A piece of peel is often served as a garnish for espresso, so adapt the practice for black coffee. Here’s the drill:

1. Cut a piece of lemon peel.
2. Rub the pith around the rim of the cup to release the lemon oil, which is a lovely counterpoint to the bitterness of the coffee.
3. Place the peel in the saucer. (We actually eat our peel!)

The lemon oil doesn’t interfere with the flavors of quality coffee; and if the coffee needs something to make it taste better, voilà. It’s calorie-free, too.

Enjoy a twist with black coffee.
Photo courtesy euvs.org.

Get Mom a Kati for loose tea.
Photo courtesy TeaForte.com.

Tea Forte, makers of the prettiest tea bags in the world (see our review), manufactures equally lovely teaware. For people who enjoy drinking a large cup of tea from a handsome Asian-style cup (no handle), their Kati Loose Tea System may be the best new solution.

The nicely-designed Kati includes three pieces, a 12-ounce ceramic cup with a set-in strainer and sip top ($15.00).

The large tea strainer (which can be used for other straining needs) sets into a groove created by a cutout in the lid. That same cutout becomes the sip-top when the strainer is removed.

Our only wish—a small one—is that Kati came with a matching saucer to serve as a strainer holder—our habit is to take the cup to another room while the tea is still steeping. We have to bring a separate dish for the strainer. The lid can be used for this purpose; but then it isn’t available to keep the heat in.

• Learn all about tea in our Gourmet Tea Section, including how to brew the perfect cup of tea and our very informative Tea Glossary.

Add small-diced mango to your regular guacamole recipe. It’s a tasty new take on a classic.

If you’re concerned that some people won’t like the succulent, sweet accent, just add the mango to the perimeter of the bowl (as a garnish) instead of mixing it in; dippers can scoop it up or not.

Otherwise, mix the mango into the guacamole and see who’s first to guess what the flavorsome new ingredient is.

• Here’s a guacamole recipe from a top French Chef, Laurent Tourondel, of New York City’s BLT Market.
• The mango guacamole recipe would be great in this Guacamole Chicken Salad recipe.

Snazz up your guacamole with mango.
Photo courtesy Wikimedia.