We love our poncey tea here at Shiny Towers, so any excuse to try out a new one is cause for excitement.
Teapigs organic teas come in all sorts of exciting and unusual varieties (as well as the tried and tested earl greys and English breakfasts) but are all available in beautifully presented teabag form. Despite this, a teapigs cuppa tastes every bit as fresh as a pot of leaf tea, but without the ceremony. The company also has a sound ethical policy. For additional green points, don't forget to follow our guide to a greener cuppa.
It won't be long before we're all reaching for our beach tennis bats and baguettes, as parks and green spaces everwhere prepare for an onslaught of litter and discarded food...
Firebox has come to their aid, with this fabulous, totally biodegradable picnic kit that will leave minimum impact on the environment if you accidentally drop a knife while diving into the brie. The crockery in the set is made from our old friend cassava (the tapioca plant), with wooden spoons, forks and knives. You can even choose a gingham or camouflage cloth to complete your al fresco dining experience. All for just £14.95
It's easy to buy free range eggs in the supermarket: just read the label, look out for those magic words, and hey presto, you've got free range poached, scrambled or boiled eggs for breakfast. But what about all the products containing eggs that we forget are there?
The Good Egg Awards is working to clear up this confusion with a high profile ceremony rewarding those companies that only use free range eggs in their products. Held annually by Compassion in World Farming, the event focuses on products from all over the EU, and previous winners have included Marks & Spencer, Pret a Manger, Sainsbury's and even McDonalds. This year's winners will be announced on Tuesday 29th April.
The concept of 'designer flasks' is one of those things that would have been laughed out of town just a few years ago. But now it's all quite acceptable to be seen toting the latest coffee accessory, with Sigg leading the way.
And now, you can say 'no' to disposable cups with the latest stylish range of flasks, which recently appeared on the website. I'm particularly keen on this 'Night' design, but Sigg has also re-released the classic design, available in various colours. The flask design slips right into a messenger bag, briefcase or purse. Another benefit of the design is the flask will fit into a back pocket allowing it to be carried without a bag. The classic model is available via the site for $19.99
[Via Sustainable is Good]
For those of you lovely Hippyshopper readers that are in the UK, you have yet to discover the glorious magic that are Girl Scout Cookies. However, it seems as though they may not be so magical and glorious, after all. Apparently two 12-year old Girl Scouts in Ann Arbor, Michigan, are refusing to sell the delicious cookies because the palm oil used to make them is causing the deforestation of Indonesia. Palm oil is on demand because it's apparently low in trans fat and the two little green warriors, Madison Vorva and Rhiannon Tomtishe, have asked the Girl Scouts to stop selling them and to save the trees!
Vorva and Tomtishe started a petition that was even signed by Jane Goodall, and now ABC Bakers, who produce the famous GIrl Scout cookies, say that they will only now buy palm oil from established producers. I hate to say this, but YOU GO GIRL SCOUTS!
This post originally appeared on our sister site, Dollymix.
[via The Frisky]
If you thought English wine tasted a bit like flat cider, it's time to think again. Global warming may be to blame for the fantastic grapes being harvested for home-grown wine these days, but we can do a lot to slow its progress by chosing these local varieties over ones that have been flown halfway across the world.
The best I've tasted yet is Chapel Down Baccus, a stunningly crisp white wine from Tenterden Vineyard in Kent. It's fresh, zesty and refreshing, with a similar taste to Sauvignon Blanc. The Chapel Down vineyard has been in business since the 1970s, and also produces some interesting fizz varieties. Until now, I've only ever seen it online and in specialist restaurants, but I've now discovered you can buy the Bacchus white wine for £8.54 at Waitrose
More shoppers than ever are prepared to 'shell out' for free range eggs, following Jamie Oliver's expose on battery farming, it emerged last week. For the first time in supermarket history, free range outsold battery, with 51% of sales.
In 'Jamie's Fowl Dinners', which aired in January, Jamie Oliver highlighted some of the cruel practices of intensive chicken farming, and captured the nation's hearts by putting live, fluffy chicks on the dinner table - only to slaughter the male ones mimicking what goes on in egg farms every day. This was reflected in February's eggs sales, from which the figures were taken.
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We love our poncey tea here at Shiny Towers, so any excuse to try out a new one is cause for excitement. 
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