In the cold depths of winter, I enjoy nothing more than curling up on the sofa with a lovely cup of tea and watching Ant and Dec laugh and squirm at all the ‘I’m a celebrity, get me out of here’ contestants. The celebrities are put through their paces from bizarre mind-challenging tasks such as ...

The interest in camel milk is growing due to its health properties, but some people are still understandably averse to the idea of drinking something they deem so unusual. Well I have news for you it’s not new and it’s not unusual, it’s actually been used in Middle Eastern, Asian and North African ...

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of sadness experienced during certain times of the year. Commonly known as ‘Winter Depression’, the condition often sees people battle low moods and heightened irritability throughout the colder, darker months. While feeling down from time-to-time is ...

Lotus seeds or lotus nuts come from the Nelumbo nucifera, a herbaceous perennial species of plant. They are also known as 'makhana' in India. Lotus flowers, roots and seeds have been held in high regard in the cultures of India, China and Japan for centuries. Its seeds are used in Asian cuisine and ...

Quince is a special seasonal fruit that ripens between autumn and winter. Hailing from the warm regions of southwest Asia, it was later introduced to various countries of eastern Europe. It is a member of the Rosaceae family, meaning that it is a close relative of apples and pears. Quince, or ...

This historically popular seed, anise, also known as aniseed and anise seed, is the true anise, Pimpinella anisum, which is not to be confused with the unrelated star anise. The plant is native to Asia, particularly China (news has come to light about the Japanese sources being potentially toxic, ...

Jackfruit is the world's biggest fruit to grow on an actual tree and can grow up to 3ft (1m) long and weigh up to 100lb (45kg)! Indigenous to the Southwestern rain forests of India, jackfruits are related to figs, mulberry and breadfruit. The trees are widely cultivated for their fruit, seeds and ...

The sociable South American tradition of passing around a gourd of Yerba (‘herb’ in Spanish) mate leaves soaked in warm water has now developed into a health craze in the Western world. With the botanical name 'Ilex paraguariensis' a member of the holly family, Yerba mate is known for its ...

Vanilla is a secret ingredient flavouring our foods and beverages and is also present in many perfumes. This spice derives from the orchid family of the genus Vanilla, which is native to Mexico. The distinctive flavour and fragrance has made it a staple addition to sweet and savoury dishes and the ...

Newbie tea brand Hoogly Tea was launched in April 2016 by Danish-born tea enthusiast Tina Gloggengieser who now resides in Brighton. Her mission is to spread the joy of ‘Hygge’, (a Danish word, pronounced "hoo-ga") a Danish way of life. According to Hoogly Tea’s website Hygge is an all year round ...