Do you remember when, if you didn’t want alcohol for whatever reason, you were doomed to a choice of orange juice, coke or a slimline tonic?

Thankfully, supermarkets and even bars have been steadily making shelf-room for interesting and tasty soft drinks. Some are full of sugar, which as a doctor I can’t recommend. However I have no problem recommending Saicho, which gives ‘Tea-total’ a whole new meaning.

Camellia sinensis leaves (tea leaves to you and me) have many attributed health benefits, including boosting immunity, reducing heart disease and obesity. They’re rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals and some studies back up the health claims. I’m particularly interested in the proposed anti-cancer properties of green tea.

The wealth of different teas rival fine wine in both quality and diversity. Tea experts will taste teas in the same way as a sommelier and one can pay just as much for a good tea as a fine Margaux.

But Saicho have shown that tea-drinking can go well beyond a hot cuppa.

Saicho was developed by Charlie and Natalie Winkworth-Smith. In Natalie’s own words: “Having been born and raised in Hong Kong, I have always been fascinated with the versatility and variety of tea. So when I met my husband Charlie during our PhDs in Food Science, we began cooking up the idea for a sparkling tea that creates a new dimension to food pairing without alcohol, whether it be eating in a fine dining restaurant, enjoying a drink at a wine bar or at home. The essence of Saicho is that we source the highest quality single origin teas from around the world and let their natural flavours shine through.”

Saicho brew the tea leaves at a low temperature for 24 hours to extract more of the delicate aromatics rather than the bitter and astringent compounds, resulting in a clean, crisp and complex flavour profile. The drinks are delicately sparkled and are best served chilled.

I’m delighted to share my thoughts after tasting three of the Saicho teas:

Hojicha from Japanese Bancha green tea – strong and complex flavours mixed with a delicate slight sweetness.

Darjeeling – a deep yellow ochre and taste reminiscent of muscadet.

Jasmine – green tea from the Chinese Fuding mountains infused with jasmine flowers and natural oak flavours – pale in colour, the oak reminded me of a chardonnay.

And there is more exciting news – last year Saicho launched a new Rare Tea Collection made with some of the most exquisite teas. The first, Eight Immortals is a Chinese oolong tea which has elegant spiced aromas and complex bittersweet notes. Each tea has been selected from specific regions and harvested at a certain time to create varying acidities, sweetness and mouthfeel that complement certain foods and flavours.

I highly recommend trying Saicho as a healthier alternative to your favourite tipple.

You can find out more and buy online from www.saichodrinks.com

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q
http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

MRS PARGETER’S POUND OF FLESH, the latest Joffe Book of the Week, and is a masterful cosy mystery from bestselling author Simon Brett, out now for the special launch price of just 99p | 99c.

When vivacious widow turned amateur detective Melita Pargeter’s friend suggests a few days away at a health spa, she is happy to tag along. After all, no one ever died of a little rest and relaxation. Did they?
Then Melita spots the body of a fellow guest being wheeled out of the spa. Everyone says it was the woman’s sparrow-like diet that killed her, but Melita’s not so sure. She saw the terrified expression on the victim’s face before they wheeled her away. What — or who — was she afraid of?   Can Melita catch the killer before it’s too late?

“One of the wittiest crime writers around.” Antonia Fraser    “No one delivers more pure entertainment.” San Diego Union    “A new Simon Brett novel is an event for mystery fans!” P.D. James

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY OF MRS PARGETER’S POUND OF FLESH FOR JUST 99P | 99C.

And now for a few new releases to tempt you, but go on to  Joffe’s website to find more of the little rascals.

The Judge at Saint Jane’s by Lisa Howell   OUT NOW — ONLY 99P | 99C

A COZY MURDER MYSTERY SET IN A PICTURESQUE CUMBRIAN VILLAGE.    It’s a glorious autumn evening in Tarnfield when Deborah Arbiter falls to her death. What was she doing on the roof of her old Georgian country house, St Jane’s?   Can Suzy Spencer get to the bottom of these sinister goings-on before anyone else pays the ultimate price?

Murder on the Golf Course by Roy Lewis   OUT NOW — £1.99 | $2.99

Arnold Landon’s boss, Simon Brent-Ellis, has been discovered dead in his bed with a mystery woman. Then high-flying consultant Steve O’Hara, next in line for Simon’s job, is found dead on the golf course, his head staved in with a blunt object.   Everyone wants the boss’s job, but was someone willing to kill to get it?

“An unforgettable character.”   The New York Times

Make waves with Joffe’s Arc…   Intrigued? Joffe  have launched Joffe’s Arc, an advance readers club for their most passionate fans. If you’d like to be among the very first to read brand-new titles from Joffe Books, then you can apply to join their  special Facebook group, and receive early copies of their books to read and review, vote on your favourite cover designs for forthcoming releases, and help Joffe reach even more readers.

Joffe run a tight ship aboard Joffe’s Arc, so please do make sure to answer all of the questions if you’re interested in joining.      YOU CAN APPLY TO JOIN JOFFE’S ARC HERE

Catch a Q&A with Joy Ellis.  #1 bestselling author Joy Ellis took part in a fascinating live Q&A event with Suffolk Libraries this week, and talked about her life, career, being taught creative writing by Sue Townsend, and her latest book, THE NIGHT THIEF.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A Q&A WITH BESTSELLING AUTHOR JOY ELLIS

And there we have it, a feast of delicious treats for you. Enjoy.

Nowadays we find exotic delicacies originating from the other side of the world in our local supermarket and don’t even give it a second thought. My parents could only dream of many of these foods, and yet the nutritional value of our diets appears to be getting worse, rather than better and the ubiquity and heavy marketing of processed foods is at least partially to blame. Many processed foods contain high quantities of fast-release sugars (even savoury foods), and this causes high spikes in the sugar levels in our blood which over time can lead or contribute to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and even cancer.

It is becoming more and more important that we return to healthier diets, eating ‘proper’ food which sustains us and gives us energy in the manner that nature intended, and one aspect of this is to reduce the speed of sugar release from our food into our blood stream. Glycaemic Load (GL) is a useful indicator of how quickly a food releases sugar into your blood – a low GL is under 10, and 20 and above is classed as high.

Lizi’s range of Super Muesli is a perfect example of good natural food. Lizi and husband Mick Shaw are passionate about wholesome food and they test the GL of all their products. For a single serving of their muesli, the GL is around 5, so good and low. Contrary to popular perception in this ‘low-fat’ world, some fats are essential for our well-being, and hence Lizi makes sure their muesli’s have plenty of nuts and seeds.

I have just sampled Lizi’s Focus Super Muesli and I can confirm that it is delicious – can something so tasty be so good for you? A resounding ‘Yes’. It majors on nuts and seeds, including hazelnut and pecan, and also contains maca – a Peruvian root which is said to boost energy. It contains zinc and B6 to help brain function too. This variety has no dried fruit, but others in the range do and are also yummy.

Lizi’s mueslis really are a great way to start not only the day, but your healthy new life. There’s a fabulous selection so you certainly won’t get bored. They come in convenient resealable packs and are available from Lizi’s website where (FANTASTIC NEWS) Focus and some other mueslis are currently on sale, reduced from £3.50 to £1.75 for 400g. You can also buy them through Ocado. So go for it, chomp your way guilt-free to health.

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q
http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

Tracklements Special Edition Soured Plum & Black Pettern Chutney really is gorgeous with a truly multi-layered taste.

Let me walk you through those layers: it starts off sweet, yet peppery, hot and tangy and finishes with notes of ginger and garlic.  Tracklements explain that is an ode to Umeboshi (a traditional Japanese pickle made of ripe Ume plums pickled in salt and dried in the sun) and  brings a unique burst of flavour to rice, grains and tofu; works as bit on the side for multiple curries and a rather tasty dipper for parathas and pakoras; goes fabulously with a flinty vintage cheddar and is perfect to take on, and enhance, the strong flavour of venison and duck.

I wanted to show you the chutney in its full glory on the spoon, shortly before it went on my plate. Quite delicious.

Back in 1970, William Tullberg made the first British wholegrain mustard. 50 years on William’s son, Guy, carries on his legacy. However, that one mustard has matured into eight varieties and over 40 award-winning chutneys,relishes and sauces.

A store cupboard hero for both celebrity chefs and home cooks, the range is still handmade in the green heart of Wiltshire, abiding to traditional recipes, with an underpinning principle to buy the best quality ingredients sourced locally wherever possible (which is what Frost Magazine likes to hear)  to ensure the products taste as good as, if not better than, homemade.  It does, it does. Just another little taste then…

Tracklements believe in business as a force for good, protecting the environment as they go. They’re committed to make the most planet-friendly condiments you can buy minimising their environmental footprint through using recyclable packaging, their own water treatment facility, and over 10,000 square feet of solar panels, which enables the company to generate 100% renewable electricity that is also fed into the national grid at weekends through green energy company Good Energy. And they don’t shy away from wonky veg either!

All very wonderful, isn’t it.

Tracklements Special Edition Soured Plum & Black Pepper Chutney, RRP £3.50 for 220g, is available from fine food delis and farm shops nationwide and online at www.tracklements.co.uk
www.tracklements.co.uk

@tracklements #tastytracklements #LifeandSoulofthePantry

As the world shows overwhelming solidarity with Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion of this country, the situation on the ground becomes increasingly dire. Over 1.2 million refugees have crossed  the Polish border, with hundreds of thousands more reaching Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and other European countries. While the response in Poland has been overwhelmingly positive and open to people seeking refuge from war, humanitarian help is needed from around the world. 

Kinoteka understands that every donation counts in such desperate times, and decided to answer this call by donating ALL of the festival proceeds to SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine emergency appeal. Each ticket purchased for the Polish film showcased at the Kinoteka will result in a direct donation to supporting children and their families in Ukraine.

This call has been met with immense support from our partner cinemas in London: ICA, the Prince Charles Museum, Riverside Studios, BFI Southbank and JW3.

The Price Charles Cinema director Gregory Lynn decided to match Kinoteka’s pledge and said: “We will donate all net receipts, Kinoteka’s and ours, to the charity supporting Ukrainian refugee children. Sounds like a good cause and we were already looking for a way to do something in support of Ukraine.”

SOS Children’s Villages provide urgent support to Ukraine: helping to evacuate children and families to safety, providing those still in Ukraine with food and other supplies so they can stay in lockdown and providing constant trauma support for staff, families and children whose lives have been thrown into chaos. The need for support is growing by the hour. Millions of people are expected to flee the war in the next weeks. As well as the children and families already cared for by SOS Children’s Villages prior to the invasion, large numbers are expected to need help as a direct result of the war.

Learn more about the charity here.

The Polish Cultural Institute in London is a proud organiser of the 20th Anniversary Kinoteka Polish Film Festival 2022, supported by the Polish Film Institute and IKH Productions. The Festival is opening on the 9th March and will last until 3rd April 2022. It will not only screen in some of London’s premier and most popular venues including the ICA, Prince Charles Cinema, Riverside Studios, JW3 and BFI Southbank but this year a select number of titles will play at Edinburgh Filmhouse cinema.

As always, Kinoteka brings an eclectic mix of films across all genres from drama, comedy, social issues and documentary through to classics and will showcase the very best that Polish cinema has to offer. In addition to screenings there will also be special events such as Q&As and panel discussions.

You can watch the official Festival trailer here,

Explore the full programme and book tickets online on Kinoteka website.

You can help  tireless Boyen  Help Ukrainians  too, HERE   –   Read on:

The world of Ballroom and Latin dancing is international, and tight-knit – people look out for each other. So perhaps I was not surprised to discover that Bartosz (Boyan) Bojanczyk – 3x Ballroom & Latin Vice-Champion of Poland and London-based dancing coach has temporarily hung up his dance shoes to ferry refugees out of Lviv, Ukraine into Poland.

Boyan has been posting videos (access the link:  videos ) when he can – sharing his experience in a war zone, usually whilst speeding far too fast through road blocks, or catching a few hours sleep in a refugee camp – if he is lucky, or else in his car. 

The emotion in Boyan’s voice tells a story in itself. He admits he was not prepared for the ‘conversations and pains he has witnessed’. As we watch his videos we are racing with him past impossibly long lines of cars, using his hazard warning lights to indicate he and his fellow volunteers are not queue-jumpers.

He has been driving back and forth all week, transporting a lucky few (if you can call having to leave everything and risk being shot lucky) from hell to sanctuary.

He tells of the lines of hundreds of people walking hour by hour along a major highway – normally reserved for cars, then a police control point, then a man in a horse and cart – bizarre juxtapositions of ‘normality’ with anything but.

He struggles to control his voice when he describes the piles of hand-luggage by the side of the road – the only remaining possessions of exhausted mothers, abandoned so they can use their last remaining energy just to carry their frightened, bewildered children.

He has been wearing the same clothes, socks and underwear for three days – he didn’t think he would be here this long – but how can he leave, when every trip he makes is salvation for mothers with children, and old people who simply can’t walk the 70km from Lviv to the border? He tells how each group of passengers visibly relax as they join the (5 hour) queue to cross the border into Poland.

Boyan buys desperately-needed medicines, dressings and antiseptics in Poland to take into Ukraine each time he goes back for more evacuees. But prices are high – really high – petrol in the area is now crazy expensive, and even one large Elastoplast costs £2 – because everyone is trying to buy them. Boyan is working tirelessly and he needs your help. There are many requests for your money I know, but I can vouch that money sent to Boyan via his Bartosz Boyanczyk JustGiving page will go directly towards driving refugees out of danger and providing essential medical supplies (just click  here. Or on the above link)

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q
http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.