Aequare Chocolates boast sublime single source and vintage!

Aequare Chocolates: Sublime single source and vintage!

The concept is simple. Create a chocolate bar using the vintage system using single source cacao. Crazy you ask? Like a fox. Knowing the world's palate for chocolate has matured and how seriously aficionados seek the perfect chocolate , Aequare steps in with their sublime offerings of handmade bars and confections.

I was lucky to get a bar of their 70% dark chocolate on our "IFWTWA Conference at Sea 2010." I could not have been more thrilled. Always seeking the darkest chocolate; I can't be bothered with the two note sugary-ness of a milk chocolate anything. Dark chocolate like Aequare 70% bar are heaven. I unwrapped the bar, expertly breaking off the corner and popping it into my mouth. It literally stopped me in my tracks. Wow, I think I said out loud;

I sank down against the wall to my knees and took another bite. Fantastic.

The Aequare line also has dark cocoa beans, Ecuardoran Cacao single origin summer 2008 harvest 55% Choc. bar, 70% Dark Choc. Mandarin Orange bar and a 70% Dark Choc. Lemongrass bar along with lovely confections. All handmade. Highly recommended to those that know chocolate. Don't waste these on your not-so-serious friends, they are worthy of fine appreciation. Serve these vintages with a beautiful bold vintage red wine! http://www.aequarechocolates.com

Green Tea Goods traveler and journalist must-haves

Green Tea Goods

New discovery worth noting: Green tea Goods' Natural Hand Refresher , Refreshing Towelettes and Caring Lip Balm a perfect addition to a travel writers on-the-road arsenal! I received these three products in a goodie bag aboard HAL's Eurodam at our "IFWTWA 2010 Conference at Sea." Finally home I took a good look at the products and fell in love.

The Refreshing Towelettes contain Chinese herbs and rosewater- just the thing to clean up with after a gritty afternoon exploring. They are 100% biodegradable which is important to me. They come six to a pack and are easy to slip into your travel case or keep in the car.

I love the Lip Balm too- The ingredients set it apart from other balms. Coconut oil, Almond oil and beeswax are the first ingredients not mineral or petroleum oil! Blended with licorice root, aloe and tea tree among others and this product is good enough to eat.

One whiff of the Natural Hand Refresher and you will be smitten. Mineral water from Hangzhou’s mountains and a special blend of Chinese herbs create this uber- refreshing splash for hands. I used it on my face too! I shared some with my neighbor who loved it to clean her baby's hands. It's mild and leaves a light clean "positive" feeling ( I guess it's the synergy of the herbs . . ) Can't recommend these products enough. For more and availability go to www.greenteagoods.com