Tag Archives: Fairtrade

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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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 →

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Posted in Chocolate, Fairtrade, Recipes, Uncategorized

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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.

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Posted in Eco/Environmental, Fairtrade, Lifestyle

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Competition – win some Fairtrade chocolate

Posted on 28 August, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Having written about Fairtrade a few days ago I thought I’d launch a mini-competition on the Fairtrade theme.

The prize is a box of Fairtrade chocolate bars from Traidcraft.

All you have to do is send me an email to enter the draw. That’s it! Competition closes on 9/9/2010.

Go on... of course you want one... its Fairtrade chocolate

Go on... of course you want one... its Fairtrade chocolate

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Food price crisis – can Fairtrade help?

Posted on 25 August, 2010 by | 1 Comment

Chocolate prices could be up 20% next year! Perhaps this might provoke millions of women around the world to campaign against the disasterous market gambling on the value of food?

In 2010 food prices have been on the rise again. We could soon see more riots worldwide as we did in 2007/8.

Evidence is gathering that it is the speculation on food prices that is fueling the massive leap in the cost of basic commodoties such as wheat and rice. High prices mean that the world’s poorest can’t afford basic foods despite their availability. During the last crisis this resulted in the malnutrition and even deaths of millions.

Can Fairtrade help in this crisis?

Buying Fairtrade still helps, Photo by Kaihsu Tai

Buying Fairtrade still helps
Photo by Kaihsu Tai

As I look at some new jars of Clipper Fairtrade  and Organic Coffee and Decaf Coffee on my desk, my hope is that buying food like this can still be a voice for sustainable development, even in greedy times.

Will guaranteeing a minimum profit for the farmer mean that Fairtrade prices aren’t so volatile at the consumer end? I’m not sure. Will small farmers (who make up 75% of the world’s poor) always at the mercy of fat cats creaming the best off the profits and leaving economic devastation in their wake? Again, it’s difficult to say. This year has already seen the price of coffee at its highest for 12 years, and cocoa is a staggering 25% more expensive than it was during the food crisis in 2008.

However what Fairtrade can do is bring confidence to the farmer: if they are guaranteed a minimum profit they can afford to budget through hard times and have a greater chance of buying food for their families when prices shoot up; and they can think about investing in the future for their communities, thus helping to lift themselves out of the poverty trap.

So while chaos may reign, Fairtrade farmers will have some reason to feel safer. You can pick up some of their Fairtrade produce here.

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Posted in Fairtrade, Organic

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Ice Creams Dairy and Non-Dairy

Posted on 15 July, 2010 by | 3 Comments

One of the best things about my job is the free ice cream that occasionally gets delivered to my desk by those nice lads from the freezer department. (Well, you wouldn’t want me talking about food I hadn’t tasted would you?)

This week’s special was a ‘Cappuccino organic ice cream’ with little chunks of chocolate – a sweet coffee flavour delightfully punctuated with dark chocolate morsels. I’m afraid I didn’t wait long to note down all my (*cough) professional observations.

The cappuccino ice cream, made by Cream O’Galloway, is just one of a big range of fairtrade and organic iced sensations – as well as the normal flavours they’ve created strawberry pavlova, elderflower, honey & ginger and banana & choc chip genius desserts as well.

Non dairy ice creams

Non dairy ice creams

Check our online ice cream cabinet for lots more dreamy ice creams for those hot summer days.

Non Dairy Ice Cream

But what if you don’t eat dairy? You don’t have to miss out on delicious after dinner desserts.

Booja Booja, who make amazing vegan chocolate truffles, also make some pretty astounding non dairy ice creams called ‘Stuff in a Tub’.

Other makers include Swedish Glace and Toffuti who make lovely dairy-free and gluten-free flavours. Enjoy a scoop of after dinner mmmm without the fuss.

And I’m excited to say we’re going to stock Worthenshaws Coconuka and Coconice in the near future…

Pop your head into our non dairy freezer section to see if there’s anything to catch your fancy.

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Posted in Coeliac (Gluten-Free), Dairy Free, Fairtrade, Gluten-Free, Organic, Vegan

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Cotton – for the sake of our children – pick yours carefully

Posted on 9 July, 2010 by | 1 Comment

Did you know growing cotton uses 1/6 of all the chemical pesticides in the world?

The poisons in pesticides not only hospitalise cotton workers but ends up in the food chain because cottonseed is fed to livestock. Chemical poisoning for cotton growth is polluting the water system; and the fourth largest inland sea, the Aral Sea, has been dried up as a result of cotton production.

Such severe practice is endangering the lives of millions of child workers who slavishly work the cotton fields – some are forced, some are paid a miniscule amount, as little as US $0.68 a day.

In some countries child labourers are sent into the fields during and immediately after spraying. Exposure to the toxins effects health, mental ability and co-ordination. In other countries one touch of a pesticide on the skin would kill an adult male.

Medical analysis of people living on the edge of one major cotton production area found traces of cotton pesticide in human breast milk.

Give our children a chance

Give our children a chance

Please read more about the campaign to clean up the global cotton production around industry.

The Environmental Justice Foundation believes that buying organic cotton is a valuable way of combating the global industry.

Fairtrade sell a range of organic cotton goods from bedding to bags, and clothes to cosmetic items.

At GoodnessDirect we are offering Fairtrade’s 1000% Pure & Soft cotton wool balls, buds, pleats and cleansing pads – grown by small scale farmers in India, intended for a big impact on the industry.

To find out where you can buy other types of cotton goods visit the Fairtrade Foundation cotton pages and where to shop (everything from Sainsburys to John Lewis).

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Posted in Eco/Environmental, Lifestyle

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