Category Archives: Fairtrade

Why is coconut so healthy?

Posted on 6 February, 2012 by | 2 Comments

Recently I wrote about coconut palm sugar. If you’re into health food you can’t have failed to notice that the coconut has become more and more popular lately.

Two impressive claims spring to mind. Coconut water can be taken intravenously (don’t try this at home, but it was found to be useful by soldiers during the Vietnam War). Secondly, coconut oil is the closest food in nature to a mother’s breast milk.

Healthy food from the coconut

Healthy food from the coconut

Other interesting benefits are said to be that it speeds up the metabolism, it’s high in dietary fiber, it helps lower cholesterol, it’s low Gi, it helps those with digestive problems, it provides quick energy, it boosts the immune system.

One company that has capitalised on being able to  providing organic and fairtrade coconut is Tiana. They make coconut flour, oil, milk and sugar which all count as particularly beneficial if you are trying to cut out similar more mainstream foods from your diet.

Tiana’s flour, for example, is gluten and wheat free, the coconut milk is dairy free and while the coconut oil is not fat free – there are still loads of dieters who say it helps them lose weight.

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Coeliac (Gluten-Free), Coeliac Disease, Dairy-Free, Diet, Digestion, Fairtrade, General Food, Heart and Blood, Low GL (Glycaemic Load), Organic, Uncategorized, Vegan

Tagged , , , , ,

Seed & Bean chocolate bars are packed with flavour

Posted on 27 January, 2012 by | 3 Comments

The Organic Seed & Bean company have brought out some of the most unique bars of chocolate I have ever come across. They are crammed with flavour & creativity and are the latest bars to hit the organic and Fairtrade ethical market! (In fact, they’re the best in ethical chocolate.) Take a closer look….

The best in ethical chocolate

The best in ethical chocolate...

Extra Dark Chocolate

In the “extra dark” range you will come across some taste-bud tingling chilli & lime, some tongue twisting mandarin & ginger and some sensual raspberry & coconut. Not to forget the lavender, pumpkin & hemp and smoked Cornish sea salt. I bet your mouth is watering already!

The “extra dark” bars range from 66% to 72% cocoa, they come in 85g bars and are all suitable for vegans. Just think, how many of your friends would love to try one of these?

Fine Dark Chocolate

For all those who just want pure, unadulterated dark chocolate then this is the one for you… it’s Seed & Bean’s original fine dark chocolate known as Extra Dark for its high cocoa content – that’s it – nothing added.

But for those that like a little twist then why not try these? Fine dark chocolate with lemon & cardamom or coffee espresso. Certainly something to sink one’s teeth into!

Ranging from 58% to 72% in cocoa, from unadulterated to flavour sensations, these 85g bars are a great gift for anyone, and all are suitable for vegans.

Rich Milk Chocolate

How will you choose choose?? I can’t. I am a real sucker for milk chocolate and when someone presents me with the choice between milk chocolate with raspberry or milk chocolate with tangerine I just can’t pick. They are quite possibly my 2 most favourite flavours. (I do also have a severe weak spot for lemon.)

These 3 bars are a lot lower on the cocoa scale, all being at 37%, so they are very creamy. Completely delicious if you ask me!

Creamy White Chocolate

My other weak spot. Lemon & poppy seed. Ahhhh… just thinking about it is making me melt. I love lemon. I love white chocolate. I LOVE this combination!

Chocolate Slabs

But you know… Sometimes a bar just isn’t big enough, so Seed & Bean have brought out the slab! These are great for if your having one of those “I need chocolate” days, and they are also great for sharing (yes, you can share chocolate). There are 4 fantastic flavours all of which are not available in the small bars so yes… there are 4 MORE flavours to taste! Fine dark chocolate with double ginger, fine dark chocolate with double chilli, fine dark chocolate with cherry and creamy white with blueberry & vanilla. Oh how do you pick?

Check out the whole Seed & Bean Range many of which have gained  Vegan accreditation too. (I’d get shopping quick if I were you.)

→ 3 Comments

Posted in Chocolate, Fairtrade, General Food, Organic, Vegan

Tagged , , , , , , ,

All the ladies! – Why is a Fairtrade company focussing on woman’s coffee?

Posted on 17 January, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Coffee grown by women is the latest thing in Fairtrade – but it doesn’t just have to be drunk by women…

For some women life is a constant challenge, they often do a lot of the hard work but still have less influence over important decisions.

Tackling this can really make a difference in the coffee growing regions of Africa, where it is shown that when women control the household income the family’s health, nutrition and education also improves at a faster rate.

Drying Mzuzu coffee by Twin and Twin Trading Images, on Flickr

Women farmers drying Mzuzu coffee by Twin and Twin Trading Images, on Flickr

Equal Exchange simply seek to improve the women’s status, and give them the capacity to make independent decisions.

Mary Nabugobelo, a pioneer farmer, tells her story:

“I got a good price for the coffee and a second payment which I used to pay for my daughter’s tuition at Makerere University. At the society my fellow members elected me onto the committee and as a delegate to Gumutindo Board. I think they elected me because they know that I am hardworking and a woman who is competing with men to produce good quality coffee. My responsibility is to teach other women farmers to produce good quality coffee and to advise them to plant more coffee trees.”

There is a growing number of coffees that are produced by women. Below is a list of the coffees that are available at GoodnessDirect.

Dark City Roast & Ground Coffee – The perfect pick-me-up
Espresso Roast & Ground Coffee – A rush of goodness
Italian Roast Coffee – Rich, dark & gorgeous
Any-Time Medium Roast & Ground Coffee – Gives everyone a break
Mt Elgon Gumutindo AA Ground Coffee – The height of excellence
Women Farmers Roast Coffee – Respect fine taste
Decaffeinated Roast & Ground Coffee – Pure revival

Read more on the story of Fairtrade woman’s coffee

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Fairtrade

Tagged , , , ,

Do you dream of chocolate heaven? Double blessings come with Green & Black’s

Posted on 19 October, 2011 by | 2 Comments

Butterscotch choc, raisin choc with hazelnuts, creamy milk chocolate, almond chocolate, ginger chocolate, espresso chocolate, chocolate with orange and spices, mint chocolate, vanilla white chocolate, dark chocolate with cherries, milk chocolate with a soft caramel centre… the list goes on… and on…

But when you dream of chocolate heaven, what more could you want? Whether it’s 30%, 32%, 34%, 60%, 70% or 85% of cocoa solids – there’s so much choice!

You could just possibly transcend seventh heaven with Green & Black’s eight new Organic and Fairtrade collections.

Starting with the largest, there’s The Ultimate Collection – 15 bars of intense and refined chocolate tastes. Then there’s The Tasting Collection with 25 tantalizing flavours including an exciting new Dark Chocolate with Burnt Toffee bar.

Green & Black’s after dinner style chocolates ‘Conversations’ come in two varieties: a mixture of 40 Milk, White, Dark or Butterscotch textures or 27 squares of dark chocolate infused with peppermint oil. Both Conversation boxes are full of chocolates decorated with ingenious questions designed to intrigue and inspire after dinner conversation.

Finally the chocolatiers have organised their Miniature Bar Collection into four cornucopian pleasures. Depending on whether your friend loves a majority of dark or milk or white chocolate you can bestow 12 little blessings on them, or not bother with the choice and give 24 miniatures with a selection of chocolate bites from each.

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Chocolate, Fairtrade, Organic

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

7 Things You Didn’t Know About Easter Eggs

Posted on 24 March, 2011 by | 1 Comment
  • 80 million chocolate Easter Eggs are sold each year – that’s 10% of Britain’s annual spending on chocolate.
  • After fasting 40 days for Lent there was always a surplus of eggs which families used to celebrate Easter – stored properly, eggs can last over 6 months! (see ref)
  • Eating five Easter Eggs (the average given to most children) plus the bars included with them, could see youngsters double their recommended calorie intake for a week.
  • Medieval Easter Eggs were boiled with onions to give them a gold sheen. Edward I, didn’t need to use onions; in 1290 he ordered that 450 eggs be gold leafed and coloured for Easter gifts.
  • The first chocolate Easter Eggs were made in Victorian times soon after the creation of edible chocolate. Before this, friends would give hollow cardboard eggs, filled with gifts.
  • This annual celebration of new life is one of the most ancient celebrations worldwide. Early civilisations often used eggs as part of their symbolism and, from its beginning, Christianity was rich in symbolism too – the egg became a picture of a new creation breaking out of the tomb. Indeed, recently, under the Vatican in Rome, a graveyard was found dating back to the birth of Christianity, in one tomb lay the skeleton of an infant clutching an egg (see ref) – a pre-Christian symbol of resurrection and a sign that this hope is nothing new.
  • In England crowds still gather in places to watch Egg Rolling on Easter Sunday – the origins of which are unknown, but it is commonly said to represent the rolling away of the tombstone by angels when Christ overcame death.

7 fantastic features in Easter Eggs from GoodnessDirect

~ Don’t miss out ~
Dairy-free ‘milk chocolate’ is possible. ‘Moo Free‘ have broken the taste barrier by producing, excellent, moreish alternative to milk-chocolate eggs. We believe it’s the only dairy-free, organic ‘milk-chocolate’ tasting Easter Egg in the world! And it really does taste good.

~ Taste the difference ~
Divine, the leaders in Fairtrade chocolate continue to innovate with Divine Salted Fudge covered with dark chocolate. Or you can opt for their Chocolate Covered Mangos and Brazil Nuts. They’ve hatched out some lovely chocolate eggs too. If your taste reflects your ethics, Divine won’t disappoint.

~ Become an Easter Chocolatier ~
Throw your own party! If you’re looking for Easter Sunday ideas you can use a Choc Chic Kit to make your own Easter treats, but make sure you invite your friends to your chocolatier party…

~ Be refined ~
Booja-Booja still use beautifully decorated Kashmiri hand-painted eggs to give as gifts. Open up an egg for a Luxury vegan Champagne Truffle experience within.

~ Go crazy ~
Long may the Montezuma madness reign with their exciting, cheeky ideas for Easter. Sample their Mini Egg Cubes or steal a clutch from an Egg Nest. Still ethical, still crazy.

~ Give your best ~
The premium Easter Eggshell range comes from Green & Blacks. Their chocolate eggs are thick, luxurious and now Fairtrade. This organic chocolate company are completely serious about indulgence.

~ Make someone’s day ~
Any food you want to send to friends from GoodnessDirect can be gift wrapped or sent in a hamper. All you have to do is visit our Easter pages at GoodnessDirect.co.uk

7 Things You Didn’t Know About Easter Eggs
16 Mar 11- 80 million chocolate Easter Eggs are sold each year – that’s 10% of Britain’s annual spending on chocolate.

- After fasting 40 days for Lent there was always a surplus of eggs which families used to celebrate Easter – stored properly, eggs can last over 6 months! (1)

- Eating five Easter Eggs (the average given to most children) plus the bars included with them, could see youngsters double their recommended calorie intake for a week.

- Medieval Easter Eggs were boiled with onions to give them a gold sheen. Edward I, didn’t need to use onions; in 1290 he ordered that 450 eggs be gold leafed and coloured for Easter gifts.

- The first chocolate Easter Eggs were made in Victorian times soon after the creation of edible chocolate. Before this, friends would give hollow cardboard eggs, filled with gifts.

- This annual celebration of new life is one of the most ancient celebrations worldwide. Early civilisations often used eggs as part of their symbolism and, from its beginning, Christianity was rich in symbolism too – the egg became a picture of a new creation breaking out of the tomb. Indeed, recently, under the Vatican in Rome, a graveyard was found dating back to the birth of Christianity, in one tomb lay the skeleton of an infant clutching an egg (2) – a pre-Christian symbol of resurrection and a sign that this hope is nothing new.

- In England crowds still gather in places to watch Egg Rolling on Easter Sunday – the origins of which are unknown, but it is commonly said to represent the rolling away of the tombstone by angels when Christ overcame death.

7 fantastic features in Easter Eggs from GoodnessDirect

~ Don’t miss out ~
Dairy-free ‘milk chocolate’ is possible. ‘Moo Free’ have broken the taste barrier by producing, excellent, moreish alternative to milk-chocolate eggs. We believe it’s the only dairy-free, organic ‘milk-chocolate’ tasting Easter Egg in the world! And it really does taste good.

~ Taste the difference ~
Divine, the leaders in Fairtrade chocolate continue to innovate with Divine Salted Fudge covered with dark chocolate. Or you can opt for their Chocolate Covered Mangos and Brazil Nuts. They’ve hatched out some lovely chocolate eggs too. If your taste reflects your ethics, Divine won’t disappoint.

~ Become an Easter Chocolatier ~
Throw your own party! If you’re looking for Easter Sunday ideas you can use a Choc Chic Kit to make your own Easter treats, but make sure you invite your friends to your chocolatier party…

~ Be refined ~
Booja-Booja still use beautifully decorated Kashmiri hand-painted eggs to give as gifts. Open up an egg for a Luxury vegan Champagne Truffle experience within.

~ Go crazy ~
Long may the Montezuma madness reign with their exciting, cheeky ideas for Easter. Sample their Mini Egg Cubes or steal a clutch from an Egg Nest. Still ethical, still crazy.

~ Give your best ~
The premium Easter Eggshell range comes from Green & Blacks. Their chocolate eggs are thick, luxurious and now Fairtrade. This organic chocolate company are completely serious about indulgence.

~ Make someone’s day ~
Any food you want to send to friends from GoodnessDirect can be gift wrapped or sent in a hamper. All you have to do is visit our Easter pages at GoodnessDirect.co.uk

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Chocolate, Fairtrade, General Food, GoodnessDirect, Organic, Vegan

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Coffee can literally mean life (even when it’s not 8am)

Posted on 16 February, 2011 by | 1 Comment

Did you know that Ethiopia is called the birthplace of coffee?

The Oromo people have used the coffee bean for food, drink, trade, spiritual nourishment and as a tool for peace-keeping.

Coffee is life to the Oromo

Coffee is life to the Oromo

It is part of their mythology and for them it is ‘life’. Most people’s idea of coffee as life is a much needed boost on a Monday morning. But, for the Oromo people in the UK, it is their link to their community back home.

They have set up the first ever community business to trade coffee directly to the UK and have selected three organic quality coffees from Ethiopia – Yirgacheffe, Harar and Limu to begin their journey.

Yirgacheffe for the daytime (strength 3)
Harar for that morning start (strength 4)
Limu for after dinner memories (strength 5)

A superb coffee range - smells so rich!

A superb coffee range - smells so rich!

All of the great Arabica coffees of the world can be traced back to the Oromia region. The altitude, climate, soil and terrain in the Oromia highlands exist in perfect harmony to create some of the world’s finest coffees.

As a Fairtrade coffee every purchase ensures a good price for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia.

Their hope is that you will love their coffee as much as they do!

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Fairtrade, Organic

Tagged , ,

9 ideas for reusing Simpkins Travel Sweet tins

Posted on 22 December, 2010 by | Leave a comment

The traditional sweet makers, Simpkins, have also provided us with one of the best recyclable materials to re-use. Here are just a few suggestion:

Home-made candles – Use soy or bees wax for simple candles
Secret mini safe - Hide your spare keys, money, jewelry in an innocent box
Cookie guardian - A mini lunch-box for crumbly food, espeically Simpkins cookies (or the other half of that no-added-sugar Simpkins chocolate bar)

So helpful, so useful. Simpkins.

So helpful, so useful. Simpkins.

First aid box – Useful for when you’re away from home
Money boxes – Punch a hole in the top for your spare coppers
Maggot tin – Every angler needs a few
Seed stash – Keep seeds dry for next year
Sewing kit – Needles and thread, buttons and beads, organise everything! (Very useful for fuses and nuts and blots too.)
Promoting fair trade – Simpkins now have sweets made with Fairtrade sugar from the Kasinthula Cane Growers farmer’s project in South Malawi. All the tins contain Natural Colours and Flavours and are vegan too. What easier way to make a fairer world than sucking on a sweet?

New Fairtrade flavours include:
Mixed Fruit
Forest Fruit
Orange, Lemon & Grapefruit
Mixed Mint

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Fairtrade, Vegan

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Look out for the new ad – on TV from Monday 25th November

Posted on 22 October, 2010 by | Leave a comment

There’s a new advert on TV.

It’s from Clipper teas.

The focus is on Clipper’s Organic and Fairtrade Black Teas, but tea-merchants are well known for providing coffees, herbal teas, cocoa and speciality teas as well.

Clipper - purveyor of numerous blends of tea

Clipper - purveyor of numerous blends of tea

I get to sample so many! On my desk right now are boxes of Clipper’s Red Fruits & Aronia Berry, Blackcurrent & Acai Berry, Green Tea with Manuka Honey, Chamomile, Peppermint, White Tea, Chamomile with Lemon Balm & Manuka Honey and their Instant Organic Hot Chocolate (though that last one is on my desk for an entirely personal reasons).

There’s a serious point to this however. Many children are involved in child labour in the tea industry. Buying Fairtrade means you can act to put something back into the tea growing communities who make a stand for fairness for their families. It’s a chance to help Clipper help others as well.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Fairtrade, General Food, Organic

Tagged , , , ,

It’s chocolate week – probably the most indulgent week of the year

Posted on 11 October, 2010 by | Leave a comment

It’s chocolate week 2010: 11th – 17th October (…and we’ve got a recipe for you…)

We’re pleased to say that one of our favourite hero companies, Divine Chocolate, is sponsoring the event with activites all over the UK and culminating in Chocolate Unwrapped – a Saturday and Sunday of luxurious chocolate fayre presented at Vinopolis in London (16th  – 17th October).

 

Divine Chocolate - a heavenly experience...

Divine Chocolate - a heavenly experience...

Divine are a great company, 45% of which is owned by the village farmers who grow the chocolate for Fairtrade. The fine quality of their chocolate means it stands shoulder to shoulder with master chocolatiers.

Sara Jayne-Stanes, Director of the Academy of Culinary Arts, described Divine as “…intense, very smooth, delectable chocolate …Divine is in a league of its own.”

At GoodnessDirect we feature many ethical and specialist chocolates. Divine’s range is perfect for giving, sharing, cooking or just indulging.

But if your mouth isn’t yet watering, here’s a Divine Chocolate pudding recipe, courtesy of the esteemed Pudding Club.

Divine Chocolate Bombe

Three layers of charming chocolate mousse to delight and entertain your dinner guests…

Dark Chocolate Mousse
125g Double cream
45g Divine 70% Dark chocolate
1 Leaf Gelatine

Continue reading →

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Chocolate, Fairtrade, Recipes, Uncategorized

Tagged , , ,

Beauty soap brings out the best in you (and everyone else)

Posted on 7 September, 2010 by | Leave a comment

We believe

    …that luxury bodycare is about more than gorgeous products and great packaging, and should be honestly priced.

    …in creating gorgeous products full of natural ingredients rather than synthetic nasties such as parabens and sulphates.

    …that great packaging looks even better when it’s sustainably sourced, and in making our products in the UK.

    …that treating ourselves feels even better when producers in developing countries are treated fairly.

    …that beauty is about bringing out the best in everyone.

It’s that kind of faith from Bubble&Balm that is getting them noticed – most recently by The Pure Beauty Awards for their Fairtrade Luxury Handwash.

For smooth moisturised skin

For smooth moisturised skin

They are the first ’100% Fairtrade’ bodycare company in the UK, and their products actively support sustainability for the planet and no cruelty to animals.

And there’s no skimping on luxury either: their soaps are gentle on the skin, long-lasting and do not crack or go mushy; providing a rich, soothing and effective lather, leaving your skin to smell fresh and clean with a soft and smooth feel.

Check out their stylish soaps with citrus, lavender or shea butter.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Eco/Environmental, Fairtrade, Lifestyle

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,