Bespoke Sasafras Racks for Spice Oils, Panforte time, Tasmanian-grown Tea!

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Sasafras Spice Oil racks
Alex, from Bruny Island, has made mini spice oil racks for me, from Tasmanian sasafras so you can have your herb and spice oils at hand, on display and not have them falling over. They come with 6 slots and will sit beautifully on even a very narrow ledge.
Great Christmas gift idea! More info here.

It is Panforte time again!
This GF Italian Christmas cake of nuts and chocolate with brandy is pressed into tins and baked until almost crisp. I made my first batch yesterday and they will be available in limited supply at the Cygnet Market from now until Christmas. You can also order them from me. Prices and options here….

Tea from Allens Rivulet!
The list of Tasmanian grown foods is ever increasing with the latest being an exquisite tea which Hugh says is the best he has ever had. Gordon and Jane Brown grow tea in Allens Rivulet, south of Hobart. Their half-hectare patch of land is the southern-most tea farm in the world. More here.
I now also sell Tasmanian grown poppy seeds. So, if you want to make the fabulous poppyseed torte (GF) from a previous newsletter, why not use Tasmanian poppy seeds!

Gin and Tonic…. revolution!

Many people, including me, love a gin and tonic now and again, especially with Tasmanian made gin, but there’s a revolution happening that is turning this drink on its head!

Gin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries (Juniperus communis). And I love adding a squeeze of lime to it, with tonic water.

From its earliest origins in the Middle Ages, gin has evolved from a herbal medicine to an object of commerce in the spirits industry. Gin was developed on the basis of the older word for juniper, ‘jenever’, and became popular in Great Britain when William of Orange, leader of the Dutch Republic, occupied the English, Scottish and Irish thrones with his wife Mary. Gin is one of the broadest categories of spirits, represented by products of various origins, styles, and flavour profiles that all revolve around juniper as a common ingredient

So, in order to revolutionise gin and tonic, we can now add a few drops of juniper essential oil and lime essential oil to good tonic water and we have a non-alcoholic health drink with the natural flavour of g & t!

Juniper was and is frequently used to support healthy kidney and urinary function, problematic skin and the digestive system, as well as helping to relieve tension and stress. It can also be used to support cleansing and detoxifying. Juniper berry essential oil is a steam-distilled oil from the berries and needles of the juniper plant. The best oils are sourced from Bulgaria, their indigenous region, and take a full THREE years to ripen to maturity.

Pure lime oil (Citrus aurantifolia) is a compound created by cold-pressing the peel of a lime and collecting the oil, much like the process of pressing olives for oil. It is most commonly used as a powerful antioxidant that supports healthy immune function, an internal cleanser and for its ability to positively affect mood with its stimulating and refreshing properties.