Tag: hatfield

Spice Drops

Published in WH Times January 2019

Sunny Kerala might seem very far away in chilly February, but Hatfield has a fascinating connection with the spice capital of the world. Did you know that award-winning food product Spice Drops is based here? Although the spices are grown in Kerala, the heart of the UK business is right here in Hatfield.

Spice Drops is a range of spice extracts, including red chilli, cardamom, chai, lemongrass, rose, ginger, cinnamon, mint, lime zest and turmeric. Spice Drops has won many Great Taste Awards and you can buy them in Sainsburys, Wholefoods and Ocado. You can also buy them in Aaroh in Hatfield town centre.

I met Gouri Kubair who runs the UK office, and she explained the family history behind the business, which was started by her grandfather. Gouri grew up in Kerala with her younger sister and parents, who grew the business. In 2013 Gouri left her job with Deloitte to bring Spice Drops to the European market. The company in Kerala is a good local employer, with long-term working relationships with local farmers. Over 80% of the workforce is women, many of whom were disadvantaged.

I was surprised to learn that you can add Spice Drops to all sorts of recipes: cakes, coffee, tea, cocktails and of course to add flavour to main courses such as stir-fries, risottos, curries and stews. The rose flavour is very popular for baking, and is more intense than rose water. You could add cinnamon to baking, coffee or porridge, as Gouri suggests. Lemongrass is useful for stir-fries, and much cheaper and longer-lasting than fresh.

Spice Drops contain no added salt, sugar, artificial colouring or preservatives. They are gluten-free and suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets. The drops last for years, unlike dried herbs and spices. They have a growing fan base amongst well-known chefs including Nigella Lawson, Rachel Khoo, Tom Kerridge, Atul Kochhar and Cyrus Todiwala.

It’s a clever product, and an easy way for us to add flavour to our cooking, without the chopping, peeling and grating. You are also helping to support a local business, with international roots!

New Year, New You?

  • Published in WH Times, Jan 2019

There is a lot of information about eating at this time of year: veganuary, weight loss plans, juicing, 5-2 diets, marathon training plans… but what many of us need is just some sensible support and advice that is tailored to us. We are all different, after all, with different needs.

I have been following Deirdre Swede on instagram; she is based in Welwyn and I like her sensible, real-life approach to eating well. I got in touch with Deirdre to ask if she had any advice for our readers this January.

Deirdre has been a Registered Nutritional Therapist for a year, and offers relaxed, one-to-one support as well as group workshops. She is very easy to talk to and her focus is on helping you to feel great, more energised, and to make small, positive changes if you need to. Deirdre told me that we tend to focus on what we need to cut out, but her approach is to make sure we eat enough of what our bodies actually need. “So many of us beat ourselves up about what we eat; I think we should focus on what we do well”, she explained.

In January, Deirdre suggests eating plenty of warming and nourishing porridge, soups and stews. She mentioned that eating salads and raw foods can be a bit tough at this time of year. One tip is to treat yourself to a veg box delivery scheme; it is a great way to make sure you eat seasonal, fresh vegetables, including some you might not always buy, and will help you to “eat the rainbow”.

Deirdre also offers group workshops: her most recent was on hormone health and was ideal for peri- or menopausal women (basically most of us in our 40s and 50s!). At the workshop Deirdre spoke about how sleep and stress can have an impact on your health, and cooked beetroot dip, dahl, roast vegetables and soup to show how easy it is to get more vegetables and pulses into your day. The next workshop is planned for 11 February (19.15-21.30). You can contact Deirdre via nutrition@deirdreswede.co.uk and her facebook page has lots of ideas for eating well.