With winter just around the corner, and dark mornings becoming a new norm, it can be a little bit difficult to jump out of bed in the morning. Editor Ellen Pope rounds up her five favourite morning tipples to make the alarm call a little sweeter.
T2 Tea Cold Brew
We've all been known to slip a little when it comes to keeping fully hydrated. The thought of sipping on still water throughout the day, especially in mid-winter, seems like an idea we can nudge down our to-do list.
Designed to offer a wealth of natural, fruity flavours, Cold Brews are tisanes that infuse instantly into cold water, providing a ready-to-go iced tea and healthy solution to all-day hydration. They are sustainably sourced, caffeine-free and full of natural ingredients that you can feel good about.
Offered in Mango Mint, Citrus Zing and Peach Berry flavours, T2's Cold Brews are as easy as placing a teabag into 500 ml of cold water and taking it on your daily journey. For best results, let steep for 5-10 minutes before drinking.
A tea bag has become part of my morning ritual to ensure I am fully hydrated throughout the winter months.
Babingtons Madame Blue Lady Green Tea
Babingtons claim to be "sommeliers of tea who delight in tickling tastebuds" - and I can't disagree.
When it comes to green tea, most of the time I have found it unpalatable. And so I have found introducing it into my daily drinking regime more of a chore than a pleasure; this is until Babingtons Madame Blue Lady Green Tea landed on my desk.
A sweet and scented blend of green tea with strong floral notes of cherry blossom and hints of tropical fruits, this mouth-watering, all-natural blend of Chinese Sencha green tea has a rich, floral cherry blossom note blended in with hints of soft tropical fruit. The blue cornflowers, calendula petals, mango, pineapple and safflower treat you to an explosive and flavourful drink.
This is my go-to green tea.
Babingtons Green Tea, and the full range of teas including, black tea, scented tea, and herbal teas come in a range of Pyramids (x 18) from £6.99 Pouches (Loose leaf) from £7.99 and
Caddies from £11.99 (perfect Christmas gifts).
Benefit Juice
Post pandemic, we've all grown a little bit more interested in our immune system, and how to boost it. Benefit Juices provide 50% of your reference daily intake of 12 key vitamins and have relaunched its juice brand with a focus on products that support the immune system, aid gut health and provide an easy vitamin boost in every glass to form part of the daily routine.
There are four delicious juices to choose from in the Benefit range: Cleanse Prune Juice, Vitality Beetroot & Apple Juice and Enrich Carrot, Orange & Turmeric; providing a selection of delicious and functional juices that can be enjoyed daily. Also available is the Not From Concentrate Prune Juice.
Alongside vitamin enrichment, Benefit Juices also provide other intrinsic benefits. Prune juice is excellent for digestive transit, beetroot juice is good for blood pressure, whilst carrot juice takes traditional orange juice to a whole new level.
All three products in the Benefit Juice range are available in Waitrose, RRP £2.80 a litre. Benefit Prune Juice is available from Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Tesco.
The Pickle House Spiced Tomato Mix
No home should be without ingredients to make an emergency Bloody Mary. Enter, The Pickle House.
The Pickle House Spiced Tomato Mix is an award-winning blend of tomato juice, their Original Pickle Juice and a generous oomph of spice. Serve over ice for a Virgin Mary, with vodka for a seriously good Bloody Mary, with gin for a Red Snapper or topped with a light lager for a Michelada (we're not condoning all of these for breakfast, but if needs must).
Produced and hand bottled on the family farm in Suffolk, our Spiced Tomato Mix contains only natural ingredients, is suitable for vegans, and has a 12-month shelf life
Spiced Tomato Mix 6x750ml
Coldpress Juices & Smoothies
Some people love 'em, some not so much; one thing is for sure, the smoothie and juice market has had a rollercoaster few years. But for 2022, the smoothie and juice are back. And if you are going to fill your fridge with flavourful drinks, then you might as well add some vitamins to the mix.
With Coldpress, you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to their range. Their juices, smoothies and single orchard juices come in flavours including Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, Mango Passionfruit, Survive & Thrive (including apples, banana, kiwi, grapes, and lots of the greenstuff) and Pineapple Banana Coconut (OUR FAVE!)
Coldpress, the UK’s original HPP (high pressure processed) cold-pressed juice and smoothie provider has been invited to introduce 3 of its fortified with essential vitamins smoothies, the only orange juice with added vitamins and ‘hero’ juice (Pink Lady) to Asda’s trailblazing Health Bay. So grab 'em now.
Grab from ASDA from November.
[Items in this article may have been gifted to Chatting Food. No financial payment has been made to feature in this article, and entries to the feature are made independently by members of the Editorial Team. This page contains affiliate links and we may receive a small commission for purchases]
Chatting Food Contributor: Ellen Pope
Self-confessed potty mouth, mother of pooch and eater of 99.9% of food (don't bring me marzipan and tell me it is food). Ellen is the founder and Editor of Chatting Food Magazine and on a one-woman mission to talk food to everyone. Usually found tweeting, eating, sleeping, repeating.
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Email: ellen@chattingfood.com