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Why you shouldn’t drink champagne out of plastic cups

‘Tis the season for toasting with bubbly. Glasses of champagne get passed around this month so often that it can be tempting to use casual plastic cups when hosting less formal affairs. But in doing so you’re not only being less environmentally friendly, but you’re not getting the champagne’s full, glorious flavor. A new study on the popular holiday drink proves that its taste is, in fact, affected by the drinking vessel it’s served in. If you’re thinking that bottle of prosecco you cracked open before the office Christmas party didn’t taste as good out of the water cooler cup as it does at home out of your fancy champagne flutes, you would be correct. Plastic vessels such as Solo cups, water bottles, Tervis glasses, styrofoam or any other type of plasticware you may have on hand, will make the bubbles behave differently. The reason is that the bubbles stick to…

Starbucks holiday cups celebrate 20 years

It’s been 20 years since special Starbucks cups first began to grace our holiday season. It’s a ritual for many, that’s as beloved as trimming the tree or baking sugar cookies. The first Starbucks holiday cups made their debut in 1997, though it would be a miracle to find one today. Few were saved and the digital design files were lost in an earthquake in 2001. Even searching online poses few results, as the cups came before the ubiquitous time of selfies and cell phone cameras. One company designer, Sandy Nelson, having had the honor of designing the first cup, stashed away a full set of subsequent cups. “It was August, and I had just started with the company,” Nelson said. “We were working on holiday creative for the season to come. We had what felt like a hundred cup designs pinned up on the wall. Then Howard [Schultz] came by,…

Panera’s new cups to show added sugar, calories in drinks

Panera is rolling out new fountain cups this week that list how much added sugar is in its beverages. After customers pay the cashier, they are handed a cup to take to the drink station. The idea goes, that customers will look down at the cup and have the information, literally on hand, that they need to make smart decisions in regards to sugar intake. “We believe it’s up to companies to take the lead on transparency (and) not wait for legislation,” CEO Ron Shaich said in a statement. The company commissioned a nationwide survey, conducted by KRC Research, that found 99 percent of 1,092 respondents didn’t know the amount of added sugar in soft drink, and 83 percent underestimated the amount. The new “sweet facts” fountain cups will hit stores this week. They list the calorie and sugar content of a “regular cola” (250 calories, 17.25 teaspoons of added sugar) alongside…

Study finds a few alcoholic beverages could actually boost your memory

Social drinkers probably wouldn’t consider memory recall one of the benefits to their Friday night habit, but a new study shows that a few drinks may actually strengthen your ability to learn new information. Researchers at the University of Exeter conducted a study by giving 88 participants a word-learning task. Participants were then divided at random into two groups. One group was told to drink as much as they want, while the other was told not to drink at all. The next day, participants were asked to complete the same task. Surprisingly, those who had drank alcohol did better when remembering what they learned the previous day. “The theory is that the hippocampus – the brain area really important in memory – switches to ‘consolidating’ memories, transferring from short into longer-term memory,” said Professor Celia Morgan of Exeter. The researchers stressed that this limited positive effect should be taken in stride…

Fruit flavored beer on the rise in North America

If you’re a fan of hoppy, bitter beers, hold on to your IPAs — the next trend in beer is not for you. According to a report from Mintel, fruit-flavored beer launches have increased worldwide in response to people seeking more flavorful drink options. Since 2012, one in ten beer launches have contained either fruit juice concentrate, fruit extracts or fruit peels. The trend began to accelerate in Europe about five years ago with the growing popularity of radlers, or shandies — a half beer and half fruit juice or lemonade blend. Seeking to offset a decline in mainstream beer sales, global brewers like Heineken, Carlsberg and Anheuser-Busch InBev began brewing fruit beers as well. But for years it had been craft brewers who have been leading the market with releases of fruity styles such as sours, cherry beers and saisons. Now, we’re also seeing fruit juice being added to their pale ales and…

The sneaky calories you’re slipping into your diet

It’s time to rethink your drink. Unless you are a natural water lover, chances are you’re consuming unnecessary calories through ice teas, coffee, juices or sugary smoothies and sodas. According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the average American consumes 400 calories a day from beverages — that’s about 37 percent of our total daily diet. Research suggests that drinking calories isn’t as satisfying to us a eating the same amount of calories in solid food form, so if you’re looking to maintain a healthy weight, you should start to pay attention to what you’re pouring down the hatch. Here’s how to make the switch to healthy drinks that still taste great, but won’t have you pushing your calorie limits. Know what you’re drinking: Read those nutrition labels. Beverages like energy drinks and iced teas can be deceiving because they advertise their health benefits while hiding…

Try these wines at your next backyard barbecue

Barbecue season is in full swing, but there’s no reason why beer should be the only alcohol available to guests in your backyard. July and August are the perfect time for wine-soaked weekend cookouts. Since these late summer days can be scorchers, it’s important to find wines that will keep you feel refreshed and not contribute to your heatstroke (be careful out there!). BBQ wines also need not be expensive — chill summer nights don’t sit well with anything too stuffy. The search can be difficult, but wines ready for grill days are out there. Here are a few of my favs — whites, rosé, and reds, too! Clos Beylesse Cotes De Provence Rosé 2016 You’ll find nothing more refreshing at a backyard summer soiree than a glass of chilled rosé. Readily available in most wine stores throughout American and Europe, this soft yet zesty wine is extremely light and delicious. $26 Bieler Family Daisy Pinot…

Keep Coffee Beans Cool for maximum flavor

A new study claims that keeping coffee beans cold can cause a more enjoyable drinking experience. Scientific Reports published the study titled The Effect of Bean Origin and Temperature on Grinding Roasted Coffee. Scientists  from the University of Bath in the UK found that “cooling of coffee beans significantly decreases the rate of mass loss through volatile sublimation/evaporation. This, coffee that is ground up and brewed cold could potentially demonstrate increased aroma and or flavor in the eventual brewed cup.” Chilling pre-ground coffee beans would have the same effect. The study goes into great detail explaining the scientific processes that you can read here, but the true take-away for coffee fans is that you should be keeping your beans in the fridge for best flavor and more enjoyable mornings.

Celebrate National Piña Colada Day with Boozy Piña Popsicles

If you haven’t made it to the beach recently, you might be lacking on your piña colada consumption for the summer. Today, we fix that. July 10 is celebrated annually as National Piña Colada Day, and what’s best is you don’t have to be sitting on a beach or the deck of a cruise ship to celebrate. Just mix some rum, cream of coconut and pineapple juice, and shake with ice. Try this delicious recipe from Bon Appétit. For  a more unusual take on the classic drink, try these easy five-ingredient piña colada popsicles! Boozy Piña Colada Popsicles Serves 4 Ingredients 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple 2 tbsp coconut rum + some 1/4 cup coconut milk 3 tbsp organic sugar 2 tbsp shredded coconut (optional) Directions Add pineapple to blender and pour rum over top. Let sit for 5-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to help the pineapple soak up the rum.…

8 Vegan-friendly Starbucks beverages for summer

Being vegan used to mean hauling around a purse full of food or only eating prepared meals at home. Today, it has become a whole lot easier with special menus, or at least a “V” symbol next to animal-friendly options, can have vegans dining along side any other diet or lifestyle in most urban restaurants across America. Starbucks, too, has come a long way. (Remember when crushed beetles were used as red food coloring in the Strawberry Frappuccino? Thankfully, that’s over.) While the company could do more, there are at least a handful of delicious options for vegans looking for a summertime sugar or caffeine fix at the beloved coffee giant. Caramel Frappuccino A few substitutions can make the iconic caramel frap vegan-friendly. Substitute the dairy, go “no-whip” and ask to omit the caramel drizzle as well. Unfortunately, the drizzle is made with 3 different dairy products. https://www.instagram.com/p/BV7jF0qj1JH/?tagged=veganstarbucks Strawberry Smoothie This cold, creamy…