Tropical Treats for Winter Blues

Coconut

Danielle Fruit Chips
Roasted Coconut

Select pieces of fresh coconut are vacuum-fried—meaning they are put in a vacuum chamber, and then covered in a fine mist of heated non-hydrogenated palm oil, sprayed under very low pressure at a high temperature. The process retains the pureness and flavor of the coconut and absorbs less oil than conventional frying methods. These coconut chips are great as a snack or sprinkled on top of ice cream.

Price: $17.91/six 2-ounce bags at amazon.com

Website: daniellechips.com

The Republic of Tea
Coconut Cocoa Tea

Drinking this low-calorie, low-caffeine dessert tea will keep you warm and relaxed as if on a tropical beach. Made entirely with sustainable ingredients such as roasted carob and caramel malted barley, this tea is the perfect blend of chocolate and coconut.

Price: $9.50/36-bag canister

Website: therepublicoftea.com

O.N.E. Pink Guava Coconut Water

If dry winter has you parched, one of the best hydrating liquids is coconut water. O.N.E. contains all five of the essential electrolytes (calcium, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and sodium needed for effective rehydration). It is especially rich in potassium, with 15 times the amount of most sports and energy drinks. One 8.5-ounce serving is only 80 calories.

Price: $1.99

Website: onedrinks.com

Citrus

Ciao Bella Key Lime
Graham Gelato Squares

Who says you can’t have ice cream in the winter? This ice cream sandwich upgrade presses tangy gelato between real graham crackers. Cut them into quarters and insert a toothpick for a fancy after-dinner treat.

Price: $4.99/4-pack

Website: ciabellagelato.com

 
June Taylor Candied
Seville Oranges

June Taylor works with small family farms to seek out organic heirloom fruits for her conserves and marmalades. Conscious of waste, the peels she candies come from the fruits she uses to make her specialty spreads. Candied oranges are a bittersweet treat on their own or can be added to scones or plain yogurt.

Price: $12/3.5 oz.

Website: junetaylorjams.com

Theo Orange
Dark Chocolate Bar

This 70 percent dark chocolate bar infused with orange essence contains premium Fair Trade sustainable ingredients, as do all Theo bars. The company’s standards and practices include partnering with growers and ensuring they earn a living wage and have access to education for their families. Theo also uses sustainable packaging and printing methods as well as green energy sources to power its factory. Public tours are available to learn more about the company’s bean-to-bar process.

Price: $4

Website: theochocolate.com

* June Taylor Image courtesy of © Perry Small

Passion Fruit

240 Sweet Passion Fruit Marshmallow

Chef Alexa Lemley hand-makes in small batches her organic marshmallow creations. Her passion fruit marshmallows are free of preservatives, stabilizers and artificial colors and flavors. Their fruity essence permeates through a cup of hot cocoa to take you to the tropics.

Price: $5/3-pack

Website: 240sweet.com

Terrapin Ridge Passion Fruit Jalapeno Jelly

This jelly offers the perfect combination of sweet and heat. Warm it in the microwave for a coconut shrimp dip or mix it with cream cheese for a quick fruity spread with a kick.

Price: $6.40/11.4 oz.

Website: terrapinridge.com

L'Olivier Passion Fruit Vinegar

L’Olivier has been creating olive oil and vinegar in Paris since 1822. The company’s newest line of fruit vinegars is full of fresh fruit pulp and naturally accruing sugars. For a bust of sunny flavor, drizzle on salads or ricotta salata cheese or add a splash to seltzer water for a fruity non-alcoholic drink.

Price: $17.98/200 ml bottle

Website: zabars.com

* 240 Sweet Image courtesy of © Stacey Able

Ginger

Fusion-Thai Ginger Salt

This naturally flavored sea salt from Saltworks infuses fresh ginger for an exotic taste experience. Sprinkle it over vanilla ice cream or substitute for regular salt when baking a chocolate cake. It can even rim a glass for an exotic margarita.

Price: $14.99/3 oz.

Website: saltworks.us

Fever-Tree Ginger Beer

Made with a variety of fresh ginger from around the world that you can actually see in the bottle, Fever-Tree’s Ginger Beer hails from Britain and is making waves stateside. Drink it on its own or add some rum to make an intense Dark and Stormy cocktail.

Price: $5.99/4-pack

Website: brandsofbritain.com

Long Clawson Dairy White Stilton with Mango and Ginger

Specialists in making Stilton since 1911, Long Clawson Dairy’s White Stilton with Mango and Ginger has bursts of chunky mango with subtle hints of crystallized ginger. For a chocolaty treat, the company suggests cutting the cheese into bite-size chunks and dipping into chocolate.  

Price: About $10.14/500 grams

Website: clawson.co.uk