History of mint

Do you associate a mint julep with warmer weather and the Kentucky Derby? We know why you are making this natural connection. This beverage began in the Mediterranean when indigenous mint replaced the rose petals in an Arabic drink called julab. Greeks and Romans flavored drinking water with refreshing mint and steeped the leaves in their baths. They even crowned themselves with mint leaves. They had found out that its stems and leaves could help with insect bites and digestive problems. Ancient Hebrews used the aromatic herb to freshen synagogue floors. Want to learn more minty-fresh facts? Read on!

Nature’s versatile herb

The United States, India, and China produce the most significant amounts of mint. Among them, the United States lead in mint oil, with nearly forty-five percent. Chewing gum manufacturers use it to flavor their products. Another forty-five percent stands for flavor dentifrices, such as toothpaste and mouthwash products. The remaining ten percent gets utilized for various products, such as the confectionery, pharmaceutical, and aromatherapy industries.

Flavor of the year

Mint works well for all the aforementioned purposes, including health consciousness, mental wellness, and immune system care. Beck Flavors became so enamored with mint’s ability to decrease anxiety and improve sleep they named Garden Mint their botanical flavor of the year (FOTY 2023). Centered around mindfulness principles and capable of stimulating the senses, mint speaks to Gen Z and beyond.

Culinary wonder of Summer 2023

Good taste and wellness abound in mint releases. Desert-style drinks include Chick-fil-A’s Seasonal Watermelon Mint Lemonade and Starbucks’ summer edition Chocolate Java Mint Frappucino^®. In addition, UK f’real introduced a Limited Edition Milk Choc Chip blend-blend-it-yourself milkshake. A classic example forms the original Mint chocolate chip ice cream, which gained popularity in 1973 under the name Mint Royale. 

Baskin Robbins recently added a 2023 twist with Non-Dairy Mint Chocochunk, made with coconut milk. Pierre’s Ice Cream Company added a new Lactose-Free Mint Chocolate Chip to their lineup. Braum’s introduced four new cookie sundaes and one flavor combination named Triple Chocolate Almond Cookie Sundae finished with mint chocolate chip ice cream. Classic Oreo^® debuted Mint within their Frozen Treats Scoopables Collection. 

If you crave a new chocolate bar, try UK’s Cadbury’s new Mint Flavoured Twirl. On a healthier note, consider GoMacro^®, known for its organic, plant-based protein and nutrition bar, which introduced Mint Chocolate Chip MacroBar. 

In terms of refreshing summer drinks, at the Tangierine Café, the Flavors of Medina menu for the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts added a non-alcoholic Chai Tea Mint Sparkler, featuring Twinings^® Chai Tea with Sprite^®, along with Chai Tea Mint Mimosa.

With plenty of options to add mint into your lifestyle, consider versatility, refreshing taste rewards, and potential health benefits. Let us know how you plan to get minted this summer!

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Toast to tequila: Mexico’s iconic elixir rises to the top shelf

The tantalizing world of spirits sets out to witness a monumental shift. Tequila is getting ready to rise to the top. Distillers derive the seductive elixir from the succulent Blue Weber Agave. Its refined taste makes it the number one choice among cocktail drinkers. Consequently, 2023 will mark the triumphant ascent of tequila, dethroning vodka as the most sought-after spirit. Agave spirits, including tequila and mezcal, are predicted to reach a first-time $13.5 billion in revenue by 2028.

Alcohol delivery service Drizly surveyed retailers, revealing that 64% plan to devote more coveted shelf space to tequila than any other spirit next year. In its 2022 Retail Report, Drizly astutely observes that 54% of retailers shared that tequila had surpassed expectations this past year, outpacing all other spirits.

The rise of agave-based spirits has seen an exciting and transformative journey. Tequila brings the essence of Mexico’s heritage to life. This has set the stage for a grand transformation, thanks in part to tequila’s exclusivity. Tequila boasts a prestigious Denomination of Origin. This ensures that only distillers within the lands of five Mexican states can produce it: Jalisco, Nayarit, Guanajuato, Michoacán, and Tamaulipas. Such geographical restrictions lend an air of mystique and reverence to tequila. 

Tequila’s flavor revolution

Tequila lovers may rejoice as brands present an enticing array of new flavor profiles that push boundaries and delight the senses. Patrón, the paragon of tequila craftsmanship, produced two limited edition variations of tequila: Patrón Ahumado Silver and Patrón Ahumado Reposado. These prized beverages are infused with aromatic smokiness derived from agave roasted in small batches over mesquite charcoal. The Ahumado Silver hits the palate with a lingering smoky and smooth taste. It balances its natural sweetness by notes of exotic spices, black pepper, and the essence of cooked agave. Meanwhile, the Ahumado Reposado delivers smooth, sweet, and woody notes intertwining with whispers of black pepper, vanilla, and caramel, evoking a rhapsody of flavors.

Astral Tequila, a luminary in the spirits business, has graced aficionados with two masterpieces: Astral Tequila Añejo and Astral Tequila Reposado. The Reposado, aged five months, exudes subtle sweetness with a rich tapestry of agave, caramel, and oak. The Astral Tequila ages twelve months with warm vanilla, oak, and butterscotch notes.

Espanita Tequila presents a limited-edition double barrel-aged series with the Espanita Double Barrel Reposado Tequila, as a first release. It highlights an extended aging process with two kinds of wood: maturing in American White Oak casks. It then ages in freshly emptied bourbon barrels from producers in Kentucky.

Calirosa Tequila has debuted the Calirosa Reposado. It begins with an aging process, where 100% Blue Agave derived tequila undergoes a metamorphosis in red wine oak barrels. As the spirit rests and matures, the luscious pigment of the barrels infuses the tequila, enhancing flavors and imparting a delicate rose color. Hints of creamy strawberry, juicy raspberry, and cocoa tantalize your taste buds and transport you to a sundrenched orchard or exotic garden. A truly enchanting experience.

Tequila Cocktails 

Regarding cocktails, tequila makes a splash in Ready-To-Drink (RTD) concoctions. Nielsen reported a staggering 138% growth in tequila-based RTD cocktails in 2021, a testament to their irresistible allure. 

High Noon embraced the trend with the launch of Tequila Hard Seltzer, a fusion of Blanco tequila, real fruit juice, sparkling water, and natural flavors. Lime, grapefruit, passionfruit, and strawberry flavors combine to create a taste sensation perfect for a tropical paradise. 

In collaboration with acclaimed mixologist Mafer Tejada, Mi Campo crafted two mesmerizing RTD cocktails. The Mango Mule, featuring Mi Campo Reposado tequila, entices with ripe mango, citrus, and fresh ginger. In contrast, the Spicy Jalapeño Margarita, made with Mi Campo Blanco tequila, ignites the senses with a tangy lime kick and fiery jalapeño. These RTD libations testify to the artistry and creativity achieved when tequila and mixology come together. 

Bottled Beauty

In handcrafted beauty, tequila brands adorn their bottles with intricate designs, turning each bottle into a work of art. Take, for instance, the KAH Huichol Limited Edition, a collection of 600 bottles adorned with 22,000 tiny beads lovingly applied by hand. 

Elevating fashion and flavor, female-founded brands 21 Seeds Infused Tequila and Birdies have unveiled a Top-Shelf Sneaker Collection. The Roadrunner sneaker got adorned with hand-cast round wood beads and vibrant pom pom tassels. And the story continues. Step inside these remarkable sneakers, and you’ll discover a woven blanket design inspired by 21 Seeds Infused Tequila. The sneakers come in three colorways inspired by the three Infused Tequila flavors: Hibiscus, Jalapeño, and Valencia.

Ready for a taste? 

Try one of these tequila-forward cocktails and experience spirit for yourself! Share any recipes we missed in the comments! 

Ranch Water

Classic Margarita: 

Mexican Mule 

Paloma

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The frozen scoop

Are you tempted to indulge in an ice cream treat once the weather heats up? You got plenty of company. Last summer, a survey conducted by OnePoll, on behalf of I Love Ice Cream Cakes for National Ice Cream Month produced many nostalgia-laden findings. Overall, the average person associated eating ice cream with summer and said they returned to their 10-year-old selves. Eating ice cream makes people feel happy (36%), satisfied (34%), and relaxed (30%). More than half noted their flavor preferences had changed since childhood. Many desire to beat the heat with innovative ice cream products in the warmer months ahead. At the same time, the market and social media respond to the demand for unique flavors and texture collaborations. 

Viral ice cream trends

Hardly anything remains off-limits in the brave new world of ice cream meets TikTok trends! If you like dipping your French fries into milkshakes, then the McDonalds’s hash brown ice cream sandwich has made your dreams come true. You can achieve the controversial combination by scooping the contents of a McFlurry between two crispy hash browns. TikTok user Golnar Ghavami, aka @golisdream, shared her “sweet guilty pleasure” of ice cream wrapped in a Fruit Roll-Up. Adding ice cream to the fruit-flavored sheet allows it to freeze instantly, producing a pleasantly spine-tingling crunch Ghavami calls “so satisfying.” If you want a healthier hack, try TikTok innovation cottage cheese ice cream. Lainie Kates shared her strawberry-cheesecake cottage cheese-based ice cream recipe, gushing, “I still can’t get over this healthy ice cream hack that has almost 60 grams of protein.”

Cone collaborations and more

Häagen-Dazs and world-renowned pastry chef Pierre Hermé, known for his exquisite macarons, have developed a magical new macaron ice cream range hitting shelves in the UK & France. How about trying one of the three variants: Double Chocolate Ganache, Strawberry and Raspberry, and Yuzu and Lemon. Additionally, in the UK, flavors inspired by afternoon tea include Orange & Pomegranate Tart and Blooming Blueberry Tart. The company’s new Butter Cookie Cone, a “cone for grown-ups,” wraps classic ice cream choices “in luxury.” Speaking of luxury, European ice cream makers and academy irca challenged themselves to consider what consumers want in 2023. Together with their Ice Cream Masters, they rethought three classic flavors, Coffee, Caramel, and Pistachio. The union of research and balance of flavor/texture resulted in two new variety creams JoyCream Caffè Biscotto and JoyCream Caramellato, and the flavoring base JoyPaste Pesto Pistachio. In the U.S., Hidden Valley Ranch and their signature dressing teamed with Van Leeuwen on Hidden Valley Ranch limited-edition ice cream.

Everything but the kitchen sink

For ice cream connoisseurs, adventurous new options abound with plenty of sweet and savory kitchen ingredients. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams has dropped limited-time flavors such as Homemade Banana Bread and a brief return of Everything Bagel ice cream. Salt & Straw enters as an innovative ice cream company. It continues to receive buzz-worthy praise for its unique flavors. They recently partnered with Sri Lankan Hoppers restaurant in London on Hoppers Caramelized Roti with Bone Marrow Fudge.

Creamy & conscious

Salt & Straw has also been making news in the ice cream industry by upcycling ingredients. Their Upcycled Food Series of eco-friendly flavors linked them with Portland-based Urban Gleaners to source Day-Old Bread Pudding & Chocolate Ganache Ice Cream. Upcycled barley from Evergrain beer production adds to Malted Chocolate Barley Milk ice cream, the first allergen-free non-sorbet. On the non-dairy side, Breyers released an oat milk version of their classic vanilla ice cream with sustainably sourced vanilla. Climate-conscious Alec’s Ice Cream creates their product with certified regenerative organic ingredients and stomach-friendly A2 milk protein milk. You may purchase more traditional flavors and inventive Honey Blueberry Lavender solo or in alec’s “Super Sampler” pack of your favorite picks!

Look out for new savory flavors, creative collaborations, and sustainable entries in the global ice cream market. Let us know your favorites and if you try anything else that sparks your interest and taste buds!

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Discover five new autumnal food & flavors beyond pumpkin spice 

The autumnal season lives! As the leaves change colors, sweater weather brings cozy new trends in fashion and decor for seasonal food and flavors. Of course, some autumnal traditions stay forever young: picking apples, sharing a cider donut, and baking pumpkin pies. While most people immediately think of apples and pumpkins during this season, new flavor preferences are emerging. Check out what flavors and ingredients enrich the menus this season. Find inspiration beyond pumpkin spice latte and look at some fun, unique, trending flavors below.

Plant-based meals taste better than ever

Plant-based meals may look like a surprising choice for autumn. We think they could prove as the natural partner for the fall. While more plant-based innovations arise, also the most dedicated carnivores include vegetarian and vegan options in their diets. With rising inflation costs causing food prices to drastically increase, incorporating more vegetables and meatless options will also help with grocery budgeting.

Mushrooms can do it all

At the start of the year, the NYTimes dubbed mushrooms the ingredient of the year. Just think of the vast variety of mushrooms to relish: white button, shiitake, oyster, or enoki. And did you know that king oyster mushrooms could stand-in for scallops? Oyster mushrooms come with a pleasant rubbery texture, similar to many types of seafood. So, if you’re craving seafood, try vegan scallops with garlic butter or even vegan shrimp. Beyond culinary applications, mushrooms continue to gain the attention of the scientific community and beyond, with proven therapeutic benefits of mico-dosing psilocybin to treat conditions such as depression.

Sweet plus heat, the perfect marriage

Consumers are increasingly looking for complex flavors & surprising combinations; fast-tracking sweet plus heat – combining chili varieties with sweet ingredients to create a unique flavor sensation. The pairing exists everywhere and will surely expand, from Maille and Mike’s Hot Honey collab Hot Honey Dijon to Sweet Hot Mister Mustard and even sweet and spicy sunflower seeds!

Make your own fermented drinks

Kombucha continues to trend. Fermented tea comes with long historical longevity & tradition – originating in China and now a worldwide alternative medicinal choice. Fermented ingredients have experienced rapid growth in food & retail, mainly due to the sensed health benefits encompassing fermentation and the growing approval of sour flavors. Customers love the taste, health benefits, and now the DIY aspects. Kombucha can come in multiple flavors, and you can also learn to make it at home.

Candies Get Chewy

The season has come for candy! According to Food Business News, chewy candy accounted for 50 percent of all non-chocolate sales! So check out SweeTarts Gummies Splitz and Nerds Very Berry Gummy Clusters. This year’s Halloween candy haul is going to taste sooo good.

What extraordinary fall flavors do you favor? Will you try any of the above? Share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment below!

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If You Like Piña Colada…

Picture this—a frosty Piña Colada, dancing palm trees, freshly lathered coconut lotion, and the sun shining down on you, creating the ultimate tropical experience. Sounds like a vacation—long overdue? But who says this scene exists only seasonally or just for leisure? Every day can have a touch of the tropics! Thankfully, through flavors, fragrances, and décor, your home can be the ultimate tropical experience and staycation. 

Tropical Garden

Outdoor oases and tropical gardens are trending. The Royal Horticultural Society reported a 50% increase in houseplant sales just in 2018. Flash forward to 2020 with the globe in lockdown; plans and vacations existed merely as a dream. But no need to fret; bring a tropical ambiance home instead. Better Homes and Gardens recommends the best way to achieve a tropical garden—planting in layers. Plants to accomplish this include: Anthurium, Calathea Croton, Pleomele, Cordyline, and Palms. Different decorations such as lanterns and lighting can also help set the ambiance just right.

Tropical Drink

Tropical fruits make delicious and refreshing cocktails, mocktails, and snacks. Mai Tais, Pina Coladas, and Pineapple Margaritas are some of the best-known tropical drinks. Bloggers like Camille Styles have created lists with the best tropical cocktails to get you in a vacation state of mind. These cocktails are refreshing and great for any happy hour. Or try a snack. Frozen grapes are the perfect refreshing treat to transport yourself to the beach mentally. Or take it to go; try fruits like pineapple, kiwi, or coconut flakes. Dried fruit makes the snack experience accessible anywhere and anytime. 

Tropical Perfume & Beauty Products

Bring the tropics in the shower! After spending the day in the heat, the best feeling is a restorative shower, followed by a delicious smelling after-sun lotion. Scents of warm coconut, sea salt, aloe, watermelon, and mango make splendid body washes and lotions. 

Tropical Body Wash

If you’re looking for a shower gel that’s aloe-based, try Yumi, a brand known for its watermelon and pineapple shower gels. These products focus on moisturization and refreshing the skin. In addition, the brand centers on natural edible products—highlighting aloe, watermelon, and pineapple in the product collection.  

Tropical Body Lotion

Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, a lotion known for its tropical warm coconut scent, remains a best-seller and 2020 Allure Beauty Expert winner. The lotions’ key ingredients are coconut oil, acai oil, Brazil nut, cupuaçu butter, and guaraná. The brand’s mission supports the skin’s ability to protect itself while giving a healthy, natural-looking glow. Brazilian Bum Bum Cream stands available on the company’s website or at Sephora. 

Tropical Scents

Bath & Body Works launched a Tropical Collection in 2021. The collection includes candles, lotions, and body sprays. The featured scents include Waikiki Beach Coconut, Fiji Sunshine, and Guava-Tini. The goal of this tropical collection? To bring the sea to you. 

Tropical Sweets

And don’t forget about our dessert friends. Krispy Kreme Donuts jumped on the tropical bandwagon and released an Island Time Collection. The assortment includes three tropic-inspired donut flavors: Pina Colada, Island Time Doughnut, and Key Lime Pie. But, of course, Häagen-Dazs, always an innovator, also dabbles in the sweet tropics for flavors. They now offer Pineapple Coconut Ice Cream, Mango Ice Cream, and Pineapple Coconut Ice Cream Meringue Sandwiches. YUM!

So, if a holiday trip isn’t in the cards, try the mentioned experiences to bring the tropics to your everyday life! Which tropical experience are you indulging in first? Comment below and let us know. 

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Crafting a natural Earl Grey Tea

Do you remember the first time you tried Earl Grey? We do. The citrusy scent instantly woke up the senses before the lips even touched the brim of the cup. Then the taste followed – a full-bodied black tea lingering on the palette. Elegant, rich, and refreshing. We later learned that the citrus taste came from the bergamot oil used to flavor traditional Chinese tea. Instantly, it became a good friend for an afternoon pick-me-up.

Earl Grey, reinvented

If you like Earl Grey as much as us, you may find yourself on a rainy day curling up next to the fireplace. You are wrapping yourself in a cuddly blanket, a cup of tea misting on the side. The exact right time has come to take a break and enjoy some me-time. For years, you have always been buying the same tea – your beloved Earl Grey tea. This traditional has become your favorite taste over the year. Now wait! The last time in the supermarket, a new Earl Grey variety has attracted you. On the packaging, you see ripe bergamot fruits. It also says made with natural ingredients only and “Bergamots from Calabria. The text promises an authentic and full-bodied taste of ripe and juicy bergamot fruits in combination with a well-balanced black tea note. This copy sounds very promising and makes you curious. So you decide to buy and test this new tea.

You are holding the cup of freshly brewed tea in your hands. You feel positively surprised by the smell. It reminds you immediately of your last vacation in Italy. You’ve been walking through the citrus fields. You start reading the ingredient list. It states – with natural Bergamot flavoring. What does this mean – flavored? It tastes purely genuine and authentic. You thought a flavoring probably tastes artificial? You check the tea bag. The transparent bag allows you to see all ingredients. You are looking for artificial-looking particles. Nil return! That Earl Grey has surprised you! And for this, it just became your new favorite tea.

The Making of Your New Favorite Tea

The journey of a premium product begins with quality sourcing. To make this particular Earl Grey, the bergamots come from the heart of Calabria in Italy. A group of trusted farmers grows the fruits sustainably. Our partner is the world market leader in bergamot oil production for the flavor and fragrance industry. They use state-of-the-art technology for citrus oil processing. This partnership, also involving the local university, drives the implementation of good agricultural practices to secure supply, guarantee the highest quality, and respect biodiversity and positively impact local communities. How to translate these high-quality raw materials now into a natural flavor solution?

The innovative technology, evogran^® coating, attains a truly natural encapsulation by applying the flavor – the bergamot oil – directly to the tea leaves. As a result, the taste of the bergamot lingers right on top of the tea leaves. The process avoids granules within the blend. This method also guarantees outstanding blending features for optimum taste. As a result you receive a tea with a premium natural appeal and an authentic taste experience.

Do you feel interested in trying this new variety? Do you call yourself a fan of Earl Grey tea? Tell us your favorite Earl Grey products! Leave us a comment below!

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