The beer had a brown amberish color and there wasnt very much head. The taste was a little sweet and a bit bitter. It was a bit thicker and heavier than I anticipated. You could definitaly taste and feel the 7.2% alcohol. All in all I'd say that it wasn't a bad beer however there's nothing really exciting about it. I do appreaciate beers that are able to pull of a high alchohal percentage well, Duvel for example, but Elephant doesn't quite make it into this category.

Final Verdict

Taste: 6/10

Alcohol .72/10

There is a new drink that is marketed as a "synthetic blood beverage." This is fascinating: we buy water in bottles now, why not "blood"? It isn't blood, though, its a blood beverage. (Actually water is a blood beverage too. In fact, technically, all beverages might be able to be called "blood beverages" in that they are metabolized and contain fluid, but I don't want to spoil the party yet.) 

Anyway, the website for this stuff reveals vampire/vampyre type of sales pitch where the site asks you when you "turned" before letting you log in. 

The product is divided into 4 different "types" of  "blood" -- and visitors take a "quiz" to find out their "Type" which is divided into O, A, B, AB--the same as blood types, minus the positive and negative.

The quiz asks such riveting questions as "How often do you get the urge?" (for what?) and "What is your type?" with pictures of men and women in silhouette. At the end of the quiz it tells the participant what "Type" they are and what "types" they are compatible with. (Don't vampires like all types of blood? Do they discriminate? Do they have favorites?)

For example, the AB type is "The Cerebral Architect," who apparently prefers to mingle with "all the other types" while drinking a "synthetic blood nourishment beverage" that "boasts a succinct combination of sophistication and judiciousness." However, the B type is "The Cheerful Go Getter," who is "most affable" with type A's and drinks a beverage containing flavors that are "painstakingly imagined inducing an overall calmness."  Let me get this straight: a type A (vampire) is a "Cheerful Go Getter" that needs to have calmness induced. Perhaps they are--if they haven't had blood in awhile and they are on the prowl that would certainly kick in the "Go Getter" in any vampire.

But wait! There's more! They sell underpants!  (They are sold out now, as are the "onsie" for babies. Seriously.) But you can still find the Tru Blood Coffee Mug. (A coffee mug? For vampires to use whilst drinking their "synthetic blood beverage"?) Some people do think that coffee runs in their veins so it could be spun that way, but it still seems well, sort of...silly.

I think this is branding gone very very very wrong. Its also worth noting that the website never tells you what is in this drink--they just refer to it as a "synthetic blood beverage."

Trend: Besides the HBO show, there are probably there are some vampire/vampyre movies coming to the big screen near you. Be careful, they may need "calmness induced." Let's hope they are wearing their underpants.

In the Golden Ring north of Moscow, outside of Pereslavl-Zalessky where Alexander Nevsky was born, and near Lake Pleshcheyevo on which a young Peter the Great sailed his boats, is located the funky little Tea Kettle Museum. Consisting of only two small rooms, the Tea Kettle Museum houses not only utensils for making tea, but also a variety of other implements from older days when life for most Russians was passed inside of an izba. Curious visitors can pick up the various devices and ponder their uses. If after looking, turning, and offering this speculation and that, the visitor can only admit defeat , then a friendly Russian girl is there to offer a smile and an explanation.

I grew up in Texas. Tea meant Lipton tea bags and hot water. The resulting beverage was always served over ice. There were only two varieties of tea...sweet and un-sweet.

So, it was a surprise when Olga, the new and interesting young lady from a far away land, emerged from her room that first night with with a gift of unknown use. Like a visitor to the Tea Kettle museum, I had to ponder what exactly had been set before my wife and me. Fortunately, like the Tea Kettle museum, I had a friendly Russian girl to offer a smile and an explanation. The answer was that it was a samovar, the most civilized Russian method for making a cup of tea. A rich mixture of tea is brewed in a tea pot that is placed on top of the samovar to be kept warm. Water is heated inside the globe. To make a cup of tea, a measured amount of the tea mixture is poured from the tea pot into a tea cup, and then the cup is filled to the top with hot water.

But a samovar is neither the most practical nor the most economical way of making a cup of tea. Day to day, Olga brewed her tea in a tea pot and simply topped it off with water heated in a tea kettle. Despite being about as a traditional Russian as they come, Olga now brews her tea in a coffee press rather than a tea pot, and heats her water in an electric kettle rather a tea kettle. Modernity may be less quaint, but it is much more efficient.

Although all of our daughters have come from tea drinking cultures, some have preferred Starbucks coffee to tea. Besides Olga, Asya and Shadi have been our other big tea drinkers. Asya says the best tea is "camping tea" brewed on a outdoor fire on a chilly night. Shadi brewed what she call Arabic tea, finished with dried mint leaves and copious amounts of sugar. After a hard day, I could always count on one of Shadi's teas magically appearing for me to enjoy.

serves 12

3/4 cup of dark roast coffee beans

5-6 cardamon pods, available in Asian markets

4 1/2 cups water, to brew

1/2 cup-3/4 of a cup sweetened condensed milk

crushed ice

1 tablespoon sugar mixed with 2 finely ground cardamonn pod, optional

In a coffee grinder combine the coffee beans with the cardamon pods till finely ground.

Brew in a drip coffee maker as per manufacturer's instructions.

Transfer to a serving jug. Cool and then refriderate for 2 to 24 hours.

Devide the condensed milk between 12 cups. Top gently with the coffee, careful not to disturb the bottom milk layer.

Sprinkle on the cardamon sugar, serve . Stir prior to drinking.

According to culinaryfool.com:

Don't forget the Bite of Seattle is this weekend.  It runs Friday through Sunday and there is so much going on that you could actually spend all three days there and still have things you'd like to taste or do!
 
There are two great options for trying smaller bites this year: "The Alley", sponsored by Tom Douglas, not only gives you lots of small bites for under $10 but the money goes to Food Lifeline so your munching supports a good cause; Just a Bite is a new feature with five restaurants offering smaller bites for $3.75 or less. 
 
Whatever you choose to do, it looks like we're going to have a perfect weather weekend so get out and enjoy!  For all the details see the Bite of Seattle website.

The Alley referred to above is, "hosted by Tom Douglas is $9.50 per person, which includes a multi-course meal of tastes from a selection of the area's best restaurants.  Proceeds benefit Food Lifeline, the largest non-profit food distribution organization in Washington dedicated to hunger relief."

This Bastard reporter was angered at the stupidity of the makers of Coca~Cola.

The company, in its infinite wisdom, has crunched numbers and decided that because it did not bring in sales that match or exceed the last fiscal year’s amount, they will hereby raise the price of their Coke products after Labor Day.

Their thinking is that because sales were low and the public was purchasing less of their product, they will raise the price and this will make up for lost sales because the die hard Coke fans who are still purchasing will be paying more at the cash register.

Screw the little guy who can’t afford it unless it’s on sale now.  Guess you’ll just have to switch to iced tea!

However, there is one positive from this Coca~Cola catastrophe:

Dealers of the drug known as ‘Coke’ have decided to follow the soft drink company’s example and raise the street price of the narcotic.

This, according to one ‘Coke’ dealer I spoke with in an alleyway downtown, ‘is a good financial endeavor for all dealers in all states all across the nation.’

When I asked one of his customers, who just happened upon us at the time, what he thought of the price of ‘Coke’ going up after Labor Day, he responded as such:

“Well, I don’t really drink it.  But, I guess a lot of people will pissed off.  Oh, you mean this ‘Coke’?  Oh, I guess it’s ok.  I’ve been buying for like…ever…and the price has to go up sometime.  Doesn’t it?  Doesn’t everything?  At least it’s still cheaper to buy ‘Coke’ than to buy a tank of gas.  And it goes a lot farther, too.”

“Yeah,” said the dealer, “this Coca~Cola price gouging thing is the real ticket!  I love it!  If you need to make more money, just screw the customer.  At least that’s what a whore told me once!”

Then he laughed at his own joke.

I pretended to laugh, as not to anger him and get stabbed, thanked him for his time, turned down his offer of a two for one sale of his narcotics, thanked him very much for the offer, and left the alleyway quickly.

As I made my way down the sidewalk, one of the prostitutes who had overheard my interview told me this:

“Man, I sure as shit ain’t payin’ anymore for no damn Coke drink.  Shit costs too much as it is!

I’s just gonna have to pay what (the dealer) want for my ‘Coke’ though, ‘cause I can’t do wit out it!  Guess I’m a hafta raise my damn price again.  Charge them fuckers more to get up in my business.  Know what I’m sayin’?”

I told her I understood her completely, thanked her for her quote, and hurried down the sidewalk.

I would’ve listened to her a bit longer, but her two yellow teeth and five inch finger nails combined with her very tight clothes on her very large body, and hair that obviously hasn’t been washed in a month, began to make me very sick to my stomach.

All in all this Bastard reporter has proven that regardless of product, be it ‘Coke’ or ‘Coke’, upping the cost has an impact on the whole of society.

Raising the price out of greed is not the best option.  It would be better to lower the price and attract more business to achieve your financial goals.

Ingredients:
- 2 bottles of red wine (I like a nice Rioja, but anything red and robust will do)
- 6 oranges
- 4 lemons
- 4 limes
- 1/4 cup (or more to taste) raw cane sugar
- pinch of cinnamon (it's easy to over-do this, so take it easy)
- half dozen bay leaves
- 6-8 shots of Cointreau (that's the kick-ass part)

To assemble:
- Juice all the citrus but 2 oranges into a large pot.
- Thinly slice remaining oranges and throw in.
- Add all other ingredients.
- Stir and cover and (this is important) refrigerate 24 hours. Don't worry about the wine oxidizing, the flavours need to combine and meld into potent deliciousness.

Serve over ice and with a splash of seltzer, and, if you have some growing in the garden, a sprig of mint.

I've made this on a number of occasions, and never have I had any left over. The trick is, though, that there is usually a price to pay the next morning...  You are forewarned.

I've heard of adding ginseng to enery drinks, tea and pills, but who would imagine adding honey to ginseng. This tiny bottle contains an actualy ginseng root, water and honey. That's it (well I think there was a preservative in there too). When I saw this at the local Asian market I had to have it. No better way to experience the effect of ginseng than to drink.... ginseng. I opened to bottle and attempted to remove the root. There's just something strange with drinking a drink that has a huge ginsend root in it.

I wasn't too successful. The root broke at the end leaving a fair amount left in the drink. The drink tasted kind of funny. It kind of tasted like drinking grass (not like I know what that tastes like.......). There was a fair bit of sweetness to it but nothing strong. It really tasted like you would expect a purely herbal drink to taste like. Surprisingly I did feel different after drinking it. It wasn't a strong feeling, and it wasn't like I was pumped on caffeine but there was a definitely a different feeling. I want to explore it more and plan on purchasing another drink or two the next time I hit up my local Asian market.

Final Verdict:

Taste 4/10

Health Effect 6/10

Coolness 10/10

The first download is an introduction to the symposium by Jill Ardagh, the Director General of the British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA). Mark Rhodes is Director of Corporate Environment, Health & Safety at GlaxoSmithKline. His talk, entitled 'Adaptation or Extinction', is available to download in two parts.

Jonathon Porritt CBE is the Chairman of the Sustainable Development Commission, and is co-founder and Programme Director of Forum for the Future.

All BFJA podcasts can be downloaded at the following link.

I won't miss the extra two tablespoons. And my shirts and pants will stay drier and cleaner.

Thanks.

I have always thought there was a certain sex appeal to energy drinks, but perhaps that's due to those late night "Girls Gone Wild" commercials where, for some reason, everyone is holding a Rockstar... Either way I've always liked energy drinks because they're cold, they get you energized and, maybe now, "excited" too? The way the Peep One is marketed is genius. American energy drink companies should learn from Peep One. Check out the back.

I never knew that Taurine enhances internal organ functionality. I always pegged it for a cheap caffeine substitute. Why don't American energy drink companies mention this!? Screw water, this shit enhances the functionality of my internal organs. The only thing American energy drinks mention is how you shouldn't have more than three a day, and how pregnant mothers, young children and those sensitive to the effects of caffeine should avoid the drink altogether. That's not enticing at all, much less sexy. However, no matter how effectively Peep One sells it's product on the back of the can, nothing can beat their website. Here's an excerpt describing their product:

"The drink innovation peep one represents a novelty on the market. Otherwise, there is no equivalent drink neither in direction nor in product quality.

peep one is clearly differentiated from the traditional Energy drinks on account of his effect, contents cloths and the product statement.

It closes a gap at the market concerning the combination of eroticizing and beverage innovations stimulating at the same time. The stimulating effect is to be divined during the first odour test already. Odour is harmonious, combined without blemish tones and synthetic taste analogies with purely natural associations. Through the balanced game of acid and sweetness, the request for further pleasure grows up very fast."

I'm actually not sure what all that means but they had me at "combination of eroticizing and beverage innovations stimulating at the same time". The drink sounded amazing, now it was time to taste it. For fear of being seeing in public drinking an "adult beverage" while potentially pitching a tent I decided to perform my taste test alone in private, behind closed doors. The drink actually tasted really good. It wasn't tangy like most other energy drinks. It had a fruityish taste. It tasted fairly similar to the Tab energy drink. However, there was no sign of change to Vlad the Impaler. I was overcome with utter disappointment. I've been fooled! This is just a regular energy drink!!! It's not erotic at all!! Then it hit me, I had failed to abide by the warning posted on the Peep One website.

"One senses no effect of sexual stimulating, if there is nobody to divide it with."

So remember kids, drink Peep One responsibly. Make sure your partner is their.

Final Verdict:

Packaging: 6/10

(though the website makes me question whether this drink should be allowed to be sold in America)

Taste: 10/10

Sex Appeal: 8/10

From Bon Appetit

INGREDIENTS:

2/3 cup water
2/3 cup sugar
3 cups fresh raspberries, divided

2 cups fresh orange juice
2 cups pineapple juice
1 cup dark rum
1 cup light rum
1 orange, peeled, diced
1 cup diced peeled fresh pineapple
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
ice cubes

DIRECTIONS:

Bring water and sugar to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, cool syrup completely. Puree 2 cups raspberries in processor. Pour puree through finr strainer set over saucepan with syrup. Press on solids to extract as much liquid as possible; discard solids.

Mix orange juice, next 6 ingredients, 1 cup of berries and raspberry syrup in a bowl. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours and up to 1 day. Strain into pitcher. Server punch over ice.

Club-Mate

Originally uploaded by RobotSkirts

I didn't know what club-mate was until I started selling the shirts. It seems to have quite a mystical and potent folklore among the German hacker crowd. totally awesome. club-mate, one get's used to it. . .

do a little research, get a shirt, try the drink.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp mint leaf
• 1 tbsp loose black tea
• 32 oz water
• 1-2 tsp honey (optional)
• ice

Tools:

• kettle for boiling water
• tea pot
• enough jars for 1 quart of water
• a fine mesh strainer or other sieve

1. Boil the water. While the water is boiling, put the mint leaf and black tea in the tea pot.
2. Pour the water over the tea and cover. Let it steep for at least ten minutes. You want strong tea since it will be diluted with water.
3. If you want sweet tea, put about a teaspoon or so of honey in the bottom of your jar(s). The hot water will make it easier to dissolve the honey. When the tea has steeped, pour the tea slowly through the strainer and into the jar(s). If you added honey, be sure to give the tea a stir.
4. Put the lid on the jar(s) and stick it in the fridge for later. Serve over ice. If you want to drink it immediately, I recommend putting it in the fridge for a least a few minutes with the lid off the jar to let out some of the heat.

• rounded tsp. instant coffee into half mug of boiling water
• 7 large ice cubes
• 1/3 cup homemade, light, unsweetened soymilk or soymilk from an asian market
• 2 tsp. unsweetened cocoa
• 3-4 tsp. sugar, to taste

Blend, and enjoy.

Directions:
Combine all but whipped cream in container and mix. Pour into shot glasses and top with whipped cream. To drink this shot you MUST NOT use your hands. Put your hands behind your back, put your mouth around the rim of the shot glass and down it.

 Source

Lots of alcoholic drinks and recipes at this site (warning: recipe names are a little green)

Nutraceuticals to record robust growth

Nutraceuticals, including minerals, vitamins, herbal extracts and probiotics, will register strong gains as they expand their presence beyond traditional applications like breakfast cereals, bread and juices into a wide variety of other foods and beverages. Recent introductions include candy, soft drinks, desserts and snack foods fortified with vitamins and minerals, water containing vitamins and herbal extracts and a variety of foods containing probiotics. Not only does the incorporation of nutraceuticals provide a strong marketing advantage, but it also helps increase sales as consumers feel better about the products they purchase.

Grain mill, dairy products to fortify food additive gains

Grain mill products will present strong opportunities for growth, especially as the popularity of low-carb diets continues to wane. Fortified breakfast cereals have long been a mainstay of the industry, but other products -- such as dessert mixes and beverages -- are expected to become more substantial markets for nutraceutical additives. In addition, dog and cat foods will remain a major outlet for functional and nutritional additives. The dairy market for additives will also offer growth potential, as probiotic ingredients expand beyond their traditional application in yogurt products and alternative sweeteners such as polyols continue to expand their market presence.

Soft drinks slump; sports drinks, bottled water soar

Carbonated soft drinks have long been the largest market for beverage additives, and will remain so. However, a slumping soft drink market offers less upside for additive producers than faster growing segments of the beverage market. Sports drinks and energy drinks are expected to offer greater opportunity for growth, although they will remain much smaller than the traditional soft drink segment. Bottled water, more specifically flavored and enhanced waters, is expected to offer among the most stellar opportunities for growth. Although these products typically feature lower loadings of flavors, colors and sweeteners, flavored and enhanced waters constitute one of the fastest growing segments of the beverage market, as consumers seek a more healthful alternative to soft drinks.

Study coverage

Key information about the US food and beverage additive industry, the various product types and market segments which use them are found in Food & Beverage Additives.Historical data (1997, 2002, 2007) plus forecasts (2012, 2017) are provided in terms of dollar demand by product type and application. The study also assesses market share and profiles more than 30 industry players.

For more information kindly visit:
http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=72562

Cigar: Partagas Serie D No. 4 (4.8 x 50)

With a history dating back to 1845 on Cuba, Partagas is one of the oldest cigar brands in the business.  Manufactured in Cuba (if we disregard the post-revolutionary brand that co-exist) the No. 4 is a cigar described as one of the better robustos out there. The cigar is well built, sturdy without being too tight, with a wrapper of velvety quality despite some bumpiness and folds. The scent of the cigar hints of cream, leather and wood, with the leather being the dominant scent.

Lightning the cigar is done in an instant, in a manner of seconds I have a nice ember ring at the end of the cigar. The draw is light and perfect; I am struck by the draw and by the smooth sensation of the wrapper of the cigar in the corner of my mouth. At first the flavor is of cedar and leather together with spices (white pepper). Soon I notice a comfortable sweetness to the smoke and I wonder if it's not a hint of cherry in there. This fruitiness remains with the first third of the cigar together with a balanced flavor where none of the notes take precedence. At the end of this third of the cigar I notice a hint of hay and minerals.

Nearing half of the cigar the flavor moves into a territory marked by heavy leather and wood notes together with a somewhat "dry" smoke, although not uncomfortable. The smoke is still balanced, I think the aforementioned sweetness has this effect. Closing in on the final part of the cigar the smoke gets really creamy and I start to notice tones of spices, nuts and earth.

When half of the cigar is gone it goes out and this is a behavior that is repeated a number of times, which confirms my suspicion; maybe it was unwise to light up a newly arrived cigar. Damn my curiosity! This also means that the flavor of the cigar might be a bit on the undeveloped side. The cigar ashes is not a pretty sight due to the unpredictable nature of the ember, flaky and with tangible rings.

Rum: Clément Vieux VO (Martinique)

Clément Rhum Vieux is, like its neighbour J Bally, a rhum agricole from Martinique, more specifically, the distillery Simon (who it also shares with J Bally). The distillery was Acquired by M. Homère in 1887 and is today considered to belong to the very best rum from the island. Clément is made from sugarcane syrup distilled in column stills before it is placed in vats, each with a capacity of 34 000 liters. This is done to give the rum a greater contact with the air.

The rum is presented in a very sober bottle with straight, clean lines and elegant front. The drink is the medium brown in its color but also has elements of green and beige in itself. With my nose in the glass one perceive clear tones of grass/hay, citrus and chocolate in the aroma, while there is an element of burnt sugar and toasted barrel. After a while, you can also sense a slight hint of flowery notes in the aroma

The taste comes on with a softer note  than one is accustomed to with rum. It should come as no surprise that it is reminiscent of the J Bally rum (see above). Present in the flavor is chocolate together with grass/hay and barrel. There is a tone in the background that is difficult to put my finger on, but it is defined on Systembolaget's web page as "liquorice" and I tend to agree. Not too bold, but enough for one to recognize the salt/sweet tone of the aniseed.

Together with the cigar, it is a mixed bag; the rum marries quite nicely with the mineral tone of the cigar, but at the same time it clashes with the leather and wood tone. But, as I noted above, I think there may be reasons to come back to this combination later on.

Cilantro was on sale so I bought a bagful.  If I was to pass up on-sale cilantro and Jesse was to find out, I may be shunned for life.  The cilantro went onto the noodle bowls, some black-bean tacos, and then I decided to try making lime-cilantro rice.  That was a lot of cooking.  I was done.  Beat.  Ready to relax and dial Pizza Hut next time I got hungry.  Then I remembered that there is a Monday-night work function and I signed up to make pasta salad. 

Crap.

So I made my pasta salad.  That was more boiling and chopping and stirring.  Finally...could I be done cooking now?  All that cooking made me really thirsty.  Luckily my trusty red cup was there for me.

I don't make it a habit to love material goods but I have to tell you, I love my red cup.  It's not a cup at all, but is a glass, and I only use it for water and the occasionally homemade cherry Pepsi.   I got this cup at Target a couple of years ago.  It used to have a twin, but she broke in the dishwasher. 

I took a picture of my red cup because I love it so much.  I will be sad when this one goes.  It could meet a variety of fates:

• Dishwasher crackage
• Children "helpers"
• Kitchen accident
• Theft from someone who saw the cup on this blog, and decided they wanted it too

No matter what the cup's fate is, I will enjoy it while it is here to hold my tasty beverages.  It's made out of real glass.  I love that.  Those plastic or melamine crap cups always taste like chemical after a while.  This is okay if your taking shots of Tequila with them, but not water.  Water picks up the chemical taste.  So l love to find real glass glasses, which is getting difficult if you like colors other than "clear."

Sometimes I go to the Goodwill or the Salvation Army to peruse their selection of glasses.  (If you like funky dishes/glasses, those are AWESOME places to shop.  I love, love, love mismatched EVERYTHING.)  I scored at the Goodwill a couple of years ago when I found the coolest brown/yellow tinted drink glasses and a great big brown bowl.  I never get to use the bowl, because my husband monopolizes it.  He likes it too.

And that is the story of my red cup. 

Then 1984 came. With all of my dance experience and participation in high school drill team, I was selected to be a part of the Olympic drill team for the opening ceremonies. That was one of the most memorable times in my life indeed—but prefaced with early-morning to late-night rehearsals—and yes, the force feeding of Gatorade.
 
Fast forward 24 years, with another summer Olympics just a couple of months away, and what I've realized is what a loyal patron I've become of what has turned out to be a refreshing beverage—all thanks to my high school years, dancing to "One, singular sensation ..." on the field of the L.A. Coliseum.
 
Today, while I keep no aggressive training schedule as a dancer, Gatorade has been with me through the best of times, and the worst. An acquired taste, the beverage started coming in a variety of flavors from cherry to orange to grape—the latter, which is my favorite. It's helped me through hangovers, been a companion to beef jerky while on road trips, and the adequate replacement of electrolytes when I was a gym fiend in my 20s. Now, it's become as a staple a beverage for me as iced tea.
 
With a brilliant marketing scheme, the company has packaged the product to include a performance series, propel water and its classic thirst quencher. Now, the company is expanding its audience by poking fun at the "work hard, play hard" concept through its partnership with Pepsi—and its new, low-calorie product, G2. In other words, this brand of Gatorade isn't just for sweaty athletes anymore. And Gatorade knows it, and its patrons love it.
 
It's G2 Lounge, features D Wade, Adam Sandler and Mia Hamm— not drowning in perspiration--but sassed up club style, while bragging on the beverage as if they were holding a can of Rockstar. The commercials are entertaining and very much speak to the new— or shall I say, maturing— generation of Gatorade drinkers. Good on them.