Author : Paul Gerst

Tea drinkers looking for a change from the ordinary should make sure to try Kusmi Tea P M Kousmichoff &amp Sons, or Kusmi, dates to 1867 in St Petersburg, Russia It is the only ancient tea firm still making the original Russian blends of the last century

Kusmi teas still come in the original pre Bolshevik Russian Revolution packaging and are available as bags or loose All products come in English and French packaging Kusmi offers 3 categories of teas: Russian blends, flavored and green

Russian blends add hints of natural scents to black tea Fans of English or Irish Breakfast may want to start with Kusmi Russian Morning to help start the day Then, try Russian Evening, low in caffeine and perfect for relaxing just before bed

Among the most popular Russian blends are Kusmi Anastasia as well as Prince Vladimir Kusmi Anastasia includes orange, lemon and lime while Prince Vladimir is scented with vanilla, grapefruit, cinnamon and cloves

A unique Russian blend is Kusmi Bouquet of Flowers, which is scented with 8 different aromas Kusmi Samovar is lightly smoky while Troika is scented with citrus Kusmi Petrushka is flavored with cardamom, cloves, almonds and rose St Petersburg is scented with citrus, red fruits, vanilla and caramel Kusmi Zoubrovka is flavored with buffalo grass, which imparts a vanilla scent

The second category are black teas flavored with natural ingredients Kusmi Earl Grey is a Russian twist on an English favorite Adventurous drinkers may want to try Earl Grey Smoky

For dessert, try Kusmi Chocolate, Chocolate Mint or Spicy Chocolate teas Kusmi also offers Kashmir Tchai, a traditional chai Kashmir Tchai is based on a traditional Nepalese recipe and is a blend of black tea and spices, including cardamom, ginger, laurel, cinnamon, anis seed and cloves

If you want green tea, Kusmi offers 3 varieties All Kusmi green teas come from China Kusmi Gunpowder Green offers leaves rolled into tight little pellets For a flavored green tea, try Green with Spearmint which includes Nana mint from Morocco or Green Bouquet which includes natural essences of bergamot, citrus and flowers

The teas can be sweetened with sugar or honey Milk can be added at your preference Recommended steeping time is 3 to 5 minutes

Pavel Michailovitch Kousmichoff (1840 1908) was the eldest son of a humble Russian peasant family At age 14, he was taken on as a delivery boy in a tea store Here, he learned the tea trade and the secrets of Russian blends When Pavel got married, his boss gave him a small shop as a wedding present, which started the P M Kousmichoff tea firm in 1867

Kusmi prospered and expanded to ten shops by 1901 In 1917, the company had over 50 shops in all the major Russian cities, such as Kiev, Moscow, St Petersburg When the Russian Revolution began the company moved to London and eventually Paris, where the offices are still found Today, all Kusmi teas are produced in France

In a world of English tea, Kusmi Teas are unique

Paul Gerst is the founder of http://teadog.com, an Internet tea retailer. http://teadog.com offers the full selection of Kumsi Tea. In addition to Russian tea, http://teadog.com offers English Tea, Irish Tea, Earl Grey Tea and more. You can visit the store at http://www.teadog.com.

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Author : Paul Fitzgerald

Gold, the chemical element with symbol Au The metal that has been used for money, a store value, jewelry, sculpture and ornamentation Simply put, Gold is the most sought-after precious metal of the past, and gold is still the most sought-after precious metal today and will be in the future

Gold has even been included in dentistry and electronics where gold is used for resisting to oxidative corrosion Gold is also a transition metal and can form univalent and trivalent cations upon solvation It is also the basis of the gold refining technique known as ” inquartation and parting” because gold is insoluble in nitric acid which can dissolve silver and other base metals As a concept and as an element has permeated its way to culture and lifestyle In fact, it has its own version in almost everything; from comic books to raw organic superfood

In comics and films, Gold becomes a superhero There is the DC comic book superhero named Booster Gold Booster Gold was created by Dan Jurgens and first appeared in Booster Gold # 1 Booster Gold has been a member of the Justice league and part of the DC Comics’ all-star team of superheroes Booster Gold has no superhuman abilities but has a power suit that gives him super strength and wrist blasters He is also an excellent athlete and a strong willpower Of course his power suit is mostly colored in gold with the other parts colored in blue

Another superhero that dons the color gold is the superhero from India that is known as Drona With Drona, his whole costume is bathed in gold Drona is an Indian Superhero film that starred Abhishek Bachyan and has been described as a Harry Potter meets Prince Of Persia movie that has an original story

But why dwell on golden superheroes and forever revel in their greatness when you can become the super version of yourself? “How,” you ask, “can that be possible?”

Eat gold Make gold a part of your diet

There is the raw organic superfood called Colloidal Gold This raw organic superfood is really made up of 99 995 pure gold that has been suspended in pure distilled revitalized water and has unique properties that is recognized as super-nutrient important for its broad spectrum support for a healthy high-performance body, mind and mood

As a supplement, Colloidal Gold has a lot of benefits It can give a sense of energized yet calm Zen like awareness, mood support in time of winter blues, support in relief of cravings and addiction and then give us a deeper rejuvenating sleep with greater dream recall Then Colloidal Gold can also increase our sense of optimism and motivation, our over all sense of well-being, our focus, concentration and memory It can also increase our creativity, imagination, mental clarity and acuity

Now, all these benefits from this superfood is enough to warrant you superhero status If you were to ask me, being a superhero in the 21st century means getting through a hectic day with my energy and concentration still at their optimum level Surviving stress, overcoming disease, and having enough energy to spend time with my loved ones at the end of the day makes me the superhero I want to be

Gold, is still the most sought-after precious metals of the past, today and in the future; and not just in medicine, electronics or comics Now, gold, through Colloidal Gold, can also be taken as a supplement, as raw organic superfood Now who would have thought that gold cannot only make us rich but it can also make us rich in health?

Come learn about the greatest selection of Superfoods on The Planet. Please visit our site at Superfood living and learn about Raw Chocolate CocaoNoni, Goji Berries, Maca, Phytoplankton,
Sacred Chocolate, and more….

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Author : Christine OKelly

Food photography is a huge undertaking that is never valued and respected to the level that it truly deserves Photographing food and products with the highest level of quality requires several knowledgeable people working together An expert food stylist and chef work together with the food photographer to create a work of art made specifically to market the product

Food photography is a necessary component in marketing campaigns for any company that deals with food and beverages In fact, restaurants that utilize photographs in their menus will sell more food than those who use only food titles and written descriptions This is the main reason marketing and advertising companies use food in their campaigns today Simply photographing food and products will not work unless viewers find them particularly tempting To ensure effective food photography that entices a craving from viewers, follow these simple tips and tricks:

Tricks Of The Trade

There is more to photographing food and products than simply dishing up a nice meal, setting it on a tablecloth, and taking a picture The advertising will not lure in customers if the edible focal point does not look like the tastiest thing they have ever seen For example, if you require a photograph of a vegetable such as a tomato, the food stylist might only use two out of an entire case Substances such as glycerin can be added to lettuce or a tomato to make the vegetables appear to be fresh, cold, and moist When working with a steak in food photography, for instance, the chef is instructed by the food stylist to prepare several at once so that only the best ones are used in the photos To make perfect grill marks on the steak, a wire is used with a propane torch

Using Props

The use of props is vital for successful food photography When photographing food and products, a stylist will often choose several items to compliment the main object A photo of ice cream in a plain bowl will get the point across, but adding props such as nuts, chocolate sauce, fresh whipped cream, and a plate of cherries will tantalize the viewer Every detail of the photo shoot is decided on between the photographer and food stylist before anything else can occur

Lighting

When photographing food and products, the use of lighting to create a certain feel can have a major impact on the pictures In food photography, substitutes are often used when setting up the lighting to keep the actual food as fresh as possible In addition, some lighting is specifically designed to enhance the texture of a food to make it look more appetizing

Have Perfect Timing

Timing is everything when it comes to effective food photography For most successful food photographers, on-site photo shoots are preferred over studio sessions simply because it allows the pictures to be taken with the freshest food possible The photographer and stylist will use substitutes to perfect the setting and lighting while the chef is preparing the actual food that will be used in the shoot This way, rather than being dried out from the heat of the lights, the food will be fresh and juicy For food photography involving fresh fruit, the food stylist will cut it during the last seconds before a shoot and then apply ice or glycerin to give the freshness an extra boost for the picture

There is more involved in food photography than simply cooking and taking a photograph; it requires the knowledge of a team consisting of a food stylist and chef along with an expert photographer When looking for a team to produce high-quality advertising materials, choose one that is skilled in the art of photographing food and products

Christine O’Kelly is an author for Earl Kogler, a professional commercial photographer with clients that include architectural photography, hotels, and many other people and businesses. With more than 25-years experience, Earl Kogler’s delectable and award-winning food photography creations sell.

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Author : Scott Meyers

There are many herbs and spices that are beneficial to keeping the body functioning at its absolute best In order to remain as healthy as possible, you should consume as many herbs and spices as possible every day

Turmeric is a spice that not everyone is familiar with Turmeric is a yellow spice that is most often to be found in mustards manufactured in the United States Turmeric is also a staple of many Indian dishes Turmeric is a healthy spice that has anti-inflammatory properties, and also works as an antioxidant These properties help turmeric to prevent the development of cancer Turmeric goes to work to help get rid of the many symptoms that can accompany arthritis, as well as tendonitis, autoimmune disorders and a selection of other disorders that involve any degree of inflammation such as swelling in muscles or joints

Fresh or dried peppermint is especially beneficial for a number of stomach ailments from heartburn to indigestion to nausea Peppermint is very soothing to the stomach and entire digestive tract Studies have shown that it is able to help rid sufferers or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) of many of their symptoms Peppermint has been shown to be effective in slowing the growth of many types of bacteria and fungi and it is effective as well for those who suffer from respiratory problems, such as asthma and allergies Peppermint can be brewed as a tea or it can be purchased in pill form Individuals who suffer on a regular basis from upset stomach or nausea would benefit from the consumption of peppermint in one form or another

Cayenne pepper, also known as chili pepper, red pepper or paprika is a fiery type of pepper that is used to help several organs Pepper has been found beneficial in moderating many types of stomach ailments, such as stomach aches related to any number of causes, gas and many different types of heart problems Cayenne pepper is effective at lowering cholesterol and it improves the circulation of blood and is believed to be beneficial in preventing circulatory disease Cayenne pepper decreases the possibility that the blood will clot, which can help to prevent deadly blood clots forming, especially after surgery Cayenne pepper is also beneficial when a person is suffering from a toothache

The advantages of cayenne pepper do not end there Cayenne pepper has been shown through research studies to be effective at alleviating migraine headaches For migraine sufferers the cayenne cream is applied directly to the inside of the nose Be aware that if you do this you should apply a very small quantity and some people’s noses are too sensitive for cayenne Cayenne pepper can help to improve blood circulation It can also be applied to the skin topically as a way to alleviate pain connected with rheumatoid arthritis

The active ingredient in cayenne pepper is capsaicin and this ingredient has found to be effective for those suffering from Fibromylagia As a cream cayenne can be applied to painful muscles and joints but be aware that sometimes cayenne cream causes a burning sensation on the skin and if it gets into the eyes it can cause some pain

Scott Meyers is a staff writer for Its Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Food Cures.

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Author : Mary Anne Durkee

The Dosa, the South Indian delicacy is an integral part of the Indian cuisine The Dosa is a delicious pancake made with rice and pulses and in some cases has a tasty stuffing too

With the several variations that are possible, the dosa is a power packed healthy breakfast or snack idea for all ages Starting the day right, meaning, with the right nutrition is very important, the dosa lets you do just this A great way to taste and health, the delicious dosa

The dosa is light on the stomach and is great for a good nutritious breakfast, a snack or even dinner It is a rich source of proteins and carbohydrates The plain dosa is made with rice and white lentil or the urad dal as it is known in the Indian cuisine The rice and lentils are soaked for approximately 12 hours and then washed thoroughly The ingredients are then made into a fine paste using water in the grinder

Some of the traditional South Indian homes where dosa is part of the everyday menu use grinders specifically meant for the purpose They then grind the batter in a large quantity to meet the entire week’s requirements Today there are even modern manageable versions of the huge grinders available These table top grinders are both lighter and more easily manageable as compared to their heavyweight counterparts

Coming back to preparing the dosa batter, the ingredients are made into a fine paste and adding salt left to ferment Once fermented you can enjoy delicious dosa that are crisp, yummy and also healthy You could also make dosas without fermenting the batter, they turn out delicious too

There are several variations possible with the dosa With a tasty potato stuffing you can turn the plain dosa into a masala dosa Then there are the rava dosa, the healthy raagi dosa, adai ( which combines a variety of lentils with rice, a highly nutritious dosa full of proteins) and you can have a hundred more with a little creativity and experimenting with the stuffing

The dosa is served with a variety of accompaniments like the chutney and sambar Today most supermarkets and food stores stock readymade dosa and idli batter and so for a working couple or with anyone with very little time on hand too, making a dosa is possible with ease

The dosa is a nutritious breakfast You need to start your day right A good breakfast that is both filling and nutritious can do you a lot of good Seeing you through the day with ease A good breakfast ensures that you are active and alert both mentally and physically

Mary-Anne is a featured member and regular contributor at ifood.tv, a global food network, featuring recipes from all over the world. Other popular healthy recipes videos on ifood.tv include Leftover chicken Recipes, Pasta Salad recipes and Tilapia Recipes

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Author : Gregg Hall

If you are like me you are probably searching aimlessly every holiday season for just the right gift for relatives, friends, and co-workers If you would like to give someone something that is a little more personal as opposed to just a gift certificate then give edible gifts or gift baskets I hardly know anyone who doesn’t love chocolate and there are diverse choices of chocolate gifts available from inexpensive to luxurious imported French chocolate

Boxed chocolates are some of the most popular of all chocolate gifts because they have so many different types of chocolate in them Another reason these are so popular is because they can be shared with other people if the recipient so desires

If the person you are giving to is on any kind of restricted diet you will also be able to find gifts that will meet their needs You can find them in low sugar and no sugar as well as dairy free Boxed chocolates are especially good when you don’t know exactly what people like You can also find them in a great variety of prices

Chocolate covered fruits or nuts are a good choice for a more sensual gift for someone special If this is someone that you know well then you probably know their favorite fruits or nuts and you can be sure to have them in the gift you pick Chocolate covered strawberries are a widely loved favorite especially when you deliver them in a nice romantic box

Chocolate covered espresso beans make a great gift for coffee lovers and you can find a wide assortment of gifts that coffee lovers will love, even some with a coffee liquor center In addition to traditional gift shops you can also try local coffee shops

You can also go with a personalized chocolate gift if you have enough time to get it done There are many vendors that will imprint names, holidays, anniversaries and more right onto a chocolate bar You can also find candies that are molded into many different shapes so you can come up with a mixed assortment of your own creation

For the true chocolate lover or if you are looking for a really upscale present to give someone special you can always go with a gift basket These baskets can incorporate a diversity of chocolates featuring anything from regular candies to fondue, mousses and more One other great thing about baskets is that you can also make your own if you are on a limited budget This is cool because you are able to totally customize a basket to the person you are giving it to and it makes the gift that much more fun and meaningful

Gregg Hall is an author living with his 18 year old son in Jensen Beach, Florida. Find more about chocolate as well as chocolate gift baskets at http://www.frenchchocolatedelivery.com

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Author : Shaun Parker

Life before ice machines meant warm Gin and Tonics, tepid water and a considerably greater chance of food poisoning The ice machine was a natural evolutionary step in mechanical engineering which has its routes in the experimentation of artificial refrigeration

William Cullen was the first documented case to experiment with artificial refrigeration in the late 18th Century and many other different individuals contributed small parts to the invention of what is effectively the modern day ice box Most notably from them were Sir John Leslie who froze water artificially with an air pump in 1805 and Albert Einstein who created the Einstein refrigerator in 1926

Before these major developments food was stored in ice houses or ice boxes, in hotter climates ice had to be delivered from wholesalers who imported it from colder climates The aforementioned scientific developments turned ice from a rare luxury to a standard domestic essential with the first ice-making machine hitting the saturated US home appliance market in the 1960s

Ice makers can be large stand alone units or can be installed into a freezer, or freezer section of a fridge-combi A standard ice maker needs to be powered from the freezer or refrigerator circuitry and it requires a fresh water supply to produce the ice, both wires can be fed through the back of the refrigerator

Inside the ice machine is made up from a series of parts The motor, electric gear, thermostat, heating coil, ice mould, shut-off arm, water inlet tube and water valve All the parts are linked together and operate in a cycle

The cycle is powered by electricity fed from the mains if it is a standalone unit, or the circuit from the refrigerator power supply The cycle is controlled by a series of simple switches control via current When it begins a timed switch sends current to the electromagnetic water valve which then opens

The water then runs from the mains into the ice mould which is typically the shape of a semi-circle for reasons which become clear later in the process After the mould is filled, which usually takes 5 to 7 seconds, the valve closes and the freezing process begins This operation is not performed by the ice maker but by the refrigeration unit and is monitored by the thermostat

Once the temperature reaches a certain point the thermostat closes a switch which allows current to run through the heating coil It may seem strange to have a heating coil in a refrigeration unit, however this is to loosen the ice enough so that it can be easily lifted from the mould

This occurs as the motor is activated switching the electric gear which moves the ejector blades and the ice moves in one block due to the shape of the ice mould The ice moves through plastic notches in front of the collection bin which are the same shape as the mould, splitting them up as they fall into the collection bin

Although ice makers are more commonplace in certain countries domestically, commercially they are essential for many industries The commercial ice makers tend to be stand along units which enable the production of specifically sized cubes There is a multitude of domestic and commercial products available in the market today with stand alone models ranging from 300GBP to 3000GBP and beyond

Shaun Parker is a leading manufacturer of ice machines and an expert in their mechanics.

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Author : Carole-Anne Stanway

Cinnamon is a sweet warm flavor that is used as a favourite holiday spice, but also used in savory dishes year round It is one of the oldest known spices that is grown in the bark of a cinnamon tree It is dried rolled into cinnamon sticks also know as quills Cinnamon which grows in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Brazil, Vietnam and Egypt can be dried and ground into a powder This powder is what we know it as a benefit for healthy living

The characteristic flavor and sweet aroma of cinnamon comes from a compound in the essential oil of the bark called cinnamon-aldehyde

There are four main varieties of cinnamon Cassia cinnamon and Ceylon cinnamon are the most favorite Ceylon cinnamon is sometimes call the “true cinnamon”; which is more expensive and has a sweeter taste The quills area softer and can be used in a coffee grinder, and is sold in specialty stores In North America, most stores sell the less expensive variety, Cassia cinnamon It is a darker colour and the quills are harder It must be ground professionally, as it is difficult to grind in the coffee grinder

Besides using it in cooking, cinnamon was and is used in traditional medicine; the Cassia cinnamon is used for colds, flatulence, nausea, diarrhea and even painful menstrual periods; and it is also believed to improve energy, vitality, and circulation for those who have hot top body and cold feet

What is so special about cinnamon is that it may offer protective benefits to our health A teaspoon of cinnamon is rich in nutrition, supplying fibre, calcium manganese, iron and oxidants Cinnamon may also help reduce the growth of bacteria and reduce inflammation

Cinnamon is a common ingredient in chai tea, and it is believed to improve digestion of fruit, milk and other diary products

Further studies have shown that just the smell of cinnamon may be able to boost brain power Although research is still in its beginning stages, researchers suggest that it may help lower blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides in people with type 2 diabetes

According to Cathy Wong, in “Your Guide to Alternative Medicine”, one of the first studies in 2003 in the journal “Diabetes Care”, sixty people with Type 2 diabetes took 1, 3, or 6 grams of cinnamon in pill for daily, equivalent to 1/4 tsp to 1 tsp of cinnamon After 40 days, all 3 amounts of cinnamon reduced fasting blood glucose by 18 to 29%, triglycerides by 23 to 30% and LDL (Bad cholesterol by 7 to 27% and above all total cholesterol 12 to 26 per cent Cathy says that there were concerns with the study as for example; there was no difference in benefit to those who took the three doses of cinnamon

In another study scientists looked at the effect of cinnamon on 79 people with type 2 diabetes who were not on insulin therapy, but were taking or diabetic meds or modifying their diet They took approximately 3 grams of cinnamon or a placebo three times a day for four months There was a significant reduction in blood glucose in the people taking the cinnamon compared to the people taking the placebo 3 times a day for four months There was no difference in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C levels) which is a test that tells how well blood sugar has been controlled during the previous 3 to 4 months

In a six week study involving 25 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes, women were give 1 5 grams of cinnamon daily or a placebo There was no effect on blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, or cholesterol levels, according to Wong

Wong also showed that in a small Swedish study published in the “American Journal of Medicine” where 14 people were given either rice pudding on its own or rice pudding with cinnamon Researchers found that those that added cinnamon lowered the post-meal rise in blood glucose compared to those who did not consume cinnamon

The use of cinnamon in cooking is a pleasant way of consuming cinnamon; on an apple, on pudding, in cakes, loaves and muffins and stews And, there is nothing nicer than a cup of Chai tea with cinnamon to make your day

Cassia cinnamon found in supplement form and regular cooking form does contain at high levels of use, some Coumarin It is also found in celery, parsley, chamomile, sweet clover The point is always check with your doctor before you decide you want to try cinnamon or any supplement that may affect your medications you are taking

Using cinnamon, normally in baking and in teas is a healthy benefit for healthy living, so enjoy the sweet aroma You can also buy cinnamon oil for aromatherapy There again, check with your doctor – if you have the go-ahead, it will be one of most enjoyable experiences for benefits of healthy living

Carole-Anne Stanway has been a creative healthy recipe cook for many years. She loves to learn new living techniques as well. Learn how you too can make, create and bake many healthy recipes for healthy living at .healthyrecipes

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