Pure Nuff Stuff

We're back from That London, feeling a bit jaded (and a bit elated) still, but there was so much at the Natural and Organics show.  I can't possibly stock everything that took my eye, so I thought it might be useful for me to do a little list of some interesting stuff and post some links to where you can buy or find out more.  There are SO many companies doing amazing stuff these days, but like us, they're still smallish so aren't stocked in every town, but they're still well worth checking out, so here goes:

ChicoBags - I blinking well love these shopping bags, they're funky, strong as a strong thing, pretty and light to carry.  They fold up into a sweet little pouch and have a practical carabina clip so you can clip them to your bag and never leave home without them.  They have superb eco credentials in that they're made from recycled plastic bags so they're litterally things of beauty and function made from rubbish.  Oh, and they're under a fiver.  Have I raved enough?  If you're convinced by all this, then you can get one from the lovely guys at the Phoenicia Food Hall (phone 020 7267 1267).  I can't find anywhere online that they're available here yet, but have contacted the company today to check, will let you know what they say.

Gourmet Smoked Garlic from L'ail Olive - I know, we can all peel garlic for ourselves and all that, but this stuff is delicious, can be used on stir-fries, mixed noodles, spaghetti, you get the idea.  Delicious though, do try it.

Royal Organic Vegetarian Caviar - I'm not a veggie, but I do eat a lot of veggie food, I just like it.  But sometimes it's just lacking something, the feel of the foodstuff is wrong or it just all starts looking a bit too brown for me - but I was blown away by this stuff.  It's made from non-GMO soya and looks just like you'd expect it to, shiny black beads.  It tastes uber special, but has none of the ick-factor of the real deal.  If you're planning a special dinner party or just a special night in with a loved one, then check this out, at £5 you can't go wrong. 

Peppersmith Gum - You won't be surprised to hear that this is peppermint chewing gum, but it's a bit more than just that, it's great quality, uses ethically sourced ingredients and they even provide little strips for you to wrap your gum in so you can throw it away responsibly.  Clever people.  And it tastes gooooooood.

Parissa Wax Strips - Not something I've used too often before, but Rachel convinced me to give it a go.  The ingredients on these are simple and great, but it's the ease of use and lack of mess that makes them special.  Both Rachel and I gave them a go last night from the comfort of our respective bathrooms and then texted eachother excitedly to say how brilliant they were - no mess and VERY effective.  The only slight hesitation I'd have is that there weren't quite enough strips for me or Rach (and we're not freakishly hairy, maybe Canadian woman have shorter legs?) but they're certainly worth a go.

I'm still going through some of the brochures and samples so when I come across more stuff I'll add to this list.