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From Mexican-style salsa to chocolate heaven and stylish teas, we've got it all in this month's round-up of the latest and best products. By Jo Hill.
Chocolate heaven
London-based chocoholics should make sticky tracks to a converted chocolate warehouse in the City where Hannah Saxton wields her magic, teaching small groups how to mould, melt and decorate chocolate with ganache, cocoa and endless confectionery toppings (even drinking in the air gives you a chocolate high!) Add in a few glasses of champagne and you can see why this is such a popular choice for corporate treats, hen nights and children’s parties (minus the bubbly!); from £39 each. Visit www.mychocolate.co.uk for more.
Barbecues made easy
There’s still time to try Bighams fabulous barbecue goodies – all looking and tasting exactly as if you’d made them at home. I particularly loved Vietnamese chicken breasts, drenched in a ginger, garlic, honey and hoisin marinade, then dressed with coriander. Cedar-wrapped Chicken Breasts, Salmon & Tiger Prawn Skewers and Malaysian Chicken Brochettes are more global highlights. From Waitrose and www.ocado.com
Light fantastic!
Having been told I’d lose weight if I ate a good granola for breakfast (it keeps blood sugar levels stable), the search was on. My absolute favourite has to be Lovedean Lite, available from Waitrose and independent shops. With plenty of crunch – provided by jumbo oats, nuts and seeds, slowly toasted with oils including hemp and pumpkin and sweetened only with honey – it is just fab with Greek yoghurt and summer berries. Visit www.lovedeanfoods.com for more info.
A teatime treat
If you want to impress image-conscious guests or give yourself a taste treat, I’d highly recommend teapigs, whose tea temples feature in the Chocolate Cake photo in Delia’s cheat book. Flavours include jasmine pearls, chamomile flowers (right), peppermint leaves and my favourite, chai (Assam with cardamom, cinnamon, ginger and cassia), packed into gauzy, ethereal works of art that allow you to see exactly what you’re supping. Visit www.teapigs.co.uk for more.
An oil by any other name…
…even if you’re wedded to your extra virgin olive, I’d urge you to try Good Oil. Made from oh-so-healthy hemp seed, it adds a higher dose of omega 3, 6 and 9 than any other oil and has half the saturated fat of olive oil. Although I found the Original a tad too nutty/seedy in flavour, Mild & Light is brilliant for general frying and sautéing purposes as it doesn’t add overpowering flavour to other ingredients. To maximise hemp seed’s goodness, eat it cold by drizzling on to salads. Visit www.goodwebsite.co.uk for more.
Do the salsa…
OK, not quite, but if you’re a fan of fajitas, you should know about Discovery’s new Tequila & Lime Salsa (£1.59 from major supermarkets). Although it may sound like something you’d find in a Mexican cocktail, this fresh-tasting tomato-based salsa packs a powerful punch and has a wonderful chunky texture. Spread on a tortilla with soured cream, it made a great base for chicken and stir-fried veg.
Go for green
The health benefits of green tea (flavenoids, antioxidants and the rest) have been well-documented so drinking green tea is a good habit to get into. Jacksons of Piccadilly have launched a wonderful infusion that has just the right depth of flavour while offering a refreshing cuppa at the same time – Green Tea with Elderflower, which captures the fleeting floral nature of this very British plant. Visit www.jacksonsofpiccadilly.co.uk for more.
