Babingtons Blends Forest Fruits Tea Is a Fantastic Immune Booster

Babingtons Blends Forest Fruits is a refreshing and healthy herbal tea blend, prepared by mixing strong, fruity flavours of apples, blackberries, raspberries, blackcurrants and strawberries together.

As Autumn comes ever closer and we need to keep our immune system tuned up, this speciality blend is perfectly balanced by the floral hints of elderflower and hibiscus, making it not too sweet.

Beneficial properties: refreshing, purifying and anti inflammatory, filled with antioxidants and helpful vitamins (A,B and C),

Since 1893, Babingtons Tea Rooms which sit at the foot of Rome's iconic Spanish Steps, has been serving fine teas to the world's most discerning tea connoisseurs. That's nearly 130 years of service, so far.

All Babingtons Blends teas are sustainably sourced, hand blended and are 100% natural with no artificial colourings or flavourings. All packaging is biodegradable.

Tea Formats

Pyramids (x 18) from £7.99, Pouches (Loose leaf) from £6.99, Caddies (Loose Leaf) from £11.99, Caddies (Tea Bags) from £12.99

www.babingtonsblends.com

That's Books and Entertainment: How to Live When You Could be Dead

That's Books and Entertainment: How to Live When You Could be Dead: How to Live When You Could be Dead is an amazing and very moving book by Deborah James. You should, Deborah asserts, live your life as if yo...

Organic September

Back in the mid 1970s I was a young foundry technician and an aspiring writer. 

I became interested in the idea of organic vegetable gardening so I requested a patch of unused land in my parent's back garden and decided to grow vegetables using organic fertiliser.

Organic fertilisers were not commonly available then, at least not in the small market town we lived in, but eventually I found a local hardware shop (managed by a very large cat who sat on the counter and who demanded fusses by way of payment) which was selling liquid organic seaweed-based fertiliser and I began to use that to fertilise the vegetables that I had planted. Beans and peas were amongst the two main crops that I first planted.

My mother was very encouraging but my father teased me in good fun about me being a hippy for growing crops organically. but after seeing how well the crops were doing and how good they tasted after they were harvested, he was brought round to the viewpoint that organic was better.

Now, 45 years later, we are participating in Organic September.

Organic fertilisers are now pretty mainstream and although the cat and her pet humans retired long ago, organic fertilisers are readily available, now. In fact the Maxicrop Seaweed fertiliser I used all those years ago is still available. You can buy it on Amazon and at garden centres or visit them at https://www.solabiol.com/en/maxicrop-uk.

But if you don't have the space, time or the ability to grow your own crops using organic methods, buying organic foods to eat is now even easier than it ever has ever been.

From large supermarket chains to speciality farm shops to corner and convenience shops, everyone seems to have some organic food and drinks that are on their shelves.

Organic milks, cheeses, meats, vegan alternatives, coffee, tea, beers, wines, spirits, confectionary, breakfast cereals, vegetables, breads etc, etc, all are available.

And many restaurants, pubs and hotels are striving to offer organic food and drink to their customers.

Over the next month That's Food and Drink, with the assistance of our friends in the organic food PR profession, will be featuring organic produce as part of Organic September. 

That's Food and Drink would like to thank Alexa at Pixabay for the image used to illustrate this feature.

(Alexas_Fotos at Pixaby)

Standing Up for Insect Rights: Nature's Keyworkers Hold Miniature Protest at Organic Farm

Nature's keyworkers held a protest standing up for their insect rights at an organic farm in the North East today, marking the start of Organic September. 

Armed with some mini placards, they gathered at Bays Leap organic farm in Newcastle calling on the new Prime Minister to take action to save nature in their first 100 days in government.

Meanwhile, a Change.org petition launched for Organic September by the Organic Trade Board on behalf of insects is gaining momentum with over 500 signatures, giving wildlife such as earthworms, ladybirds and bees a voice for the first time.

The UK's organic industry is requesting the new PM commits to protecting wildlife in any policies - and represents the UK at the crucially important UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in December.

Farmer Chris McDonald manages Bays Leap dairy farm, where the protest took place, which has been fully certified organic since 2018. Chris explained that his cows graze in the paddocks on forages such as herbal lays. Each year, he works with a local beekeeper to deploy bees onto the fields to help pollinate the flowers including red and white clover, lucerne and natural varieties.

He said: “The human race is here because of nature, let's work with it. We've tried fighting it before and it doesn't like it. If we want harmony, we need to give nature a chance. My forages work in harmony  with the pollinators - they're crucial in the balance of keeping my farm successful.”

The theme for this year's Organic September is “Nature would choose organic”. This reflects that if wildlife such as bees, earthworms and ladybirds had a voice, they would want more farming to be organic, reducing their exposure to chemical fertilisers and pesticides, helping to keep the delicate ecosystem in balance.

Not only are insects a vital part of a balanced ecosystem, providing food for other animals and recycling nutrients, they also play an essential role in our global food system. One in three mouthfuls of food depends on pollinators and without pollinators we wouldn't have potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes, coffee, chocolate or cotton.

Cristina Dimetto, General Manager of the Organic Trade Board (OTB), said: “Organic farming works with nature, not against it, encouraging natural predators like ladybirds and pollinators like bees and butterflies rather than spraying harmful pesticides. As a result, on average, plant, insect and bird life is 50% more abundant on organic farms. There are up to seven times more wild bees in organic grain fields. So if nature did have a voice - it would choose organic. 

“If pesticides were substituted for more sustainable farming practices (like organic), this could slow or reverse the decline in insects. The hope is that even tiny insect-sized steps can make a big difference when it comes to keeping nature's crucial keyworkers thriving.”

For more information visit www.GoOrganicUK.com and to sign the petition head to https://www.change.org/NatureProtest

This post is brought to you at the That's Food and Drink Organic September campaign. Please look out for more features like this one. 

Fitbakes hits the sweet spot for supermarkets ahead of HFSS regulations

Fitbakes, which is one of the UKs top a low sugar indulgent cake brands, has scooped seven new listings at four different retailers ahead of government HFSS regulations, despite being beset by huge supply chain issues and the war in Ukraine.

The brand, launched by leading nutritionist Ella Rauen-Prestes from her own kitchen table in the Cotswolds in 2018, has three new listings in Waitrose, one new listing in Tesco, plus listings in Co-op Midcounties, Holland & Barrett and Selfridges. 

To celebrate these listings, Fitbakes is launching a brand new Birthday Cake flavour of cakes this month, September, which contains sprinkles made with natural ingredients and low sugar white chocolate.

Restrictions on the placement of HFSS products, a key component of the government’s commitment to reduce obesity, come into force next month, in October 2022. 

This will mean HFSS products cannot be placed in key locations in-store, like checkouts, store entrances and aisle ends, to try and cut impulse buys of unhealthy products.

Ella Rauen-Prestes, said: “Over the last few months, we found several supermarkets were keen to list our products, recognising Fitbakes ticks the boxes when it comes to providing indulgent healthier alternatives to consumers. 

"Whilst many big brands might not be ready for the new HFSS regulations, we’re proud Fitbakes has filled the gap in the market for cakes that are indulgent and delicious, yet which are naturally low in sugar and high in protein.”

All of this success comes despite a rocky few months for the company as it was troubled by supplier issues and even feeling the impact of the war in Ukraine.

Ella explained: “We usually buy protein powder for our cakes from Europe but back in April the shipment was in Ukraine and was bombed in Mariupol. The company then couldn’t supply us with any more protein powder so we had to change the recipe at the last minute to employ a different protein. This was tricky in itself as the new ingredient didn’t respond to using eggs quite as well as the original one.

“We have also been hit by the price rises in raw materials like wheat flour and sunflower oil, which then caused the cost of rapeseed oil, which we use, to increase. 

"However, we’ve managed to rise above these challenges and are proud to have these seven new listings in top supermarkets, giving more consumers access to healthy cakes and bars on the go.”

Fitbakes cakes have 95% less sugar, 40% less calories and 200% more protein than leading cake brands, and have no artificial sweeteners, flavourings or colourings. 

To learn more please visit https://www.fitbakes.co.uk. 

NICE Wine Are Hoping to Bring Some Wine Cheer to London

NICE wine (www.nice-drinks.co.uk) are hoping to bring some cheer to London tomorrow, they will be sending out the NICE Club Dance Mob on Thursday, 1st September to give away £10,000 worth of wine at five locations around London. 

Led by comedian, Katerina Robinson AKA London's answer to Samantha Jones, the dancers and Katerina will be donning NICE wine's classic uniform, the pink jumpsuit, they'll be dancing their way around Leicester Square (11:30am), Oxford Circus (12pm) (near big Topshop, RIP), St Paul's Cathedral (1:30pm), Stratford Westfield (4:30pm) and Liverpool Street (6pm). 

Look out for the signature pink outfits, pink NICE megaphone, playing some classic disco songs, and some very nice comments coming your way. Scan the NICE QR code for a free delivery of a box of three cans of red, white and rosé NICE wine, if you enjoy the wine, you'll also receive 25% your first order. A teaser of the

The London-based start-up makes great tasting wine from wineries they love. The female-led team is innovating with formats, hoping to make wine more inclusive and less intimidating. Whether you're after a perfectly portioned canned wine for the train even a stocking filler, or boxed wine for your summer celebrations or Christmas parties, they make it for whenever you want it.

THE WINES

NICE Sauvignon Blanc (11.5% ABV)

o   Dry, crisp, with a wink of peach: a classic French white from the Cotes de Gascogne region

NICE Pale Rosé (12% ABV) 

o   A crisp, dry and proudly pale rosé from just outside Montpellier

NICE Malbec (13.5% ABV)

o   Juicy, darkly fruity and smoothly Argentinian, this medium bodied wine hails from Mendoza in the foothills of the Andes

WINE, IN A CAN

NICE are now putting their favourite Sauvignon Blanc, Pale Rosé and Argentinian Malbec in 250ml cans (RRP £3). Each of the wines is vegan and the cans are light, fast-chilling and 100% recyclable, forever. Prefer to shop indie? NICE is the fastest growing canned wine brand in the UK and the largest independent brand in still canned wine, find it at over 4000 outlets around the country. 

NICE BOXED WINE

Find the NICE trio in a new Boxed Wine format (RRP £21.50); equal to three bottles, nine cans, or 18 small glasses of wine, which lasts longer in a box (as it won't oxidise and go iffy) staying fresh for six weeks after opening. The box and bag are fully recyclable, so pop it in the recycling and give it the chance of a brand-new life.

Find NICE at Sainsbury's, Ocado, Amazon and WHSmith, as well as sports stadiums, music venues, airlines, theatres, cinemas, and restaurants. 

Smart Mums go to Iceland to buy Lotus Biscoff Ice Cream Cones

If you are a lover of Lotus Biscoff ice cream sticks, get ready to indulge in a brand-new crunchy, caramelised frozen treat with the launch of Lotus Biscoff Ice Cream Cones!

Reaching Iceland stores across the country from today, 31st August, the new cones (4x115ml) combine real dairy ice cream with swirls of yummy Lotus Biscoff spread and a generous topping of crushed Lotus Biscoff biscuits. 

A gourmet coating of real and utterly delicious Belgian chocolate puts the finishing touch to the crunchy wafer cone.

This latest ice cream masterpiece provides the perfect fusion of flavours synonymous with the famous little red biscuist in a refreshing new cornet format that has been adored by the nation for years.

The latest launch will add to Lotus’ growing selection of frozen treats which also include Lotus Biscoff Ice Cream Cake (650ml), Lotus Biscoff Ice Cream Tubs (460ml), Lotus Biscoff Mini Ice Cream Tubs (4x80ml), Lotus Biscoff Ice Cream Sticks (3x90ml), Lotus Biscoff Mini Ice Cream Sticks (6x60ml), Lotus Biscoff White Ice Cream Sticks (3x90ml) and Lotus Biscoff Mini Mix Ice Cream Sticks (6x60ml).

EDITOR: I think I feel a visit to Iceland coming on!

Gary Barlow Organic Wine

 

As well as being a popular singer and song writer, Gary Barlow OBE is also very heavily and personally involved in creating Gary Barlow Organic Wine.

Gary is so passionate and confidant about his wines that he has proudly given it his own name. 

The Gary Barlow Organic Red Wine is priced at £7.99 and is currently on offer, so do look out for that. 

The wine is produced in Spain, a country that is very close to Gary’s heart and he has chosen the Castilla region to source the grapes for his 100% organic debut wine offering. 

The grapes are sourced from small holdings all over the Castilla region,  where vines are older (30 years or so) and produce a small volume of expressive juice. 

This means that the resultant wines are character-filled, but of equal importance this move by Gary ensures that the owners of these small holdings have a livelihood to look forward to. And it's one they are totally reliant on.

It's an organic red blend from Spain’s Central Castille. It's a juicy, unoaked wine, which has aromas of red wild berries with hints of chocolate and of rosemary. 

Would make an ideal accompaniment to Garlic & Oregano Roast Lamb pair with a Chorizo and chickpea stew.

The label is specially designed to mark Gary's award-winning 33 year musical career.

To learn more visit https://garybarlowwines.com.

Other organic wines are available with in store or from Gary's own site.

Also, available from http://www.thebottleclub.com.

A wonderful new recipe from Peter Gorton

Peter Gorton's Galette of Scallops and Courgettes With a Red Pepper, Chocolate and Vanilla Dressing

Creating delicious dishes for the environment, LittlePod and Peter Gorton have created a series of recipes using LittlePod's real vanilla.

LittlePod Natural Vanilla Paste 100ml is vegan, kosher and gluten free, available from littlepod.co.uk. RRP £15.

LittlePod is on a mission to save the vanilla pod from the very real threat of extinction. With 97% of vanillin used in the west being artificial, the vanilla pod was at risk of being lost within one generation. 

Most vanilla is grown in Madagascar, which puts it at high-risk due to environmental factors such as storms and drought. Having won a Queen's Award for Sustainable Development, LittlePod created the 'Campaign for Real Vanilla' and its products produced are a vehicle to allow the company to work on community projects in Madagascar and Indonesia, supporting farmers and families in these areas.

Peter Gorton - Vice Chair of the Master Chefs of Great Britain. Having been awarded many national awards including a Michelin Star, Peter is a well known face in the media. A regular contributor to food magazines with three published books, Peter opened a hospitality academy in Plymouth and now runs a hospitality consultancy business.

Serves 4 - Cook/Prep Time 35 Minutes

Ingredients:

12 scallops

1 large courgette (blanched for 2 minutes)

225g puff pastry

For the red pepper, chocolate and vanilla dressing

1 sweet red pepper, roasted, peeled, seeded and diced

1 tbsp finely chopped fresh basil leaves

2 tbsp chopped shallots

1 tbsp pitted and chopped nicoise olives (optional)

2 tbsp of peeled, seeded, and diced tomatoes

1 tbsp LittlePod natural vanilla paste

2 tsp LittlePod pure chocolate extract

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Method:

Combine all ingredients, but not  the olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Whisk in the olive oil very slowly so that the mixture will emulsify into a smooth blend, and season to taste.

Puff Pastry Disks – Preheat oven to 375F /190c /fan assisted oven 180°c/gas 5

Roll out the puff pastry into a square shape as thin as possible, place between two heavy baking sheets and cook in preheated oven for 15 minutes or until pastry is golden brown, remove from the oven.

Use a cutter to cut out a circle of about 3-4 inches in diameter.

Repeat three times and set aside the pastry disks and allow to cool.

Assembling the Pastry Disks

Place the four disks onto a baking tray, slice the scallops and courgettes into equal rounds.

Place a scallop on the pastry disc and then a courgette and continue to overlap the courgette and scallops until each disk is completely covered.

Season with salt and pepper and drizzle over a little olive oil.

Place under a hot grill for 4 minutes or until the scallops are just cooked.

How To Serve

Place cooked scallop and courgette pastry disc on warmed starter plates.

Spoon some of the pepper dressing around each galette and place a small pile of mixed salad leaves or king prawns in the middle of the galette.

Cooking Tip from Peter Gorton - This dressing will keep for several days refrigerated in a covered jar.

Wake Up! and Smell the Coffee This Organic September, with Owens Coffee

Discover other delicious organic products to try and win the ultimate organic getaway

Award-winning Owens Coffee are encouraging shoppers to make some small changes in their shopping habits this Organic September, like choosing to buy 100% organic and Fairtrade coffee beans.

If you're not already an organic shopper, this September is the perfect opportunity to try the wonderful array of organic products produced in the UK. Owens Coffee's entire range of beans is certified organic by the Soil Association, the organisers behind Organic September.

Organic September is a campaign designed to raise awareness of the incredible benefits of organic food and farming, including supporting biodiversity and wildlife, helping to combat climate change, reducing exposure to pesticides, and promoting the highest standards of animal welfare.

Devonshire's Owens Coffee has been certified organic and Fairtrade for more than a decade, and sustainability has been at the heart of the business from day one. This includes protecting the people and communities involved in producing the coffee they roast, as well as protecting the environment.

“In the UK, we drink 95 million cups of coffee a day. That makes a huge impact,” says Owens Coffee managing director, Lorraine Bridden. “By choosing to support an organic roastery, we know this means no nasty chemicals or pesticides, which is important for the environment, for those who buy and drink our coffee, and for those people who are involved in farming our beans and their wider communities. 

“When we set out in 2010, there were very few roasters, and even fewer who had sustainability high on their list of values. We are fortunate to live and work in an area of outstanding natural beauty, and this was the starting point which encouraged us to factor environmental issues into our business. Being named Muddy Stilettos' 'Best Sustainable Business of 2022' in Devon (which is voted for by the general public) is very important to us and it's equally as important to our customers,” Bridden adds.

Before awarding certification, the Soil Association monitors the product all the way to the cup, from farming to the roasting process. Owens Coffee goes the extra mile to ensure their coffee is 'clean-roasted'. They recently replaced their roasting equipment, with the new eco-roaster using 80% less energy and reducing greenhouse gases during every roasting.  

Owens Coffee to try this Organic September

Gara: Ideal for both espresso and filter. It's a bold and fruity, medium-dark roasted blend from Central America. The most popular espresso blend in Owens' range, the beans are roasted slightly darker to bring out notes of fruit, smoke and earth. These beans won 'Best Organic Coffee' at the Soil Association's BOOM Awards in 2019.

Bantham: A smooth and chocolatey, medium-roasted blend from South America and Indonesia. Winner of a 2019 Great Taste Award.

Dart: A mellow and sweet, dark-roasted blend from South America and Africa. Winner of a 2020 Great Taste Award.

Decaf: Refined and chemical-free, dark-roasted blend from Latin America, decaffeinated using the Swiss Water method. Commended at the Taste of the West Awards 2019.

To shop the full range of organic coffees or for further information about Owens Coffee, please visit owenscoffee.com or call 01752 897124.

To find out how to enter Owens' 'Ultimate Organic Getaway' giveaway, and to be kept up to date, like and follow Owens Coffee on Instagram: owenscoffee_, Facebook: @OwensCoffee and Twitter: @OwensCoffee. One lucky winner will receive a bundle of organic prizes, including an Owens' Coffee Brewing and Tasting Experience (worth £95.00) and a Discovery pack of Owens Coffee (worth £12.99).

Owens Coffee's Top Organic September Picks

 If you're looking to try more than just coffee this Organic September, here are Owens Coffee's top organic products and places to try.

Grab a ReRooted Cold Brew Oat Latte: If you're an iced-coffee-all-year-round kind of person, this is the one for you. Available from The Roastery at Owens' HQ in Ivybridge and nationwide through Riverford's veg boxes deliveries, it's a brilliant blend of ReRooted oat plant milk combined with Owens Coffee. Smooth and luxurious – plus, if you're not an iced-coffee-all-year-rounder, you can warm it up. £2.40 500ml/£4.00 1 litre

Say cheers with Luscombe Wild Elderflower Bubbly: Hold on to the taste of summer with Luscombe Wild Elderflower Bubbly. This fabulously refreshing tipple is packed with elderflower hand-picked in the June sunshine. The gentle sparkle lifts the floral notes for an elegant and sophisticated drink. Add some frozen berries and a twist of lemon to take it to the next level. 12 x 27cl bottles £21.30

Drink a Boo Chi 'Fresh Mint to Revive' kombucha: We can't get enough of kombucha right now. Infused with fresh mint, the calming and soothing super herb, it cuts through the acidity of the kombucha to give a slightly sweet, bright, extremely refreshing taste that'll leave you wanting more. Mint is high in antioxidants and great for the tummy, just like kombucha. This delicious product has just won a 2022 two-star Great Taste Award. 12 x 300ml bottles £38

Start the day right with an Açaí & Co smoothie: Stock up on this fabulous superfruit, and never have a boring breakfast again. For an authentic Brazilian açaí experience, add this thick, nutritious, organic and delicious whole food to your smoothies or smoothie bowls. With no added sugar or other fillers, it's just pure purple açaí in every pouch. 28 pouches of 400g (11.2kg) £125

Eat Eversfield Organic 28 day aged beef rib eye steaks: A multi-award winner, Eversfield Organic's rib eye steaks are produced from the Devon-based organic farm's own free-to-roam herd of native Aberdeen Angus cattle, fed on a 100% pasture diet, never grain. Perfect grilled and served rare, this cut is taken from the forequarter of beef next to the sirloin. From £9.50 per 220g steak

Relax in a Great Fibres organic cotton terry towelling bath robe: A medium-weight, medium-length kimono-style unisex bath robe made from 100% organic cotton terry material. It's versatile, being fluffy enough to wrap into after a bath at home, but not so voluminous it won't fit into your suitcase or beach bag. Available in graphite, loch blue, natural (undyed) and olive colours. £86.60

Enjoy an organic stay at The Bull Inn, Totnes: After a year of ecologically-driven renovations, The Bull Inn opened its doors in December 2019, with nine contemporary, eclectically-designed and stylish bedrooms, a self-catered, four-bed apartment and a supplier-led organic restaurant. From the organic beer on draught to the eco paint on the walls, everything – down to the very last detail – has been thought about from an organic and ecologically-minded perspective. Rooms from £85 for a single or £140 for a double king.

https://owenscoffee.com.