Tag Archives: Fairtrade

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.)

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

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Win a beautiful Dalit gift set

Posted on 23 January, 2012 by | 6 Comments

We’ve got a competition on for a beautiful Fairtrade product called Dalit Spices.

It’s a gift box of twelve individual spices, sourced directly from growers in India, and it comes with an illustrated authentic recipe book with 40 original recipes.

Dalit Spices - Ethical Purveyors of Fine Spices

The bonus of the Dalit Spice box is that the manufacturers use their profits for the benefit of the Dalit people of India (also known as untouchables or outcasts). India is the home of spices and a special organisation called Life Association supports the work with street children there by building schools and orphanages for them.

Fairtrade Fortnight this year runs from the 27 February – 11 March 2012, and this would be a perfect gift around that time to draw people’s attention to the plight of others.

If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning this gift set then simply send me an email. I’ll announce the winner in the next newsletter. (UK addresses only. Competition closes Thursday 26.1.12)

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Posted in Competitions

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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

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Don’t stop me now… vegan chocolates crack the milk-choc flavour recipe

Posted on 11 November, 2011 by | 2 Comments

A new chocolate is breaking all the rules.

Vegan chocolate has to be dark – that’s the rule. Anything which tries to taste like milk chocolate ends up too oily or watery to compare.

Then came Moo Free and it shocked the world. One television review summed it up…

We don’t know how they’ve done it but Moo Free have created a milky-tasting bar without any dairy content.

It was dairy free, lactose free, gluten free, wheat free, egg free, casein free and vegan. Moo Free’s advent calanders sold out – suddenly parents of children on restricted diets were able to give their children something they would love.

The ingredients were simple and organic : sugar, cocoa butter, rice powder, cocoa mass, emulsifier (sunflower lecithin) and natural flavouring.

MooFree have 3 new flavours

MooFree have 3 new flavours

So where has the milk gone? It seems to be something to do with using rice powder as an alternative although, of course, the true recipe is a closely guarded secret.

There is a social context to this. Leading chefs like Chris Horridge are regularly finding new ways of improving the flavour of foods while cutting back on sugar, dairy and gluten in an effort to feed a rapidly expanding free-from market. It is opening up a whole new world of food experiences and products, introducing ingredients like rice flour, which Moo Free has been able to take advantage of.

Meanwhile, other chocolatiers are working hard to catch up. Organica have produced a much raved about Vegan Milk Chocolate Couverture – it too uses rice as a major substitute ingredient. And another challnger for great tasting vegan milk chocolate may be ‘Celtic Chocolates’ though, personally, I have yet to get my hands on these. Chocolates from Booja Booja and Montezuma are excelent too of course, but here we are firmly back in the dark lands of plain chocolate goods.

Now Moo Free are upping the ante with three new dairy free flavours: Organic Banana Chocolate (Can you imagine? Though, currently, the honeyed glaze isn’t vegan.) Organic Cranberry and Hazelnut Chocolate or Caramelised Hazelnut Chocolate.

Finally, a bit of conspiracy, if you check Moo Free’s facebook page it should be the case that you could see how popular the new flavours are – unfortunately, someone hacked their details and they had to start again – not everything is love and fairness in the world of fairtrade vegan chocolate.

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Posted in Chocolate, Coeliac (Gluten-Free), Uncategorized, Vegan

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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.

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Posted in Chocolate, Fairtrade, Organic

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Afghan raisins? A fair play for peace

Posted on 14 September, 2011 by | Leave a comment

If trade can be the cause of war, perhaps it can also provide a cause for peace?

Fair trade groups are testing this theory by trading coffee from the Congo and olive oil from Palestine in the UK.

Now, after four years work, Tropical Wholefoods are exporting raisins from peaceful areas of Afghanistan.

The Guardian reports “Offering people decent prices for their produce can help to support jobs, improving living conditions for producers, their families and the local businesses they buy from, and diverting young men, especially, away from involvement in militias.” (Sarah Irving)

The Fairtrade raisins are from the Shomali region of Afghanistan and, along with apricot kernals from Northern Pakistan, are the latest in a string of senstional fruits sold by Tropical Wholefoods.

Fairtrade fruits bursting with flavour

Fairtrade fruits bursting with flavour

Shoppers appreciate the excellence of the foods. Banana chips which are chewy, apricot kernals flavoured in chilli, banana-type ‘Bogoya’ slices which taste so good you’ll finish the bag, and now Afghan raisins which were once reputed to be the best in the world.

You can enjoy them as organic fruit and nut snack bars too.

Fair trade is all about opening up an opportunity for a different kind of life – and if it brings peace then it’s fair enough.

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Posted in Fruit, Nuts, Organic, Uncategorized, Vegan

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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

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

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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!

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Posted in Fairtrade, Organic

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Fruit lovers! Which new muesli will you choose?

Posted on 4 February, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Alara have brought out an enticing range of mueslis – just for the fruit lover in you.

Alara - which one will you choose?

Alara - which one will you choose?

Branberry – like no other bran flake breakfast – organic bran flakes with oodles of sumptuous strawberries and the finest sultanas. Full of fibre.

Rich – traditional style organic muesli with over 40% fruit, nuts and seeds. Containing a wide range of essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients including Boron, Omega 3 and 6, Zinc, Calcium, Vitamin A, Iron and many others.

Tropical – deliciously tempting organic muesli with fruits of the sun simply bursting with exotic flavour. Over 40% of succulent fruits and coconut make this a perfect sunshine start to your day.

Delight – a crispy and light breakfast muesli, essential for those with a wheat/gluten free intolerance or following a detox diet. It is gorgeously light and puffy yet packed with 50% vine fruits, nuts and seeds. Possibly the tastiest, healthy and satisfying gluten free muesli on the market.

FairTrade – a certified FairTrade muesli, spiced with Cinnamon and Honey, to create an entirely new and delicious breakfast experience.

While breakfast is still the most important meal of the day, the latest findings are that too big a breakfast will have you eating more throughout the day. It’s important to have a small healthy breakfast, so something with fruit in it is excelent. People who eat breakfasts have more balanced diets, they are less likely to be overweight, lose weight more successfully and have a reduced risk of diseases.

A delicious take on the traditional bran flake – 100% healthy,100% delicious and 100% organic bran flakes with oodles of sumptuous strawberries and the finest sultanas make this breakfast a feast for the eyes, nose and mouth…
Perfect for those wanting a truly health and delicious high fibre breakfast
350g £1.95Rich
Our best selling traditional style organic muesli, made with the finest oats grown in South East England and with over 40% fruit, nuts and seeds make this the perfect start to your day. If you like a Swiss style muesli, Rich is the choice for you. Perfectly balanced, Alara have ensured that Rich contains a wide range of vitamins, minerals and nutrients essential for well-being. These include Boron, Omega 3 and 6, Zinc, Calcium, Vitamin A, Iron and many others. The complex carbohydrates in oats are digested slowly throughout the day, releasing energy to keep you going for hours. And best of all Rich tastes great!
500g £1.95 

Tropical

A deliciously tempting organic muesli which brings together the fruits of the sun simply bursting with exotic flavours.
Made with over 40% succulent fruits and coconut this is the perfect breakfast if you like a sunshine start to your day.

Pineapple, dates and banana with their succulent sweetness bring warmth to every morning and Tropical muesli is a true taste sensation.
High in soluble fibre and complex carbohydrates the oat base is both nutritious and provides slowly released energy for hours.
The oat flakes are sourced from the South East of England.
500g £2.35

Delight
This organic muesli is essential for those with a wheat/gluten free intolerance or following a detox diet. Perfect for anyone who enjoys a deliciously crispy and light breakfast.

Alara have designed new Delight to be the tastiest, healthy and satisfying gluten free muesli on the market. It is gorgeously light and puffy yet packed with 50% vine fruits, nuts and seeds!

Alara are unique in that they have over 20 years experience in making specialist gluten free breakfast cereals and they were the first UK company to be registered by the Coeliac Association www.coeliac.org.uk
250g £1.95

FairTrade
Alara certified FairTrade muesli spiced with Cinnamon and Honey creates an entirely new and delicious breakfast experience.

 

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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

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