It's official, we are off to Southport Flower Show and of course we couldn't go anywhere without purse in hand.
Photo credit: chelle from morguefile.com
Since we had Little D we are frequently on the lookout for something suitable to wet his whistle, milk, pure orange juice and water is all very well but it must be a bit boring for the little un.
Click on teaspoons for links through to retailers.
There's nothing like a nice glass of fizz to turn afternoon tea into a really luxurious treat. Here are our top five glasses for filling. Hic!
Click on the glass for more information or to buy.
Following on from part one of our coolest drinks for a hot summer here are our final taste sensations...
Kusmi Algotea
Part of internationally renowned Kusmi's Wellness Tea range. Algotea is a green tea from China, with natural essences of mint, Nanah mint leaves and seaweeds. The first thing that hit us was its amazing smell so fresh and exhilarating, perfect for a summers day served Moroccan style, sweet and iced. We loved its delicious clean taste and that intoxicating fragrance. We think it would be equally nice served hot after a dinner or as a pick me up.
You can buy Kusmi teas direct from their website. Algotea starts at 11.30€ for 20 muslin teabags.
Bitter Truth Elderflower Liqueur
The truth is this is a liqueur that really lives up to it's promise. We absolutely loved this sophisticated and alcoholic take on Elderflower cordial. It was just gorgeous with champagne for a take on the cocktail classic Twinkle.
Packed with fruits, flowers and spices, honey gold sweetness makes way for a burst of fresh elderflower and citrus with a hint of spice. Delicious!
Bitter Truth Elderflower Liqueur is available from Harvey Nichols and thedrinkshop.com from £20.37 for 500ml bottle, 22% abv.
Fresita
What a match made in heaven afternoon tea, strawberries and fizz. It really is the perfect combination. Fresita is a delicious Chilean sparkling wine infused with hand-picked fresh strawberries from Patagonia - ideal for sipping with your jam and cream scones. It's lively fruity and extremely drinkable great for a special treat with the girls or just when you feel like spoiling yourself.
Fresita is available from Whole Foods (Kensington), Nisa, Costcutter, www.drinksdirect.co.uk or www.formulawine.co.uk at around £8.99 a bottle.
Hayman's Sloe Gin
The Hayman family have been producing Sloe Gin to secret recipe for hundreds of years It must be the world's best kept secret because it tastes amazing. Sloes are steeped for several months with Hayman's Gin before being blended with sugar. The result is a beautifully balanced sweet-sour ruby red gin that resonates with the sloes delicious signature bitterness. Enjoy it with ice or as we did mix up a yummy gin fizz...
Sloe Gin Fizz
Mix together:
60ml measure Hayman's Sloe Gin
30ml measure Fresh Lemon Juice
30ml measure sugar syrup
Top with soda water. Kick back and relax.
Hayman's Sloe Gin is available at Harvey Nichols Wine Shops Nationwide, Selfridges, Wine Rack and online at www.thedrinkshop.com, prices from £17.66
We received samples of Kusmi Wellness Teas , Bitter Truth Elderflower Liqueur, Fresita and Hayman's Sloe Gin free of charge to review.
Kusmi Algotea
Part of internationally renowned Kusmi's Wellness Tea range. Algotea is a green tea from China, with natural essences of mint, Nanah mint leaves and seaweeds. The first thing that hit us was its amazing smell so fresh and exhilarating, perfect for a summers day served Moroccan style, sweet and iced. We loved its delicious clean taste and that intoxicating fragrance. We think it would be equally nice served hot after a dinner or as a pick me up.
You can buy Kusmi teas direct from their website. Algotea starts at 11.30€ for 20 muslin teabags.
Packed with fruits, flowers and spices, honey gold sweetness makes way for a burst of fresh elderflower and citrus with a hint of spice. Delicious!
Bitter Truth Elderflower Liqueur is available from Harvey Nichols and thedrinkshop.com from £20.37 for 500ml bottle, 22% abv.
Fresita
What a match made in heaven afternoon tea, strawberries and fizz. It really is the perfect combination. Fresita is a delicious Chilean sparkling wine infused with hand-picked fresh strawberries from Patagonia - ideal for sipping with your jam and cream scones. It's lively fruity and extremely drinkable great for a special treat with the girls or just when you feel like spoiling yourself.
Fresita is available from Whole Foods (Kensington), Nisa, Costcutter, www.drinksdirect.co.uk or www.formulawine.co.uk at around £8.99 a bottle.
Hayman's Sloe Gin
The Hayman family have been producing Sloe Gin to secret recipe for hundreds of years It must be the world's best kept secret because it tastes amazing. Sloes are steeped for several months with Hayman's Gin before being blended with sugar. The result is a beautifully balanced sweet-sour ruby red gin that resonates with the sloes delicious signature bitterness. Enjoy it with ice or as we did mix up a yummy gin fizz...
Sloe Gin Fizz
Mix together:
60ml measure Hayman's Sloe Gin
30ml measure Fresh Lemon Juice
30ml measure sugar syrup
Top with soda water. Kick back and relax.
Hayman's Sloe Gin is available at Harvey Nichols Wine Shops Nationwide, Selfridges, Wine Rack and online at www.thedrinkshop.com, prices from £17.66
We received samples of Kusmi Wellness Teas , Bitter Truth Elderflower Liqueur, Fresita and Hayman's Sloe Gin free of charge to review.
In
Breckland Orchard Posh Pop,
cold drinks
Shop Saturday - Part one: The coolest drinks for a hot summer
There's nothing like a nice cool drink on a hot summers day. We especially like a cold drink with our afternoon tea, I don't know why it just lifts it from the everyday run of the mill and turns it into something a little bit special. This summer the team has been trying out some of the newest drinks on the market (and some established ones but in a new way). We have been pleasantly surprised there are some really fabulous alternatives to champers or lemonade out there. It's a dirty job but someone has got to do it - hic!
Harveys Bristol Cream
Yes it's sherry. And? Forget all your assumptions and try it! Harvey's Bristol Cream is currently enjoying a surge in popularity and we think it's absolutely gorgeous. We tried it served in glamorous Pimms style with lemonade and fruit. To make it pour 50ml into a tall glass, top-up with lemonade and fill with fresh seasonal fruit such as strawberries, oranges and raspberries for a English summer drink with twist. Harveys Bristol Cream is made exclusively from grapes grown at Harveys’s own vineyards and blended in the traditional method at its bodegas in Jerez in southern Spain. It is made from a complex and aged blend of Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez wines, fragrant with a deep golden colour it's sensationally silky and smooth. Oh and very yummy!
Harveys Bristol Cream (75cl RRP £8.80) is widely available across the UK.
Drink Me Chai
Drink Me Chai is based on the orginal latte invented in India 5,000. There are five lovely flavours all blended with sweet tea and skimmed milk. All are 99% caffeine free so make a lovely and relaxing drink. We tried the gorgeous Vanilla Chai Latte as a cold milk shake and it was scrumptious. Here is the recipe if you would like to recreate it yourself.
Vanilla Chai Milk Shake
(Serves 1)
4 heaped teaspoons Drink Me Vanilla Chai Latte
2 tablespoons boiling water
3 scoops good quality vanilla ice cream
300ml milk
A handful of ice cubes
Stir the Vanilla Chai into the boiling water until dissolved and smooth. Transfer to a food processor or blender, then add the ice cream, the milk and the ice. Process for approximately 30 seconds or until smooth and well blended, and then serve immediately in a chilled glass.
Drink Me Chai is available from most major supermarkets at £2.03 for a 250g tub.
Breckland Orchard Posh Pop
Harveys Bristol Cream
Yes it's sherry. And? Forget all your assumptions and try it! Harvey's Bristol Cream is currently enjoying a surge in popularity and we think it's absolutely gorgeous. We tried it served in glamorous Pimms style with lemonade and fruit. To make it pour 50ml into a tall glass, top-up with lemonade and fill with fresh seasonal fruit such as strawberries, oranges and raspberries for a English summer drink with twist. Harveys Bristol Cream is made exclusively from grapes grown at Harveys’s own vineyards and blended in the traditional method at its bodegas in Jerez in southern Spain. It is made from a complex and aged blend of Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez wines, fragrant with a deep golden colour it's sensationally silky and smooth. Oh and very yummy!
Harveys Bristol Cream (75cl RRP £8.80) is widely available across the UK.
Drink Me Chai
Vanilla Chai Milk Shake
(Serves 1)
4 heaped teaspoons Drink Me Vanilla Chai Latte
2 tablespoons boiling water
3 scoops good quality vanilla ice cream
300ml milk
A handful of ice cubes
Stir the Vanilla Chai into the boiling water until dissolved and smooth. Transfer to a food processor or blender, then add the ice cream, the milk and the ice. Process for approximately 30 seconds or until smooth and well blended, and then serve immediately in a chilled glass.
Drink Me Chai is available from most major supermarkets at £2.03 for a 250g tub.
Breckland Orchard Posh Pop
Inspired by the home-made lemonade her grandmother gave her as a child Claire Martinsen set up traditional drinks company Breckland Orchard in 2009. We are so glad she did, her drinks are deliciously different includng ginger beer with chilli, Cloudy Lemonade, Blackcurrant & Raspberry, Cranberry & Rosehip, Pear & Elderflower, Strawberry & Rhubarb, and last but no means least our favourite Sloe lemonade. They are just perfect for a lazy afternoon tea in the garden.
Breckland Orchard Posh Pop and is available at retailers across the UK and also online click here to buy a bottle (or two).
Don't miss part two next week...
We received samples of Harveys Bristol Cream, Drink Me Chai, and Breckland Orchard Posh Pop free of charge to review.
Breckland Orchard Posh Pop and is available at retailers across the UK and also online click here to buy a bottle (or two).
Don't miss part two next week...
We received samples of Harveys Bristol Cream, Drink Me Chai, and Breckland Orchard Posh Pop free of charge to review.
You are never too young (or old) to play tea parties. We all remember holding parties for our teddies and dolls when we were knee high to a grasshopper. Back then, it was probably Granny's second best tea set but now there are a whole host of lovely toys to play with. Here are ten (sorry we couldn't decide) of our favorite tea related toys.
Summer is coming fast, its time to spend lazy days and romantic nights out in the garden, but when dusk falls it's a shame to go in on balmy evenings. We like to stay out under the moonlight, chat and listen to the radio by candlelight. It is lovely to light a lantern or two and make an event of it - here's five of our faves...
If you didn't know 29 April is the Royal Wedding of the Royal Wedding of HRH Prince William and Kate Middleton. The shops are full of mementos and gifts associated with this special event.
Everything from china to icing sugar (!) has been branded but if you are looking for something tasteful rather than tacky here are some of the nicest items we have seen on the High Street:
Everything from china to icing sugar (!) has been branded but if you are looking for something tasteful rather than tacky here are some of the nicest items we have seen on the High Street:
Fit for a Queen
Photo B.C.Backhouse
