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Small Farmers. Big Change. That is what Equal Exchange is all about. In addition to being a huge fan of Equal Exchange coffee and chocolate (and being grateful we have access to it in the Boston area!), I love everything they stand for:

Equal Exchange

Equal Exchange has created Big Change since 1986. Our founders envisioned a food system that empowers farmers and consumers, supports small farmer co-ops, and uses sustainable farming methods. They started with fairly traded coffee from Nicaragua and didn’t look back.
Today, we continue to find new and powerful ways to build a better food system. We partner with co-operatives of farmers who provide high-quality organic
coffees, teas, chocolates, bananas and snacks from all over the world.
We invite you to join us. Together we can create stronger local communities, a more just food system and a healthier planet.

Fair trade chocolate? Fair trade coffee and tea? How about some fair trade nuts and berries? Equal Exchange has it all, and they are sending one lucky Travel, Wine, and Dine reader on a $50 shopping spree on their site. The prize? You choose up to $50 worth of Equal Exchange merchandise, I forward it to the company, and they send it to the winner. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?

Ready to enter?

1) Visit the Equal Exchange online store, and let me know in a comment what fabulous fair trade items you would buy if you won $50 worth of products. Don’t worry, this doesn’t have to be your final purchase! I will randomly choose a winner on Friday, and at that point, the winner can send me a final list.

2) If you have a blog, link back to this giveaway in your next post.

3) Tweet “I want to win fair trade chocolate, coffee, and tea from @traveleatlovemm and @EqExintheCup”

4) Check back on Friday for a winner! I will choose a winner then, and if I don’t hear from her/him in 48 hours, I will choose a new winner. Good luck!

Tags: chocolate, coffee, Equal Exchange, fair trade chocolate, fair trade coffee, fair trade tea, giveaway, tea

Cold Guinness Extra Stout

Guinness

Plus Taza chocolate sauce made with 80% dark chocolate

Taza Stone Ground Chocolate

Taza Chocolate Sauce

Plus Batch coffee ice cream

Batch Coffee Ice Cream

Batch Coffee Ice Cream

Equals pure coffee, chocolate-y, Guinness stout-y bliss.

Guinness Ice Cream Float

Obviously, this is a super easy dessert recipe to be made only if you are certain that your guests like coffee, chocolate, and Guinness. There are strong flavors in this dessert; it is not sweet, and that is why I like it! The Taza chocolate sauce is rich and bitter, perfect for drizzling into a float, and I am sure even better when blended into a milkshake. As for proportions, I used about two and a half small scoops of ice cream to a bottle of Guinness in each glass, then drizzled in maybe a teaspoon of chocolate sauce. I didn’t want any one flavor to overwhelm here, and it ended up being perfect.

It’s good to remember that this is an alcoholic beverage. Once the coffee ice cream started to melt into the Guinness, it was easy to knock it back like it ain’t no thing, but then I got a little woozy in a good way. Winking smile 

I love the weekend, especially long weekends, and especially after a week where I was blessed with lots of new and fun work prospects. I hope your weekend is going along just as well!

Tags: Batch Ice Cream, coffee, dessert, Guinness, ice cream, Taza

This post has been a long time coming! A few weeks ago, I attended a coffee tasting at the Starbucks on Newbury Street in Boston. I am a Starbucks lover, so when invited to taste their new Blue Java coffee, I jumped at the chance. Suddenly, a chilly winter day was filled with the aromas of freshly brewed coffee. . .

Starbucks Clover

A small group of bloggers met with a representative from Starbucks and a representative from Starbucks’ PR agency for an event that really opened my eyes to the world of coffee.

Starbucks gift bags

When I arrived, I was delighted to see gift bags. Smile Not so happy to see more snow! But the view on to Newbury Street was lovely.

Newbury Street Starbucks

Starbucks Kona

Over the course of the event, we tasted both the Blue Java and the 100% Kona coffees, treating the tasting just like a wine tasting and using all of our senses to evaluate the coffee. I enjoy coffee immensely, but many times when I am drinking it, the caffeine is what I am after. This tasting was an experience; we noted that the Blue Java had a nose of pine and sage with clean but earthy flavors. It paired perfectly with the Monterey Jack breakfast sandwich.

In contrast, the Kona had citrus and vanilla undertones. Just like with wine, the terroir or growing conditions, of coffee affect the entire experience. It was fun to compare and contrast the coffees. The Kona was paired with a sweet treat, the cinnamon coffee cake, and again, the flavors of the coffee really brought out the food, and vice versa.

Starbucks cinnamon coffee cake

Another portion of the tasting was comparing French press brewed coffee with coffee brewed in Starbucks’ signature Clover machine. The Clover method actually pulls the water through the coffee via a very fine microfilter.

Starbucks Clover machine

Neat, huh? Clover technology is pretty top secret, so I can’t say anymore about that.

Starbucks Clover machine

What I can say is what a huge difference we noticed in the Clover coffee versus the French press! I didn’t catch a photo, but the French press coffee left a very slight film in the paper cup where with the Clover method, the cup was completely clean. The coffee flavors were cleaner as well, bolder, and more intense.

I enjoyed being able to sample a new Starbucks release, seeing my fellow bloggers, and treating coffee like the experience that it is.

Want to find out for yourself? Starbucks is giving me five packs of Blue Java to give to a lucky reader!

To enter:

1) Answer this question in the comment section: How do you like your coffee?

2) If you have a blog link back to this give away.

3) If you are on Twitter, tweet “I want to win @starbucks coffee from @traveleatlovemm

I will choose a winner on Friday morning.

Tags: blue Java, Boston, Clover coffee, coffee, coffee cake, coffee tasting, Kona, Newbury Street, Starbucks, Starbucks coffee

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