Pisco Sour

National Pisco Sour Day is on February 4^th. The popularity of Peru’s gastronomic scene continues to soar. It’s been recently reported by several major sources that “Peru-mania” has been cited as one of the biggest foodie trends in 2012.

To celebrate  National Pisco Sour Day, now you can rediscover this delicious spirit.  Many of the most popular bars and restaurants across the U.S. have jumped on board, by offering their guests a traditional Pisco Sour.

Pisco, also known as the “5^th white spirit,” is a type of brandy cultivated from grapes and it’s potent concoction with lime juice, simple syrup, a dash of egg whites, and bitters is truly special to Peruvian heritage.

The history of the spirit dates back to the 16th century, and the pisco sour is nearly 100 years old, first created by the American ex-pat Victor Morris, and then perfected by Mario Bruguet, who made the velvet-like addition of egg whites to the recipe.

Pisco Portón is the first truly premium pisco available in the U.S. and makes for the ultimate Pisco sour. As the white spirit’s category equivalent of single-malt scotch, it combines centuries-old methods with state-of-the-art and eco-friendly technology to create a mosto verde Pisco of unmatched quality.

We wanted to share a popular cocktail recipe for you to enjoy ….

Portón Pisco Sour

1 ½ parts Pisco Portón

½ part fresh lime juice

½ part simple syrup

¼ part egg white

Shake ingredients with ice.  Strain into chilled glass.  Garnish with a dash of bitters.

Most of us are aware of the health benefits of a glass of red wine. There’s also been past research suggesting that says drinking a glass of wine can slim you down, make your bones stronger and also help you live a little longer.

Well the news just keeps getting better for alcoholic lovers. There are more reasons to enjoy even an occasional, good quality cocktail.

Reason #1: Researchers in Norway who surveyed more than 38,000 people, say occasional drinking may be good for your mental health. They discovered those who drink are less likely to be depressed than those who do not.

Reason #2: Researchers say people who admit to drinking more than a single drink per day, may be in better shape than those who don’t drink alcohol at all. According to a new study, people who drink tend to exercise more and therefore be generally more active.

It’s important to keep these finding in perspective. The good news does come with a very important reminder:
– Keep your daily alcohol intake to one drink per day
– Don’t drink every day of the week.  If you do (and you consume more than a glass a day), your risk for certain health conditions and cancers, including breast cancer (for women), may increase.

The key is be safe and drink in moderation. So now go have an after-work cocktail. Enjoy!

Kusmi Tea of Paris

Originally founded in 1867 in St. Petersburg – Russia, Kusmi Tea of Paris has been pleasing the taste pallets of tea lovers for many years.

The traditional Russian-style tea came to to Paris in 1917 and for over the past 140 years, has become hugely popular.

Kusmi Tea of Paris comes in a wide variety of luscious flavors and continues to become a popular choice of the Hollywood celebrities.

A small sample of celebs who love Kusmi Tea of Paris include: Eric Roberts, Dennis Quaid, Giles Marini, Angela Bassett, Neil Patrick Harris, The Bachelor’s Chris Harrison, The Good Wife’s Emmy-award winning actress Archie Panjabi, Twilight’s Peter Facinelli and Rami Malek, as well as numerous cast members from TV’s Mad Men, True Blood, The Office, Dancing with the Stars, and the CSI shows.

What keeps these tea lovers wanting more is that Kusmi Tea of Paris has perfected the art of blending unique teas that are uniquely distinguished by their exceptional flavor, aroma and quality.

In addition to the taste, Kusmi’s unique blends of green, black, red, herbal, wellness and decaf teas are also packaged in beautifully designed boxes and classic tins.

Kusmi Tea of Paris was proud to be chosen as one of the elite products included in coveted 2010 Entertainment Tonight Emmy giftbag.

You can find Kusmi Tea at their flagship retail store in New York City (located at 1037 Third Avenue near 61st Street) and in other fine stores in the tri-state area, including Dean & Deluca and McNulty’s Tea & Coffee and Zabar’s.

Kusmi Tea of Paris has recently opened a ne location in Los Angeles at Monsieur Marcel’s Gourmet Market (located at 6333 West 3rd Street, at Third and Fairfax).

For additional information on all Kusmi Tea of Paris products plus a complete list of establishments, please visi Kusmi’s online boutique: www.us.kusmitea.com