Pastis Henri Bardouin

With the end of the Summer around the corner, at The Amazing Blog we've been enjoying the summer parties the French way with Pastis Henri Bardouin, 'le Grand Cru du Pastis'. It's the only pastis produced in Forcalquier, an area of Provence famous for its herbs and anise. At the beginning of the last century there were 10 distilleries in Forcalquier producing pastis, but only one remains today: Distillers et Domaines de Provence, an independent company founded in 1898 which is still produces the finest pastis named after its founder Henri Bardouin. Pastis Henri Bardouin is a complex of 50 natural Provencal herbs and imported spices rich in aroma and flavour such as: mugwort, bluebonnet, sage, star anise, cardamon, black and white pepper, tonka bean, grains of paradise, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. These spices and herbs are purchased directly from the growers surrounding the region or from specialist spice importers. Each ingredient of Pastis Herni Bardouin is individually infused in 96% alcohol to extract the aroma and flavour for 3 months. After that and in a month time, the blend takes place and the final result is bottled with a 45% of alcohol.

Pastis Henri Bardouin is recognised in France as the ultimate pastis, to be enjoyed as an aperitif or as a thirst-quenching drink mixed with water, which only requires one part of Pastis and 5 or 6 part of water. Pastis should be poured into a glass first and then add water from a jug containing ice - putting ice in the glass isn't recommended as it will kill the aromas of the pastis.

The taste of Pastis Henri Bardouin is intense and refreshing, the largest selling spirit drink in France, where over 6 million cases are consumed annually over vodka and whisky.

At The Amazing Blog we really enjoyed mixing Pastis Henri Bardouin with cola to make our own Mazout cocktail and enjoying it in the sun.

Pastis Henri Bardouin is available in Harrods, Waitrose and Independent Retailers at £20.75.

Cocofina

We girls at The Amazing Blog know the importance of staying hydrated. But whether you're a self-confessed gym bunny, are keeping cool during the (occasional) spells of sunshine or simply sipping fluids on a day-to-day basis, sometimes water just doesn't cut it. Yes, it's good for you; but while it might flushes out toxins and keep skin glowing, it tastes kind of bland right?

Thankfully, we recently came across Cocofina Coconut Juice, whose special properties put H20 to shame. Cocofina Coconut Juice or Coconut Water is the clear liquid found within young green coconuts. As the name suggest its made from the finest small coconuts at their water ready peak hence the name 'Cocofina'. What is special about these coconut water drinks is their infusions. We loved all the different flavour combinations of  Cocofina Coconut Juice with Pineapple and Lime (very zesty and refreshing), the Cocofina Coconut with Apple and Blueberry (deliciously fruity) and their Cocofina Coconut with Tea and Passionfruit (aromatic and sweet).

Many people don't realise that coconut juice is one of nature's superfluids, and with such an acolade comes a huge amount of health benefits. Cocofina is naturally isotonic, meaning that it rehydrates faster than water and is naturally low in both fat and cholesterol, with no added sugar. In addition it's a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B2, Potassium, Iron, Calcium and Magnesium.

With a refreshing, fruity taste and so packed with goodness, Cocofina has become The Amazing Blog's favourite new drink and it's no surprise that it won Gold in the Soft Drink category at the Excellence In Food And Drink Awards! Oh, and finally - it's brilliant for hangovers having been tried and tested by staff at The Amazing Blog - so certainly a must have in this office!

Fentiman's

On hot summer days, there's nothing better than sipping on a nice cold drink. Now, I know it's bad form to make generalisations, but I think I've found an exception to that rule. Fentimans has the most delicious range of (non-alcoholic) summer beverages. The Amazing Blog just can not get enough of their products, it's a mild obsession. These botanically brewed beverages (say that five times fast) are such a great alternative to the fizzy drinks from the corner shop. Even the bespoke bottles they come in are stylish. The method of botanically brewing is one of the things that sets Fentimans beverages apart from the rest. Through a mixture of roots and herbs, the beverages keep their natural and and tasty - the sedimentation which occurs from this process only serves to enhance all the flavours in the drinks and make sure that all the raw materials used in the process end up in the bottle. Fentimans have a great range of concoctions, including Curiosity Cola, Seville Orange Jigger, Ginger Beer, and Dandelion & Burdock. My personal favourite (it was a hard choice) is their Pink Lemonade, it's so cool and refreshing and absolutely perfect for a hot day. Fentimans have been making their carbonated beverages since 1905 and are still going strong to this day, once your try one of their drinks you'll understand why.

So grab yourself a few cool Fentimans this summer, you won't regret it! Fentimans is available online or at Waitrose, Sainsbury's and Tesco.

Purifyne

We've all heard every celebrity and their mother rave about juice cleanses. Whether it's the body of Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyonce, or Miranda Kerr you're after, there are hundreds of juice cleanses out there that claim to be the holy grail. As most girls are, I'm constantly on the look out for anything to help me shift a few pounds, and these juice detoxes claim to do that. So, purely in the name of research, I tried the Purifyne Bespoke 1-Day Cleanse to see if juice cleanses really live up to their hype. The juices for your cleanse arrive at your door (or office if you're like me) the day you want to start your cleanse, making sure they're as fresh as possible - after-all they're the only thing going into your body for at least 24 hours. I just thought I'd receive the juices and a pamphlet and be ready to go, but Purifyne makes sure that you know exactly when and how you should be taking your juices. Along with a schedule sheet, you also receive supplements, and a variety of powders to mix into your juices to maximise your cleanse. One of the things that makes the Purifyne cleanses great is the attention to the individual: you have to fill out a client form full of your health concerns to make sure that your Purifyne cleanse is suited to you. Knowing that Purifyne is really looking out for your health and wellness made the whole process a lot easier! Now all the information is out of the way I can tell you how the juices actually tasted! You receive four juices for the 1-Day cleanse, and they're all different. I absolutely love fruits and vegetables so I actually really enjoyed the juices. There were unexpected combinations, such as Melon, Cucumber & Mint, which was my favourite (super refreshing). Along with detoxifying your body, some benefits from a Purifyne cleanse are reduced tiredness, improved digestion, cellulite reduction and improved sleep.

Now of course you could go to the shop and stock up on lemon juice and cayenne pepper, but if you want to be healthy and smart about your cleanse, do some research and find which one will work best for you. Onto the results of the cleanse. I did lose 3 pounds after my 1-day cleanse, which while not massive, is definitely something. I really did feel like my body had detoxed itself a bit, I can't describe it well, but you just feel a bit fresher. I'm not sure if I would have enough will power to do a longer cleanse, but having a result like that would be motivation in the future. The juices tasted lovely, Purifyne were helpful and health conscious throughout the entire process, and it was all in all a great experience!

If you would like to do a Purifyne cleanse, make sure you consult your doctor first. Cleanses are available from £85.00 to book on their website, and they have a variety of detoxifying cleanses to suit your lifestyle. Delivery is also free within London. Happy cleansing!

Icely Done

In this unusually hot weather, here at The Amazing Blog we’ve been doing whatever we can to stay cool, and we’re not ashamed to say that we have been devouring Icely Done cocktail sticks. They’re essentially a grown up versions of popsicles, great for barbecues, parties or, at the office (if you dare). Inspired by fresh fruit drinks sold in Brazil, Icely Done cocktail sticks are a stylish and affordable way to serve an ice cold cocktail at any event. No more washing up blenders, jugs and glasses, Icely Done cocktail sticks are easy to hand out and clean up! These amazingly refreshing cocktail sticks are perfect for hot summer days, trust us, it’s tried and tested. They come in 6 exotic flavours: Finlandia Grapefruit Vodka & Pomegranate, Absolut Lemon Vodka & Raspberry, Havana Club Rum & Coconut, Havana Club Rum & Mango, Campari & Blood Orange, and Beefeater Gin & Lemon. There’s a flavour to suit every taste. For the health conscious, they’re free of additives and preservatives and taste just like the liquid cocktails that they’re inspired by. The Icely Done cocktail sticks are 80ml, 6% alcohol content, and the packaging is 100% recyclable. Just put them in the freezer, and take them out as you need them, they couldn’t be easier to enjoy!

So whether it’s a hot summer barbecue, or a relaxing afternoon with friends, at £1.50 per cocktail stick, these Icely Done treats aren’t to be missed! Available online.