Sweetened, flavored artesian water in four
organic and four natural flavors.
Americans are drinking more water, but also more sweetened, flavored water. The success of Glaceau’s Fruit Water and Vitamin Water have spawned other lines, and Twist is the first organic one. What makes water organic? First, it’s artesian well water, not municipal water which has been treated with chemicals. Second, the sweetener is organic (in this case, agave nectar) and the fruit flavorings are organic as well. Twist Organics’ four flavors include Mango Açaí (our favorite), Mandarin White Tea, Pomegranate Blueberry and West Indies Lime. The Naturals line is made with the same artesian well water, but with a non-organic sweetener (pineapple juice) and flavorings. It’s available in Lemon, Mandarin, Marionberry and Peach. The Naturals are less sweet than the Organics, and overall, both lines are less sweet and more natural-tasting than the other flavored, sweetened “juice waters” we’ve tasted. If you’ve found the other brands a bit too much, you may prefer this Twist. Read our full review in THE NIBBLE online magazine.
Most people don’t like the fact that the days are shorter (not to mention, colder). But Green & Black’s, which makes organic chocolate bars, wants you to appreciate the darkness (specifically, their dark chocolate). The company is offering free chocolate as the clock turns back and we lose another hour of light (or to put it positively, gain another hour of dark). From Saturday, November 3rd at 6 p.m. EST to Sunday, November 4th at 6 a.m. EST, visit AppreciateTheDarkness.com to request samples of G&B’s organic 70% dark chocolate bars, plus milk chocolate for those who don’t appreciate the darkness (the site won’t be live until November 4th). Their white chocolate is our current favorite white chocolate bar, but you’ll have to acquire that on your own. Fortunately, G&B is widely distributed—we buy ours at our local Whole Foods Market. Mark your calendar for two weeks from today—both to turn back your clocks and to get your free chocolate. Read more about the best organic chocolate brands in THE NIBBLE online magazine.
Get free samples of G&B’s milk and 70% dark organic chocolate.
Bombilla & Gourd Yerba Maté is one of the new debutantes in the bottled maté category. It’s both USDA-certified organic and kosher. Maté (MAH-tay) is an infusion of the yerba maté leaf, grown in the South American rainforest. (It’s actually a variety of the holly bush). Maté is a superfood, one of the most nutritious beverages on earth—it has 24 vitamins, 15 amino acids and 90% more antioxidants than green tea. While it has more caffeine than energy drinks, its overall cocktail has calming properties that deliver jitter-free “calm energy.” Traditionally brewed in a dried gourd and drunk hot from a bombilla (metal straw), cold maté drinks are growing in popularity, and should become the hot new drink as more people realize the benefits it has over energy drinks and coffee. The Bombilla & Gourd line is available in five flavors: Blueberry, Lemon, Mint and Honey, Peach and Pomegranate. Our favorite is Blueberry, with Pomegranate in second place. Read the full review of Bombilla & Gourd, and check out our reviews of Guayakí Maté (bottled tea and tea bags) and Sol Maté, a sparkling cold drink that reminds us of a refreshing beer.
What do master chocolatiers cook and bake for themselves? You can find out in Lindt Chocolate Passion, a new book that chronicles the history of premium chocolate and Lindt’s evolution as a world chocolate power (it is the world’s largest producer of mass-market premium chocolate, defined as chocolate priced from $15 to $25 per pound). In the midst of it, you’ll get what the Swiss chocolate manufacturer describes as “a robust collection of gourmet dessert recipes.” The recipes were contributed by Lindt’s master chocolatiers from around the world, who share the recipes and techniques they use when cooking and entertaining for their own family and friends. Recipes categories include Truffles; Bark Fruit and Fondue; Mousse, Creme and Parfaits; Cookies and Brownies; Cakes; Tarts, Cheesecakes, and Small Desserts; and Chocolate Drinks infused with chocolate.
First, you melt the chocolate. Photo by Diego Basseggio | SXC.
The book is available in Lindt retail stores nationwide and online at LindtUSA.com, for $35.00. Read our review of Lindt Excellence chocolate bars, the finest chocolate in the line.
National Peanut Butter Month doesn’t begin until November 1st, but our friends at P.B. Loco are offering a free jar of CoCoBanana Peanut Butter (chocolate banana peanut butter—no coconut) when you buy five jars of any flavors. It’s not too hard to buy five jars of their PB: In addition to the CoCoBanana, we go ape for the White Raspberry Chocolate, Sun-Dried Apricot, Sumatra Cinnamon & Raisin and Jungle Banana (without the chocolate). On the savory side, Sun-Dried Tomato is dynamite, and Asian Curry Spice makes instant noodle dishes. All you need to do is go to PBLoco.com and (1) add any five jars of any peanut butter to your shopping cart, then (2) add one jar of CoCoBanana Peanut Butter to your cart, (3) enter coupon code BIGIDEA, click recalculate, and make sure $6.95 is subtracted from your bill. This special offer expires October 25th, so don’t let a nutty good thing pass you by. Read our full review of P.B. Loco Peanut Butter.
