Panatea Instant Matcha

Single-serving packets of "calm energy" that magically dissolve with a mere turn of the spoon

Anyone who has made their own Matcha knows the ritual of its preparation is partially about ceremony, but largely about achieving the optimal consistency. Whisking the bright green powder in to a bowl of water helps break up the clumps often found in even the highest grades of tea. One would never just mix it with a spoon as the result would be a gnarly …

September Scotch: 200 Years of Lagavulin

New smoky single malt expressions unfold from the Islay distillery

In our two previous September Scotch explorations, we stuck to the Highlands of Scotland for one profile they’re commonly associated with and one that’s a true variation on it all. Now, however, we’re shifting to Islay—the famed, scenic island off the western coast. There, Lagavulin (another Anglicized Gaelic name, this time meaning “hollow by the mill”)—known for its peated, smoke-rich flavors—has just turned 200 years …

The Reality of The Five-Second Rule

If you’re somebody who abides by the age-old Five-Second Rule (or the less trusted 30-Second Rule) you might not want to read this. Applied and Environmental Microbiology just published the results of a new study about the “rule” and have some bad news for floor-food enthusiasts. The scientists placed “watermelon, bread, bread with butter and gummy candy on a variety of different surfaces contaminated with …