Chocolate is made from the beans of the tropical cacao tree. Most of these trees are grown in Western Africa where the tropical climate is perfect for cacao beans to flourish. But why is chocolate so addictively delicious? The answer may be more complex than you realise.
We at the Hamper Lounge have hand picked a wide range of gifts including some exquisitely delicious chocolate hamper selections.
The chemistry of chocolate actually plays a huge part in why it is so well-loved and delicious. There are a few hundred chemicals within your typical bar but the most important ones are theobromine, anandamide and caffeine. Theobromine and caffeine are stimulants and, although they only appear in miniscule amounts, it’s enough to give chocolate that addictive feel which means you can never just have one square! Feeling chocolatey yet? Try our scrumptious ‘I Love Chocolate Mini Box’ to get your chocolate fix or send to a chocolate-obsessed friend today.
Another important element of chocolate is a chemical called anandamide. This is a neurotransmitter and actually comes from the Sanskrit "ananda", meaning ‘joy or bliss’. This chemical stimulates the brain and releases a sort of ‘chocolate high’.
We could all use a pamper day occasionally and taking some me-time is the best way to stay healthy and mentally fresh. Pampering yourself can include a range of activities from going on a countryside walk, to running a bubbly bath or even just chilling out in front of the TV. As the weekend beckons, we’re here from Hamper Lounge to give you our top five pamper day ideas.
Run a bath
This is such a simple idea but can often be overlooked in the hurry of day-to-day life. Running a bath and spending an hour relaxing in hot water with soapy bubbles can be the perfect way to unwind after a stressful day. This is also a great option if you don’t have the time to dedicate a whole day to pampering. Just an hour in the bath can be enough to refresh yourself. Our ‘Lavender and Lillie Mini Box’ comes complete with luxurious soap and body lotion and is a great gift to give a loved one- pairing beautifully with a freshly-run bath.
The History of the Ploughman’s Lunch
Appearing on almost every British pub menu, the Ploughman’s Lunch is a staple in British food culture. Typically, a Ploughman’s Lunch includes bread, cheese, pickle and some sort of salad. But what are its origins and how did it come to be?
The phrase ‘Ploughman’s Lunch’ was coined in the 1950s by the Cheese Bureau, but wasn’t popularised until the 1960s when the Milk Marketing Board began using it to increase sales for cheese. It was created as a marketing tactic to sell more cheese but the origins of the combination that makes up the Ploughman’s Lunch goes back much further. The medieval poem ‘Pierce the Ploughman's Crede’, written around 1394, mentions the Ploughman’s lunch as combination of bread, cheese and beer. It makes sense that it was the lunch option of choice for farm labourers as the ingredients were easy to get hold of and were their main source of fats and protein.
From Beder's Kitchen is a charity cook book containing a collection of recipes and reflections from amazing foodies around the world including head and executive chefs at some of the UK's leading restaurants; MasterChef winners; TV chefs; food bloggers; nutritionists; best-selling authors; a Great British Bake Off winner and mental health advocates.
There are 90 contributors in all, who have donated recipes and shared their personal experiences and words of advice about looking after their mental health and how food has played a part in that.
Among those involved are Gordon Ramsay, world famous chef and TV personality; Yotam Ottolenghi, restaurateur, chef and best-selling author; Atul Kochhar, chef and TV regular; Carla Henriques, executive pastry chef at Hawksmoor; Michael Zee, author and creator of Symmetry Breakfast; Romy Gill, chef and TV regular; Judy Joo, host of Korean Food Made Simple; Joudie Kalla, author of Palestine on a Plate; Jack Blumenthal, chef and son of Heston; David Atherton, Great British Bake Off 2019 winner; Liz Earle, writer, TV presenter and author; and Miles Kirby, chef director at Caravan.
The lighter evenings, stunning warm summer sun (fingers crossed!) and the UK’s perfect picnic spots all call for celebrations and what better way to do so than with a Cartwright & Butler poshnic?
Not so glorious outside? As we all know, the classic British summer can be unpredictable, but even if it’s dramp and dreary, you can still enjoy a poshnic indoors.
Here are some top tips for turning your everyday picnic into something special
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