Radiance - The Juice Cleanse Co.

If you're feeling uninspired by the usual chocolate choice around at this time of year, why not try your hand at our raw, vegan chocolate donuts for a grown-up advent treat.

These look stunning, taste amazing and are a little indulgent - a great treat alternative. You will need a silicone donut mould for the perfect shape.

Ingredients

Raw Donut:
1/2 cup pitted medjool dates - soaked for 2 hours
1/2 cup ground almonds
2tbsp raw cacao powder
1tbsp coconut oil
1tbsp (to taste) maple syrup

Glaze:
3tbsp coconut oil
4tbsp maple syrup
9tbsp raw cacao powder
vanilla extract

Toppings:
These can be really flexible - use what you can find in your cupboards! Some of our favourites...
Desiccated Coconut
Coconut Chips
Edible Flowers
Raw Cacao Nibs
Chopped nuts

Instructions

1. Add all the donut ingredients to a Magimix (or food processor) until well mixed.
2. Remove the mixture from the food processor and divide it into 4
3. Press into the mould cavities and shape
4. Pop in the freezer and leave to set (approx 90 mins).
5. To make the glaze, sift the cacao and mix all the ingredients well in a bowl.
6. Remove the donuts from the freezer, and dunk into the glaze. Set onto greaseproof paper and top with your toppings.
7. Return to the freezer for about 20 minutes until completely set.
8. Keep in the fridge until you're ready to enjoy them.

At Radiance, we work hard to ensure our ingredients are the best possible; nutritious, organic, clean and safe. But we also have a passion for producing delicious juices that are enjoyed by our customers. 

Just like us, our friends at Noble understand the importance of balancing flavour and nutrition, and have given us some insight into how they do just that. 

With so many ingredients out there - how did you start when you approached creating the Noble products?
 
Our mission has always been to produce natural products with maximum nutritional value. We begun by using expertise in functional nutrition and potent formulation to create nutrient-rich blends with targeted health benefits to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. 

At the same time, we wanted to provide our customers with an easy way to access and include these amazing organic ingredients in their diet every day. Some people don’t have time to blend a smoothie every morning, and with Noble, one spoonful of our blend stirred into hot mylk or hot water can provide a daily nutritional punch.

But on top of it all, the product needed to be delicious – we wanted our customers to enjoy the taste, not just the nutritional value. Using natural plant-based ingredients, our aim is that each blend is perfectly balanced to be as nourishing as it is delicious. This balance between the nutritional benefits and the taste is at the heart of Noble. Far too often drinks are either delicious or good for you but not both - we hope Noble proves that there is no need for compromise.  
 
Whilst our blends can be a beneficial addition to a smoothie, unlike many other powdered drinks available, there is no need to improve the taste by adding in other ingredients.  We wanted to create a superfood mix that was utterly delicious and you could have all on its own. Taking inspiration from traditional hot chocolates and new favourites such as matcha and turmeric latte we created our five Noble blends.  
  
What is your opinion on superfoods?
 
Superfoods are vital to our everyday digestive health. They are nutritionally dense, and being such a strong source of vitamins, minerals and fibre, they are a great boost to health – benefitting all areas of the body and mind. However, superfoods can be challenging or expensive to obtain particularly in an organic form - the Noble blends allow easy access with our delicious hot drinks. 
 
There are some really unusual ingredients in your blends – how did you get 
them to marry, and what were the important characteristics? 
 
A lot of research, testing and tasting has gone into the production of our blends, to ensure that the flavours really sing.  It is also vital to the blends that we use organic ingredients whenever possible and that our blends are free from dairy, additives, preservatives, refined sugar and fillers. 

For us, it is important that the five flavours have their own character and identity, as well as targeting key health benefits.
 
Our Himalayan Salted Cacao is an indulgent and nourishing chocolate blend with the finest raw cacao, beetroot, maca and naturally sweet cinnamon and coconut sugar. 
 
The Golden blend is spiced blend of turmeric and root ginger with cardamom, nutmeg, sweet cinnamon and liquorice.  To this we have added generous amounts of pea and hemp protein – a great source of all nine essential amino acids and omega fatty acids.  
 
Roasted blends contains slow roasted chicory and dandelion root to provide a smooth rich aromatic flavour and a fantastic alternative to coffee.  We also blended in antioxidant rich beetroot, vitamin C packed baobab and adaptogenic Siberian ginseng. 
 
Wild Green is our answer to a matcha blend – refreshing, invigorating and subtly sweet.  Using the very best Japanese matcha, avocado, moringa, nettle and mint – these nutrient dense supergreens are believed to promote alkalinity and support detoxification. 
 
Upbeet blend is a sweet brightener with complements of maca, kale, baobab and acai berry added to the beetroot.  To this naturally high protein blend we also added pea and rice protein to make it the ideal blend for both pre and post workout.  
 
 
Tell us about the nutritional benefits of the different Noble drinks – are their certain ones you’d suggest for people with specific ailments?
 

All of our blends are high in protein and fibre and packed full of vitamins, antioxidants, omega fatty acids, amino acids and energizing super nutrients to provide the drinker with an abundance of nutritional benefits. However, we do offer different remedies for certain ailments. 
 
Golden blend comprises warming turmeric and ginger which act as natural anti-inflammatories, supporting the immune and digestive system. This nutritionally potent blend is rich in antioxidants and will help keep you feeling fuller for longer. 
 
Roasted blend is high in inulin and rich in prebiotic fibre which can help balance blood sugar levels, assist optimal digestion and support liver detoxification. Added to this is a potent amount of adaptogenic Siberian ginseng which promotes wellbeing by stimulating resistance to stress, helping to restore a sense of calm. 
 
On the other hand, the Himalayan Salted Cacao blend is packed with antioxidants to support healthy glowing skin, rich with adaptogens from the Siberian ginseng, and formulated to boost energy levels and enhance your mood.
 
How do you balance flavour and nutrition?
 
The balance between the nutritional benefits and the taste and depth of flavour is really at the heart of Noble. However, it is vital that each blend tastes delicious and there are so many amazing organic superfoods to choose from that we refuse to compromise the taste. We find that when you introduce the beautiful natural organic ingredients contained in our blends, the nutrition comes with it as an accompaniment.   
 
What type of suppliers do you like to work with? How important are those relationships?
 
Noble is committed to sourcing only environmentally conscious packaging and organic ingredients wherever possible. We strive to ensure that our suppliers have the same commitment to purity and sustainability that we have. All our blends are certified by the Soil Association and the Vegan Society. This has always been a key part of the Noble ethos and our mission to provide healthy, delicious and sustainable products continues.

 As we face winter head-on, it’s important to ensure we’re continuing to look after ourselves, both on the inside and the outside. Votary, experts in natural plant oil skin care, share with us their top tips for looking after your skin during the colder months.  

As we head into the colder weather, what are the main things we need to be aware of when it comes to our skin?

The main thing to be aware of is protecting and deeply hydrating your skin as winter draws in. It can be punishing for the skin’s mantle to go between warm centrally-heated spaces and below-freezing temperatures outside. That’s why layering your skin protection is so important in the winter.

When the weather turns cold, I always add our Super Nutrient Cream to my morning routine to layer and lock-in moisture. My skin feels instantly happier and weather-proofed! I also switch to our richest, most hydrating facial oil, Rose Maroc and Sandalwood. We have customers who won’t step outside without it.

We all know that with the heating up, we can get really dehydrated - yet cold water isn't always what we want to be drinking in mid-winter. How do you keep hydrated?

I still drink lots of water, but water at room temperature rather than from the fridge. I love my morning juice, which tends to be thinner and more vegetable-based than the soft fruit ones I enjoy on summer days. I’m also a huge fan of tisanes such as peppermint tea, ginger and turmeric. I love a beautiful cup of herbal tea after a stomp through autumn leaves.

The shorter and colder days have an impact on the amount of sunlight and Vitamin D we're absorbing, which can be reflected in our skin looking dull. Do you take any supplements or have any tips to minimise this?

My top tip is our Super Seed Nutritional Supplement. I have a daily spoonful, and feel that I’m nourishing my skin, hair and nails from the inside out. It’s vegan, gluten free, and packed with flaxseed which is the richest plant source of omega oils 3, 6 and 9. It keeps my skin glowing and my hair glossy even through the darkest of days. I also make lots of vegetable soups with seasonal produce to make sure my vitamin levels stay high.

Just 'feeling' better about our skin can make a world of difference, and we know a bit of a tan can have that impact - is there a good facial tan you would personally recommend?

I confess to not being a fan of facial tan - even the ones you add as drops to your moisturiser, I think they add patchy colour. Instead, I’m a huge fan of Hourglass bronzer. Like Votary, they’re a vegan brand and their bronzer comes in several shades, giving a lovely ‘just-back-from holiday glow. I’d be lost without it in deepest winter.

With party season around the corner (and a wedding at Radiance!) - what are your top tips for glamorous events in the winter calendar, to keep our skin glowing?

My mantra is that beautiful glowing skin begins with skin that is properly cleansed. Using a plant oil cleanser deeply cleanses your skin without stripping or dehydration. During the winter, if you are wearing fuller coverage foundation, or more make-up for seasonal parties, I suggest double cleansing so that you can make sure everything is removed, and then repeat to allow it to really penetrate. 

I’m also a fan of the quick at-home, super easy facial. On a night when I’m staying in, I’ll run a relaxing bath, and use one of our facial oils like a mask. I apply it before getting into the water, and then let it deeply nourish my skin while I soak. I also make sure not to neglect my limbs during these months. I’m loving our new Antidote Bath and Body Oil which can be used in the bath or shower or put straight onto your skin. It makes my limbs feel smooth and lustrously soft, even when they are tucked in boots all day.

 And finally, for wedding skin, I can’t recommendour Jasmine and Calendula Facial Oil enough. (Get the Gloss recently chose it as one of their six best products ever to celebrate their sixth birthday). Applied with a stipple brush, it creates a fabulous, flawless base for make-up. Happy Radiance wedding.  x