SOUND BITES

I SAID NO, NO, NOGRONI

Best news ever for those abstaining this summer – the NOgroni is about to be unleashed. Seedlip (of non-alcoholic spirits fame) is doing a limited edition, alcohol-free take on the classic Negroni cocktail. Ready mixed, it’s made from just the right mix of Seedlip Spice 94, and from sister company Æcorn Bitter and Æcorn Aromatic. Pour over ice and garnish with an orange twist, the NOgroni is vegan, calorie and sugar free. We can but hope it becomes a regular offering. $34.99 for 200ml from cookandnelson.com

F O O D & D R I N K N E W S

All the ingredients for kitchen and entertaining success

Express yourself

KENWOOD’S MULTIPRO EXPRESS WEIGH+ FOOD PROCESSOR IS A BIT OF AN ALL-ROUNDER. IT COMES WITH INTEGRATED DIGITAL WEIGHING AND DICING CAPABILITIES, A METAL WHISK, DOUGH TOOL AND CITRUS JUICER. THIS WILL DO ALL THE GRUNT WORK THIS FESTIVE SEASON. $499. KENWOOD.COM

GET FIGGY WITH IT

Cheese with fruit paste on a cracker – it’s a time-honoured way to get drinks under way. Rutherford & Meyers’ latest fruit paste offering Fig & Orange is a brilliant combination to elevate the experience. It works particularly well with a soft goat’s cheese. $6.99. rutherfordandmeyer.co.nz

TEA TOTAL

Dilmah’s new Arana range of natural tea is inspired by Ayurveda, India’s ancient holistic practice of harmonising mind, body and spirit. The spices, roots and herbs in these teas have been hand-picked by Auyrvedic specialists for everyone to enjoy the blends as part of a balanced lifestyle. $3.79. dilmah.co.nz

Te Pa Chardonnay 2020, $20.99, Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2021, $14.99, and Lindauer Special Reserve Rosé, $16.99.

SIMPLY ONE OF (THE 50) BEST

The wine judges have come up with another list of 50 stellar wines in the 2021 New World Wine Awards. The criteria: each wine has to be under $25. You ’ll be able to spot them all from the gold, silver and bronze medals in-store but here’s a glimpse of a few champions that will go down well this summer. newworld.co.nz

MAKES SENSE

Commonsense Organics opened their first shop in Wellington in 1991 and are celebrating 30 years in the health food business. To mark the occasion they ’ ve done a couple of collabs: Commonsense x Six Barrel Soda Strawberry Ginger Soda Syrup, $16.50 – the berries come from the Commonsense farm; and Commonsense x Wellington Chocolate Factory Birthday Bar, $9.99, with hints of marmalade and citrus. commonsenseorganics.co.nz

TAKE A TONIC

GIN AFICIONADOS ARE FUSSY ABOUT THEIR TONIC. LOCAL ENTRANT ALCHEMY & TONIC CAUSED A SPLASH LAST YEAR WITH ITS DEBUT, WITH FLAVOURS SUCH AS GRAPEFRUIT & THYME TONIC WATER. NOW, THERE’S RHUBARB & SMASHED MANDARIN – SO GOOD, YOU’LL HAPPILY DRINK IT ON ITS OWN. FROM $8.99 (4 X 250ML). ALCHEMYANDTONIC.COM

CLEAN-UP JOB

Totally sold on these Eco Turtles tabs that are decanted into a reusable spray bottle so there’s minimal packaging waste. The Degreaser is an absolute wizard around the hobs, but there’s also a bathroom, floor and multipurpose cleaner as well as a sanitiser. $5.99 for the spray bottle, and each of the Eco Turtle tablets. ecoturtles.co.nz

GO NUTS

These Nom Double Dipped Almonds are Nom by name, nom by nature. The Creamy Mocha has a kick of espresso; Raspberry Tang’s milk chocolate encased almond is dipped in white chocolate, then dusted with raspberry; and Caramel Love is smothered in caramel chocolate. Protein at its most decadent. $6.99. nomnz.co.nz

The collectors

NEW WORLD’S SUMMER PROMOTION IS BACK! FROM NOW UNTIL JANUARY 2 3, FOR EVERY $20 YOU SPEND ON QUALIFYING PRODUCTS, YOU’LL RECEIVE A STICKER. COLLECT ENOUGH AND YOU CAN REDEEM THEM FOR SOME KITCHENAID WARES – THE COCOTTE IS 20 STICKERS. THERE ARE THREE STONEWARE PIECES AND TWO CAST IRON OPTIONS. NEWWORLD.CO.NZ

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At your service

Pull out all the stops for a festive table

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1 Studio serving bowl, $54.95, from Freedom. 2 Vienna platter, $35, from French Country. 3 Menu Norm brushed brass grinder set, $285, from The Urban Studio. 4 Sparkling wine glasses, $120 (set of four), from Le Creuset. 5 Stardust platter, $44.99, from Adairs. 6 Wonderland plate, $3.50, from The Warehouse. 7 Micro tablecloth, $64.95, from Freedom. 8 Fazeek vice versa carafe, $169, from Paper Plane. 9 Cooper & Co trifle bowl, $27, from Spotlight. 10 Fusion martini glasses, $44.95 (set of four), from Freedom. 11 Salt & pepper pincho oval plate, $99.99, from Farmers. 12 Steelite craft pourer, $39, from The Urban Studio. 13 Vitro wine glasses, $25 each, from Father Rabbit.

Take a moment

Self-care is as simple as sipping a cup of Dilmah’s Arana blend, inspired by ancient Ayurvedic traditions

Living in today ’s fast-paced world can be complex. Often we are pulled in many different directions as we face daily demands and pressures. Maintaining our health and wellbeing is critical, however, all too often it can be the last aspect that gets our attention.

The world of wellbeing can be overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that often the simplest ideas are the most effective – it’s about making easy changes to your day-to-day routine.

Arana by Dilmah, the experts in tea, is a revolution in simple self-care. The antioxidant benefits of tea are well known, but Dilmah’s

Arana, which means “forest” in Sinhala, an official language of Sri Lanka, takes that principle to a whole new level, inspired by

Ayurvedic traditions that are almost 3000 years old to create an exciting evolution of herbal tea.

Ayurveda, pronounced “ ai-uh-vah-dah” , is the knowledge of life and longevity that originated in ancient India. It works on the principle of health from the inside and celebrates keeping things as close to the natural source as possible to create positive reactions within the body.

Ayurveda, a traditional form of medicine, is all about balance. The philosophy works with the body ’s natural cycles and provides a holistic approach to wellbeing in key areas such as detox and digestion. Dilmah’s plant-based Arana collection has been carefully created under the guidance of Ayurvedic physicians and specialists, with authentic and ethical purpose, to produce expert-blended teas that are rich with natural goodness to help support the essential pillars of health. Your self-care can be as simple as taking a moment out of your day to sit and enjoy a cup of Arana infusions. In four minutes you can brew a caffeine-free wellbeing tea that has been thousands of years in the making.

Digestive

Having an effective digestive system is essential for maintaining good health. Using a naturally caffeine-free base of red rooibos tea, which is low in tannins and rich in antioxidants, Arana Digestive combines lemongrass, coriander, curry leaves and cinnamon to help support your body ’s natural digestive function.

A blend like this might gently stoke your digestive fire so your body is able to absorb and utilise nutrients better. Lemongrass can soothe the stomach lining, while cinnamon may have a stimulating effect on gastric juices and stomach acids. According to Ayurvedic principles, curry leaf is said to have digestive enzymes to aid your digestion and coriander is known for helping with indigestion. A gentle brew with a mild spice finish, this infusion can be enjoyed morning and night.

Detox

Ayurveda believes detox is important for building strong immunity and a healthy metabolic system. This blend uses honeybush tea to create a naturally sweet brew with a honey-like taste and aroma. It is naturally caffeine-free and milder than both black and green tea, and contains essential minerals like potassium and magnesium, as well as vitamin C. The tea is combined with holy basil, which is said to help optimise liver and kidney function, alongside Indian sarsaparilla, which can help stimulate detoxification within your body and aid fluid retention. It’s a warm and comforting medium-strength beverage that can be taken throughout the day.