Radiance - The Juice Cleanse Co.

The new year is in full swing and we are feeling hopeful. I’ve actually always loved January for that reason, there’s a lot of hope in January. Hope in yourself and hope for the upcoming year. Here are some of our positive predictions for the year ahead. (This is just a bit of fun not based on anything in particular). 

1. The resurgence of minimalism. The pandemic years were huge for consumption, we were all just sat at home buying things. The never ending growth of social media and the introduction of ‘viral’ content persuaded us we needed the latest thing. This applied to everything from clothes, technology, even to recipes. Collectively we have amassed a lot of 'stuff' over the last few years and we predict a desire to strip things back and own less. We are fatigued by being a big consumer; we want to be more intentional in what we own. 

2. Embracing ageing. We predict a rejection of the anti ageing rhetoric. For decades it’s been about turning the clock back. With the crazy rise of cosmetic surgery and tweakments becoming normal. We want people to start seeing ageing as a beautiful thing. A shift of perspective to view getting wrinkles as a mark of a life well lived. Youth is so celebrated and why? We want to put our focus on enjoying life, taking care of yourself inside and out, and caring less about the external. Fighting against nature makes no sense.

3. We sense a deep desire for connection in the real world again, and a rediscovery of the idea of being present! Everything we have done in the last few years has been very virtual. We predict excitement about going out in the world and doing things again. We want to be with others in person and enjoy connection and community once more. 

4. We predict more time off our devices and a general rejection of social media. Social media is a monster of our own making and it can be a toxic machine that so many of us (me included!) are at least mildly addicted to. We think people will try to consume social media more consciously. We want to put the phone down. 

5. Podcasts are already a huge industry but we can see podcasts becoming an even more popular way to consume information. With TikTok and Instagram our attention span has become worryingly short. We love podcasts format of showcasing slow form conversation. 

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

a splash of olive oil
1 leek, washed, trimmed and finely sliced
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons black mustard seeds
juice of 2–3 lemons
250g split red lentils
1 veg stock cube 
4 handfuls of kale (or other greens), washed, trimmed and shredded

To serve (optional)
yoghurt, stirred with a little sea salt

With the party season in full swing you can feel a lot of pressure to have a drink. However with the ever-growing number of non-alcoholic drinks there are some phenomenal alternatives that won't leave you feeling worse for wear. 

Mother Root a modern take on a traditional switchel (an old-fashioned tonic typically made with ginger, apple cider vinegar, a natural sweetener, and citrus fruit). One of my all time favourites, the original ginger flavour is perfect mixed with sparkling water over ice. A grown up aperitf with added health benefits.

Wild Life Botanicals - a low alcohol (0.5%) English sparkling wine from the co-founder of Cornish Sea Salt. It's infused with eight active vitamins and minerals and five fabulous botanicals; Lemon Balm, Damask Rose, Ashwagandha, Rosemary and Damiana, giving it the tagline of #BubblesWithBenefits.

HOLOS Kombucha - so many delicious kombucha blends to pick from, it's hard to choose one! Authentically brewed in Sussex and supporting victims of modern slavery, this brand is doing good whilst tasting delicious.  We love the Basil & Mint and the Sparkling Oolong. 

GO Kombucha - one of the original kombucha brands in the UK; made using traditional methods and spring water from the well in their Sussex vineyard. The Komsecco is the Champagne-esq option, and they have a wide range of different types of tea bases to choose from, ranging from light and tangy to deep and earthy. 

Pentire Adrift I had the pleasure of tasting this on holiday over the summer.  A refreshing alcohol free spirit to mix with tonic, perfect when you want a pre-dinner drink.

Thomson & Scott Organic Noughty Alcohol Free Sparkling Rosé - made with a Tempranillo grape from Spain. It's certified organic, vegan and halal, and with 4g of sugar per 100ml, it has almost half the sugar content of other non-alcoholic sparkling wines.

If you're looking for an easy drink to make yourself then we'd recommend 1 bottle of sparkling water (we like Harrogate), lots of thin slices of cucumber, juice of half a lime squeezed in and then two sprigs of rosemary. Add ice, stir and you're ready to go.