.co.uk/recipes

Incidentally, what does Bonne Maman mean in English? Online translation sites get it only partially correct. It doesn't mean Good Mum, no matter what Google Translate tries to tell you!

Bonne Maman actually means "Grandmother" or "Granny" because as they have always done, they strive to make the kind of products that grandmother used to make.

Available in all good shops and from online retailers.

https://www.bonnemaman.co.uk/.

The ideal gift for the one who has your heart. A Seggiano Olive Wood heart!

Imagine the look of love and admiration on the face of the one you love when on Valentine's Day,  you present them with a genuine Olive Wood heart-shaped board from leading Italian brand Seggiano?

My wife is absolutely enchanted and besotted with it and it now takes pride of place in our kitchen. She has stated "This is lovely! Thank you!"

She has also stated very firmly that I am not to ever place it in our dishwasher and that it is to be treated very well and only washed, very gently, by hand!

What is the size? The average width is 23cm. That's just over nine and a bit inches to those of us who still use the measurements of the olden days!

It should cost you £23.90 and you can buy it direct at https://seggiano.com/product/olive-wood-heart-board/ or you can find it in your favourite deli, some cookware shops and other major retailers up and down the country.

What can you use the board for? 

Seggiano have some really very helpful suggestions. Cheese, they imply (and I agree wholeheartedly!) is the way to your love's heart and what better way to serve up an array of quality matured cheeses than on this board?

The gorgeous board is beautifully crafted by the Marchini family and each one is carefully carved from wood that originates in the Tuscan hills, where the olive trees are pruned to keep them renewed and healthy. 

I did not realise that much of the wood is over 300 years old! Making it an ideal, temporary, resting place for your Pecorino, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese or your cave matured cheddar!

You can also purchase a lovely Olive Wood handled cheese knife, Organic Spelt Digestive Biscuits, Parmesan Handmade Flatbreads and lots more besides.

Seggiano recommends equipping your board with your favourite cheeses, paired with one of their Baked Fig Balls, a handful of Puglian Rye Biscuits and a dollop of Calabrian Fig Jam, or better still a drizzle of Raw Chestnut Honey which goes particularly well with Pecorino.

I rather like the sound of the Raw Chestnut Honey.

And don't forget to buy yourself some good quality Italian wines to make for a very food Valentine's Day feast.

MIghty M.lkology brought you by the magic of peas

Mighty M.lks were designed to be a realistic alternative to dairy milk that's available today. And that is exactly what they are.

It is produced using special dedicated Plantech®.

It produces a milk alternative that is creamy and tasty in a range of different types.

They don't compromise on taste or mouthfeel and they guarantee they are 100% vegan. 

And people like my wife who has coeliac disease and an allergy to both dairy and soya can drink and cook with Mighty M.lks safe in the knowledge that there are no soya, dairy products or nuts.

Mighty M.lks comes in semi and full varieties and also protein oat and unsweetened varieties.

There's Mighty Barista M.lk, too. This is a special premium blend of pea, oat and coconut. It's been carefully and specially designed to be a replica of  the flavour and texture of dairy milk but without the involvement of any cows. If you like a perfect frothy latte, then this is the milk for you! 

It also tastes great on breakfast cereals or as a chilled drink. 

There's also Mighty M.LK Protein Oat, too.

Looking for a drink that's shaken, not stirred? Then the Mighty Milkshakes, available in chocolate and banana and oat flavour will be right up your street.

And they also have a range of Mighty Vegan Protein Powders, too.

My wife has declared the range of  Mighty M.lks as "very close to dairy milks in both look, feel and taste."

So not only are they safe for someone with dairy intolerances or full dairy allergies, they also taste good, too.

And if your concern with dairy is because of ethical considerations regarding the use of animals to produce milk for human consumption. the great thing is that you don't have to compromise your diet for your principles.

Where can you purchase Mighty M.lks from? The following shops and supermarkets stock them: Morrison's, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Ocado, WH Smith, Asda, Holland & Barrett and Co-Op stores.

Or you can buy direct at https://www.mightydrinks.com/our-range.list.

    

Gee Gee Gin from start to finish, it's a real winner!

What happens when you love gin and also love horses? You combine the two and you get Gee Gee Gin!

The gin is proper, real craft gin distilled in the traditional manner using small batch distillation, with each batch produced with love and attention to detail in a special nano distillery in Newbury, Berkshire, not far from the world renowned Newbury Racecourse.  

Unlike many craft ginmakers Gee Gee make everything from scratch. They even produce their own initial neutral alcohol base. Many other ginmakers buy in the alcohol, which is not the case with Gee Gee, so they know exactly what went into their base alcohol.

A spokesman for Geee Gee said: “We lovingly craft our gins from the very start to the finish. Yes, it is a long and complex process but the finished product is well worth the wait.it.  

“So our Master Distiller is a true distiller unlike other small batch gins that are on the market.”

He went on to explain “Our gin is only made using the finest quality natural ingredients. We can guarantee that our small batch gins contain absolutely nothing artificial. 

“I must emphasise that each part of the process of producing our gin is made entirely by hand and this includes drying the natural botanicals that we use, right through to hand dipping the gin bottles into wax.” 

How can you buy Gee Gee Gin? You can join the UK’s newest Craft Gin Club.

Select the monthly subscription for your favourite Gee Gee Gin and they'll ensure you never run out by delivering to your door a fresh bottle of craft Gee Gee Gin each month. 

But that’s not all you will receive. Because with your monthly gin subscription you’ll also receive a variety of especially chosen gifts that will include dried fruit garnishes, special mixers and a sample of another high quality gin for you to try.

The monthly cost is a modest £30, which you can pause or even cancel whenever you want. Makes an idea present for a loved one or as a reward to yourself!

Or why not browse the gins in their online shop to see what’s available for purchase now?

The people behind Gee Gee are gin lovers themselves, so they’re keen on trying out new varieties so do keep an eye open for new, experimental flavours.​

Flavours available include Classic Dry, Dark Berries, Elderflower and Lavender. There are currently two limited edition gins, Seville Orange and also Magic Blue Summer Berries.

500ml bottles of all gins, including the limited edition varieties cost £27.50 each.

To learn more and to make your first purchase visit them at https://www.geegeegin.co.uk/.

Brothers Cider

If you want to see Veganuary out in style, then you should do it with some Brothers Cider.

I was introduced to ciders when I was a student in the student union bar in the dim and distant 1980s. It was OK, but I can honestly say I was not overly impressed.

However, moving on to modern times when my wife and I discovered Brothers Cider my wife and I were both monumentally impressed. And as my wife is from Devon and grew up drinking West Country Cider, that is high praise indeed!

We have been drinking several bottles of Brothers Toffee Apple Cider and I have to say that it is a properly balanced cider which does have a lovely toffee flavour added to it. To me it reminded me of toffee apples consumed during village Halloween celebrations many years ago.

Although I prefer the 4.0% alcohol version of the Toffee Apple Cider my wife was more keen on the alcohol free version, which is also available.

Other flavours are available, including Strawberry and Lime, Rhubarb and Custard, Wild Fruit, Tutti Frutti, Pink Grapefruit Cider, Honeycomb, Red Apple, Parma Violet, Strawberries and Cream, Cloudy Lemon and also Marshmallow flavour. The latter I think I'll be trying next.  

The family know a great deal about making cider from their Somerset homeland, as there is documentary evidence that their Uncle 14 times removed, Gabriel Showering, was taking the family produced cider round the pubs in the area in 1658. That's nearly 365 years of the production of cidery goodness!

And now four brothers, Matthew, Jonathan, Francis and Daniel are continuing the fine family tradition by bringing good quality real ciders with a modern twist.

You can buy it from your local retailer or direct from Brothers https://brotherscider.co.uk/.

If you want retail their ciders please visit https://brotherscider.co.uk/pages/trade-customers

Lion Brewery. Beer brewed, naturally

The Lion Brewery company's proud claim is that it was born and raised on the banks of the River Thames, 186 years ago in 1836.

The history of the Lion Brewery was a long and distinguished one, it developed ales and beers that it shipped all over the world.

Absent from the brewing world for several decades, two Brits decided to re-licence the Lion Brewery on the UK and Singapore, under the original trademark in 2017.

The Lion Brewery brews its beers using the small batch system and strives to only use the highest quality ingredients which it uses to brew its beers totally naturally.

My wife and I have been able to sample two of their beers; Pale Ale and Island Lager.

The Pale Ale has an ABV of 4.5% and the Island Lager has a slightly higher ABV of 4.7%.

The Pale Ale is actually a highly enjoyable and well-hopped IPA which would certainly hold its own against any other IPAs that are on the market.

It's a Single Malt and Single Hop beer. This type of pale ale is known as a SMaSH, and believe me, the Lion Brewery really does smash it with this pale ale! The malt used is Maris Otter barley, the sole hop used is Citra.

The Island Lager is a stunning lager. I have to say that it is like no other lager that I have ever tried. It's designed for the warmer temperatures of the tropics and is certainly very drinkable, to me it seems, to capture the best of lager beers and the best of traditional IPAs. There is definitely more than a hint of pine resin aroma and a floral finish to it. 

To learn more or to place orders please visit https://lionbreweryco.com/en/lion-brewery-co-shop/

Just look out for the embossed lion on the cans.

Also, Lion strives to be a genuinely sustainable and green company in every aspect of its operations, including using lightweight, recyclable cans rather than heavy glass bottles. 

Creative Nature helps you bake at home

You like the idea of baking a cake at home but you perhaps don't have the necessary self-confidence? Aren't sure your meagre baking skills are up to the task of baking a cake as good as your mother, your father or perhaps your grandmother used to make?

And you are worried about creating a vegan, gluten, dairy and gluten free masterpiece?

Fret no longer because you've got this! With the help of Creative Nature, of course. 

Creative Nature create gold award winning bake at home cake mixes so that your home baked cakes will always rise to the occasion!

There's their absolutely chocolatey cacao rich chocolate cake baking mix. 

All you do is add 250ml of your favourite non-dairy milk (they recommend rice milk as their favourite type of milk, but I made mine with some Lilk) add 110ml of vegetable oil, or 100g of melted coconut oil if you have any of that.

Place all the ingredients into a mixing bowl, give it a good mixing and then put it into an oven pre-heated to 180C/350F or Gas Mark 4 for 25 minutes.

They suggest icing the cake if you can avoid eating it right away.

Although not included with the packet they recommend using 130g of icing sugar or powdered coconut sugar, three heaped tbsp of Creative Nature Cacao Powder, 80g dairy free spread and milk, if you want.

Smoothly mix the ingredients together and when ready, use it to ice the cake.

Also available is the Banana Bread Mix, the Simply Spiced Carrot Cake Loaf Mix, Chocolate Chip Muffin Baking Mix and Corn Bread Baking Mix.

If you feel like being a little more adventurous in your kitchen why not try their Gluten Free All Purpose Flour?

You can order directly from Creative Nature at their website https://www.creativenaturesuperfoods.co.uk/

They have a massive range of other goodies that are available, so why not check those out when you visit them?

Why we lost our local bakeries

The received wisdom, or what everyone knows, is that small, local bakeries all closed down because giant evil corporate supermarket chains opened up branches in small towns and out-priced the small, family-owned local bakers which, as a result, had to close down. victims of corporate greed.

Whilst this might have happened in some cases, the story I can relate, based on my own local experience does not bear this out.

I am thinking of a moderately sized market town. It had three traditional family owned bakers who all did a very good business supplying fresh bread to the people of the town.

However, the young generations of the family bakers did not want to follow on in the footsteps of their parents. 

Their parents had to get up at three o'clock in the morning to mix the dough and to fire up the ovens to bake the bread. 

Their children did not want to get up in the middle of the night to bake bread so they decided to go off to do other things and follow other career paths. One went to work for the Inland Revenue, some joined the armed forces and so on. 

Eventually when the older generations of bakers came to retirement age they had nobody to pass their businesses on to and one-by-one, they closed down.

Eventually the Morrison's supermarket chain came to town and opened up a bakery department which made fresh bread and fresh cakes. Items we hadn't seen in town for several years.

When someone was chuntering on about how the supermarkets had killed off small, family bakers I pointed out that all of the family bakers in town had closed before Morrison's came to town. He said: "Oh! That's right, isn't it? I hadn't realised that!"

(Image curtesy summa/Pixabay.)

Mints just got guilt free with Mintastic

Mints are now guilt free and it's all thanks to Mintasatic!

Per 100g Mintastic contains 13 calories, zero sugar and zero carbs. 

Compared to other sugar sugar free mints which contain 240 calories, zero sugar and 25 calories per 100g.

They are vegan friendly and sweetened with Erythritol and are completely tooth friendly.

And the great thing is that Erythriol is a plant-based sweetener.

Mintastic is a small British sweet maker and they are keen to bring minty guilt-free goodness to all mint lovers, but especially those who cannot tolerate sugar such as people who have diabetes or who are on a calorie controlled diet.

They come in a variety of flavours including spearmint, peppermint, cinnamon and strawberry flavours. 

Tol earn more please visit them at https://www.mintastic.co.uk/.

You can buy direct from their website, a taster box of four flavours costs £8.00 and delivery is free.

Great Sausages, By Heck!

If you want to eat great quality sausages like you used to get made by your local high street or village butcher, then, as Heck says: "You need flavour you can swear by!"

My wife loves Heck sausages not only because they taste so very good, but because they are gluten free. And as someone who is diagnosed as suffering from coeliac disease, being able to obtain gluten-free foods that actually taste good, too, is very important for her.

They are also highly useful for people, like myself, who need to eat a carefully balanced diet due to having diabetes. And having great tasting foods also makes you feel good, too!

One of the reasons that Heck sausages are so very good is that they are very keen on some simple, key facts.

1) Only use the finest of ingredients, including the herbs and spices.

2) Only prepare the sausages in traditional small batch methods.

And it really is that simple. 

But even though Heck does use good, old fashioned sausage making techniques they are also an innovative family-owned and operated company.

For example a firm favourite of mine, and of my wife, is the Heck Paprika Chicken sausages.

These are chicken chipolata sausages with paprika and red pepper. They are 85% British chicken and they use pea flour, plus a good mix of herbs and spices.

Their pork sausages are also awesomely good and contain 97% British pork.

What different sausages do they offer? Paprika Chicken, Chicken Italia, Simply Chicken, Spring Chicken (with spring onions!) Heck 97% Pork, Heck Reduced Fat, Heck Vegan Breakfast Sausages, Heck Meat Free, Heck Vegan Italia, Heck Family Favourite, Heck 60/40 (Chicken Mushroom and Wild Rice) Heck 60/40 (Pork, Oven Roasted Tomatoes and Olives) Heck Pork Italia, too.

But there's much more! Burgers, including vegan, a range of minces, posh nuggets, Heck Alcohol free IPA beer is also available, too. Heck! I wasn't expecting that!

To learn more or to put your orders in please visit them at https://www.heckfood.co.uk/.

They are also at some retailers, too.

Like No Udder Montezuma's Extraordinary Chocolate

Like No Udder Montezuma's Extraordinary Chocolate, is, simply, an extraordinary chocolate.

It's vegan and organic and it is an alternative to milk chocolate. Helen of Montezuma's says that Like No Udder is their very own creation and that is as close to milk chocolate as they could get it.

As a milk chocolate fan since I was first given a blue foil wrapped chocolate bar in the late 1950s, I have to say that I did sneak a peek at the ingredients list to see how they had managed to create a milk chocolate taste and gorgeous mouthfeel without using any milk or other dairy-derived products.

Was it the organic cane sugar? The organic cocoa butter? The organic cocoa mass? The organic rice powder? The organic vanilla extract? The organic cocoa nibs? The organic peppermint oil?

Well, of course the answer is that it will all of those things, but what makes all the difference is the knowledge and years of chocolate making experience of Helen, Simon and the fine folks at Montezuma's Chocolate who produce the finest of fine chocolates from their chocolatier headquarters in West Sussex.

One touch that I especially like, apart from the exquisite taste, is the absolutely perfect crunch provided by the cocoa nibs.

flavours other than yummy peppermint are available, please check on their website which you will find at https://www.montezumas.co.uk/like-no-udder.html.

You can buy from them or check out their website for your nearest retailer.

Really Good Tomato Ketchup

Really Good Tomato Ketchup. That's a good, no, a great name for a product. Declaring it to be "Really Good."

But it's also a somewhat bold claim. Does it bear up to closer scrutiny? Yes, it certainly does on several grounds.

Firstly it is ideal for vegans and vegetarians because it is entirely plant-based.

Secondly it contains no added sugar (it actually contains 75% less sugar) and it us ideal for people who want to watch their salt intake as it contains 78% less salt.

And as an added fillip the plastic bottle is 100% recyclable. 

But this brings us on to the other, equally important point about Really Good Tomato Ketchup. What oes it taste like? Here it is a clear winner because it also tastes like a Really Good Tomato Ketchup.

Which is probably the main reason it was voted Food Innovation Award Best Children's Product last year, 2021. And has received other accolades for its innovative products and its genuine green agenda.

Based in Yorkshire, the Really Good range of products was founded by Elizabeth Jones.

They make a range of other products including Smoked Barbeque Sauce and Smokey Barbeque Ketchup.

A pack of six 310g bottles will cost £17.99 at Amazon.

You can purchase the products at Ocado, Amazon and Wholefoods Market. 

If you are a retailer or a wholesaler, Really Good would like to hear from you.

Visit them at https://realgoodketchup.com/.

That's Books and Entertainment: More Taste & Less Waste

That's Books and Entertainment: More Taste & Less Waste: More Taste & Less Waste is a new cookery book form the Dairy Diary publishing company. It offers readers the opportunity to prepare and...

Intuitive Eating Pioneer to bring back her popular podcast

Laura Thomas

Nutritionist and author Laura Thomas, PhD, is joining up with Intuitive Movement expert Tally Rye for a live crossover podcast episode this Wednesday to celebrate the re-launch of the highly successful show ‘Don’t Salt My Game'.

London Centre for Intuitive Eating (LCIE) founder Laura Thomas, PhD is joining with Intuitive Movement expert and author Tally Rye to bring back her highly popular podcast ‘Don’t Salt My Game’. Tickets are available for the live recording which takes place this Wednesday 19th January at 7pm, and audience members will have the chance to ask the duo questions.

Nutritionist Laura, who is the author of two books ‘Just Eat It’ and ‘How to Just Eat It’, works with her specialist team at the LCIE’s recently opened premises to support women to have a more positive and harmonious relationship with the foods they eat and their bodies, via a framework called Intuitive Eating,  a term coined in the 1990s but which has seen a huge rise in popularity in recent years, this is, in the main, thanks to Laura’s work.

Intuitive Eating is a science-backed concept which promotes self-compassion and acceptance, equipping women with simple tools and techniques for a trusting, happy, and healthy relationship with their foods, by rejecting the "diet mentality" and learning to understand the body’s hunger cues.

To celebrate the return of her podcast, ‘Don’t Salt My Game’ following a short hiatus after the birth of her first child, Laura is joining Intuitive Movement expert Tally, author of book ‘Train Happy’ and host of a podcast dedicated to helping women a have a feel-good relationship towards fitness. 

The crossover ‘Don’t Salt My Game X Train Happy’ podcast will be released in two parts and will see Tally interview Laura on how to support children to be Intuitive Eaters and have a positive relationship with food from an early age. Laura will also be interviewing Tally about Intuitive Movement and the pair will take questions submitted by the live audience.

Laura said: "Intuitive Eating can be such a liberating process, but it can also be tricky if you feel like you're fighting diet culture on your own.

“Having a podcast dedicated to supporting you on your journey makes you feel less alone and more empowered to take down diet culture. ‘Don’t Salt My Game’ is like having a little anti-diet cheerleader in your ear.”

Tally Rye

Tally said: "It’s really great to collaborate with Laura who has been leading the charge against Diet Culture for years. Together we are hoping to bust myths and help people feel better about eating food and moving their body."

The podcast will mark the official re-launch of ‘Don’t Salt My Game’ which has been driving the Intuitive Eating revolution since 2016, and sees Laura interview guests in wellness, from foodies, bloggers and entrepreneurs to nutritionists, doctors and anyone else shaking up the wellness world, to help the audience ‘do you, but better.’

Tickets to the live recording cost £10 and can be purchased here. https://londoncentreforie.as.me/schedule.php?appointmentType=6229833 Spaces are limited.

Laura’s approach draws heavily on nutritional and behavioural science and psychology, as well as her own experiences with food. Through her books, podcast, and 1-to-1 clinical practice, she has helped thousands of women transform their relationship with food and is regarded as one of the leaders in the Intuitive Eating community.

Laura is joined at LCIE by a team of nutrition professionals dedicated to supporting people to get off the never-ending dieting merry-go-round, and find food freedom, self-compassion, and a renewed sense of purpose that doesn’t involve trying to fit into society’s narrow body ideals.

The East-London centre also provides self-paced online courses for professionals looking to upskill, equipping them with the knowledge and understanding to support their career development and implement Intuitive Eating into their offering.

The team is adding a new course to its portfolio later this month titled ‘Raising Embodied Eaters’, which aims to give nutrition and healthcare professionals who work with children the tools to support a responsive feeding relationship, laying the foundation for a positive relationship with food and their bodies from an early age.

LCIE is also home to a studio space with classes like baby yoga, Pilates and circuit classes run by LCIE partners who share the same body compassion ethos, as well as a retail outlet offering a range of items from body affirming brands, hand selected by the team.

https://londoncentreforintuitiveeating.co.uk/

Maldon Salt x Olia Hercules Extraordinary Feel Good Food

The recipes are specially created by Olia Hercules for Maldon Salt and is part of the ‘Feel Good Food’ series running on Maldon Salt socials.

You can see the introduction video here. You can also subscribe for new video presentations:- 

In the easy-to-follow video presentations you will learn to prepare, cook and serve:-

Fennel, Blood Orange and Shallot Relish

Mushroom Broth

Other recipes to look out for are:-

Layered Savoy Cabbage ‘Lasagne’

Fermented Chilli and Celeriac

Savoury Granola.

For more recipes and to learn about the 140 year history of the Maldon Salt Company, where they still hand harvest their salt and produce unique pyramid salt flakes which is still sought after by gourmets and word renowned chefs.

You can find this specialist, artisan sea salt at the following retailers:- Morrison's, Tesco, Ocado, Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

Other shops or wholesalers also stock Maldon Salt. Please enquire.

You can visit their website for further details, more recipes, etc https://maldonsalt.com/. 

Crave something tasty for Veganuary? Then this is for you!

If you are craving something tasty for Veganuary, the this is for you! Crave snacks.

If you have never tried Crave Snacks before, then Crave are what you have been craving for, but didn't realise it, yet.

All Crave snacks are proudly produced to unique recipes that are guaranteed to be gluten free, lactose free, milk/dairy free and 100% Vegan friendly.

There are Smokey Back Flavoured Streakers. Little flat rectangles of smokey bacon flavoured goodness. 

They taste bacony and smokey and once you try one, there will be no stopping you! They are very moreish! 

As well as making for some exciting snacking direct out of the bag, you will find that these are great to share and they go very well with cheese, either dairy or vegan and make an excellent accompaniment to any salad. 

There's also Pickled Onion Monster Feet. Unlike the little flat rectangles of Streakers, Pickled Onion Monster Feet are in the shape of Monstrous feet. They have four toes, in case you are wondering.)

This is a new flavour, so do keep your eyes and your mouths open for this!

They have a sharply tangy taste of picked onions and they do include some real pickled onion flavourings in the recipe. 

Both packs contain 80 grams of snack goodness and will, Crave assures you, serve four people. Though this does depend on how hungry or how greedy you are!

What flavours are available?

Smokey Bacon Flavoured Streakers, Picked Onion Monster Feet, Crave Rocky Road, Crave Kitchen Sink and Crave Snack, Crackle and Choc. 

You can buy Crave products direct from their online shop https://www.cravefreefrom.co.uk/ or from https://thevegankind.com/c/crave-free-from or https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/search/?isSearch=true&query=crave

Adio Food Supplements that work for you

The slogan that Adio uses is "Take Back Control of Your Health." And there is at least one person I know who agrees with that sentiment. My wife.

She has been trialling Adio food supplements and has reported that they have made her feel much better.

"It's not just my imagination," she told me. "As a nurse with extra training in nutrition I know more than most people about foods and food supplements and I know that the Adio products have certainly helped me to feel much better while I have been taking them. In fact, they've proved so beneficial to me that I will be placing regular orders for them."

"I have much more energy, and I feel much better in myself. I am particularly keen on the Plant + capsules. They're absolutely amazing!"

Products that are available include:-

Adio one.

This is Dr Jess and Xandras’ own custom-blended premium daily multivitamin and mineral supplement.

They are made using bioavailable core ingredients, to optimise absorption and nutritional benefit. Adio One is suitable for vegans, and is free of all GMOs, fillers, gluten, soy, sugar, dairy and artificial flavourings and colours. 

60 days worth of tablets costs £35, or if you subscribe there's a 15% discount.

Adio Plant + 

Dr Jess has employed her extensive knowledge of the power of Chinese, herbal, functional and integrative medicine to develop Plant+, "an optimised combination of three of the most effective organically-certified adaptogens, to help you feel and look your best. Plant+ is suitable for vegans, and is free of all GMO’s, fillers, gluten, soy, sugar, dairy and artificial flavourings and colours."

This product costs £25, but if you want to take out a subscription there's a 10% discount available. 

Incidentally, these supplements are of great benefit to my wife because as a diagnosed coeliac she cannot tolerate gluten and she also has problems with a soy allergy and a dairy allergy. Which means she has to be very careful to check out all of the ingredients in supplements before she takes them. As as an aside she can't take beef collagen, but only marine collagen. 

But Adio doesn't rest on its laurels. Because as well as the above highly successful supplements it also offers a very wide range of specialist services, too.

It was founded by sisters Dr Jess and Dr Xandra DoC). Dr Jess trained in traditional western medicine and then went on to study homeopathy, Chinese medicine, medical herbalism and functional medicine.

Dr Xandra (DoC) earned her doctor of chiropractic qualifications at the University of Glamorgan. 

The website is arranged in different areas. There is a library which is an exciting resource consisting of searchable  videos, webinars, podcasts, articles, recipes, etc.

There's the hub with links to the hub brain function & mental health, family life & pet health, gut health & digestion, hormones & sexual health, immune system & infection, staying well & keeping fit, structure & movement and symptoms & diseases.

You can also join Adio for £10 a month.

To learn more about Adio visit https://adio.org/.

Pub in a Box from Sandford Orchards

This Valentine's Day, why not treat your sweetheart to a lovingly made cider gift set from Sandford Orchards?

Win him over with a fabulous Pub in a Box (£20.99 from www.sandfordorchards.co.uk) or sweep her off her feet with a bottle of sparkling Katja (750ml bottle, £9.00 from www.sandfordorchards.co.uk).

Pub in a Box (£20.99 from www.sandfordorchards.co.uk)

Why not Forget a night in a packed pub? Instead you can let the pub come to you and your special Valentine with Sandford Orchard's Pub in a Box?

You'll find it to be just like a Devonshire pub as it will be filled  with Devon cider and pub snacks.

Your hamper will contain: Devon Mist bottle 500ml, Shaky Bridge bottle 500ml, Fanny's Bramble bottle 500ml, Devon Red can 440ml, Two pouches of Mr Filberts 40g each, Two packets of Burts Chips 40g each, a Sandford Orchards' pint glass, bottle opener and some Beer (cider?) mats, too! 

Katja (750ml bottle, £9.00 from www.sandfordorchards.co.uk)

If your beloved likes bubbles then they'll love Katja (8%ABV). It's a crisp, modern, single varietal, sparkling cider, crafted from the dessert apple Katja, inspired by the fresh fragrant Proseccos of Venezia. 

With a subtle sweetness and Fragrant green apple and strawberry notes, it has undertones of melon, honeysuckle and citrus fruit.

For further information on Sandford Orchards please visit www.sandfordorchards.co.uk, follow Sandford Orchards on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For the full range of ciders and gifts visit www.sandfordorchards.co.uk.

Flawsome! Is Awesome!

Flawsome! Is launching a sustainable health shot range as part of its mission to save 20,000 tonnes of wonky and surplus fruit by 2026!

Flawsome! sustainable shots are made using wonky or surplus fruit, with added vitamins and prebiotics. They will be available on

https://flawsomedrinks.com/ from this month, January 2022.

A whopping 65% of consumers are reportedly looking for functional benefits from their drinks, but only a small number of products are sustainably created. 

Flawsome! has the chance to bring a completely different approach to the functional beverage market.

Flawsome! Is not only good for you, it's good for and our planet too.

Flawsome! wants to show the world that you can be ‘small in size, but big in impact’.

The shot range will be launched this month, January 2022, with a focus online and on-trade.

It will include 4 flavours and a range of health benefits:

Immunity Kick, with ginger and vitamin D for a caffeine free kick and immune boost

Gut health, with wonky strawberries and prebiotics for healthy insides

Immune Boost, with wonky cherries and vitamin C to boost the immune system

Daily Defence, with turmeric and vitamin D to boost the immune system and healthy bones.

A spokesperson said: “We're bringing purpose to the health and wellness space. The functional beverage market is flooded with refrigerated shots, packed in

small plastic bottles and made with products that are grown to order. We decided

to craft a 60ml health shot range as sustainably as possible, because we knew we

could have a BIG impact!”

Their plan is to use real wonky or surplus fruit.

Employ Ambient storage, thus avoiding the energy consumption caused by using electrical refrigeration.

Eschew the use of plastic bottles by using recyclable glass bottles

Paying farmers a fair price for their fruits, vegetables and tubers

Be carbon positive, offsetting all the emissions of production

What do founders say?

Co-founder Maciek Kacprzyk said: “1.3 billion tonnes of food is lost or wasted annually, at all levels of the supply chain, from initial agricultural production right the way through to consumption in the home.”

He went on to say: “It was essential for us as a brand to serve the growing demand for functional drinks, while pursuing our mission to save 20,000 wonky and surplus fruit by 2026. 

“Every shot gives you the nutrients you require to kick start your day, while reducing food waste along the supply chain.

Karina added: “We create delicious, healthy drinks that make a difference and so we want to bring all of this to a functional category. You won’t feel that flaming burning sensation, instead you will enjoy a kick of fruity blends that will keep your gut healthy and support overall physical and mental wellbeing.

“We believe small actions can make a big difference, and we invite you to join our mission to save 20,000 tonnes of wonky and surplus fruit by 2026”.

Flawsome! is a Welsh start-up that's sure to take the functional drinks market by storm.

Diabetes feature will be starting soon

Within the next several days That's Food and Drink will start running a series of articles on foods drinks and food supplements for people who have diabetes.

Whilst I don't have any medical qualifications I do have a basic qualification in managing diabetes. 

I decided to take that course because I had been diagnosed as having diabetes and I decided that I should learn as much as I could about diabetes and how to live with it.

What will the articles cover? With the help of suppliers we will be covering ready meals, also we will be covering foods that you might not realise would play an important part in meals for people with diabetes.

Also we will be featuring things such as low or no sugar versions of condiments, suitable drinks and also food supplements designed to help you take control of your blood sugar levels.

Incidentally I have had my diabetes treatment altered by my diabetes nurse. I am going to begin taking insulin from the middle of this week.

I would like to acknowledge the kind help of  photographer Steve Buissinne (https://pixabay.com/users/stevepb-282134/) and Pixabay.com for providing the image used to illustrate this post. 

Lilk It's plant-based but like milk

Lilk is a fantastic range of alternatives to milk.

There's the Common Blend which is a smooth blend of Oat and Rice. It feels like milk when you drink it. This is important because many attempts by other well-meaning producers resulted in a watery substance that looks like milk, but isn't anything like it.

But with Lilk it definitely does have a milk-like feel to it. "Mouthfeel" is what the experts call it.

It's got a moderately sweet taste at first sip, but it's not overly sweet. To me it's quite like dairy milk in the feel and the taste.

It's ideal for drinking, putting in tea, coffee or (my evening favourite!) hot chocolate. It is also great with breakfast cereals and for use in cooking in place of dairy milk.

However, the smart folks at Lilk have gone even further, Because they have also produced The Lush Blend which is the ultimate in a smooth and creamy alternative to dairy milk, with a good and proper whole milk feel to it.

It's a very clever blend of oats, coconut and quinoa. It can be used in exactly the same way at The Common Blend of Lilk, but it adds a deeper more indulgent flavour to tea and coffee, but makes hot chocolate, milkshakes smoothies and chai lattes even more special. 

Lilk also recommends that you use The Lush Blend in the place of dairy milk in dairy milk cocktails. I have to admit that I haven't tried this yet, we just don't have the other necessary ingredients to hand at the moment, but as soon as we do, Lilk Cocktails will be on the agenda!

However, it tastes so good I doubt there will be any left over to make cocktails with!

To learn more about Lilk please visit them at https://www.lilk.co/.

You can buy in selected retailers or direct from Lilk's Somerset HQ.

The Common Blend will cost £12.00 (Pack of 6 x 1L)

The Lush Blend will cost £13.50 (Pack of 6 x 1L)

There is a modest delivery charge to wherever you live in the UK.

If you want to stock Lilk in your shop please let them know info@happyprojects.co.

It's ideal for your first foray into Veganuary, but it is also ideal for people with allergies to dairy products.