PH’s 1st Stevia grower-manufacturer launches No Sugar iced tea mixes.

GIDC, The Stevia Company, and maker of Glorious products, is bringing no sugar iced tea mixes in major supermarkets and groceries! Consumers who cuts on sugar in their diet can now enjoy low calorie, no sugar iced tea mixes that are sweetened by natural alternatives.

Glorious Blend Lemon Iced Tea, Red Tea and Cucumber Lemonade that are sweetened iced tea mixes without sugar are especially produced for people who are cutting and avoiding food and drinks with too much sugar.

Glorious Blend iced tea mixes are naturally sweetened with stevia. The mixes are made from premium ingredients that include mixed berries, real black tea leaves, lemon, and real cucumber. It is low in calorie and loaded with vitamin C.

No sugar added!

“Stevia has been regarded as a safe and healthy sugar substitute. It can sweeten foods, and it has several health benefits, including decreased calorie intake, lower blood sugar levels, and less risk of cavities,” said Maura De Leon, the woman behind GIDC, the country’s first FDA registered stevia grower and manufacturer.

Before, stevia was restricted to the health food market without any FDA approval. However, it is now widely used as a natural substitute for artificial sweeteners in many products.

While it has zero calories, stevia is 200 times sweeter than refined sugar and does not affect blood sugar. It is a popular option for people looking to lose weight but who want to reduce their sugar intake.

Stevia is an herb that has been grown in tropical climates for centuries. It is a small bushy plant that belongs to the sunflower family and grows in Paraguay and Brazil, but it can be quickly grown elsewhere. For centuries, the people of Paraguay add them to their foods as sweeteners, and countries like Korea, Brazil, China, Japan, and South America, have long used stevia. 

Stevia is now being widely used as a natural sweetener in various food preparations.

Guilt-free iced tea!

People who have diabetes can benefit from stevia. Choosing pure stevia extract can help maintain normal blood sugar levels and should be used in moderation. Stevia can also help cut down added sugar consumption, which can be beneficial for children. High sugar intake in children could lead to heart disease due to reconstructing triglyceride and cholesterol levels, contributing to children's weight gain. Substituting added sugar for stevia can minimize these risks. At the same time, moderate consumption of foods with stevia and other sweeteners can prevent adverse side effects and promote overall health.

Stevia products such as iced tea mixes, healthy coffees and chocolate beverages manufactured by Glorious, are approved safe by the Food and Drug Association (FDA) for pregnant women or people who have diabetes.

Incidentally, all Glorious Blend beverages -- from the 3in1 coffee, 4in1 Malunggay mix, 5in1 Brown Rice Coffee, 7-in-1 Mangosteen-Malunggay Coffee, 7in1Native Cacao Choco and Maxitrim with L-Carnitine, use Stevia which has no calories, no carbohydrates, and zero glycemic index. All of their instant drinks will keep you alert and energized throughout the day. For more information about Glorious products, log on to https://gidc.com.ph/.

CB's Finest | The Kickstarter Blend from Caffeine Brothers Co.

Caffeine Brothers Co., an up-and-coming startup specialty coffee retail and distributorship based in Manila, Philippines, announced today the finest launch in the Philippine Coffee Industry history with the release of CB's Finest - the kickstarter. The first addition to the voluminous blends to be released shall be available for everyone to enjoy and within everyone's reach through their online store at caffeinebrothers.co.

Amidst several coffee company which claims to have the perfect coffee, Caffeine Brothers Co. thrives through technology paired with deep love for a good cup of coffee. Now, enthusiasts and caffeine buffs can enjoy various types of coffee beans and Caffeine Brothers' signature blend sourced from local growers only in the Philippines straight from the web to their doorstep.

A new player in retail and distribution launches online store for Philippine specialty coffee.

"Most us do not actually know but for a time in our past, the Philippines was hailed as a top coffee producing nation. We were once a coffee country!" said Robin, co-founder of Caffeine Brothers Co.

"This time is the perfect opportunity for Caffeine Brothers to grow. Our sole mission for this venture is to share our passion for coffee, be one of the pioneers in the purely online arena, and pro-caffeinate the country with our home-grown beans." he added.

Great coffee choices from Caffeine Brothers Co.

First timers and coffee addicts have already tried and Raisha from Makati reviewed, "Waaaaaay better than my usual cup of coffee. CB’s Finest a must try. Perfectly balanced acidity, sweetness, and bitterness in one sip with a smooth flavor and no off-taste. Great blends of beans that aroma of a classic coffee scent will surely make your day. Smooth, delicate matte black re-sealable stand-up pouch keeping it from moisture and preserving the freshness of the beans.  Fast delivery."

Meanwhile, Marriane of San Pedro, Laguna also said, "Very fast and convenient transaction. I am working on a night shift and had no problem with the delivery. The package even arrived earlier than expected! They provide quality from delivery up to the coffee experience itself. The coffee aroma is so good na maaamoy mo na sa packaging palang. It definitely didn’t disappoint when we tried their coffee. I would recommend you try their CB’s Finest blend."

Finally, Kerwin, co-founder of Caffeine Brothers Co. said, "We may have yet to grow in the business, but our dream of the resurgence of Philippine coffee's former prominence is what keeps us up every morning."

If you find value in what Caffeine Brothers do, check out their website at http://caffeinebrothers.co/ where you'll find tons of tips and information on how to enjoy your cup of coffee. You can also reach them via Facebook or Instagram @caffeinebrothersco.

Teatox Made Fun with Bayani Brew!

Whenever I visit the Human Heart Nature store in my area, I make it a point to buy a bottle or two (sometimes even more) of our all-time favorite Bayani Brew. My son loves this tea drink just as much, even saying that he prefers this over the usual powdered tea mixes. And that's a good thing because Bayani Brew is brewed from all-natural, proudly homegrown, pesticide-free crops.

However, Yue and I are limited to just one flavor - the classic Lemongrass Pandan, which is the only flavor available at Human Heart Nature Laguna. Thankfully, the Brew Crew granted Yue's wish to try the 'pink and yellow Bayani Brew' by sending us this gift pack which contained all three flavors of their teatox line.

Bayani Brew is love!

Priced 60% less than popular cleansing juices, Bayani Brew's detox teas - otherwise known as 'teatox' - helps flush out the toxins that accumulate in the body without the laxative effect. Brewed from organically grown greens, these teas don't just cleanse but also nourish the body with vitamins and minerals.

Staying true to its local farming roots, the new Bayani Brew variants draw inspiration from the healthy 'tsaa' (tea) recipes found all over the country. The brand uses primarily climate-resilient and perennially-grown crops such as lemongrass (tanglad), sweet potato tops (talbos ng kamote) and pandan. 

One serving of the classic Lemongrass Pandan Tea is enough to fulfill one's daily Vitamin C requirement. Lemongrass and pandan are traditionally used to cleanse the kidneys.

Lemongrass Pandan.

Shelf life, 2.5 months.

Meanwhile, the Sweet Potato Leaf tea isn't just delicious, it also helps lower blood sugar levels. Brewed with lemongrass and calamansi, each bottle contains more than 1/3 of one's daily iron requirement.

Sweet Potato Leaf.

Shelf life, 2 months.

Finally, there's the Moringa Dalandan Tea, currently my new favorite flavor in Bayani Brew's teatox line. It contains high doses of Vitamin C, calcium, and iron, and can help flush out toxins that accumulate in the liver over time.

Moringa Dalandan.

Shelf life, 1 month.

Bayani Brew's farm fresh tea drinks are organically farmed, low in calories, accessible, and now have longer shelf-life. The brand also promises to be 'sustainable from farm to bottle'. No pesticides and chemical fertilizers are used in farms, and crops are sourced at above-market prices. In addition, the bottles are made with eco-friendly materials. And by advocating the use of local ingredients, Bayani Brew hopes to help lift Filipino farmers and agricultural workers out of poverty.

Bayani Brew can be purchased at all Bo's Coffee and Human Nature branches nationwide. You can also get your Bayani Brew fix at major supermarkets and convenience stores such as Robinson's, Rustan's, Landers, and FamilyMart.

For more information about Bayani Brew, visit their official website.

Foodie Goodie | Oreo Coffee Smoothie.

On regular days, I like munching on Oreo cookies while sipping a cup of my favorite coffee.
But on an awfully hot day like today (it's 33 degrees outside, my goodness!), I'd prefer to have something cold and refreshing. Something like an Oreo Coffee Smoothie - the perfect way to cool off in this sweltering heat!

Oreo Coffee Smoothie

Ingredients:
9 Oreo cookies, divided
3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
2 cups vanilla yogurt (or vanilla ice cream)
1 tablespoon coffee
1/4 cup Cool Whip Whipped Topping (optional)

Procedure:
1. Crush one piece of the cookies into fine crumbs; set aside.
2. Place yogurt, milk, chocolate syrup, coffee, and remaining 8 cookies in blender container. Cover, and blend until smooth.
3. Pour evenly into 4 glasses; top with whipped topping and the reserved cookie crumbs.

As seen on Snackworks.

Foodie Goodie | Yujacha (Honey Citron Tea).

So here I am feeling under the weather again. I spent most of the day under the sheets, sniffling, coughing, and catching up on two of my favorite currently-airing Korean dramas - Kill Me, Heal Me and Healer. (I'm actually catching up on the latter, after being cajoled by a fellow Kdrama addict that this drama is pretty good despite being a Park Min Young starrer. I'm glad I took her word for it.) 

Normally, I would not blog on a weekend especially when I'm sick. But I just had to blog about this Honey Citron Tea, which I'm sipping as I write. One of my readers asked me about it (she probably saw my post on Instagram the other day) so here it is.

Yujacha, as Koreans would call it, is made by preserving slices of yuja fruit (that's citron in English) in honey and sugar. The end result is a syrupy, marmalade-like substance that is packaged in a jar like jelly. Add a couple of teaspoons of yujacha to a cup of boiling water to make a soothing herbal tea that tastes like dessert. It also comes in powdered form, packed in single-serve sachets. Simply dissolve in water (you can enjoy it hot or cold) and that's it. :)

Yujacha in sachets.

A traditional tea in the Land of the Morning Calm, Yujacha has been used for hundred years in Korea, and is a well-known stress-reliever and a cure for colds. They say it's also a cure for hangovers.

Can't find Yujacha in the supermarket? You can make your own! :)

Yujacha (Honey Citron Tea)

Ingredients:
4 citrons (or any other citrus fruit)
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup honey

Procedure:
1. Wash the fruit well in cold water. 
2. Peel then remove and discard any white remaining on the fruit.
3.  Cut peel into thin strips.
4.  Segment the fruit.
5.  Place fruit and peel in a bowl in layers, covering each layer generously with sugar.
6.  Cover and let stand at room temperature for two to four hours. (Sugar should be dissolved or be transparent).
7.  Place in a jar in layers, drizzling honey over each layer, and close tightly. Refrigerate for one week.

Usage:
Add 1 tablespoon of the syrup-like mix to one cup of boiling water.

The Agony Called Philippine Summer.

With this kind of weather, I'd do anything, eat anything just to relieve the heat and exhaustion.

SBC's Javachip Javakula.

Buko Express Buko Shake.

Mang Inasal's Ice Scramble.

Selecta's Caramel Cheesecake.

Pounce or cry?

Dear 38-degree Philippine weather, I hate you! Chongmal, chincha, nomu nomu! (That's Hangul for truly, really, very very much.)

Sharing with In the Picture, Wednesday Whites, This or That Thursday, InstaFriday, Photostory Friday, Food Friday, Food Trip Friday, Pink Friday, Pink Saturday, and Yummy Sunday. WHEW! :)