Winter seems to be the conclusion that Fall comes to after toying with its indecision between holding on to the heat of summer or embracing the cold of Winter. Where Fall can be coy, playful, and misleading Winter is much more mature and resolute. Winter has grown up and put away such childish games and is now steadfast in its purpose as Fall’s curtain call, the “Tossing of Bouquets of Roses” onto the stage of life to honor the year’s performance, is complete. Winter comes along to lock the doors and reset the stage for another show, a seasonal intermission, that gives both Earth and Animal their due rest to prepare for the grand opening of Nature’s next spectacular show on the global stage.

     Here in Southern California, Winter is more of a concept than an endurance that others have to bear where the weather is truly something to be reckoned with. We do not need to scrape our windshields and shovel our driveways, nor do we experience the biting cold that traditionally ushers most everyone indoors for a respite from the elements outside. We do however share and enjoy the notion of coming together in a warm and inviting place with friends and family to catch up from busier times throughout the year as warm beverages and comfort foods abound. The holidays give us occasion to come together more often and the season is ample encouragement to stay a little longer, love a little more, and slow down for a while.

     Several of our favorite dessert recipes we make and share during the year can be found on our Recipes page, but one thing that we always have around the house during the cold months is homemade Mulled Apple Cider. This has become a tradition for both our immediate and extended families over the years that is both delicious and comforting! Our most recent blog post has a full write up on what Mulled Cider is, where it came from and how you can very easily make it at home. Click the links below to check out the blog and learn how the origins of this beverage and the tradition of Christmas Caroling are closely knit together, as well as check out our product page for teabags of top-grade Mulling Spices to make your own cider at home!

Our newest adventure has been learning about Chocolate and how it is made, where it is from, and the differences in styles that have evolved over the years. Recently we went on vacation to México and visited Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. We took a bean to bar chocolate class in Puerto and learned so much about Cacao and how it is transformed into what we know as chocolate. We made our own chocolates to bring home and were inspired to experiment with and learn more about it! We have since developed flavors in our line of Drinking Chocolates, which are a rich and authentic homage to how the ancient world used to enjoy Cacao. Chocolate has been prepared as a beverage for as long as it has been around, solid candies and bars are relatively new. We have put together a line of Drinking Chocolates that tell the story of Chocolate from its humble beginnings with the Mayans and Aztecs, through the changes affected by the European Conquistadors, to its current versions in modern-day México and America. Come and experience a hot cup of Cocoa like you’ve never had before!

History of Chocolate Blog	Drinking Chocolate Product Pages

Mulled Cider Blog	Mulling Spices	Instant Apple Cider