As we are currently in the midst of the 2018 holiday season, there is definitely no shortage of interesting products on the market. In addition, this is likely to be the time of year that you get to indulge, between Thanksgiving, holiday parties, gala season and end-of-the-year gift exchanges. On behalf of A Global Lifestyle, below are 25 recent food and drink discoveries of mine which ought to keep you warm, healthy, excited and/or fulfilled.
Phocus is a naturally caffeinated sparkling water that is completely free of any of the “bad stuff” typically found in coffees, sodas and energy drinks. Drawing natural caffeine from green tea leaves, Phocus implements the amino acid L-Theanine for the slow and steady release of that caffeine for a “smoother lift,” its L-Theanine is a big differentiator. The beverage contains no calories, preservatives, sweeteners, or sodium and is also kosher, vegan, non-dairy, non-GMO, and gluten-free.
Also on the water spectrum is Detoxwater, an aloe vera-infused water. One shot of the highest-grade aloe is to be found in each bottle. Detoxwater is said to be amazing for hydration, digestion, and skin alike.
But it is an energy drink that you are seeking to battle that post-lunch crash, UPTIME is considered to be a “better-for-you” energy drink with a clean ingredient panel. UPTIME aims to enhance focus without the spike and crash. It isn’t hyper masculine — coming packaged in a sleek aluminum bottle — and the energy isn’t “extreme,” rather intended to be a smooth flow that restores your natural energy.
Considered a “best buy” by Wine Enthusiast, Indaba Wines are known to be consistent, food-friendly, and value-oriented. Furthermore, Indaba is rooted in kindness, as its wines are integrity and sustainability-certified via the Wine & Spirit Board Of South Africa. Furthermore, its affiliated Indaba Foundation works to empower vulnerable children within the South African Winelands through transformative education. So when you purchase a top-rated Chenin Blanc, Merlot or Mosaic, you are not only doing your tastebuds a favor but also contributing to the world being a better place.
A fiber and antioxidant-filled chewy date, a “chocodate” is stuffed with Vitamin E-packed crunchy almond and covered in European grade chocolate. Coming in around 50 calories per serving, Chocodate is an easy and mindful way to satiate your sweet tooth. It also manages to be gluten-free. Chocodate can be purchased at Walmart, Publix and Amazon, making it easy to find anywhere in the States.
Simply Delish makes 100 percent plant-based desserts that set without the gelatin from meat products. Each delectable flavor of Simply Delish — whether you are talking about its jels or puddings — is gluten-free, vegan, kosher, nut-free, non-GMO and Halal. As a result Simply Delish’s products ought to suit any holiday gathering or family event. Furthermore, many of its products do not require any refrigeration. As if that were not great enough, the Simply Jels from the brand have zero carbs and only have 5 calories per serving.
Humm is arguably the world’s most drinkable kombucha, as brought to the market in 2009 by kombucha enthusiasts Jamie Danek and Michelle Mitchell. Headquartered in Bend, Oregon, Humm also created the world’s first Kombucha tap room in 2013 and welcomes visitors to grab a glass seven days a week. Recently, the company introduced two new flavors: Ginger Juniper and Raspberry Hops. Designed for kombucha-lovers looking for innovative flavor pairings, the two new flavors contain 5 grams of sugar and only 25 calories per serving. The brand also notably introduced a 40-ounce bottle to the market this year.
FORTO Coffee Shots
FORTO is one of the fastest growing ready-to-drink coffee brands in the United States, and last earlier this month FORTO announced agreements with four of the most nationally recognized purveyors within the world of coffee: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, The Original Donut Shop, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, and Gevalia. Initially inspired by his own foray into fatherhood, FORTO’s Founder and CEO Neel Premkumar developed FORTO coffee shots for busy people who are on-the-go. The brand’s custom-shaped, recyclable plastic cup is ergonomically designed to be easily held, while also break-and-leak proof and compact enough to take with you anywhere.
The product of the LIFEAID Beverage Co., ImmunityAid is a powerful 12-fl. oz. blend of vitamins and nutrients recognized for their support of the immune system. It includes echinacea, zinc, vitamins A, C and D, turmeric, lemon balm, astralagus root, valerian root, ginger root and chamomile. Nutrition aside, it has a great orange flavor, fitting well besides other LIFEAID beverages like FitAid, FocusAid, LifeAid, GolferAid and PartyAid. In turn, you can take care of both your tastebuds and your immune system at the same time.
CAULIPOWER’s Sweet PotatTOASTS
From the makers of the #1 cauliflower crust pizza comes Sweet PotatTOASTS. Pre-sliced roasted sweet potatoes, CAULIPOWER’s latest offering is a one-ingredient solution to gluten-free toasts. Simply put, this is a better-for-you option that simultaneously serves as a finger food, as a vehicle for leftovers, a sweet potato pie crust, and as a gratin or casserole component. The product is also gluten-free, vegan, paleo (with 15 Net Carbs), high fiber, non-GMO, and free of articial colors and preservatives, while also serving as an excellent source of vitamins A and C.
Ceres Organics’ Smoothies To Go
An ideal way to get your “five-a-day” recommended servings of fruits and 100% of your daily Vitamin C, Ceres’ Smoothies To Go are a delicious way to boost your immune system and help you be at your best during the seasonal mayhem. This is sippable, organic fruit in a healthy snack that is filled with the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients your body craves, without any fillers, no dairy, GMOs or added sugars. Each smoothie is blended with small chunks of exotic, real fruit and packed at the peak of freshness to preserve the pure, crisp taste that nature intended. In addition to being non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan and kosher, each smoothie is under 100 calories.
GrandyOats Coconola is an organic coconut and granola blend that is full of nutritional benefits. Thanksgiving is now a week or so behind us, but GrandyOats’ creation could have been integrated within a variety of Thanksgiving standards, including stuffing, casseroles, sweet potatoes and turkey. Beyond its versatility, GrandyOats’ goods are non-GMO and certified organic, while its sweetening — which is not at all overbearing — comes from real maple syrup.
Bonterra’s The Elysian Collection
Bonterra Organic Vineyard’s newest luxury offering is The Elysian Collection. The Elysian Merlot, the debut wine in The Elysian Collection, plays off the bucolic ideals and pastoral tranquility of northern California’s organic farmland, highlighting the diverse natural elements that create unique environments for grape cultivation, handpicked from plots teeming with life and biodiversity. The label pays homage to the sheep, moon and stars that create life in a thriving organic ecosystem and drive astrological forces. The Elysian Merlot embodies the essence of a wine vinified from organically grown grapes, with a harmonious chorus of black plum, carob, raspberries and soulful minerality. Other recent releases from Bonterra are its Equinox Red Blend, its 2014 The McNab and its Bonterra 2017 Dry Muscat.
Vital Proteins Mocha Collagen Creamer
Vital Proteins’ newest flavor in its beauty-boosting creamer collection is Mocha Collagen Creamer. Blurring the line between bathroom cabinet beauty essential and kitchen cupboard staple, this new product has the makings to be part of your morning routine. This better-for-you ingestible blend is created with simple, whole food ingredients rich in healthy fats, creamy flavor, and natural collagen protein. Free of dairy and gluten, this chocolatey creamer contains a base of organic coconut milk and 10 grams of grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine Collagen Peptides. Add this easy-to-use creamer to your daily beauty repertoire to promote noticeably healthier skin, hair, and nails. Simply scoop, stir or froth, and sip for the perfect morning boost.
Happy Baby Clearly Crafted Jars
Happy Family Organics is the largest organic baby food brand in the United States, and the brand recently announced an initiative to make its products even more readily-available for moms and babies across the country. This is happening both through the nation’s WIC program and Happy Family’s new WIC-compliant Clearly Crafted premium product line. Simple recipes in clear jars, Happy Baby’s new products are non-GMO and USDA-certified organic. Its offerings include Bananas & Strawberries, Apples & Spinach, Apples & Blueberries, and Bananas & Sweet Potatoes. Happy Family has been a certified B Corp since 2011, so this is a company to follow beyond its quality-centric products.
Hanukkah Beer from the Shmaltz Brewing Company
For the 2018 holiday season comes the first-ever canned beers from the New York-based Shmaltz Brewing Company. This applies to the brewer’s “official” Hanukkah beer (in 12-ounce cans) and the revered Jewbelation anniversary ale (in 16-ounce cans). Both new brews hit stores in more than 30 states as of November 1st. This Hanukkah, Shmaltz officially turns 22. Still the only Jewish celebration beer company in the country, Shmaltz admittedly began as a novelty brewer, but now Shmaltz reportedly has dozens of staff members and is the recipient of dozens of awards for its signature specialty beers.
Chickapea is a brand that serves up delicious gluten-free pasta made of only two ingredients, organic chickpeas and organic red lentils. Chickapea’s pasta makes for a truly ealthy meal in minutes — protein and fiber in one. Fortunately, Chickapea Pasta doesn’t taste like a typical gluten-free or vegan pasta, so you ought to crave seconds after finishing your plate. All Chickapea products are gluten-free, organic, kosher and come packed with 27 grams of protein and 13 grams of fiber per serving. There are no added sugars, salt, or ingredients you can’t pronounce. You currently have the options of Spirals, Shells and Penne, Chickapea Mac & Cheese (made with organic cheese sauce), and as of next page, Chickapea Vegan Mac.
The Arechabala Family started their rum-making business in 1878 in Cuba. The family first registered the HAVANA CLUB trademark in 1934. With its well-rounded flavor featuring notes of tropical fruits and hints of vanilla and oak, HAVANA CLUB quickly became a beloved and iconic Cuban brand. It was a favorite of locals as well as American and European tourists flocking to Cuba’s chic nightspots and casinos from the late 1930s through the 1960s. HAVANA CLUB became one of the symbols of the razzle and dazzle of that Golden Age. The brand’s HAVANA CLUB Añejo Blanco is distilled and aged in Puerto Rico under the Caribbean sun for 1 year in oak barrels in which aged rums are blended together. The blend is aged for a second period in oak barrels for at least 2 months. In honor of this month’s Latin GRAMMY Awards, HAVANA CLUB had a specific recipe for the Canchanchara cocktail, which is worthwhile and pasted below for your drinking pleasure:
– 2 parts HAVANA CLUB Añejo Blanco Rum
– 1 part fresh lemon juice
– 1 part honey syrup
Method: Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain over a rocks glass filled with ice (yes, more ice). Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Old Forester Old Fashioned Syrup
Old Forester 1910 — Old Forester’s fourth and final expression in its Whiskey Row Series– is not the only new offering from the Louisville-based bourbon powerhouse known as Old Forester. For the cocktail aficionado and at-home entertainer, Old Forester’s Cocktail Provisions makes for a brilliant 2018 holiday season gift. With a variety of bitters, syrups and tinctures, this unique collection will elevate any holiday cocktail to the next level. Earlier in the autumn, Old Forester celebrated its time-honored tradition of releasing Birthday Bourbon to commemorate Founder George Garvin Brown’s birthday on September 2nd, so fingers remain crossed that we are now just 9 months away from 2019’s Birthday Bourbon.
Jurassic World Chicken Nuggets
This month, FoodStory Brands — under its HomeStyle Harvest label and in collaboration with Universal Brand Development — announced the rollout of Jurassic World Chicken Nuggets that come in authentic shapes—inspired by the blockbuster movie franchise, including Tyrannosaurus Rex, Stegosaurus, Brachiosaurus, a Raptor Claw, and a Dinosaur Footprint. These tasty dinosaur-shaped, film-inspired chicken nuggets are breaded with whole grains and are lower in sodium than other options. Hatched, harvested, and made in the U.S.A., these nuggets are also USDA Certified, cage-free, all-white-meat from chickens raised with an all-vegetarian diet, free of growth hormones, steroids, and antibiotics. In case the FoodStory Brands name sounds familiar, that is also the company behind the Cocktail Artist, Fresh Cravings, and Sweet Offerings Bake Shop brands.
Lidl recently announced its further expansion into the United States market with the purchase of the Best Market supermarket chain. The Germany-based Lidl is well-known for its fun culinary offerings, as curated from all over the world. Among these commercially-available products are its Escargot Stuffed Pastries (wild-caught escargot is simmered in a spice-laden French bouillon and wrapped in crispy puff pastry for a hand-crafted, delectable hors d’oeuvre from France), Nürnberger Lebkuchen (Bavarian specialty cookies are a traditional German baked Christmas treat similar to gingerbread), Espresso Chocolatey Chunk Gelato (featuring the bold, intense flavor of espresso studded with dense, rich chocolate chunks), and Brazilian Whole Bean Coffee (made from 100% Arabica beans and boasting a rich, fruity and floral body with chocolate notes and hints of almond). And these are just a few of the great Lidl holiday offerings, yes.
OWYN is a 100 percent plant-based nutrition and protein brand that literally stands for “Only What You Need.” All of its products are dairy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, nutrient and superfood-dense beyond having the intention of being delicious. Available in 5 different flavors, OWYN’s vegan-protein bars combine pumpkin seed, pea protein, and chia, so you can benefit from a complete profile of all 9 essential amino acids — the building blocks of protein — which help in maintenance and development of muscle, hair, skin, and nails. OWYN bars range from 10 to 11 grams of protein and its flavor offerings include Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Chocolate Chip & Cranberry, and Tart Cherry & Lemon.
Gingerbread Spice from McCormick
With Pumpkin Spice season coming to an end, you might be wondering how to liven up your lattes and baked goods with all of the pumpkin-based products leaving store shelves. But thanks to spice-leader McCormick, Gingerbread Spice will be staying on the market year-round. This holiday favorite comes in unique variations from over a dozen countries including England, Germany, Russia, and Sweden. Traditionally, gingerbread combines warm notes of ginger with seasonal sweet aromas like cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg to create this beloved flavor. But you can blend your own by mixing spices together — or by simply topping off cozy winter favorites like oatmeal, pancakes, and hot cocoa with the perfectly-blended Gingerbread Spice from McCormick.
Co-founded by Arrow star Stephen Amell, Nocking Point Wines checks all boxes whether you are a wine lover, obsessed with celebrity and popular culture, and are seeking the latest and greatest. The Washington State based winery is dedicated to crafting premium wines, each with an authentic and often humorous narrative. Amell has personally inspired such wines as “Amell-bec” (a witty take on a Columbia Valley Malbec red) and “3rd Date Cabernet” (a juicy red and a nod to the ritual and protocol of early dating). The wines are available exclusively online through a subscription service at www.nockingpoint.com. Recently, Nocking Point also launched “Night Ender” in collaboration with entertainer Aisha Tyler, and “Dirt Bag” in collaboration with Game Of Thrones and Aquaman actor Jason Momoa.
Wild Planet Wild Sockeye Salmon
Wild Planet’s Wild Sockeye Salmon and Wild Pink Salmon are caught in icy Alaskan waters by small-scale fishing families. The fish caught by said fishing is never frozen, going straight from boat to can. Skinless and boneless, the salmon of Wild Planet is a great source for Omega 3’s. Wild Planet also has non-GMO varieties of tuna, sardines, mackerel, anchovies, yellowtail and chicken in canned form. I haven’t yet tried the Surf & Turf — Wild Planet’s take on raditional seafood and meat “meals” — but am hoping to get around to that within my next trip to Stop & Shop.
Tyrconnell 15 Year Old Madeira Cask Finish Single Malt Irish Whiskey
As the oldest Madeira cask finish ever released by The Tyrconnell, this rare and unique Irish whiskey has been matured for 15 years in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in Madeira wine casks. The result is a one-of-a-kind Irish whiskey with an unsurpassed richness and complexity and an incredible evergreen forest finish. The Tyrconnell single malt itself is made at the Cooley Distillery, which is part of the Kilbeggan Distilling Company. Only on the market since last March, this new batch from Tyrconnell was made entirely from malted barley and double-distilled on a pot still.
Sheila G’s Chocolate Almond Brownie Brittle
Earlier this year, Sheila G’s very-popular Brownie Brittle brand showcased its Chocolate Almond Brownie Brittle (rich, chocolate Brownie Brittle studded with chocolate chips and toasted almonds) and Thindulgent Sandwich Cookies at the Summer Fancy Food Show. However, that was not all that the brand had in store for 2018, as this year I also learned about Thindulgent Dark Chocolate Bark, Thindulgent Milk Chocolate Bark and its Milk Chocolate Caramel-flavored Brownie Brittle Bites. Every Brownie Brittle variety I have tried from Sheila G and crew has been addictive, to say the least. And if that weren’t enough, the company is a partner of Cookies For Kids’ Cancer, providing product and profits to the cause of solving childhood cancer.
