Radiance - The Juice Cleanse Co.

Fermenting food is one of the most ancient methods of preservation, and here at Radiance, sauerkraut is one of our favourite fermented foods. Fermented food doesn’t just taste amazing, it’s also extremely good for your health. During fermentation, live bacteria are produced (probiotics), which are key for restoring the natural balance of bacteria in your gut.

The best sauerkraut is homemade, with raw and organic ingredients to retain as much of the good stuff as possible. It’s simple to make (in its most basic form it’s simply cabbage and sea salt), but if you haven’t got the time, we recommend RAW – they have some lovely flavoured versions.

For this recipe you’ll need a sterilised Kilner jar or container for the kraut, a food processor (it can be done manually, but this is much quicker!) and a clean mixing bowl.

Ingredients:

• 2kg organic red cabbage
• 3tbsp pink Himalayan sea salt
• 1 garlic clove – crushed
• 1 thumb of ginger – grated
• Black pepper

Instructions:

1. Use the food processor to thinly shred the cabbage.
2. Add the cabbage and salt to the mixing bowl and massage for 10minutes, or until the cabbage has reduced in size and there is quite a lot of liquid.
3. Season with black pepper, then add the ginger and garlic.
4. Pack the kraut and the liquid into your jar. Make sure the liquid covers the kraut completely – if there isn’t enough, top up with water. Be careful to leave about 2 inches of space between the kraut and the lid
5. Leave in the cupboard for 10-14 days. We recommend opening the jar once a day to release air. Use a clean spoon to press down to ensure the cabbage is still covered with the liquid.
6. Once you’re happy with the flavour, transfer to the fridge where your kraut will last for up to 6 weeks.

2018 was a great year for fermented foods, and the trend is only likely to grow bigger this year. Near the top of our fermented food list sits kefirs (usually a fermented milk or water base and kombuchas (a fermented tea), both fantastic products that are good for the gut.

The Radiance team tried out some of the mainstream products available on the market to give you our thoughts on the best products out there.

Rhythm Raw Pressed Pure Coconut Kefir – 126g

Credit: @rhythmkefir

• Organic: no
• Raw: yes
• Vegan: yes

With a coconut base, this kefir is suitable for any plant-based diet. It’s noticeably less sour and fizzy than some other diary alternatives, however the texture is a little unusual. We weren’t sure if this kefir worked on its own but may be great poured over mixed berries or in a pudding.

Best for:

• Taste: 2/5
• Value for money: 3/5 

Daylesford Cultured Milk Kefir – 500ml

Credit: @daylesfordfarm 

• Organic: yes
• Raw: no
• Vegan: no

The quality of Daylesford is excellent and with a fantastic balance of creaminess and tanginess, it’s a bit of a luxury as far as dairy kefirs go. Though a little on the expensive side, this kefir is great for smoothies or as a yoghurt replacement due to its fairly low levels of natural sugars and being an excellent source of protein. However, avoid if you have any issues with dairy. 

Best for:

• Taste: 4/5
• Value for money: 3/5   

Purearth Coconut and Lime Water Kefir- 330ml

Credit: @purearthlife

• Organic: yes
• Raw: yes
• Vegan: yes

Purearth’s kefirs are fairly unique in terms of being water-based and are great for people who want to avoid anything ‘milky’. The taste is great, and whilst it doesn’t necessarily taste like it’s doing you much good, it has very low sugar content and has the added benefits of Vitamins B2 and B12. With its sophisticated flavour, this kefir makes a great alcoholic drink replacement and is great for evenings.

Best for:

• Taste: 4/5
• Value for money: 3.5/5 

Pro Fusion Kombucha – Baobab, Mint & Pomegranate – 330ml

Credit: @profusionorganic

• Organic: yes
• Raw: yes
• Vegan: yes

Whilst we loved the packaging, we found this Kombucha quite overwhelming, with a slightly artificial taste. It does contain refined sugar, so we’d probably avoid this in the future, but that being said, it would make a good alternative for anyone who has a fizzy drink habit they need to break!

Best for:

• Taste: 2.5/5
• Value for money: 3/5  

Bio-tiful Dairy Kefir – 500ml

 Credit: @biotiful_dairy

• Organic: yes
• Raw: no
• Vegan: no

Biotiful is slightly thinner than other kefirs we’ve tried, which makes it easier to drink on its own, however it does also contain quite high levels of natural sugars. It’s not as luxurious as the Daylesford version, but is a good, budget-friendly alternative, that’s suitable for every day.

Best for:

• Taste: 4/5
• Value for money: 3/5 

We love sending and receiving flowers all year round, but Valentine’s Day allows for the perfect excuse to treat yourself or a loved one. The quality of flower delivery services has become so much betterover the last few years, so we took this opportunity to share with you our top picks.

Bloom and Wild

 Credit: @bloomandwild

Though based in London, Bloom and Wild are brilliant for sending beautiful flowers all over the UK. They’re unique packaging also allows bouquets to be posted undamaged through a letterbox, a great extra touch. They’re also extremely good value for money, and we cannot fault their customer service - when our flowers accidentally got delivered to a neighbour and left overnight, they were quick to replace them with new ones. Whilst Bloom and Wild are a little mainstream, their bouquets are always appreciated!

You can find them here

Floom

Credit: @floomofficial

Floom bring the local florist experience online, supporting local small businesses to deliver flowers from independent florists across the UK. For those residing in London, Floom are an excellent option for same-day delivery and we love the fact they are more environmentally friendly than other online florists.

You can find them here

Flowerbx

Credit: @theflowerbx

Unlike other online florists, Flowerbx source unique flowers directly from the growers and deliver them to your front door as single-variety bouquets. With delivery options including same-day within London, these products offer convenience as well as luxury. At Flowerbx, less is definitely more, with timeless and stunning displays for the real flower connoisseur.

You can find them here