That's Food and Drink

Monday, 11 January 2016

Enjoy Liquid poetry with Lord Byron's personal single malt Scotch on Valentine's Day

Lord Byron was one of the world's best-loved and most influential poets of the Romantic period of world literature.

Now you can share something that undoubtedly helped Lord Byron's poetic endeavours this Valentine's Day.

SPEY, which was Lord Byron single malt whisky.

Lord Byron’s words stole the hearts of women; now the essence of his love poetry has been captured in a bottle with SPEY Lord Byron single malt Scotch whisky.

With its elegant bottle design and smooth, delicate taste – as well as exclusive status – SPEY Lord Byron oozes romance, making it the ideal gift this Valentine’s Day.

The limited edition whisky has been released by Speyside Distillery to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Lord Byron’s marriage to Lady Annabelle Millbanke – and only 1,200 bottles of the rare expression have been produced.

SPEY’s long history with the famous poet began after his 1815 wedding, when Lord Byron was said to have gifted King George III with a cask of his favourite SPEY whisky in celebration of the occasion.

Speyside Distillery CEO John Harvey McDonough reports: “We are immensely proud of our association and history with one of the world’s greatest romantic poets. SPEY Lord Byron is smooth and full of charm – like the man himself – and we truly believe that he would have been overjoyed to have a single malt created in his name.

"And what better day than Valentine’s Day – the day when we are all looking for a little romance – to share this wonderful whisky with someone special.”

SPEY Lord Byron has a warm and nutty flavour which enjoys a soft sweet toffee aftertaste and a fresh, fruity lingering note which soothes the palate like warm honey.

At 46% ABV, 70c, it has an RRP of £95. Stockists can be found at www.speysidedistillery.co.uk.

Will you be able to write poetry to the same Eternal standard of Lord Byron when you taste this fine drink? Perhaps not. But it will be good fun to try. Either that or read Lordy Byron's works to each other as you sip your SPEY. You can order a copy of the complete works of Lord Byron at the bookshop operated by sister site That's Books and Entertainment http://www.amazon.co.uk/?tag=bookworms05-21&linkCode=w0f

Friday, 8 January 2016

Roses are red, violets are blue, This wine is special, special for you!

Those innovative winemakers at Echo Falls have introduced an exciting Limited Edition Rose infused wine for Valentine’s Day!

‘Cupid’ winemakers at Californian wine brand Echo Falls have been experimenting with innovative flavours to create an Echo Falls Limited Edition Fusion that will perfectly tickle taste buds (and pull heart strings) on the most romantic day of the year.

It's a delicate and delicious fusion, fine wines blended with the real and very genuine natural aroma and flavour of roses, it’s a sophisticated sweet tasting treat with a very unique floral twist that is perfect for loved ones this Valentine’s Day.

It's an exciting addition to the wine aisle, the bottle needs no ribbons or bows, in fact it’s too pretty to wrap!

Oozing whimsical romance, the label is adorned in roses, the ultimate icon of Valentine’s Day. In addition - for the shy among us - a metallic handwritten stamp echoes those three small words so you don’t have to, whilst the back label allows you to finish the classic ‘Roses are Red’ poem with space to write your own sweet nothings to that special someone.

Best serve chilled, over ice, or for those who really know the way to the heart of their Valentine - keep the theme sweet and serve with meringue, strawberries and vanilla ice cream.

It's now on sale in Morrison’s and ASDA stores at a remarkably reasonable RRP of £5.99 a bottle.

(EDITOR: That's Food and Drink recommends purchasing at least two or three bottles of this delicious and delicate romantic wine.)

Take the best in whole leaf teas this winter

There are a whole range of healthy greens, wintery whites and inspiring infusions from We Are Tea.

From immune-boosting green teas to comforting, caffeine-free infusions and teas that will put a twist on traditional lattes, We Are Tea has a host of award-winning choices to explore this winter. Each of these speciality teas is ethically sourced, whole-leaf and tastes top-notch, true to the We Are Tea ethos.

Earl Grey Supreme: This Earl Grey is a blend of the finest whole-leaf black teas scented with oil of bergamot and sprinkled with cornflowers to make it as beautiful on the eye as it is on the palate. This is a light, bright infusion with the distinctive aroma and flavour of citrus bergamot. It’s the ultimate base for a We Are Tea Earl Grey Latte, the perfect pick me up as the days grew colder. From £4.15

Gunpowder Supreme: This explosive green tea is the perfect way to kick-start Guy Fawkes month and boost antioxidant levels as winter approaches. Low in caffeine, it makes for a deliciously sweet and satisfying cup. From £4.15

Gunpowder Supreme with Ginger: With a perfect balance of green tea and ginger, this exceptional blend is refreshing, reviving and inspiring. The warmth from the ginger lingers on the palate while the green tea warms the soul, making it a perfect choice for a chilly day. From £5.88

White peony: A full-bodied white tea to enjoy whilst dreaming of a
white Christmas, this tea is fresh and mellow, with hints of melon. From £6.25. Also try Rose White Peony, which features whole pink rose buds to compliment the white tea, resulting in a superb infusion that soothes and delights. From £6.82

Rooibos: The South African ‘wonder’ herb delivers that perfect combination of health and flavour. This infusion tea is high in antioxidants and caffeine free, making it a great natural winter remedy. From £5.88

Honeybush: Forget the traditional honey and lemon and try this deliciously sweet Honeybush tea to help fend off colds and boost your immune system this winter. A close relation to rooibos, this honeybush is naturally caffeine-free and packs a vitamin C and antioxidant punch. From £6.15

We Are Tea has a range of 40 teas available in reusable loose leaf tea caddies or pyramid whole leaf tea bags and classified into six categories to make it easy to select, steep and enjoy.

The company is on a mission to break down the barriers to speciality tea and demystify the often over-complicated world of whole-leaf tea. From devising unique colour-coded categories for their teas to launching the simplest loose-leaf tea infuser on the market, they aim to make it easier than ever for people to explore whole-leaf teas from artisan producers across the world.

Discover more of the award-winning range at www.wearetea.com

All or part of the range is available to purchase online at wearetea.com, ocado.com or in Tesco stores nationwide. And you will soon be drinking teas that taste better than you ever expected possible.

How so? Because We Are Tea know their teas.

Craze for Coconut Yogurts Continues to Sweep the Nation. And it's greener, too!

The Coconut Collaborative has launched a delicious new Coconut and Almond flavour and added coconut water to all of its recipes, making its range of coconut yogurts the healthiest out there.

Free from dairy, soya and gluten, The Coconut Collaborative yogurts are a great choice for vegans and have proved a real hit with shoppers looking to bring a healthy new twist to everyday eating.

Now with the addition of coconut water, fans have even more reasons to rejoice, as the recipes harness all the goodness from this super-drupe. Coconut fat itself is super-healthy, it’s full of medium –chain fatty acids that are broken down immediately for energy and not stored in the body as fat, whilst coconut water is packed full of naturally occurring potassium and essential electrolytes.

There are five deliciously silky and coconutty recipes to pick from and each is heart healthy, contains zero cholesterol and has no refined sugar:

● NEW! Almond and Coconut: The first yogurt on the market bursting with the life-giving nutrients of both the coconut and the almond
● Blueberry: A recent addition; the sweet, juicy blueberry compote makes a perfect match for the creamy coconut yogurt
● Mango and Passion Fruit: Coconut yogurt with Juicy alphonso mango and passion fruit compote
● Raspberry: Creamy coconut yogurt with tasty, tangy raspberry compote
● Natural: Silky-smooth coconut yogurt, pure and simple

Steve Bessant, Co-Founder says. “We know people will be on the hunt for tasty snacks that are good for you too come the New Year and we think we've cracked it with these new recipes and delicious additions. Over the last year our sales have more than tripled and we expect the taste for our yogurts to continue to take-off throughout 2016.”

Not only does the The Coconut Collaborative celebrate the amazing properties of the coconut, they are also on a mission to spread the coco-love far and wide.

They have recently launched a new sustainability initiative in collaboration with Pur Projet to give back to local communities by planting coconut trees. They have already planted 1,000 trees in the Philippines and this little piece of jungle will regenerate soil and provide wildlife habitat and income for local communities, too.

RRP £1.40-£1.69 / 120g Yogurt. All or part of the range is available from Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Ocado.com and Whole Foods as well as independent retailers nationwide.

Visit: www.coconutco.co.uk for details. Or you can follow then on @coconutcollab.

You'll go nuts for the new Honey Cinnamon Cashew Butter from Pip & Nut!

With the craze for nut butter continuing to sweep the nation, Pip & Nut has added another all-natural, nutritious and utterly delicious flavour to its enticing range.

Available now, Honey Cinnamon Cashew Butter is a delicate blend of sweet flower honey, warming cinnamon spice and wholesome nutty goodness.

Perfect for the cooler winter days, Honey Cinnamon Cashew looks set to be Pip & Nut’s most popular flavour yet. It feels like an indulgent treat that’s delicious slathered on toast or spooned straight from the jar. Like all Pip & Nut’s nut butters this latest addition to the range is made from all-natural, quality ingredients, with no refined sugars, additives or palm oil. Plus, it’s high protein, vegetarian and packed full of vitamin E and magnesium.

In fact, for the first time, shoppers across the UK will be able to discover the nutty goodness of Pip & Nut, as all four of its delectable spreads will launch into Sainsbury’s stores up and down the country. Designed to be enjoyed at any time, not just for breakfast, the range also includes Peanut Butter, Almond Butter and Coconut Almond Butter.

Pip Murray, Founder of Pip & Nut, says, “We've been thrilled with how our inventive nuts butters have caught the imagination of the nation. Not only are they packed full of flavour and top-quality ingredients, they are also a fantastic source of protein and energy, making them a great pre or post exercise snack, a tasty way to breathe new life into breakfast and delicious and nutritious recipe ingredient.”

Hannah Murphy, Preserves buyer for Sainsbury’s adds,, “We’re pleased customers will be able to buy the Pip & Nut range in our stores. We know our customers are looking for healthy yet delicious tasting spreads and with four delicious nut butter flavours to choose from, we're confident they'll be well received in our stores".

The Pip & Nut range comprises: Peanut Butter (RRP £2.29); Almond Butter (RRP.
£3.99); Almond & Coconut Butter (RRP. £3.99) and now Honey Cinnamon Cashew
Butter. 250g Jars, (RRP £3.99).

You can also find Pip & Nut on social media platforms:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/pipandnut
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pipandnut
Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipandnut

You can find Pip & Nut in over 1200 stores around the UK and Ireland. Including Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, Ocado, Booths, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Fenwick, Revital, As Nature Intended, Partridges, The Grocery, Sourced Market, The People’s Supermarket, 400+ independent cafes, delis, health food stores and gyms

What's the story of Pip & Nut?
Pip & Nut is the brainchild of aspiring entrepreneur and keen marathon runner, Pip Murray. In 2013, whilst on the hunt for a tasty protein hit to support her demanding exercise regime, she discovered there was a real gap in the market for wholesome nut butters with simple yet inventive ingredients.

Taking matters into her own hands, Pip, 27, entered her concept for ‘Pip & Nut’ into a competition titled ‘Escape to the Shed’, run by Escape the City, a company whose mission is to help talented individuals leave their unfulfilling corporate day jobs. After pipping 3000 entrants to the post, she left her day job as a Producer at the Science Museum and spent 3 months living, working and launching her business from a shed in Central London – saving valuable resources whilst concentrating on her business goals.

Using equity crowd-funding platform Crowdcube to source backing to ramp up scale, Pip secured £120k funding round in just nine days. With an original target of £100k she gained 81 investors, giving away 19% equity in the company.

Since it launched into Selfridges in January 2015, the brand has gone from strength to strength gaining a host of listings and industry acclaim. Most recently, Pip & Nut won key industry award, The Grocer New Product Award, for its Coconut Almond Butter and was declared a winner of The Virgin StartUp Foodpreneur Retail Award. In addition, all three launch flavours have been awarded a Great Taste 2015 Star: a first for a nut butter brand.

Thursday, 24 December 2015

That's Christmas: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

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That's Christmas: Some very late minute Christmas presents from Kuro...

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