Organic Mulled Wine Spices Old Hamlet 4 Cloth Bundles - Steenbergs - 20g

A warm drink ritual best accompanies cold winter evenings. Whether it's a cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate, it always makes you feel good. As we are approaching the Christmas holiday season, perhaps it's time to consider adding some spices to your drinks. A nice cup of chai latte or a glass of mulled wine is the perfect pairing with sofa time or fireplace in the evening. What is mulled wine? Mulled wine is sweet, warmed red wine mixed with winter spices such as cloves, cinnamon, and citrus fruit peel. There is a mulled wine tradition in nearly every European country where it's particularly popular during Christmas time when the nights are the longest. This is when people like to gather on Christmas markets and enjoy a cup of this warming drink while outside watching festive decorations and enjoying Christmas songs and special treats. Mulled wine goes by many names, like glögg in Scandinavia, gluhwein in Germany and Austria, vin chaud in France, and grzane wino in Poland. These days you can buy it in many supermarkets, but it is also easy to make at home. What do you need to make mulled wine at home? When making mulled wine at home, you need to prepare a large pot and a bottle of some good wine. The wine should be fruity, slightly sweet and not too dry. You can also add some extra vermouth - which will add some bitter-sweetness. The essential ingredients are the Christmas spices, so your mulled wine is intense in flavour. What spices do you add to mulled wine? To make delicious mulled wine at home, you need: dried lemon zest, dried orange zest, cloves, Ceylon cinnamon sticks, dried ginger, brown sugar, star anise, whole allspice. Homemade Mulled Wine Recipe 1 bottle of red wine 1 cup of sweet vermouth 1 cup brown sugar 1-2 lemon zest (or dried orange peel) 1-2 orange zest (or dried lemon peel) 12 cloves 4 cinnamon sticks 4 dried ginger pieces 4 cardamon seeds 4 star anise 10 whole allspice Method: In a large pot, mix all the ingredients. Simmer gently for about 15 minutes until the sugar dissolves in the liquid. Remove the spices and dried fruit before serving. Drink warm!

n the growing UK market for organic produce and health foods, it’s easy to be swayed by beautiful packaging and minimalist websites. We’ve all seen them—the curated "gourmet" shops that look perfect on a kitchen counter. But as we move further into 2026, savvy British shoppers are starting to ask a more important question: "What is actually behind the label?" At Whole Food Earth, we believe that a "premium" food store shouldn’t just be about how a product looks; it should be about the rigorous science, safety, and traceability that brings that food to your table. Here is why transparency is the most important ingredient in your pantry. 1. The "Black Box" of Sourcing Many online food shops act as "middlemen." They buy in bulk, repackage, and sell. But often, the trail ends there. If you ask where a specific bag of almonds was grown or when it was harvested, the answer is often a shrug. The Whole Food Earth Difference: We don't believe in "mystery" food. Our Batch-Tracking system means every single product has a digital passport. Whether it’s Organic Quinoa or Raw Cacao, we can trace it back to the specific harvest. This isn't just a "nice to have"—it’s a fundamental pillar of food integrity. 2. Certificates vs. Claims Anyone can claim their food is "natural" or "high quality." In the UK, these terms aren't always strictly regulated. To truly trust a supplier, you need to look for the "Gold Standards." The Standard: Basic Food Hygiene ratings (the 0-5 stickers). The Authority: SALSA (Safe and Local Supplier Approval). Being SALSA certified means our facility, our staff, and our processes are audited annually by independent experts. It’s a rigorous, scientific standard that many "average" gourmet shops simply don't invest in. When you buy from us, you aren’t just trusting our word; you’re trusting a nationally recognised safety framework. 3. The Nutritional "Deep Dive" A great food store shouldn't just sell you an ingredient; it should help you understand it. Most shops provide a basic calorie count and move on. We believe our customers deserve more. That’s why we explore the complex science behind our products—from the Antioxidant Scale of Cacao Liquor to the Selenium levels in Brazil Nuts. Our goal is to empower you with the same knowledge our Quality Technicians use every day. "In 2026, 'Good Food' is no longer just about taste; it’s about the peace of mind that comes from knowing exactly what—and who—is behind your nutrition." 4. Avoiding the "Aesthetic" Trap It’s easy to make a bag of lentils look "artisan." It’s much harder to ensure those lentils were stored at the correct moisture levels, tested for purity, and handled in a way that prevents cross-contamination of allergens. At Whole Food Earth, our "aesthetic" is Integrity. We prioritize: Small-Batch Freshness: Ensuring stock doesn't sit in a warehouse for years. Minimal Processing: Keeping the "food matrix" intact to avoid the dangers of Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs). Expert Oversight: Having a dedicated technical team that understands the microbiology of food safety. The Bottom Line The next time you’re browsing for your organic staples, look beyond the pretty font and the minimalist bags. Look for the batch numbers, the safety certifications, and the expert knowledge. Real health starts with real transparency. And at Whole Food Earth, that’s exactly what we provide. Ready to see the difference for yourself? EXPLORE OUR BATCH-TRACKED COLLECTION of WHOLE FOODS.

When you pick up a bag of our Organic Chia Seeds or Red Split Lentils, you aren’t just buying ingredients; you’re buying a promise. In the UK, that promise is backed by a complex web of regulations, inspections, and certificates. But for the average shopper, the world of food safety can feel like an alphabet soup of acronyms. You might have heard of "Food Hygiene Ratings," but have you heard of SALSA? As we navigate 2026, the bar for food safety has never been higher. Here is the difference between "standard" hygiene and the gold-standard excellence we strive for. 1. The "Standard": The Local Authority Rating Most people are familiar with the green-and-black "window stickers" found on high-street cafes and takeaways. This is the Environmental Health Office (EHO) rating, which scales from 0 to 5. What it covers: Basic cleanliness, structural integrity of the building, and cross-contamination prevention. The Reality: While a 5-star rating is essential, it is often a "snapshot" in time based on a local council visit. It is the baseline requirement for any food business in the UK, but for a major supplier of whole foods, it is only the beginning. 2. What is SALSA? (Safe and Local Supplier Approval) For specialist producers and larger-scale suppliers like Whole Food Earth, the standard EHO visit isn't enough. We go through SALSA. SALSA is a robust food safety certification scheme specifically designed for the UK’s best small and medium-sized food producers. It is recognized by the UK’s leading retailers (including the likes of Waitrose and Sainsbury's) as a mark of superior quality. How SALSA differs from a standard inspection: Traceability: SALSA requires us to prove exactly where every single grain came from. If we have a bag of Organic Almonds, we can trace them back to the specific farm and harvest date. HACCP Rigour: We must implement a "Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point" (HACCP) plan. This is a scientific system that identifies every possible risk—from a microscopic dust particle to a temperature fluctuation—and builds a fail-safe to prevent it. Annual Audits: Unlike standard inspections which can be years apart, SALSA requires a rigorous annual audit by a highly qualified food safety expert. 3. Why This Matters in 2026 Food safety in 2026 isn't just about "washing your hands." It’s about Data and Integrity. The Battle Against Food Fraud In a global supply chain, "food fraud" (where high-quality ingredients are swapped for cheaper fillers) is a growing concern. SALSA standards ensure that when we say a product is 100% Organic, we have the forensic paperwork to prove it. Allergen Management With the UK's strict "Natasha’s Law" now fully embedded in our food culture, managing allergens like nuts and gluten requires pharmaceutical-grade precision. SALSA-certified facilities must demonstrate total control over cross-contamination to keep our customers safe. Sustainability and Hygiene Modern hygiene standards now also look at sustainability. SALSA encourages efficient waste management and responsible sourcing, ensuring that a "clean" facility also means a "green" facility. 4. Peek Behind the Curtain: The Whole Food Earth Promise At Whole Food Earth, we don't just meet the standard; we aim to set it. Our commitment to SALSA principles means: Strict Supplier Approval: We only work with farmers who share our obsession with purity. Regular Testing: We batch-test our products to ensure they are free from contaminants and meet our high nutritional profiles. Continuous Improvement: We don't just pass an audit and forget about it; our team is constantly refining our processes to stay ahead of UK regulations. The Bottom Line When you see a SALSA-certified producer, you are looking at a business that has chosen to be scrutinised. In 2026, "Food Hygiene" is no longer just about a clean floor; it’s about a transparent soul. By choosing SALSA-standard products, you are supporting a food system that prioritises your health, your safety, and the integrity of the British pantry. Trust the process. Taste the purity. Explore our Certified Organic Range here.