Apple Cider Vinegar is a wonderful healthy ingredient that has many uses, both culinary and medicinal, and has a long history in home remedies and natural medicine. It is made from fermented apple juice, and it is important when choosing this product to find one that is undistilled and retains the "mother", a cloudy residue at the bottom of the bottle. A quality cider vinegar will be a rich amber colour.

Organic Brown Rice Vinegar is a naturally brewed vinegar  containing  essential amino acids, and is a versatile seasoning. It can be used with cooked vegetables, raw salads,  grains and fish. It is traditionally used when making sushi, and helps to balance salt. 

Brown rice vinegar has a mouth watering acidity that awakens taste buds and stimulates the appetite. Traditionally used in Japan, Brown Rice Vinegar is made from brown rice and koji, in earthenware pots underground. It is used to make vegetable pickles that stimulate digestion and neutralise acids that form in the body.

The Cacoa tree is grown in the tropics, and there are many varieties grown to suit different climates and environments. There are three main cultivar groups of cacao beans used to make cocoa and chocolate. The most prized, rare, and expensive is the Criollo Group. Only 10% of chocolate is made from Criollo, which is less bitter and more aromatic than any other bean. After harvest, the cacao beans are fermented,  allowing the flavour to transform into that which we associate with chocolate. After the fermentation, the beans are dried, and this can take up to 2 weeks. During this time, the beans change from a rich red colour to dark brown.

Kuzu is the root of a Japanese plant like Arrowroot, which grows wild in mountainous regions. Organic Kuzu is a high quality ingredient that is an ideal thickening agent for soups and stews, in both sweet and savoury dishes. In Japan, kuzu has long been held in high regard for its ability to help alkaline the body.  Kuzu is available in a powdery white form. To use, crush the chunks and thoroughly dissolve in a small amount of cold water. Mix this into your cooking liquid and heat, stirring continuously until it turns thick and translucent. A half to one tablespoon of kuzu will thicken one cup of liquid.

Honey is a much loved food, and has been a special favourite food of humans for thousands of years. Following the astounding process of its creation is a fascinating journey. While people all over the world have long known about the special nutritional and medicinal properties of some honeys, recent scientific research has documented some valuable health benefits.

Tea - The name we give to the beverage made by steeping processed leaves, buds or twigs of the tea bush, Camellia sinensis, in hot water for a few minutes. Black Tea, White Tea and Green Tea are all from the same plant, and the difference in taste and appearance is due to the different grades of leaf, and the varying processes that the harvested plant goes through before it is sold.