Tag Archives: tea

Biju Bubble Tea Review

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photo 2 (26)photo 3 (19)What is Bubble Tea?

So what is Bubble Tea and how is it different for to your normal tea? Bubble tea has been around since the 1980s and it is already quite big in many Asian countries, but recently it has become a global phenomenon. The tea is shaken to produce bubbles and is served with an edible topping, but as we soon learned, that doesn’t really cover it.

Biju

Biju is a new bubble tea room in Soho. Founder Nick invited us to to try some of his creations. Nick had gone out to Asia and had worked in a bubble tea room before he set up Biju.

Unlike most other bubble tea rooms, ‘who are in it for a quick buck’, Nick’s painstaking research and his passion ensures he has done things properly. Biju uses fresh organic milk in its tea, unlike most of its competitors who use powder. Nick and his team go to incredible effort to make every tea fresh and have made a significant investment in equipment. Many of the ingredients and jellies are made daily.This makes an incredible difference to the taste as we discovered.

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Honeydew milk and sweet egg pudding

We start with the Honeydew melon with egg caramel pudding, a fruity milk. The honeydew melon was truly delicious and very refreshing and the sweet egg caramel was a delight.

Next up was a Jasmine Green milk tea with classic tapioca pearls, the original bubble tea ingredient. The classic pearls are balls of starch. Their texture is extremely satisfying to chew as you suck them up through your straw with your tea. The whole thing was delicious and totally different to our first tea.

We then tried a passion fruit iced tea with basil seeds, another unique and satisfying topping. It was the perfect thing for a summer day. It was delicious and I could drink it every day. We also tried a chocolate with tapioca pearls as seen above. In fact we ended up trying all sorts of different teas.

We were extremely impressed with our first experience of Bubble tea at Biju. The variety of the different teas was amazing. The tea was also so fresh and real. You could really taste the high quality ingredients. If there were a Biju next to me I would be in there every day and who knows? I wouldn’t be surprised if there was someday. I don’t think this is a short term trend. If your in the area make sure you try one because it is a new experience and if you don’t you will be missing out. Ask for help if your not sure what to choose, Nick or his staff are always keen to help. Make sure you go to Biju if you want a proper experience.

http://www.bijububbletea.com/

45 Old Compton Street, Soho.

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Passion Fruit Iced Tea with basil seeds

Passion Fruit Iced Tea with basil seeds

 

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Beefeater 24 Quintessentially British Edition Review

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beefeater24

beefeater24mycupoftea

Beefeater 24 'Quintessentially British Edition' 2

We get sent a lot of stuff to review at Frost so it takes a lot to bowl us over. The Beefeater 24 Quintessentially British Edition definitely managed it. The packaging, by talented illustrator Glenn Hin, is in a world of its own. It even pops out in a very fun way. All of that before we even get to the actual gin, which is first-class, first-rate stunning. This gorgeous bottle also came with a so-fashionable-it-hurts glass teacup and the best tea I have ever tasted in my life: My Cup of Tea Breakfast Tea. Sigh. Tea? With Gin? Yes, this is for the Beefeater 24 Gin & Tea cocktail which features on the ‘gates’ of the limited edition pack. Infused with English Breakfast tea which compliments Beefeater 24’s unique blend of rare Japanese Senchea and Chinese teas, the Gin & Tea is a refreshing modern interpretation of the classic Iced Tea, making it the perfect drink this summer. This is a limited edition so get your hands on one as soon as possible.


Toast ‘Distinguished British Country Chic’ this summer

Introducing the latest from Beefeater 24 – the ‘Beefeater 24 Quintessentially British Edition’. The limited edition collectible gift pack showcases a multi-dimensional design by talented illustrator Glenn Hin and was selected as the winner of a competition held by the brand inviting artists to capture ‘Distinguished British Country Chic’. To be released selectively worldwide, Hin’s pack design evokes images of British secret gardens and sophisticated summer parties.

The Beefeater 24 Quintessentially British Edition design centres around an imposing, fine country house hidden in the British countryside, which theatrically releases a pair of beautifully manicured shrubs on opening the pack. On closer inspection the elegant illustration reveals details that hint at a Quintessentially British summer garden party; cocktail glasses, tennis rackets and botanicals found in Beefeater 24 all float magically around the grand estate.

JC Iglesias, Global Brand Director of Beefeater 24 said “Beefeater 24 asked artists to draw inspiration from the theme ‘Distinguished British Country Chic’, as we were seeking designs that celebrated our elegant, British traditions but in a romantic and contemporary way. Glenn Hin captured this beautifully with exacting detail referencing a glamorous garden party. Beefeater 24 is the perfect accompaniment for such an occasion so the design really grabbed the imagination of the judges.”

As an ode to Hin’s design and the Quintessentially British garden party, the Beefeater 24 Gin & Tea cocktail features on the ‘gates’ of the limited edition pack. Infused with English Breakfast tea which compliments Beefeater 24’s unique blend of rare Japanese Senchea and Chinese teas, the Gin & Tea is a refreshing modern interpretation of the classic Iced Tea, making it the perfect drink this summer.

To accompany a selection of Beefeater 24 cocktails, the brand has also teamed with prestigious British chef Mark Hix’s newest venue HIXTER to create a selection of delicious canapés that can be created at home.

Ensuring that guests are treated to the full Quintessentially British garden party experience, hosts have the opportunity to share a piece of Glenn Hin’s work as an elegant invitation or thank you card featuring a vignette from the one-off design. Available to download from www.beefeatergin.com/24

Created in 2008 by Master Distiller, Desmond Payne, Beefeater 24 is a traditional gin with a modern twist, capturing the essence of contemporary British life and is the perfect accompaniment for the inspired Quintessentially British garden party this summer.

 

 

 

 

Celebrate a Great British Tradition During National Afternoon Tea Week

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11th-17th August

tea
In 1840 Anne, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, started requesting tea, bread and cake at 4pm to stave off hunger until dinner and soon after afternoon tea became a much-loved, quintessentially British tradition.

National Afternoon Tea Week celebrates this great heritage with a week of activities, themed menus and offers in hotels, restaurants and tearooms across the UK in August.

Whether you’re an afternoon tea aficionado or yet to enjoy the delights of delectable treats with tea, during National Afternoon Tea Week you’ll be able to enjoy 25% off a range of afternoon teas. Iconic afternoon tea destinations already taking part include The Dochester, Kettners, Sketch and The Corinthia Hotel London with many more to be announced shortly.

Keith Newton, founder of Afternoon Tea Week, says ‘We created Afternoon Tea Week to celebrate this most British of dining traditions and to give tourists and locals alike the opportunity to step inside and experience some of the country’s most exquisite afternoon tea venues. From famous five-star hotels in London to a castle in Gloucestershire, luxury stores to double decker buses, there’s something for everyone.’

Find out what’s happening in your region on afternoontea.co.uk, the online home of afternoon tea.

 

 

What Makes Us British? Tea, Tomato Ketchup & Moaning About The Weather Apparently

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Being perfectly happy to queue, saying thanks when you have nothing to say thanks for and our ironic sense of humour were revealed as the most common the traits that define us Brits. We don’t agree with the queuing (no one enjoys that) but we do say thanks a lot and are quite ironic.

The study of 2,000 adults found that attempting DIY on a bank holiday, applying red or brown sauce to everything and our love of Saturday night TV are unique to us British.

what makes is british. Tea, moaning about the weather, tomato ketchup

Feeling discomfort when strangers attempt conversation even though you are smiling, moaning about the cold weather, but complaining when it is hot, and our obsession with political correctness also made the list.

A cup of tea being the answer to any problem and not making eye contact on public transport were also top British traits.

Yesterday a spokesman for energy firm OVO, which commissioned the study, said: ‘’The list shows many of our unique qualities as a country and gives a rare insight into how we perceive ourselves and the way we think ‘being British’ is defined.

‘’It shows a quirky range of qualities from our famed stiff upper lip and ability to grin and bear things to our patience and the ease with which we’re able to laugh at ourselves.

‘’Lots of the traits listed centre around putting up with discomfort, not wishing to cause a fuss or being quick to apologise even if it’s not our fault. It shows we still value manners and good spirit, but of course it’s important people feel they aren’t being taken for granted in any areas of life.’’

The survey also revealed that only half of the nation feels they are getting value for money with their current energy and service providers. Moreover, 40 per cent of Brits don’t know if they are currently getting the best deal with their energy supplier.

Over a third of us are worried that changing energy suppliers would be a complex process and want to stay with their current supplier as it is ‘easier than looking for alternatives’.

The OVO spokesman added: ‘’ We are well known for our politeness and ability to accept bad situations, yet so many of us could be saving hundreds of pounds getting a better deal. Switching energy supplier for example only takes five minutes online and the supplier does the rest.”

The study also found getting painfully sunburnt, binge drinking and a love of curtain twitching were a few other traits us Brits are guilty of.

Three quarters of Brits are proud to be British and believe that we Brits are able to laugh at ourselves when things go wrong.

Our fondness of mowing the lawn, obsessing over our pets and not leaving a tip as a sign of poor customer service also made the list.

What do you think? What makes someone British?

The Noodle House London Restaurant Review

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I love Asian food so was absolutely delighted when we were invited to review the newly opened Southeast Asian restaurant The Noodle House on Shaftesbury Avenue. The decor looks great and it is busy. It may be newly opened but it already has found plenty of customers. It is not a tourist trap however, it has enough calm to be an enjoyable experience. We start off with some cocktails. We have the Moonshadow: vodka, lillet blanc, chrysanthemum, jasmine tea syrup and a Hit The Rojak: tequila, kamm & sons, star fruit juice, apple juice, Rojak syrup and lime. Both cocktails are great. Delicious and unique.

hittheroadjak prawns thenoodlehousecalameri thenoodlehousecocktailsweet thenoodlehousestsrter

For starters I have the Crispy Calamari: Crispy fried calamari seasoned with sea salt and Szechuan pepper served with chilli dipping sauce and my colleague had the Si Racha Prawns: Tempura style prawns served with our signature spicy mayo. The crispy calamari is delicious and comes with a great sauce. The prawns are amazing, very generous in size and the sauce is great. It has a bit of a kick to it. Both starters are great and the portion size is generous. The waiter is good at recommending food and really knows his stuff. Although he didn’t realise what a wimp I am when it comes to spice!

 

BqCtKyHIcAAvC6P noodlehouse thenoodlehouse2 thenoodlehouse1 thenoodlehouserice thenoodlehousecocktailFor our mains we have the Javanese Nasi Goreng: Wok-fried rice with prawns, chilli, spring onions and Sambal Belachan, topped with a fried egg, served with two chicken satay skewers and prawn crackers and the Bakmi Goreng: Udon noodles with chicken, prawns, bean sprouts, cabbage, pak choi, eggs and a sweet chilli ginger sauce, garnished with spring onions and fried banana shallots. For our sides we have the Broccoli: Tenderstem broccoli with oyster sauce and Fried Jasmine Rice: Wok-fried jasmine rice with chicken, prawns, bean sprouts, eggs, chilli and Thai basil. 

The Javanese Nasi Goreng is something to behold. It has absolutely everything in it and a fried egg on top. The chicken satay skewers are tasty, as are the prawn crackers, the fried egg, the whole shebang. This is also spicy although there are plenty of things you can order at the Noodle House which are not spicy. The Bakmi Goreng is a great noodle dish which also has a generous amount of ingredients. It is amazing. Really great.

I also loved the Fried Jasmine Rice we have for our side and the broccoli is also good. If we thought the starters were a decent size, the mains and the sides were even more generous. We could just have had those and nothing else. We end up taking what we don’t eat away in a doggy bag.

We order more cocktails. The amazing Bayside Bellini: Kamm & sons, spiced Asian pear, orgeat & prosecco. and Spice Island Iced Tea: Gin, spiced tea gin, lemon, abbots bitters & ginger ale. The Bayside Bellini is absolutely brilliant. All you need to know is that it is a champagne cocktail with an Asian twist. Wonderful.

thenoodlehousedessertFor dessert we have the Sweet Sharing Plate: a sample of the Lime &  Ginger Cheescake, mango coconut pudding and banana spring rolls. Each one is amazing and unique. Just incredibly good and comes with a brilliant ice-cream.

We then finished with some tea. Fruity Fresh Hibiscus: an infusion made from a blend of Hibiscus, orange flowers, rosehip, sea buckthorn berries & lemon verbena. A pink brew that is sweet, fresh and hydrating. A mix of flowers and fruit. This is great tea, I could drink it everyday. Downstairs there is more seating and a bar and you can see all of the Noodle House’s amazing tea in large jars.

The Noodle House is a great restaurant. The service is amazing, the waiters are friendly and knowledgeable, the food is amazing and unique as is their cocktails and tea. Prices are reasonable, from low to high. I highly recommend The Noodle House and will be going back.

 
The Noodle House, 117 Shaftesbury Avenue,  London WC2H 8AD  /  0203 725 5777
 

 

Clearspring Organic Japanese Sencha Blend Matcha Green Tea

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matchagreenteaGreen tea has always been hailed as the healthiest hot drink out there, but new research has found it can also be good for your mind.

 

Scientists claim green tea enhances several cognitive functions, in particular our working memory. The new research, from the University of Basel, found that green tea increases the brain’s effective connectivity. Scientists at the university saw significant improvements in working memory tasks after people had consumed green tea.

 

So we reviewed some Clearspring Organic Matcha Green Tea. It is a delicious blend and is created especially for Clearsrping by expert tea producers in Japan. It combines the exceptionally light, smooth and refreshing flavour of Japanese Sencha with distinctly rich and exquisite ceremonial grade Matcha Powder. Skilfully blended and packed on their tea producers’ estate immediately after production to ensure the freshest quality. Available from March in Waitrose and here, RRP £3.99

 

It tastes great and left us feeling very healthy. We’ll keep you updated on any improvements to memory, if we remember.

 

Put Fairtrade First: Great Products With A Clear Conscience

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We have tried a range of Fairtrade products from Sainsbury’s and brought you a selection. Their fairtrade chocolate is amazing and the English Breakfast tea is a personal favourite of Frost editor, Catherine. Get your hands on some of the selection below.

This Fairtrade Fortnight (24th February – 9th March), enjoy a selection of treats and everyday essentials from Sainsbury’s, the world’s largest retailer of Fairtrade products. With over 800 Fairtrade products now available in store, £1 in every £4 spent on Fairtrade in the UK is spent in Sainsbury’s.

As part of Sainsbury’s commitment to Fairtrade, all of its bananas, sugar, own label tea, ground and roast coffee and Taste the Difference South African wines are Fairtrade certified, more than any other major UK supermarket. Sainsbury’s is committed to ensuring farmers get a fair price for what they grow and can invest in communities in developing countries such as Kenya or Columbia.

 

Everyday essentials

Sainsbury’s Fairtrade loose Bananas 

 

fairtrade bananas

 £0.68/kg  Sainsbury’s was the first major supermarket to sell 100% Fairtrade bananas back in 2007, and nowadays sells an incredible 650 million Fairtrade bananas a year – that’s 1,200 every minute. Sainsbury’s Fairtrade bananas are sourced from farmers in Central and South America, the Caribbean and West Africa where Fairtrade premiums are crucial to many smallholders.

Great bananas to eat with a clear conscious.

 
Taste the Difference English Breakfast Teafairtrade english breakfast tea £2.14/ 80 tea bags Britons drink around 165 million cups of tea a day, so it’s refreshing to know that your everyday cuppa is supporting the communities in which it was grown. This Fairtrade tea is made from selected leaves from India, Rwanda and Tanzania. Sainsbury’s is the world’s largest retailer of Fairtrade products and all its own-label teas are now Fairtrade – including speciality teas. 

 A personal favourite of Frost editor, Catherine

 
by Sainsbury’s Original House Blend Coffee
 

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£2.29/227g 		All Sainsbury’s own label roast and ground coffee has been 100% Fairtrade since 2009. Sainsbury’s coffee is sourced from across Africa and South America where Fairtrade premiums are now benefiting thousands of farmers, their families and communities in these countries every year.

 

Great coffee.

 

Tasty treats

Taste the Difference Fairtrade Sauvignon Blanc 2013

fairtrade wine

 £6.99/75cl 

 

 

 

 100% of Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference South African wine is now Fairtrade, and this fantastic zesty wine was awarded a silver trophy at the prestigious IWC awards in 2013. 

This elegantly balanced wine is made with exceptional care to preserve the flavours of crisp lemon and lime, green pepper, gooseberry and tropical fruit notes. It’s made for Sainsbury’s at the famous Boekenhoutskloof Winery, which dates back to 1776, from carefully selected grapes harvested from the best vineyards in Malmesbury, Wellington, Robertson and Franschhoek. The fresh and intensely fruity flavours are particularly good with lightly spiced dishes.

 

A brilliant wine.
 Taste the Difference Belgian Fairtrade Milk Chocolate

fairtrade chocolate

  £1.40/100g Sainsbury’s offers a great range of Fairtrade Taste the Difference chocolate, helping to improve the livelihoods of thousands of cocoa farmers in Cote d’Ivoire and the Dominican Republic.

Made for Sainsbury’s in Belgium, this luxurious milk chocolate is smooth and creamy without being too sweet, and melts in the mouth with a delicious caramel flavour.

 

 

Enjoy Sainsbury’s fairtrade products on their own, or try making these Fairtrade Banoffee Tarts at home

 

Banoffee Tarts Recipe

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A crisp pastry base filled with smooth, sweet caramel, and topped with bananas and cream…Naughty but so nice.

Serves 10

Preparation 40 minutes

Cooking 20 minutes, plus 45 minutes chilling time

Ready 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients

180g Sainsbury’s British plain flour

120g unsalted English butter by Sainsbury’s, cold from the fridge, cubed

3 tablespoons Sainsbury’s Fairtrade caster sugar

1 medium British free-range Woodland egg yolk by Sainsbury’s, mixed with 1 tablespoon cold water

75g smooth dark chocolate by Sainsbury’s, melted

½ x 397g tin Carnation caramel

2 small Fairtrade bananas by Sainsbury’s, sliced

200ml fresh British double cream by Sainsbury’s

¼ teaspoon Fairtrade ground cinnamon by Sainsbury’s

2 teaspoons Sainsbury’s cocoa powder

 

Method

1.       Sift the flour into a large bowl. Lightly rub in the butter with your fingertips, until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar, then the egg yolk and water mixture, and use a round-bladed knife to bring everything together.

2.       Use your hands to form a dough, handling it as little as possible. (Alternatively, make the dough in a food processor to save time.) Wrap the dough in cling film, then chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.

3.       Preheat the oven to 200°C, fan 180°C fan, gas 6. Roll out the pastry to a thickness of 0.5cm, then cut into 6 pieces. Line 6 individual 10.5cm tart tins with the pastry and chill in the fridge again for 20 minutes.

4.       Line the pastry cases with baking parchment and fill with baking beans or uncooked rice. Bake ‘blind’ for 15 minutes, then remove the paper and beans and bake for a further 2 minutes, or until golden.

5.       Pour or brush the melted chocolate around the inside of the tart cases and allow it to harden for 5 minutes in the fridge. Divide the caramel evenly into the pastry cases and top with the banana slices. Whisk the double cream until it forms stiff peaks, then spoon on top of the tarts. Dust with the cinnamon and cocoa powder and serve.

 

Cook’s tip:

This is delicious served with half-fat crème fraîche by Sainsbury’s.

 

Rally For The Rainforest At Online Celebrity Auction

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Want to shop and do good? Of course you do.

‘The 12 Days of Christmas’, the RFUK’s fabulous and exclusive public auction of one-off gifts donated by celebrities, luxury labels and esteemed Foundation friends, returns for a fourth year. Open to everyone through an RFUK pop-up shop on eBay, the 12 day auction, running from November 20 to December 1, will offer various gleaming goodies for every savvy shopper ready to raise funds to protect the world’s rainforests.

James Bates - collage in a white box frame

James Bates – collage in a white box frame.

The auction can be found at www.ebay.co.uk/12days

 

As well as countless surprises to be announced in the lead up to the auction launch, lots currently include: A catered day out at the Wiltshire Lakehouse Estate home from Sting and Trudie Styler, VIP autographed guest tickets to the filming of QI from Stephen Fry, signed goodies from Sir Bruce Forsyth and Mark Rylance, signed sporting goods from members of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspurs FCs, Tea for Four in Parliament with The Rt Hon Zac Goldsmith MP, many course meals with wine from the OXO Tower Restaurant, Terre a Terre and the Michelin-starred Quilon, tickets for award winning London shows including Spamalot, Woman In Black  and The English National Ballet’s Le Corsaire, exclusive London Fashion Week items from Volcom, Emma J Shipley, Eda London and Begg Scotland, a stunning bracelet from Zoe & Morgan plus limited edition signed art from Rob Ryan, Kid Acne, Ben Frost, Eelus, Rosie Emerson, Russell Marshall, Graham Carter and a very rare 1 of 3 paint on canvas from acclaimed artist Fin DAC worth over £1,000 (kindly donated by art concept store Beautiful Crime) and much, much more! This is just a sample of what is available at what will no doubt be a spectacular fourth year for the 12 Days of Christmas event. More lots to be announced soon via @RFUK, Facebook and the RFUK website.