Blueberry, Strawberry, or Raspberry?

Syrups are usually used to add flavor and sweeten up beverages.  Fruit syrups are popularly used in desserts and pastries to up the level of flavor of the fruit that is being used by a notch.  With syrups, fruit flavors taste more intense and pronounced, so there’s no way you can get a pathetic tasting fruit-based dessert or somebody commenting that the fruits used are out of season.

It happens that some of the most popular recipes for desserts, especially involve berries, although they are not readily available (or at their best) the entire year. Thus, Torani syrups come to the rescue! The most common fruit based syrups are strawberry, blueberry and raspberry.  They do belong to the same family, but the flavors and colors of each are distinct and very much different. Let’s look at how each of these fruits makes us berry excited:

Blueberry

This berry is distinct because of its appearance and color.  It is like a bundle of small different berries that are clumped together to form a single berry.  The flavor is quite tart and is popularly used for jams and jellies and combined with apples for pies and tarts. Also, have you heard of scientific studies stating that the darker the color of the berry, the more nutritious it is? Just imagine how loaded blueberries are with anti-oxidants, perfect for cancer prevention? Blueberry is most associated with one dessert though: muffins! Get your blueberry muffin fix with thick swirls of Torani syrups in the middle.

Strawberry

This berry needs no introduction as it is one of the most popular berries.  The red color makes it a popular food gift given during Valentine’s Day.  The flavor ranges from being sweet to tart depending on the season as well as the soil’s condition. Some of the most popular uses for strawberries would be in jams, pies, cakes, and milkshakes. Of course, dessert fans know that a berry feast won’t be complete without a delicious helping of strawberry shortcake.

Raspberry

This is another red berry popular for making pies and tarts.  It is also used to make jams and jellies just like the other berries.  This flavor of Torani syrup is the most popular for those who love Italian sodas as the tartness is perfect to cut of the sweetness of the soda. Raspberry tart is one treat you should definitely try, if you want something very tasty but with just the right hint of sourness.

These flavors of Torani syrups are best used for smoothies or even milkshakes.  A few teaspoons of the syrup will definitely enhance the flavor of various desserts. These berry delicious flavors also come in sugar free varieties, so you do not need to worry about too much calories getting consumed.

Delicious Beverages for the Fall

The leaves on the trees are starting to change color and the air is becoming cooler day by day.  This only signifies one thing: The seasons have started to change and we are now welcoming the fall season.  Now that the weather is becoming cooler by the day, everything is geared toward making everyone feel more comfortable by being warm. Gone are the thin sheet blankets and bring out the comforters! A/C units have to take a rest now as we usher in the season for heaters. As for food, hot soups and warm drinks are very much welcome, so get your mugs ready for steaming concoctions.

credits: China.org.cn

For most of us, hot coffee and a mug of hot cocoa are a treat. But then, people are surely tired of the same ‘ol thing from September to February. Can’t we have other choices for warm drinks to comfort us in the cool breeze of autumn? Of course, there are! Aside from hot chocolate and hot coffee (this, a lot of us drink every day!), there are a lot of other beverages that we can have.  You can get creative with warm drinks especially if you have a lot of Torani syrup and sauces to jazz up your drinks.

• Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Latte – Pumpkin is one flavor that signifies the fall season, with its orange color and its popularity, especially during Halloween.  What better way to use the vegetable of the season than by having it in your coffee?  It is easy to make as the flavors of the drink are courtesy of the Torani syrup that you just need to add.  A bottle of pumpkin spice syrup and Torani cheesecake syrup, and you are set.  Combine them with espresso and milk and you have your own latte perfect to keep you warm in the fall.
• Chai Tea – This is a great alternative to those who prefer a non-coffee based drinks.  You can use the Chai Tea Spice syrup also a to make the taste of the Chai in the tea more pronounced, especially when you only have black tea in your pantry. This is a very relaxing beverage with just the right amount of exotic flavor.
• Spiced Tea – This is another option for those who are not into coffee. You can use the Torani cinnamon syrup and vanilla syrup to make the flavors more distinct.  Just use black tea, add a bit of kick by using a minimum amount of spices like cardamom or saffron before adding those flavorful Torani flavors. This is surely a perfect beverage for cold and chilly autumn nights.

Other fall beverages you can opt are Mulled Cider and Caramel Macchiato.  They can certainly be made tastier with the right Torani flavor combinations. You don’t have to spend too much to enjoy a warm evening with your favorite drink on a rather chilly night in the fall. It definitely helps if you have some Torani syrups handy, though! Be adventurous in mixing and matching the flavors for a more exciting and personalized beverage you can call your own.

Is Seattle the Only Coffee City in America?

Coffee is one beverage that is universally accepted everywhere.  Anywhere you go, you can see people drinking coffee from paper cups with a familiar logo emblazoned on it, or drinking and chatting with friends in a corner coffee shop. People love their coffee and are mighty proud if their city is said to be where great coffee is. When in America, it is said that Seattle is the best coffee city.  People are serious with their coffee, even those that are mixed with Torani syrup. People from other places might object over this statement as there are other cities that can be said to be coffee cities too.

Seattle is no doubt to be the number one coffee city in America as this is where the most popular brands originated.  There are also a lot of coffee shops, roasters and espresso places that litter the whole city.  If it is coffee with Torani syrup that you want, you would just have to walk a block or two to reach the nearest coffee shop.

Other cities with prominent coffee shops around the country are the following:

• Portland, OR – This is one place where you can find places that offer cupping sessions.  There is also a homegrown brand that is now expanding to Seattle and other major cities. Some of the best coffee places in this part of the Pacific Northwest include Stumptown, Coava, Heart, Barista, and Courier Coffee.
• Chicago – This is where you can find Julius Meinl which is considered to be the number 1 Vienna coffee roaster.   With over a hundred years of experience, this coffee house prides itself in being able to combine the best of America and Vienna’s tradition when it comes to handling coffee. Some unique blends in coffee shops in Chi-town include Thyme Warp, a pear citrus flavored soda with some herbal undertones and a sprig of rosemary (exclusive in Wormhole), Love On Top, or Kenya single-origin espresso and grapefruit soda, which can be drank from Intelligentsia on Logan Square, and coffee spritzer in Ch’ava Cafe’s, which is iced coffee, mineral water and foam topping made of elderflower.
• New Orleans – This is one of the places in the US where influences of Creole and French cultures are uniquely present. They have the unique coffee offered at their most famous coffee place, Café du Monde.  The coffee here is unique because it is blended with chicory which gives it a unique flavor that you can only taste here. Café au lait, as what you may hear in the original version of the song Lady Marmalade, is the drink of choice for people here.
• Providence, RI – This is the place where coffee is taken seriously.  Baristas undergo strict training and you can expect your coffee to be always freshly brewed as they do not allow serving coffee that is more than 30 minutes old. This city is also known for having the most coffee and doughnut shops per capita anywhere in the country.

Fun With African Coffee

Coffee is one of the best loved beverages all over the world.  It is one beverage that is widely accepted all over.  There are many places in this world that produce coffee.  Coffee usually grows where it is hot but has a lot of available moisture.  Countries near the equator are said to be the best producers of coffee and Africa, naturally, is a great producer because most of the continent is near the equator. This crop is revered in all coffee growing parts of the continent because people depend on it for livelihood.   So far, the best coffee countries in Africa are Kenya, Ethiopia, and the Ivory Coast.  The blends coming from these countries are loved by people with or without additional Torani syrup.

Coffee from Kenya

The high plateaus of Mt. Kenya and its acidic soil make this place a great place to plant coffee which started around 1893. Their coffee is known for its strong flavor, full body and pleasant aroma when brewed. The funny thing about this is that Kenya used to be a tea-drinking country as they were under the British rule for some time.  It was when they got their freedom that they started with growing coffee.  The flavor might be intense but is still mild compared to the others, which make Kenyan coffee a perfect base for lattes and additions of Torani syrup.

image credit: The Coffee Shrub

You can also try this recipe for Mombasa coffee. Combine cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom seeds in a small pan. Then, you pour water until it boils. Continue to let it boil for 10 minutes before stirring in ground coffee, allowing it to continue boiling for 5 additional minutes. Pour this into a serving pot, with still the spices and ground present. Set it aside for 5 minute so that the grounds and spices can settle.

Coffee from Ethiopia

image credit: Cafe de los Muertos

This country is said to be the birthplace of coffee.  About 12 million people depend on this industry which is their primary cash crop.  That is why the people here revere their bean very much. The flavor of the coffee here is strong but with hints of citrus and floral flavors.  This is best enjoyed brewed with no frills added. So, for those who want to enjoy black coffee without too many frills, coffee from Ethiopia would be the best option for you!

Coffee from the Ivory Coast

image credit: Proactive Investor

This is one of the popular coffee producing countries.  Beans coming from here are mostly the lower grade Robusta coffee beans. Aside from coffee, they are also known to be a top exporter of cocoa beans.  Beans here are usually sold to France and Italy.  The strong and bold flavor of their coffee is known all over and has higher caffeine content compared to the Arabica makes it a great base for beverage with Torani syrup.

With its robust taste, you can try making an Ivory Coast espresso martini. In a shaker, combine ice, Kahlúa, a squirt of coffee syrup, vodka, and freshly brewed espresso made from Ivory Coast coffee. Shake strongly and strain into a martini glass.

Is Coffee Deadly to Your Figure?

Waking up in the morning is usually hard to do especially when the weather is cold.  What better way to wake up than to smell a pot of freshly brewed coffee right?  It has become almost a ritual for most people to have their cup of joe in the mornings.   It helps a lot in jolting the senses to be able to keep you on your toes the rest of the day.  But some people refrain from drinking coffee as it is said to be deadly for the figure.  This can be true for those blended coffee drinks which have a milk, cream, Torani syrup and other additional ingredients blended into it.

These figure-conscious people often say no when offered a glass or mug of coffee concoction because of the calories that is has.  This is true for those that are loaded up with milk, cream and other ingredients aside from the Monin syrup used to flavor it.  The good news is that figure-conscious coffee-lovers can have their share of coffee-based drinks as there are already ways of cutting down the calorie content of the drinks.

• Opt for the low or zero fat dairy options

Milk already has a lot of variations to cater to figure conscious people. There are low or zero fat types of milk brands that can be bought off the shelf in your grocery store.  Most coffee shops also have this option for your dairy so there is no need to worry.

• Choose other sources of milk

Nowadays, with the health being an important factor in our lives, people have discovered that there are other sources of milk. Nuts are one source of milk that is utilized and this includes soy, almond, and cashews.  Grains are also made into milk like rice and hemp milk. Those who want to increase their estrogen count would benefit from having a soy latte.

• Skip the sugar

Torani syrup can add more flavors to your favorite drink instead of sugar packets. If you are reallypicky even with your syrup, then don’t fret- there are sugar-free Torani syrup varieties. Yes, from vanilla to strawberry, you can choose your flavors and add flavor to your coffee without adding sugar calories to it!

• Opt out the whipped cream

This can make a whole lot of different when you are counting calories. A lot of people prefer to not have whipped cream on top of their coffee drink because they don’t like the taste and texture of it. Unknowingly, they are also staying away from extra calories!

• Opt for the basic flavors

If you want to be sure you don’t pack extra pounds just by drinking coffee, why not opt to drink something basic like café Americano? Having your coffee black assures you there are no additional calories from cream (or creamer), sugar, and other add-ins. Of course, you just have to bear the bitter taste, but you may get used to it in the long run.

You can now enjoy your favorite coffee beverage without sacrificing the taste and ruining your perfect figure.