Babingtons Blends Launch Premium Tea Subscriptions, a Perfect Christmas Gift

And it's not only tasty it's fantastic value, too! 

Subscription customers will receive 10% off any orders and the free shipping minimum value will reduce from £40 to £30 per order.

Repeat orders can be every 1, 2 or 3 months respectively and customers have the chance to change or cancel an order at any time.

With this flexibility, Babingtons Blends customers can enjoy an experience tailored to their individual lifestyle and wellbeing needs, which can naturally change throughout the year. 

You may wish to moderate caffeine intake and so by adding a stunning caffeine free blend, Sweet Dreams, Forest Fruits or the Rooibos favourite, African Nights, would be perfect.

As the seasons change, so do our tea needs. Enjoy more black teas during autumn and winter, including the very popular Breakfast Special blend or during warmer summer months, the refreshing and exhilarating Moroccan Secret green mint tea.

Babingtons Blends teas are all sustainably sourced, hand blended and are 100% natural with no artificial colourings or flavourings. All packaging is biodegradable or recyclable. 

 Chiara Bedini said: “I'm very proud to share my premium and award-winning blends, which are renowned for their quality, freshness, and unique flavours as part of our new subscription service. 

"They are blended by hand with natural ingredients and packaged in eco-friendly materials, I can't think of a better gift for yourself or for someone special.” 

Gift a Subscription 

Gifting yourself or your loved ones with a subscription service is one the most caring presents. Every month, you are warmly reminded of this gift. So why not start straight away with Babingtons delicious, 100% natural teas. An ideal Christmas gift.

Since 1893, Babingtons Tea Rooms at the foot of Rome's iconic Spanish Steps, has been serving fine teas to the world's most discerning tea connoisseurs, always with a dash of British eccentricity, wit and style. Today the descendants of the original founders, cousins Chiara Bedini and Rory Bruce, head up the Italian and UK operations. 

Babingtons Blends Tea Is Available in a Variety of Formats & Refills

Pyramids (x 18) from £7.99, Pouches (Loose leaf) from £6.99, Caddies, loose leaf tea from £11.99, Caddies, pyramid tea bags, from £12.99

Harmonious infusions

Join them in celebrating this unique fusion of aroma, taste, style, eccentricity, wit, and independent behaviour. 

Babingtons skill lies in bringing flavours, cultures, and people together. No matter where you find us in the world, British curiosities are enhanced with local fusions, resulting in an experience that is indefinably, ineffably Babingtons.

Black Scented Teas

A wonderful selection of premium black teas blended with the finest essential oils, flowers, fruits, and spices to satisfy even the most refined palate. A celebration of our true soul.

Miss Babington's 125

A truly enchanting black tea blend, with roses, vanilla, and elderflower, created to celebrate the founders of Babingtons.

Available: only available as pouches (loose only) and refills

Breakfast Special Blend

A rich and wonderfully balanced English breakfast tea created for Babingtons in the 1950s.

Available: pyramids, pouches (loose and tea bags) & refill

Earl Grey Imperial

Great British Food Awards 2022, Highly Commended

Our delightfully balanced and elegant version of the famous bergamot infused tea, enriched with lemon zest and vibrant petals.

Available: pyramids, pouches (loose and tea bags) and refill

Karha Chai

A very special gift from India. A warm and fragrant blend of Assam black tea enriched with a medley of traditional chai spices. 

Available: pyramids, pouches (loose and tea bags) and refill

Green, White and Oolong Scented Teas

It's a delicious selection of premium white, green and oolong teas blended with the finest essential oils, flowers, fruits, and spices to satisfy even the most refined palate.

Moroccan Secret

A refreshing blend of Chinese gunpowder green tea and mint leaves. Delicious both hot and served iced. 

Available: pyramids, pouches (loose and tea bags) and refill

Madame Blue Lady

A blend of Chinese sencha green tea with strong floral notes of cherry blossom and hints of soft tropical fruits.

Available: pyramids, pouches (loose and tea bags) and refill

White Passion

A refreshing blend of Chinese Pai Mu Tan white tea, bursting with notes of tropical passion fruit.

Available: only available as pouches (loose only) and refill

Herbal Teas

A super healthy selection of herbal teas created for our well-being at any time of the day.

Available: pyramids, pouches (loose and tea bags) and refill

Forest Fruits

A refreshing and healthy herbal tea with the delicious taste of forest fruits and berries.

Available: pyramids, pouches (loose and teabags) and refill

African Nights

A rich and sweet rooibos with bold almond flavours and hints of juicy red fruits.

Available: pyramids, pouches (loose and teabags) and refill

Sweet Dreams

When it comes to bedtime, there is nothing better than a soothing herbal tea that really works.

Available: pyramids, pouches (loose and teabags) and refill

Register For Online Subscriptions at https://babingtonsblends.com/pages/subscription

New Christmas coffee from Perky Blenders

We bring you news of a great new Christmas Coffee from Perky Blenders (www.perkyblenders.com), a vibrant and independent, family business roasting Great Taste Award winning specialty coffee from their Leytonstone roastery. 

Perky Blenders operate an award-winning subscription business via their website, supply coffee to over 70 wholesale customers across the UK, and what's more, they serve up daily brews from their coffee shops across London. 

Winter 2022 sees the dynamic , highly caffeinated, team roll out their much-anticipated yearly Christmas Coffee for home delivery via the website, in-store throughout their cafés and across Eat17 Spar shops (£10 per 250g bag); the new coffee will also showcase the evolution of Perky Blenders’ branding with bold and graphic new pack design.

The first new release for the refreshed pack designs is the Perky Blenders Christmas Coffee, adorned with upbeat, pop-art-inspired design, emblazoned with a rallying call for ‘Peace & Joy’. 

Freshly roasted in East London, the Christmas Blend is comprised of 50% Mexican Coatlan and 50% Ethiopian Qantite; Head of Coffee Francois Knopes says, “expect notes of caramel, stone fruits and toasted almonds; the Mexican Coatlan beans offer nutty base notes and a silken caramel texture; the Ethiopian Qantite brings high, sweet notes with its honey, floral and peach flavours.” 

Mexican Coatlan is a blend of coffees produced by smallholder farmers from the Oaxaca region, processed by Galguera Gomez. Ethiopian Qantite is produced in the province of Sidamo by Daye Bensa, who work with over 5000 smallholder farmers in the area.

You can also opt to gift a, letterbox friendly, regular delivery of Perky Blenders to your coffee loving family members or mates, reminding them of just what a nice, generous soul you are, every month. And you'll be able to show them that Christmas is for all year round!

Just sign them up to a super simple, speedy and sustainably sourced subscription of three, six, or twelve month varieties (from £26 to £91). You can choose from a selection of six beans (including decaf and rotating coffee of the month options), which you can grind for eight different brew methods or leave as whole beans.

Or why not opt for a personalised bag of coffee? Perky Blenders will emblazon a bag of top-quality coffee; inside, you’ll find 250g of Perky Blenders’ signature Forest Blend - the best brew in the business. Choose from whole beans and eight other grind styles; you’ve got 20 characters to play with on the label, and four customisable pack colours, so feel free to get personal with their name, your name or whatever memorable phrase you fancy. 

All Perky Blenders coffee beans are sourced sustainably, from trusted suppliers, prioritising smallholders and independent farmers. All elements of the Christmas bag can be recycled at all major supermarkets - or sent back to Perky Blenders.

Wishing you Peace & Joy, and a Merry Christmas, from the Perky Blenders family, and all the very best wishes for a wonderful 2023!

Dreaming of a Costa Christmas

Our favourite coffee shop (we have the Costa card!) Costa Coffee, is stepping up to Christmas by announcing its special limited-edition festive food and drinks range. 

It’s bound to be love at first sight, with fan top favourites making a triumphant return, along with some delicious new festive surprises. 

The new Christmas menu which will be available across Costa Coffee stores and Costa Express self-serve machines from Third November.   

For the very first time, Costa Coffee is showcasing two brand new stars as part of its festive drinks menu, bringing a Latte inspired by Toblerone®. This true classic has been given a festive makeover thanks to the addition of indulgent chocolate and honey-flavour sauce that’s inspired by the iconic Toblerone® taste. It is topped with a light dairy swirl and a festive twinkle topper. And for that extra bit of seasonal magic, it also comes with a wrapped Toblerone® tiny bar to enjoy on the side. 

And fans of Costa Coffee’s Gingerbread & Cream Latte and Terry's Chocolate Orange® Hot Chocolate rejoice as these delicious favourites return to the Christmas line-up. You can even complement it perfectly with the returning Terry’s Chocolate Orange® Muffin, filled with chocolate orange sauce and topped with icing and a delicious segment of the iconic Terry’s Chocolate Orange®.  

Both of the above are going to be Christmas "must haves" as far as I am concerned!

And do look out for their special Christmas foods and snacks.

Check the details out at https://www.costa.co.uk.

Christmas Table Ideas and Inspiration from Walton & Co

Christmas Table ideas from Walton & Co. The ideal basis for a perfect Christmas tablescape!

From illustrated designs to festive embroidered runners, They have plenty of ideas to kick-start the inspiration!

Walton & Co are a family operated business based in Yorkshire and they are renowned for their quality and eye for design. 

The brand seasonally creates a wide range of design led soft furnishings and textiles for the home all lovingly curated by their team of in-house designers. 

A spokesman said: "We supply independent home and gift retailers, garden centres and department stores in the UK and also in Europe, whose customers seek style, newness and lasting quality.

"Our well-travelled design team have honed their expertise in assessing future trends in fashion, culture and interiors and translating these into collections for the home that combine functionality with on-trend looks."

What are they bringing to your Christmas table this season?

There are seasonal table linen with tablecloths, placemats, runners and napkins in cotton with new ranges each Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter.

Christmas and occasional dining with white table linen, glamourous decorative linens with festive themes adorned with decorative embroidery, sequins and  beads.

Throws in faux fur, knits and weaves with two new collections each year.

Cushions. Embroidered, printed and appliqued that are beautiful additions to any room

Seat pads and mattress cushions for kitchen, dining and garden chairs

Kitchen linens aprons, tea towels, oven gloves new collections every season.

Nursery gifts, the softest toys, comforters and cotton nursery accessories.

Bedcovers quilted in 4 sizes. Embroidered, patchwork, cotton and microfibre in a range of colours. Classic white and ecru Portuguese jacquard bedspreads.

Rugs are a part of each seasonal collection in cotton, sizes for hall runners, bathrooms and bedrooms. Inside/outside rugs in polypropylene.

Their business was established as weavers of specialist linen products made only to the highest standards. This ethos has continued today and we supply oven cloths, floor cloths, dishcloths, glass cloths, tea towels, linen scrim & dusters that are synonymous with value and quality.

Based in North Yorkshire, Walton & Co has been owned by the Marshall family since 1991. Their buyers have established trading relationships with world class manufacturers to ensure that our exclusive designs are made to our rigorous quality levels whilst making the products as competitively priced as possible.

The firm commenced business in 1785 under the title of Walton, Oates & Co. It has a history that is filled with interest and has archives dating back to the days of employment of hand-loom weavers. Drapers Record, on June 4th 1927, stated ‘the goods have a fine reputation for quality and durability’, values which stand true in the 21st Century.

Today, living, eating and entertaining are informal, inside or outside. Our latest collections reflect this mood so that you can create unique spaces in which to relax.

Incidentally the company welcomes enquiries from retailers who wish to stock their products.

To learn more call them on 01423 326332 or visit their online retail establishment at  www.waltonshop.co.uk.

Christmas body scrubs for less than a fiver!

The top, yet eminently affordable beauty brand, Organic Shop, has given itself a pre-Christmas makeover! 

With brighter, new packaging and fresh, fruity flavours, this range of natural hair, body and skin care looks and smells utterly heavenly! 

All products are made with much love and care, using fruit, vegetable and tropical flower extracts.

What does this mean for the recipients of the gifts you select for them? They'll find no synthetic fragrances or dyes, no parabens, just lots of fresh, natural ingredients together with certified organic oils and extracts. And, as the name suggests, everything is grown without the use of chemical fertilisers.

They also use recyclable and/or biodegradable packaging, so you and they can feel good that you’re looking after our planet!

They just launched their Christmas body scrubs, carefully made with carefully selected organic sugar that gently exfoliates the skin without drying it out. At just £3.49 each, with free prime next day delivery, these are perfect for Secret Santa or last-minute stocking fillers.

Who doesn't love the smell of freshly baked biscuits? The combination of organic ginger and organic cinnamon extracts in their special Christmas Cookies Scrub perfectly tones the skin, leaving it feeling supple and softer at the same time.

Or people can indulge their senses with Gingerbread Body Scrub, which contains organic ginger extract and organic orange oil, to leave your skin feeling firm, soft and radiant.

Their colourful Candy Cane Body Scrub with organic vanilla and strawberry extracts hydrates skin during exfoliation and leaves a fruity, sweet scent.

Certified Cosmos Natural and suitable for vegans, too!

Available from www.amazon.co.uk/organicshop.

The British Craft House will help you Christmas decorate your home

You will be able to decorate your home with considerable style this Christmas year with wonderous handmade creations all made for The British Craft House here in Great Britain. 

You can choose sustainable and eco-friendly gifts which are certain to be treasured and brought out year after year rather than binning with the first waste collection of the New Year.

The British Craft House features the very best of artisan designs under one roof. All expertly created in workshops, garages and studios, these hardworking creatives are truly Santa's elves making sure their items are made with love and packed up carefully to get to the lucky recipient. 

Shopping small and supporting independent businesses is certainly more important than ever this year! 

And there are lots and lots more to see on their website too with so many artisans collected all under one roof. 

You can visit their Christmas emporium here https://thebritishcrafthouse.co.uk.

New skincare products that are dreamy and ethical and just right for Christmas

These products are handmade in Oxford, the world-famous City of Dreaming Spires.

Sitaarah’s products are created and formulated employing only high quality sustainably-sourced organic and natural ingredients.

All are vegan, cruelty-free and contain no artificial colours or fragrances. So will make ideal Christmas gifts for the person in your life who loves skincare products.

Atiqa Rana, Sitaarah’s co-founder, said: “We’re all about making you feel good,  physically and mentally, which is why we choose the ingredients that go into our products so very carefully.

“Our products are effective and uncomplicated. The oils we use in each one balance each other perfectly and work in harmony with each other to produce maximum results for your skin and for your wellbeing.

“The aim with all our products is that they will lift your mood as well as leaving your skin feeling healthy, nourished and glowing.”

Sitaarah’s seven products are:

Radiance Face Oil

Golden Argan oil, with wholesome Rosehip Seed oil, packed full of vitamins, fatty acids and antioxidants to rejuvenate your skin, combined with an uplifting essential oil blend of Juniper Berry, Rose Geranium and Lavender to produce a lightly reviving aroma. These essential oils have purifying, cleansing and invigorating properties. Easing tension and lifting your mood while leaving your skin radiant, vibrant and supple.

Vitality Body Oil

Golden Argan oil and indulgent Sweet Almond oil, rich in vitamins, nutrients and fatty acids to nourish and soften your skin, combined with an uplifting essential oil blend of Lemongrass, Juniper Berry, Patchouli and Rose Damascena to produce a wonderfully fresh citrus fragrance. These essential oils have invigorating, rejuvenating and stimulating properties. Cleansing, detoxifying and tightening the skin, leaving it feeling supple, glowing and healthy.

Vitality Body Scrub

Made from an exfoliating base of finely ground pink Himalayan salt crystals, containing over 80 minerals and trace elements vital to the health of your skin. The salt crystals are drenched in a blend of golden Argan oil and indulgent Sweet Almond oil, rich in vitamins, nutrients and fatty acids to nourish and soften your skin. Then uplifting Lemongrass, Juniper Berry, Patchouli and Rose Damascena essential oils to produce a wonderfully fresh citrus fragrance. This combination of salt and oils with invigorating, rejuvenating and detoxifying properties will soften, nourish and polish your skin. Leaving it feeling supple and glowing, while encouraging good circulation.

Tranquility Body Oil

Golden Argan oil and silky Coconut oil, full of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids to soothe and enrich your skin, combined with a calming essential oil blend of Lavender, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang and Sandalwood to produce a gently warm and heady aroma. These essential oils have relaxing, balancing and harmonising properties. Nourishing, regenerating and toning your skin, leaving it feeling soft, smooth and radiant.

Tranquility Body Scrub

Made from an exfoliating base of finely ground pink Himalayan salt crystals, containing over 80 minerals and trace elements vital to the health of your skin. The salt crystals are lightly moistened with a blend of golden Argan oil and silky Coconut oil, full of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids to soothe and enrich your skin. Then calming Lavender, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang and Sandalwood essential oils produce a gently warm and heady aroma. This combination of salt and oils with relaxing, balancing and harmonising properties will soften, nourish and polish your skin. Leaving it smooth and radiant, while encouraging good circulation.

Uplifting Bath Salts

Restorative pink Himalayan salt crystals, containing over 80 minerals and trace elements vital to the health of your skin, including zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium, infused with an energising essential oil blend of Rose Geranium, Juniper Berry and Lavender to produce a fresh, floral, reviving aroma. This combination of salt and oils with cleansing and invigorating properties will give you a gently uplifting and aromatic bath. Energising your body and reviving your senses while nourishing, softening and regenerating your skin.

Soothing Bath Salts

Restorative pink Himalayan salt crystals, containing over 80 minerals and trace elements vital to the health of your skin, including zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium, infused with a relaxing essential oil blend of Patchouli, Lavender, Palmarosa and Sandalwood to produce a warm, earthy, sweet-scented fragrance. This combination of salt and oils with grounding and harmonising properties will give you a wonderfully soothing and aromatic bath. Easing your body and calming your senses while nourishing, softening and regenerating your skin.

Sitaarah was set up by Atiqa and Justin. Atiqa has decades of experience working in the spa and skincare industry, of running a company and formulating gorgeous products and treatments. Justin’s background is in documentary film making, with a particular emphasis on human rights.

The name Sitaarah means ‘star’ or ‘destiny’ in the ancient languages of southern and western Asia.

In order to maintain the highest standards of quality Sitaarah makes all of its products in-house with no outsourcing of manufacturing. This ensures that we control exactly what goes into our products and how they are made.

Sitaarah also provides a bespoke product development service for customers who wish to offer products and spa treatments under their own brand. We are currently developing a range of bespoke skincare products for a menopause clinic in London’s Harley Street.

You can check them out here https://sitaarah.com.