Café latte is an Italian preparation for coffee and milk; it is prepared on a one to one ratio and uses strong bold coffee with scalded milk. Café mocha is hot coffee and hot cocoa with whipped cream and a little grated chocolate. Capuccino, on the other hand, is one-third espresso, one-third hot milk, and one-third steamed milk foam. Traditionally served on a porcelain cup, the heat retention qualities of the cup as well as the foam help to keep the coffee stay hotter longer.

The Cortado Condensada is espresso (concentrated coffee) with a small amount of warm condensed milk, usually served in a special glass with a metal ring base and a metal ring handle and drunk in the afternoon, while the Leche y Leche is espresso with condensed milk and cream topping. Espresso con Panna is espresso topped with whipped cream. Café Bombon is espresso with sweetened condensed milk that has been allowed to sink to the bottom thereby creating two bands of contrasting colors. The Macchiato is espresso with a dash of foamed milk and a sprinkling of cocoa on top.

Café Americano refers to the simple preparation of hot water added to espresso. Long Black, on the other hand, is espresso added to hot water. Red Eye is drip coffee with one shot of espresso while Black Eye is drip coffee with two shots of espresso. Guillermo, on the other hand, is one or two shots of espresso with slices of lime.

Carajillo is espresso with a shot of brandy while liqueur coffee is a coffee brew with a shot of liqueur served in demi-tasse cups. Café Flambe is sugar that has been set on fire with cognac and poured into strong coffee. Café Royal is strong coffee that has been sweetened to taste and served with a measure of brandy.

Frapuccino is a blend of ice beverage and a bottled coffee beverage while frappe is foam-covered iced coffee drink. Con Hielo is espresso with sugar and ice cubes while Iced Coffee is chilled espresso with milk and ice cream.

Flat White refers to the preparation of two-thirds creamy steamed milk poured over one-third espresso with little or no foam at all. Instant Coffee is brewed coffee that has been dried out or dehydrated into powder form. Viennese coffee is strong hot coffee with whipped double cream that is just beginning to thicken while Café Brulot is strong black coffee that has been poured with heated sugar, orange rind, lemon bits, cinnamon sticks, and cloves, and served in demi-tasse cups.

When topping coffee with whipped cream, be careful to slide the cream gently on so that the cream stays on top. Canapés and other small savouries like bread and cake may be served together with the coffee so that it may be thoroughly enjoyed.

Wine producers touted the results of a scientific study as proof that wine is good for your health. A 1992 research study showed a correlation between high wine consumption rates in France and the low death rates in France from coronary heart disease. Further studies reported that a pattern of diet and alcohol consumption in other European countries seemed to support the earlier study.They stated that alcohol can lower heart disease.

Red wine does contain flavonoids which do work as antioxidants. It is possible that the antioxidants can help to reduce fat build up on the inner walls of the arteries. Scientists also are studying whether red wine may help maintain the flexibility of the blood vessel. Alcohol and heart problems need to be further studied.

These studies seem premature in their finding and do not consider that alcoholic drinks harm more than they help. It does address real issues with alcohol problems. A major risk of chronic alcohol use is the long-term damage that can be done to the internal organs of the body. For example, alcohol abuse is the leading factor of liver cirrhosis.

The scarred tissue of the liver cannot be returned to good health. The liver is responsible for metabolism of fats, proteins and carbohydrates as well as the major function of excretion of waste products from the body. An alcoholic problem can also lead to stomach ulcers, weight gain, fertility issues, and exhaustion of vital minerals and vitamins.

Doctors are cautious about alcohol consumption. In fact, generally, a woman (not pregnant) can have one drink daily. A man can consume two drinks daily. However, it should be the recommended serving size. For example, a standard drink is described as follows: 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of wine cooler, 12 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounce of 80-proof distilled liquor.

Current trends of alcoholic consumption have focused on carbohydrates. Many diet plans have limited carbohydrate consumption and this is a continuation of those plans.

A newer entry has been non-alcoholic drinks such as beers. They are malt-based beverage geared towards those who cannot consume alcohol: pregnant women, designated drivers and those with health concern that prohibit any malt-based products. There have not been studies on the health benefits of these drinks.

Doctors continue to state that the best non-alcoholic drink is pure water. It is the healthiest beverage choice. It helps to remove toxins and waste from your body. Water keeps the heart healthy and improves the condition of skin.

Kombucha is a popular health promoting beverage and natural folk remedy made by fermenting tea. Kombucha is a colony or culture of yeast and other microorganisms embedded in a pure cellulose “pancake.” When the “pancake” is grown in a blend of tea and sugar, it transforms the liquid into a refreshingly lightly sparkling, sweet and sour drink with a fruity fragrance full of health giving acids and nutrients. The Kombucha culture feeds on the sugar and, in exchange, produces other valuable substances which change into the drink: glucuronic acid, glucon acid, lactic acid, vitamins, amino acids, antibiotic substances.

Kombucha tea has about 0.5% to 1% alcohol as do some fruit juices such as apple juice. Harold Tietze in his book KOMBUCHA, THE MIRACLE FUNGUS observes that Muslims and Buddhists drink it without concern. “Recovered alcoholics do not have to fear the small amounts of alcohol.” The Salvation Army is using Kombucha to help alcoholics.

Kombucha tea isn’t something you can buy in a bottle or a bag. You need to brew up a batch of kombucha starter culture and grow your own.

The health benefits of kombucha tea are many, and the taste is distinctively tart. The final product is lightly carbonated too. If you’re interested in trying some, be prepared to do a little work and to wait for the finished product.

Kombucha Tea Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 – 6 Tea bags (at least 2 are black)
• 4 litres ( 140 fl oz) Pure water, rain or spring
• 300 grams (10 oz) White Sugar
• 1 Kombucha tea fungus
• 400 ml (1 3/4 cup//14 fl oz) Kombucha tea (mother tea), from your last brew or obtained with the mushroom / fungus – If you don’t have enough mother liquid

Instruction:
Boil the water in a stainless steel pot, add sugar, turn off heat and stir sugar until dissolved. Add teabags and let soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove tea bags and allow to cool. Strain (not necessary) and pour into fermenting jar. Add the fungus and mother tea to the jar. Cover and leave for one week in a place free from contaminants such as mould, cooking fats etc.

Recipes for Kombucha Tea with Pawpaw (Papaya)

Ingredients:

• 100 grams (3.5 oz) Paw paw leaves and flowers
• 4 litres (140 fl oz) Pure water, rain or spring
• 300 grams (10 oz) White sugar
• 2 Green tea bags
• 4 Black tea bags
• 1 Kombucha tea mushroom
• 400 ml (1 3/4cup / 14 fl oz) Kombucha tea (mother tea), from your last brew or obtained with the fungus. If you don’t have enough mother liquid

Instruction:
Cut, clean and chop the stalks off the papaya leaves and flowers. Place in pot, bring to the boil then reduce to a simmer and cook for 1/2 hour. Let cool, strain and bring to the boil again, add sugar, turn off heat and stir sugar until dissolved. Add teabags and let soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove tea bags and allow to cool. Strain (not necessary) and pour into fermenting jar. Add the fungus and mother tea to the jar. Cover and leave for one week in a place free from contaminants such as mould, cooking fats etc.

Ingredients:
The following quantities are for one litre.

• 5 tablespoons = 1/3 cup
• 3-5 tablespoons of white sugar.
• 1 – 2 teaspoons black tea (organic).
• 1 – 2 teaspoons green tea (organic).
• 1 teaspoon elderflower tea (optional).
• 1 tablespoon papaya leaf tea (optional).
• 1 litre water (Grander water).
• 100 mls of Kombucha tea, (as an acidic starter).
• 1 piece of Kombucha plant. (about 4 inches in diameter.)

Instruction:
Add the sugar to a glass bowl, dangle the tea bags over the side, then pour on boiling water. Use the tea bags to stir the liquid and dissolve the sugar. Leave the tea bags to steep until the tea has cooled. If you are using loose tea then steep the tea in a teapot, then mix with the sugar and boiled water in a bowl. Some herbs such as papaya leaf will need simmering in boiling water for 2 hours. Strain the herbs through muslin cloth.
When the tea has cooled to below 25C, mix in the Kombucha tea, then float the Kombucha plant on the surface. Cover the bowl with a tea towel held in place with an elastic band and leave it where it won’t be disturbed for 2 – 4 weeks at 20-25C. The longer you ferment the kombucha the less sweet and the more acidic it will become. The Kombucha tea is ready when a new mushroom has covered the surface and all of the sugar has been digested. When the kombucha is ready, scoop the tea out the bowl with a small jug and transfer to bottles. Discard the sediment. Refrigerate the kombucha before drinking. Store unused kombucha mushrooms covered with kombucha tea in a jar in the refrigerator.

Honey Kombucha Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1. Two cups of starter tea
• 2. 3 quarts of water
• 3. 1 cup of Liquid Honey
• 4. 1/2 cup of sugar

Instruction:
Boil water for 5 to 10 minutes and remove from heat. Using a cooking thermometer monitor the temperature. When the temperature has fallen below 150 degrees F. add the cup of honey (or 1.5 cups to speed fermentation) and stir until the honey is dissolved. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. Once the tea reaches room temperature you can pour off the mixture (leaving the sediment on the bottom behind).

Kombucha Banana Strawberry Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients:

• 10 ounces orange juice
• 4 ounces Kombucha tea.
• One piece of fresh Kombucha colony (sized to palate)
• 5-6 large fresh strawberries
• 1-2 large banana

Blend all ingredients at high speed in your blender until smooth.

But what about non-alcoholic drinkers?

Of course, there can’t be a problem to make any non-alcoholic drink from any cocktail, all the more so non-alcoholic drinks are more cool and refreshing. Let’s discover how to make non-alcoholic mojito!

To make non-alcoholic mojito (nojito) you need:

• Fresh mint
• 1 lime
• 1 packet sugar substitute
• Crushed ice
• 6 fluid ounces lime-flavored sparkling water

Crush a sprig of mint in the bottom of a cocktail glass. Squeeze the juice of one fresh lime into the glass. Add 1 package of sugar substitute, crushed ice, and 6 ounces of lime-flavored sparkling water. Garnish with mint and serve.

Or you can try this variation of nojito (mojito) recipe:

• crushed ice
• 8 mint leaf
• 3 ounces lime juice
• 1 1/2 ounces sugar syrup
• 2 ounces club soda
• garnish with mint

Fill a pint glass 1/3 full with ice, then add mint leaves. Add the lime juice and sugar syrup. Lightly mash the leaves together with the liquid using a muddle stick or wooden pestle, careful not to tear the leaves. Fill the glass with more ice, then add club soda. Garnish with mint, serve, and enjoy!

Very nice, right?