Food & Drink

Over recent years there has been a steady increase in the availability of specialty drinks containing organically certified ingredients. For the sake of descriptive accuracy, specialty drinks can be categorised according to their distinctive properties and their targeted market. The first group are the manufactured drinks associated with therapeutic health benefits. The primary consumers of therapeutic drinks are health conscious individuals between thirty and fifty five years of age. When interviewed, the majority of consumers claim to select these products based on a combination of current scientific evidence, the recommendation of health professionals, and advertising claims. The most popular products are those containing antioxidant compounds...

How easy is it for tea producers to deliver a high quality organic product to the consumer? As the fourth generation representative of Darjeeling’s tea dynasty, Rajah Banerjee is the prince of organic tea. Cradled in the lap of the Himalayas, Makaibari is the oldest single owner tea estate and one of the few devoted to organic and biodynamic agricultural methods. Rajah explains that the annual volume of organically grown tea is only six percent that of conventional. While demand for organically grown tea continues to increase, there are significant constraints upon growers who might like to enter this market. Large producers in particular face significant challenges in adapting to a new set of agricultural parameters. The switch to holistic...

Many of us find it difficult to contemplate functioning without our morning coffee. Let’s face it, caffeine stimulates the brain and provides the energy boost we need. Depending on circumstances and routine, that first cup is probably followed by several others, distributed strategically throughout the day. In Continental Europe, freshly brewed coffee has been iconically popular since the beginning of the twentieth century. Try to imagine Paris without its coffee. It’s almost unthinkable! Shortly after the Second World War, the art of coffee making declined in many countries beyond the immediate influence of Continental Europe. This was primarily associated with the advent of instant blends which were economical and convenient. In a return...

According to longstanding tradition, beer is made from four natural ingredients. These are pure water, barley malt, hops, and yeast. In Germany, the standard is upheld through the purity law (Reinheitsgebot), which prevents brewers using additional or alternative ingredients in any product marketed as a beer. Outside Germany, there are plenty of beers containing mixed cereals, added sugar, flavouring compounds, and chemicals to increase storage capacity, creaminess, and clarity. Making organic beer Organic beer is made in the traditional manner, with pure, healthy ingredients. No chemical additives or genetically modified substances are used and the production facilities are routinely inspected to ensure compliance with organic certification...

A carefully selected wine has the potential to complement fine food and good company. In addition to offering enjoyment and pleasure, the moderate intake of wine has the potential to improve important aspects of physical health. Since the eighties, numerous studies have confirmed the health benefits of moderate wine consumption. Dry red wine, in particular, contains high concentrations of phenolic and other antioxidant compounds which are associated with a lowered incidence of coronary vascular disease. These findings, along with various social and economic influences, contributed to the rise of the mass produced wine. Often sold in cardboard cask or flagons, their quality was often compromised by mechanised harvesting and the routine application...