Pana Chocolate

Everybody loves a sweet and simple treat every once and awhile, and we here at The Amazing Blog, are no exception. When we received samples from Pana Chocolate, we were enthusiastic to sink our teeth into the variety of unique qualities and flavours that this company has to offer.

Pana Chocolate may look like ordinary chocolate, but the taste and ingredients are far from the norm. When you take a bite, the treat becomes a soft delectable that melts in your mouth and provides an unexpected burst of flavour. Not only is the taste unique, but the ingredients and the way it is made makes Pana Chocolate truly one of a kind.

Pana Chocolate is handmade in Melbourne Australia. The company takes pride in the fact that their chocolate is raw, vegan and gluten free. It also has no dairy or soy, making it truly accessible to everyone. It includes an array of all-natural ingredients such as organic nuts, goji berries, coconut flakes and pure 100% essential oils. Unlike most chocolate, Pana Chocolate isn’t treated at high temperatures, and the organic contents give the chocolate a gooey and soft taste. Overall, this scrumptious treat is tasty, organic, all-natural and delicious. What could be better?

Pana Chocolate comes in a variety of flavours, from plain 80% cocoa bars to cinnamon and rose. The price of each bar varies from £6.50-8.50 and can be purchased at Nature Intended stores in the UK or through their website here.  

Gluten Free Baking and Living - Gluten Free Baking Courses

The entire nation seems to be engrossed in The Great British Bake Off at present, and we here at The Amazing Blog are no exception. Week after week, we tune in to marvel at the delicious doughy creations, but it strikes us that it must be near torture for those intolerant to gluten, who cannot join in with the delectable delights. With this in mind, we were delighted to discover these Gluten Free Baking Courses, offered by Gluten Free Baking and Living.

We all know that gluten isn’t the healthiest of ingredients, but often find it hard to resist the pull of those mouthwatering cakes. Thankfully, married team, Ian and Deborah Thackeray are here to teach us how to produce scrumptious bakes, with none of the gluten. With a range of cookery classes throughout the autumn and winter months, Deborah and coeliac, Ian instruct on how to make a range of sumptuous treats like cinnamon buns and baguettes. As well as their beginners, patisserie and bread making courses, they also teach a hotly anticipated Christmas class, where you can master the art of Christmas cakes, Christmas pudding and delicious stuffing. And if you ask us, there's nothing like getting an early start on your Christmas checklist. If you’re desperate to get baking, but can’t make it to the courses, not to worry, as Ian and Deborah also offer ‘at home’ courses. Presented in a novel comic book style, you can teach yourself how to bake gluten free products like a pro in the comfort of your own kitchen. Speaking for ourselves, we can't wait to get adding to our baking repertoire.

The one-day courses run from the 7th of September to the 30th November in 3 different locations – London, Wirral and Harrogate. Priced between £75 and £110, depending on the course and location, courses include all the ingredients, tuition, refreshments and lunch. Book your place on a range of courses here, and perfect your gluten free baking skills. Alternatively, you can 'try before you buy' and sample the 'at home' cheesy scones course for free here. You'll be creating bakes to rival Mary Berry's in no time.

Blockhead - Compressed Energy Gum

Here at The Amazing Blog, we frequently find ourselves juggling a jam packed schedule. As a result, we’re constantly running on fumes and often long for a quick pick-me-up. Although we know we can always rely on a trusty cup of coffee in a pinch, we were excited to discover Blockhead Energy Gum. An innovative chewing gum designed to work in a similar way to energy drinks, it certainly saw us through the week with a pep in our step.

Sugar free and filled with caffeine and B Vitamins galore, this minty treat is designed to release energy five times faster than the average energy boosting beverage. The active agents are absorbed orally, reaching the bloodstream much faster, allowing us to get to work at record speed. Importantly, the power packed chews have a great taste. With two flavours to choose from, the Original gum has a berry like taste to it, delicious for chomping at your desk. The more traditional Mint flavour has everything you would expect from a stick of gum, making it a pleasure to chew, instead of a last ditch attempt to stay awake.

Marketed in blister packaging, Blockhead Gum certainly delivered the dose of energy that we craved. You can buy a single pack of 10 pieces here for £1.95. Alternatively, a box of 18 packs is available here for £26.00.

Zingology - Whole Food & Juice Powders

We here at The Amazing Blog are always looking for fresh, innovative ways to get our 5-a-day. From smoothies to fruit filled treats, we thought we’d exhausted all avenues, until we discovered Zingology. The Whole Food & Juice Powder brand were kind enough to send us a sample of their fruit and vegetable range, and we couldn’t wait to get creative.

Using patented technology, Zingology are able to make vegetables and fruits into delicious, vibrant powders, whilst almost completely preserving their nutritional value. With four flavours to choose from: carrot, beetroot, strawberry and raspberry, there’s no end to the delectable dishes you can create. Providing all the nutrition and flavour of their fresh counterparts, these easy to use powders are perfect for cooking, adding to drinks, incorporating into baked goods, or just eating straight off the spoon. We really enjoyed sprinkling the fruity flavours over our morning porridge for a delicious burst of berry flavour. The vegetable flavours found themselves equally at home in our juicer, adding a little something extra to our juicy concoctions. If you’re not quite sure how to use them, Zingology has a range of recipes available on their website. We’re not sure about you, but the Pink Beetroot Pancakes are definitely next on our ‘to bake’ list.

Buy the Zingology Whole Food Powders here for £14.95 and the Juice Powders here for £24.95. They are also newly available to buy from Ocado here, so there’s no excuse for slacking on your 5-a-day target.

Good Hemp Food - Good Seed

Here at The Amazing Blog, we love natural, feel good food. When it comes to organic ingredients, we struggle to think of one more earthly than hemp, so we were thrilled when Braham and Murray’s Good Hemp Food sent us their whole eclectic collection of Good Seed Shelled Hemp to try. Perfect for using whilst cooking, sprinkling on salads, or simply as a snack, the range includes Original Shelled Hemp, Italian Herbs, Asian Spices, and Sweet Cinnamon flavours, all of which are packaged in cute reusable tubs. We loved all the flavours and the multi-use aspect of each one. Out of the collection, we were most pleased with the original flavour, as we were able to use it with such a broad selection of foods and flavours. The mildly nutty taste and the soft texture of the shelled hemp made it an ideal accompaniment for mixing in yoghurt, or simply snacking on at our desks. Rich in Omega 3 and protein, we love that this product is good for the environment as well as our bodies. We were also happy to hear that the whole of the hemp plant is used when making the products, so nothing goes to waste. We can assure you that not a delicious seed was wasted here in the office either.

We feel good about ourselves when eating the Good Seed Shelled Hemp collection and you should too! You can pick up the Original, Italian Herb, Asian Spices, and Sweet Cinnamon for £3.89 each. Alternatively, you can treat yourself to the entire tasty selection, here, for £15.56.