Tuesday, 2 August 2022

Enjoy the rest of Summer with Chefs for Foodies' BBQ Boxes

With folks in Britain getting ready to enjoy even more heat waves throughout the month of August, it's the perfect opportunity to impress your friends and grab yourself a chefs for foodies BBQ box prepared by top chefs - including some with a Michelin star!

Chefs for foodies has got together with the barbecue experts at LANDMANN to create a range of delicious grills featuring high quality ingredients that have been expertly sourced and carefully measured. Perfect for those who want to take their BBQing skills to the next level with colourful and creative dishes that are genuinely chef-level quality.

The boxes are delivered direct to your door so you have everything you'll require to make showstopping feasts for friends and family quickly and easily.

There's a huge range of grills to choose from including Wagyu Burgers and Spatchcocked Poussin by “butcher to the stars”, C Lidgate, Beef Flank with Salsa Verde and Grilled Vegetables by Masterchef's Sofia Gallo and Sarson Prawns by Michelin Star Chef Rohit Ghai.

Vegetarian or vegan guests won't feel left out, because the BBQ Vegan Kebab and Cherry Tomato Pizza box by pizza master and owner of Yard Sale Pizza Ricardo Arias will be superb. 

The recipe boxes come with a detailed digital method card and a bespoke video tutorial from the chefs for foodies chefs. You also have the chance to book a live interactive class with one of the chefs through the LANDMANN Academy to really boost your barbecuing skills and deliver the perfectly plated dish.

James Garth Hill, Director, said: “Born out of the pandemic to support chefs who were unable to get their food in front of diners and the rising trend for cooking at home, chefs for foodies provides foodies an opportunity to engage professional chefs and learn how to cook some of their delicious signature dishes, learn new skills and cook a perfectly plated dish with the very best ingredients, expertly sourced and carefully measured, weighed, packed and delivered directly to their door.

“With the temperatures set to rise yet again, these boxes take the stress out of hosting a barbecue gathering with friends and family over the summer months.”

The BBQ boxes can be ordered via the chefs for foodies website at https://chefsforfoodies.com/pages/landmann-bbq-kits#choose

The prices range from £19 for two for the BBQ Vegan Kebab and Cherry Tomato Pizza box up to £78 for four people for the Japanese Boss BBQ Box.

New from BrewDog Distilling a nifty new vodka

Those wonderful folks at BrewDog Distilling Co have announced the launch of Candy Kittens Vodka: Raspberry & Guava (40%), the second collaboration with the gourmet sweet brand which follows the amazing success of the Candy Kittens BrewDog Beer and marking the 10th anniversary of Candy Kittens. 

Using a grain to glass approach, BrewDog Distilling Co uses triple bubble distillation for four days, then the crystal clear spirit vapour climbs a purification column so high that, BrewDog Distilling Co actually needed had to rebuild their roof around it! 

The liquid is then infused with ripe, fruity British raspberries and tropical guava that combine nicely with strawberry and pear flavours for a delicious sipping vodka!

How should you serve it, apart from neat?

Suggested Serve is:

Candy Kittens Cosmo

40ml BrewDog Distilling Co's Candy Kittens Vodka

20ml Cointreau or peach liqueur 

10ml Fresh lime juice

20ml Cranberry juice

20ml Guava juice 

Method: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice, shake and strain into a chilled Martini glass, garnish with a Candy Kitten.

BrewDog Distilling Co's Candy Kittens Vodka: Raspberry & Guava will be available from www.BrewDog.com and Sainsbury's for £20.

@BrewDogDistillingCo

@CandyKittens

Monday, 1 August 2022

Ahmad Tea and Galerie du Thé celebrate winning 18 stars

Ahmad Tea and its sub-brand Galerie du Thé are delighted to announce they have been named among the top food and drink producers globally this year, picking up an impressive 18 stars in the 2022 Great Taste Awards. 

This year, over 14,000 products were entered into the world’s largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme and each of the products were put through a rigorous blind tasting process.

Galerie du Thé won a 3-star award for its Luyeh Red tea, a red oolong from Taiwan and 2-gold stars each for its Darjeeling First Flush and Dragon Pearl Tea. Ahmad Tea and Galerie du Thé won 6 and 5 gold stars each respectively for their high-quality teas.

 Ahmad Tea won stars for its classic English Breakfast and English Tea No.1  blends, its newly launched Kew Gardens Elegant Earl Grey and Garden Afternoon  as well as Black Tea from its new decaf range.

“At Ahmad Tea, we pride ourselves on our commitment and 100% focus on producing the highest quality teas and we’re thrilled to have won so many stars from the Great Taste Awards in 2022. Our aim is to inspire the love of tea and we hope these awards will encourage more food and drink lovers to discover the wonderful taste and aroma of premium teas," said Saleh Afshar, Head of Tea Department.

To learn more please visit https://www.ahmadtea.com/

Have a Vegan Merry Christmas With Cocoba Chocolate!

Cocoba, the Kentish chocolate company justifiably famed for their irresistible chocolate and hot chocolate gifts, has launched their Vegan Christmas range for Christmas 2022.

Having committed to the continuous growth of their vegan product range, they have consistently received well-deserved praise for producing 'the best vegan chocolate available'.

And now that Christmas is underway in their chocolate kitchen, Cocoba is concentrating on making their biggest range of vegan gifts yet to ensure Christmas magic is accessible to everyone in the form of delicious chocolate treats! 

With a variety of Vegan Christmas Gift Sets available, containing their best loved dairy-free treats, plus a selection of Vegan Stocking Fillers, Cocoba's Christmas range will certainly spread smiles all-round this year.

Vegan Christmas Hot Chocolate Bombes from £10.95

Nothing gives you the Christmas feeling quite like a cosy mug of hot chocolate on a chilly Winter's night. So, what better way to shake off the chills than with a hot chocolate bombe?

Cocoba's award-winning Vegan Hot Chocolate Bombe Christmas Cracker makes an ideal gift for vegetarians, vegans, and dark chocolate lovers alike. Made from 55% dark Belgian chocolate and loaded with sweet, vegan-friendly marshmallows, it makes a heavenly hot chocolate to curl up with in the evening.

And for the younger chocoholics, Cocoba's festive hot chocolate range includes vegan milk and white hot chocolate bombes in the shape of three merry friends. Cocoba's trio of Vegan Christmas Character Hot Chocolate Bombes includes a vegan milk chocolate Santa and Reindeer, plus a vegan white chocolate Snowman – all filled to the brim with micro marshmallows to make a creamy and delicious hot chocolate with the addition of a heated milk alternative poured over the top (plant-based and nut milks work great!).

Starting from £10.95 for a set of three hot chocolate bombes, these vegan-friendly treats are an ideal solution for stocking fillers this Christmas. 

Vegan Christmas Hot Chocolate Spoons and Tree Hangers, from £3.95

Vegan Hot Chocolate Spoons are a great way to bring an element of creativity and joy to any festive celebration.

Cocoba's selection of Christmas hot chocolate stirrers include a jolly Vegan Christmas Santa Hot Chocolate Spoon, made from silky smooth vegan 'milk' chocolate and topped with a vegan white chocolate Santa Claus.

Also, they've introduced a delightfully packaged trio of Vegan Hot Chocolate Spoons with Marshmallows – including Milk, Dark, and Salted Caramel (EDITOR: Yum!) flavoured spoons, each topped with a sprinkle of marshmallows, and all of which are completely suitable for those with a vegan or vegetarian diet!  

Looking for something to decorate the tree with too? Look no further!

Cocoba's complete range of magical treats also includes Vegan Tree Hangers to add a touch of festive fun whilst you deck the halls. Featuring a vegan 'white' chocolate Santa Claus embedded in a disc of thick 'milk' chocolate that's been topped with a helping of sprinkles, it's certainly going to be a job to refrain from eating it straight away!

Nevertheless, at only £3.95 per tree hanger, these vegan-friendly decorations are a great way to glam up the tree with a treat that's great for everyone to enjoy at Christmas time.

Vegan Christmas Chocolate Bar Set, £9.95

New this Christmas, Cocoba's Vegan Christmas Chocolate Bar Set makes a sweet gift to slip underneath the tree. Piped and decorated by hand, one with chocolate drizzle and the other with rainbow candy beans, this tasty duo features two family-friendly chocolate bars in the shape of a gingerbread man and a Christmas tree. Made especially for vegan and dairy free diets, this vegan chocolate bar set is ideal for gifting to little chocoholics or as a sharing treat for the whole family to enjoy together, retailing at £9.95 per set.

Vegan Christmas Baubles, £4.95

Epitomising the Christmas spirit, Cocoba's range of Christmas chocolate gifts features baubles which don't only look great on the tree, but also look great in a hamper and taste even better too! Made from a perfect sphere of velvety 'milk' chocolate, these vegan-friendly baubles are expertly spun to create a thick shell of chocolate which evenly encompasses a fluffy marshmallow centre. They're then thoughtfully wrapped in cellophane and tied with a ribbon, reading for hanging on the branches of the Christmas tree, or popping into a stocking for someone to enjoy.

Vegan Christmas Gift Sets starting from £14.95

For wow-factor gifts that include a mesmerising variety of treats to light up the eyes of any recipient on Christmas morning, Cocoba has it all wrapped up with a collection of beautiful Christmas Vegan Gift Sets.

Starting from as little as £14.95 for a complete hamper of vegan-friendly chocolate gifts, Cocoba's Vegan Christmas Gift Sets have everything you can think of to keep a chocoholic sweet. From their bestselling vegan hot chocolate bombes, complete with a made-to-measure Cocoba hot chocolate mug, to fun festive treats to enjoy alongside your favourite Christmas films. With each product made without any compromise in flavour using their highly praised vegan chocolate recipe, Cocoba's Vegan Christmas Gift Sets are the perfect gifting solution for loved ones with vegan and dairy-free diets.

 Cocoba's founder, Darren, is from Australia where he grew up sharing delicious hot chocolates with his grandfather that he carefully made, not from powder, but using real, premium chocolate.

When Darren came to the UK, he could not find a chocolate drink that matched the one from his childhood, so he decided to create it.

Cocoba launched with a test pop-up kiosk in Brent Cross Shopping Centre in 2012, and following its success, opened a café in Bluewater Shopping Centre, Kent in 2013. Here, they use slowly melted Belgian chocolate as the basis of all their hot and iced chocolate drinks.

The café didn't just see success in drinking chocolate and chocolate desserts, but also created demand for the chocolate bars and make-at-home hot chocolates, which they made and packed behind the counter.

Today, the same love and care his grandfather put in to his hot chocolate can be found in every one of Cocoba's chocolate products, including Belgian chocolate bars and lollipops, hot chocolate spoons, flakes and hot chocolate bombes, truffles and buttons, and a growing range of vegan dark and 'milk' chocolate too. All these products are handmade, packed and dispatched from Kent, and sent all over the country, to farm shops and delis, to larger retailers, and international distributors too.

Cocoba's Vegan Christmas Range is available from 15th September at www.CocobaChocolate.com as well as independent farm shops, proper delis, John Lewis, Selfridges and more.

Rock Rose gins

In today's post I am reporting on two gins from Scotland's Rock Rose Gin Company.

The first is Scottish Botanicals Gin.

I like this gin as it has a nicely balanced range of tastes. 

It's a delightfully smooth gin with the classical tang of juniper berries, but there's so much more to this gin, which is the result of many experimental batches. 

There's a nice hint of citrus with other fruity notes underpinning this gin. There was something I could not identify that gave a little bit of extra fruitiness to this gin. I think that will be the sea buckthorn. 

Next I move on to the Rock Rose Gin Citrus Coastal Edition.

Wow! What a neat treat! This is like no other gin that I have tried.

The bouquet is not juniper, it has a good, warming citrus aroma and it has a good, warming citrus taste to it, also.

It's described as an experimental gin (there most experimental to date, apparently) and the distillation process includes a range of specially selected ingredients including locally foraged kelp from Shore Seaweed and liquorice salt from the Hebridean Mustard Company.

After the citrus flavour, there's a definite very pleasing aftertaste, but I'm not sure that I can identify it, but you'll know it when you try it.

Both of these gins are ideal neat (I prefer mine with ice, my wife prefers hers without ice) and they are both perfect for use with premium mixers and tonics.

My wife's gin and orange recipe (which reverses the more normal ratio, so you get far more gin than you are probably used to!) is ideal for both of these gins, but they are also superb with some real Indian Tonic Water.

A 41.5% Alc Vol. - 700ml bottle costs £35.00, but you can receive fairly generous discounts for regular orders.

Learn more at https://www.dunnetbaydistillers.co.uk/


Saturday, 30 July 2022

Vada Pow "Packs a Powerful Punch"

Yes, indeed, Vada Pow does pack a powerful punch. But it's not overly so, so they are enjoyable by all.

What is Vada Pow? It's an producer of award-winning Bombay Indian street food, but with an Irish twist. 

Naveen Bachani is a man on a mission. Well, several missions, it seems to me! He has brought traditional Indian street food snacks to Ireland the the rest of the British Isles and is working hard to make plant-based, nutritional meals available using all natural ingredients. And all with the backing of Enterprise Ireland.

My wife and I were fortunate enough to be able to try Croquette Tika Masala and Spiced Potato Cakes. For which we offer our sincere thanks to Naveen.

The Croquette Tika Masalas are a delicious blend of traditional masala spice and special herbs and spices. Although it does contain some chilli it's not ridiculously hot so is, to my mind, more in keeping with what is really sold as Bombay (Mumbai) street foods and not what passes for ridiculously over hot "curry dishes" in the British Isles. they went very well with a scratch curry that I put together. It was my turn to cook tea that evening!

We also tried the potato cakes and really liked them a great deal. We found them ideal for serving with a nice salad, paneer or perhaps between bread rolls and being some proper street food! I appreciated the turmeric and the fresh herbs contained in these delicious spiced potato cakes.

Naveen tells us that he chose the name Vada Pow as it means "Patty in a Bun" in Bombay slang. "It's a hat tip to the veggie burger sandwich meal that's a quick grab-and-go mainstay of Bombay Street Food culture."

Interesting! Because I now more about my wife's family recipes passed down through the generations!

The meals can be microwaved or cooked in an oven, it really is up to you.

You can learn more at www.vadapow.com.   

How to buy? There's next day delivery in the Dublin area, please check for delivery and purchase options elsewhere. 

If you want to find out about retailing call them on +353(0)838085792 or email 
naveenbachani@vadapow.com.


 

Friday, 29 July 2022

Enjoy tea with a sparkle

Saicho, the prestigious single-origin sparkling tea brand, offers tea drinkers a refined, elegant selection of premium cold-brewed teas, all ideal for the warmer weather this summertime. 

With four exquisite flavours, Saicho brings a touch of elegance to any occasion. Perfect for pairing dinners, aperitifs or to celebrate with a toast on a sparkling note, Saicho is the creation of native Hong Kong person, Natalie, and her partner, Charlie Winkworth-Smith. 

The effervescent tea brand was first launched in the UK. The inspiration was Natalie's exposure to two well-established tea cultures, Saicho offers a unique, refreshing beverage ideal for those seeking to drink less alcohol while still enjoying the occasion and quality of a fine wine. 

Each tea has been selected from specific Asian regions, carefully harvested to create varying acidities, sweetness and mouthfeel that complement certain food types. 

The masterful process of each Saicho tea starts with brewing the tea leaves at a low temperature for 24 hours. This is to extract the delicate aromatics without over-extracting bitter and astringent compounds, which produces a clean, crisp and complex flavour profile. The drinks are then delicately sparkled to enhance the natural aromatics of the tea.

Boasting a collection of cold-brewed sparkling teas masterfully crafted to be as nuanced as the finest champagne wines, Saicho's creations are specifically made to share with loved ones. From weddings to graduations, birthdays and anniversaries, Saicho delivers bespoke quality and ceremony to elevate any celebration. 

Scented with jasmine blossoms, the delicate Saicho Jasmine has a bright floral aroma and notes of apple sherbert, lychee and vanilla, making it a refreshing aperitif. Cheers alongside brunch style egg dishes, summer salads or spicy sales, salty and crispy barbecued pork, spicy chicken wings or desserts. 

Saicho Darjeeling, called the Champagne of tea, is grown in the foothills of the Himalayas in Darjeeling, India, at nearly 6560 feet ASL.

Harvested in the summertime to develop its unique Darjeeling flavour, the tea has notes of wood spice, nectarine and muscatel and has a subtle astringency. Enjoy alongside full flavoured dishes including grilled chicken, roasted tomatoes, chocolate, or summer asparagus salads. For a picnic, a classic Quiche Lorraine or a refreshing Tomato pie pairs perfectly with this drink.

With a deep umami character and notes of nori seaweed, roasted hazelnut and woody smoke, the complex and IWSC No/Low Gold Medal winning Saicho Hojicha boasts dry and woody tannins which deliver a memorable flavour. Originating in Kyoto in the 1920s as a way of utilising leftover leaves, stems, stalks and twigs, Hojicha is a roasted green tea from Japan. Hojicha is best enjoyed alongside complex flavours including sushi, smoked ricotta, barbecued vegetables, caviar, smoked fish, serrano ham, mushroom risotto or duck. 

Named after one of China's most well-known myths about the legendary Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, Eight Immortals, the first of Saicho's Rare Tea Collection, is a rare Dan Cong tea cultivar from Guangdong province, China. With a subtle savouriness and lightly tannic finish, the Eight Immortals tea has notes of ginger, mango, tangerine and melon.

From birthdays to hen parties, weddings and celebratory drinks, Saicho offers the versatility and quality to make any special moment memorable in 200ml and 750ml bottles. Elegantly designed with exquisite 750ml bottle gift boxes, Saicho makes for an ideal gift to commemorate important milestones or to add a touch of luxury to your next gathering.

Where to enjoy Saicho Chances are if you live in London, Saicho is just stocked round the corner from you! With new stockists joining every month, Saicho strives to serve award-winning sparkling tea at all your favorite hotels, bars and restaurants. With hotter weather, longer days and brighter smiles, we want to highlight some popular spots to enjoy Saicho this summer!

Online Orders Per Flavour (Retail prices)

200ml bottle (Jasmine, Darjeeling, Hojicha) for £4.99 GBP

750ml bottle (Jasmine, Darjeeling, Hojicha) for £17.45 GBP

750ml bottle of Eight Immortals for £32.99 GBP

You can order them here https://www.saichodrinks.com/

Fit for Summer: Your Essential Vitamins and Supplements

The days are longer, the nights shorter, the weather warmer and travel, social gatherings and get togethers are back on. 

With the Great British Summer (and the occasional heatwave!) in operation, you really should stay on top of your wellbeing by ensuring you add these essential vitamins to your diet or routine. 

The Wicked Gummy Co has compiled a list of the top vitamins to keep you energised, healthy and happy during the warmer months - as an added bonus, we've created a cheat sheet which shares the best Wicked Gummy Co gummies to get your daily dose

The Vitamins you need this summer are:-

Vitamin C - Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is an antioxidant found in everything from oranges to leafy greens and even potatoes, too. It plays a direct role in collagen production, neurotransmitter function, and overall immune health. Summer brings with it many opportunities for social mingling, often leading to cases of the common cold or sinus infections. Vitamin C will help keep you fit and fighting throughout the balmy nights.  

Vitamin E - This is a fat-soluble vitamin found in foods such as eggs, meat, and tofu. It is also found in most fruits and vegetables, too. In the body, Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, helping the liver to clear free radicals and toxins. 

Free radicals, cells that contain too many electrons, can genetically damage your body and have been linked to many diseases as well as traditional signs of aging. Primarily, Vitamin E protects skin from the harmful effects of the sun. It may lessen the likelihood of skin damage severe enough to cause cancer. It can also help with faster recovery from sunburn - crucial when travelling to sunnier climes.

Vitamin A - Vitamin A is critically important in the human body; in fact, it forms the entire basis of vision in humans and most animals. Most people get plenty of Vitamin A from meats, fish, carrots, sweet potatoes, and green leafy vegetables. However, it is possible to be deficient either mildly or severely. Mild deficiencies often manifest as vision problems, including difficulty seeing at night and difficulty reading. Taking Vitamin A in summer may prevent vision damage from the sun, but it can also help you to see more clearly and brightly.

In addition B-Vitamins (for energy), potassium and magnesium (essential electrolytes) and Vitamin K (critical in the production of red blood cells) are good options to stay healthy, hydrated and revived. 

The Best Wicked Gummy Co gummies for summer. 

Hair, Skin & Nails - Say hello to shinier hair, glowing skin and stronger nails this summer! 60 beauty gummies containing a whopping dose of biotin as well as a potent vitamin and mineral blend for all round health and wellbeing. Biotin benefits the growth and strengthening of the hair, skin and nails, which can absorb some damage from direct sun exposure. Vitamin C helps with collagen formation. Vitamin E protects the cells from oxidative stress. Zinc works to protect the hair. Folate contributes to amino acid synthesis. Biotin benefits the growth and strengthening of the hair, skin and nails. 60 for £14.99 at https://wickedgummyco.com/collections/beauty/products/hair-skin-nails 

Multivitamin - Stay strong this summer with Wicked Gummy Co's Multivitamin. Contains Vitamin A for healthy vision, Vitamin C & Selenium to bolster the immune system. Vitamin B6 fights tiredness and fatigue. Vitamin E to  protect the cells from oxidative stress. Biotin strengthens the hair, skin and nails. 60 at £14.99 at https://wickedgummyco.com/collections/sleep/products/multivitamin 

Peaceful Zzzzz - more hours of sunlight might be cause for excitement, but the shorter nights (alongside the heat) can also lead to difficulty sleeping - and nothing impacts your energy levels as much as sleep. For a brighter, more energised summer, try Peaceful Zzzzz. Our unique blend of amino acids, vitamins and botanicals combine to produce serotonin, a chemical messenger that sends signals between your nerve cells. An increase in serotonin levels can fight against depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, weight gain and other health problems. 5-HTP promotes the production of serotonin which tells your body it's time to sleep. L-Theanine is an amino acid that promotes calmness. Vitamin B6 plays an important role in mood regulation. Botanicals help you to sleep. 60 gummies for £23.99 at https://wickedgummyco.com/collections/sleep/products/peaceful-zzzzz 

CBD - 60 of the finest quality CBD gummies with a unique vitamin and mineral blend combining the natural anti-inflammatory benefits of cannabidiol (20mg per serving) with other ingredients to fight tiredness and fatigue, reduce stress and anxiety and bolster the immune system. Vitamins B6, B12 & C help to reduce tiredness and fatigue and bolster the immune system. Zinc is important for healthy hair, skin and nails. Vitamins C, E and Zinc contribute to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. Vitamins B6, B12, niacin, folic acid, biotin and vitamin C contribute to psychological function. Vitamin B6, B12, niacin, biotin and vitamin C contribute to a healthy nervous system. Vitamin D3 is integral to the optimal functioning of the immune system, as well as healthy bones and muscles. 60 gummies for £29.99 at https://wickedgummyco.com/products/cbd-gummy 

This blog post was prepared by The Wicked Gummy Company and shared by That's Food and Drink with our readers.


 

Thursday, 28 July 2022

Aimia Foods Mix Things Up With New Mixed Berry Moosebreak

Top UK food and drink experts, Aimia Foods, are pleased to announce they are adding a brand-new Moosebreak flavour to the mix – Mixed Berry.

Joining flavours Strawberry and Chocolate, Mixed Berry Moosebreak is a naturally sweet and fruity flavour which was carefully developed, planned and taste-tested by primary-school aged children.

It is a part of the Made Easy Range. And Mixed Berry Moosebreak has specifically developed for public sector environments, letting caterers offer a delicious yet simple dessert option as part of their menu, but at the same time providing puddings that contain all the nutritional goodness of fresh skimmed milk.

Once water is added to the Moosebreak mix, it can be whisked up to create a light and fluffy mousse in a matter of a few minutes.

Karen Green, who is the head of marketing at Aimia Foods, tells us how Mixed Berry Moosebreak can also be used to create a whole menu of desserts: “Not only does Moosebreak work ideally as a stand-alone mousse, it also lends itself well as an ingredient for creating a number of different dessert types: From tempting mixed berry cheesecakes to fruity trifles, the options are fruitful with Moosebreak!"

As with all products in the Made Easy Range, Mixed Berry Moosebreak contains no artificial colours, flavours, artificial sweeteners, preservatives or hydrogenated fats and has an exceptional low cost per serving.

For more information on Mixed Berry Moosebreak, or any other products supplied by Aimia Foods, please visit https://www.aimiafoods.com/

Felippo Berio introduces new fantastic vegan pesto range

Filippo Berio has been the UK's favourite olive oil brand for over four decades. It's now decided to expand its popular pesto sauce range with two new vegan varieties, Basil Vegan Pesto and Sundried Tomato Vegan Pesto. 

These pestos are produced with the finest available ingredients including Filippo Berio Olive Oil, fresh Lugurian Basil and the finest Sundried Tomatoes.

They are both dairy and gluten free, plus certified by the Vegan Society, so they don't compromise on flavour.

Benchmarking tests compared the Filippo Berio Basil Vegan Pesto against Sacla which showed that Filippo Berio was the clear favourite. When asked which they preferred, over three in four people chose Filippo Berio, many commenting their products had both a superior taste and texture.

Filippo Berio UK's MD, Walter Zanré, said: “These vegan pestos really tick all the boxes when it comes to flavour, so they're the perfect store cupboard essential for anyone who's vegan or looking to reduce their dairy intake. We spent a lot of time in our kitchen developing the recipe to get the taste just right - so anyone who already loves our Filippo Berio pesto can be confident it is equally delicious.”

According to the latest YouGov data, vegans account for 6% of the British population. Flexitarians, who are actively trying to reduce consumption of meat, form 13% of the UK's population.

The plant-based food category has seen huge growth in recent years, it's currently worth £1.2billion each year in the UK, with 6.6 million households buying vegan products beyond Veganuary.

Both the Basil Vegan Pesto and Sundried Tomato Vegan Pesto are priced at £2.75 for a 190g glass jar, and are available from www.FilippoBerio.co.uk.