Not Guilty wine, cheese and chocolate tasting at the Old Bailey

On Monday 13^th June we hosted what is turning out to be an annual City Fairtrade event – wine and chocolate tasting at the Old Bailey. This year we added even more ‘yum’ with some glorious British cheeses from Cheese at Leadenhall.

Gathered in the Judges’ Dining Room, warmly welcomed and hosted by Sheriff Charles Bowman, 70 lucky guests were guided by our expert Sarah Jane Evans, Master of Wine, as she led us into the world of mouthwatering wine, cheese and chocolate. Pairing the delicious Golden Cross goat’s cheese with South African Fides wine was an inspiration – at least one guest who was not normally a fan of goat’s cheese was totally converted after this pairing.   

We tried some fantastically weird and wonderful chocolate (particularly the Zotter with actual bits of bacon in it!), and finished with some truly excellent Muscat from Stellar Organics.

The night was a real success, thanks to our wonderful hosts at the Old Bailey and our fantastic guide Sarah Jane. We look forward to turning up at the Old Bailey again next year with another selection of Fairtrade treats for people to try!

Wines

Miguel Torres Chile, Santa Digna Estelado Rosé, Maule, Chile 

Miguel Torres Chile, Days of Summer/Días de Verano 2014, Itata Valley, Chile

Fides 2015, Wellington, South Africa

Stellar Organics Running Duck No Sulphur Added Pinotage 2015, Western Cape, South Africa

Stellar Organics Heaven on Earth Muscat d’Alexandrie NV 50cl, Western Cape, South Africa

Cheeses

Old Winchester 

Golden Cross

Bath Blue

Chocolates

Damson Chocolate raspberry & Lemon Bar

Damson Chocolate Brazil 70% Fazenda Camboa Bar

Zotter Bacon Bits Bar

Rococo Chocolate Kalamansi Lime Salted Caramels

The event also unearthed more treasures, as the lovely Roxy from Trading Visions came along and told us about another Fairtrade chocolate and wine tasting happening at Fairly Square on Thursday 9^th July – see here for more details: https://goo.gl/PUi1S3

If you couldn’t make it to Not Guilty at the Old Bailey, show your support for Fairtrade and learn all about Divine chocolate and heavenly wine pairings by signing up!  

CaféDirect Coffee Tasting

Here at the City of London Fairtrade group, we are really committed to getting ethically sourced products into every part of the Square Mile, and so every few months we get together nice and early in the morning at the Guildhall to plan exactly how to go about doing this.

These meetings are always productive and full of interesting ideas from our wonderful volunteers. Our meeting this morning, however, was made even more special from a visit by CaféDirect, who told us about their coffee and exactly how they build long-standing, ethical partnerships with their producers.

It was exciting to hear about the different co-operatives they work with in order to source their four single-origin coffees, from Tanzania, Colombia, Costa Rica and the slopes of Machu Picchu in Peru.  We even got to try them, from the sweet and gentle tastes of the Costa Rica blend to the hearty full bodied Kilimanjaro coffee from Tanzania (sure to wake up even the most groggy of minds!).

What a great start to the day. Thanks guys!

BAKING FOR FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT

There is no better way to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight than with some delicious homemade blueberry muffins! Members from our group who work at JustShare and St Mary-le-Bow Church got to enjoy these tasty treats.

The recipe uses Lyle and Tate's Fairtrade Golden Caster Cane Sugar.

The recipe is below, or read it here.

Ingredients
(Muffins)
380g (13½oz) self-raising flour
110g (4oz) Lyle’s Golden Syrup
50g (2oz) Tate & Lyle Fairtrade Golden Caster Cane Sugar
175ml (6floz) vegetable oil
150g (5oz) thick Greek-style yoghurt
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 lemon, zested
30g (1¼oz) rolled oats
150g (5oz) blueberries
(Topping)
1 level dsp Tate & Lyle Fairtrade Golden Caster Cane Sugar
1 level dsp rolled oats

Method

• Preheat oven –180°C/160° Fan, 350°F, Gas 4.
• Sift the flour into a bowl and make a well in the center. Add the Lyle’s Golden Syrup and Golden Caster Sugar, the vegetable oil, yoghurt, eggs, vanilla and lemon zest. Lightly and quickly stir together with a wooden spoon.
• Using a metal spoon, fold in the oats and the blueberries (the mixture will be very thick and paste-like – this is fine). Divide between paper cases in a 12-hole tin, filling almost to the tops.
• Mix the extra Golden Caster Sugar and the oats together and scatter over the muffins.
• Bake on the middle shelf for 25 minutes or until golden and risen (a fine skewer poked into the center should come out clean).
• Remove to a wire rack to cool for a few minutes

HAPPY FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT 2016!

Some of the City Fairtrade Group members were happy to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight 2016 at the Guildhall with a Fairtrade breakfast as part of the nationwide theme "Sit down for breakfast, stand up for farmers."

Our group were also proud to help facilitate the Faitrade Foundation's 2016 Fortnight PR launch by giving access to the rooftop of One New Change shopping centre for the photoshoot for "Sit down to breakfast, stand up for farmers!" featuring Radio 1 DJ Alice Levine and TV presenter Laura Jackson, who together host the Jackson & Levine Supperclub.

CROWDFUNDING - CAN YOU HELP?

Our friends at Cafédirect Producers’ Foundation are crowdfunding for Small Folders: Urban Gardening Project. The goal is to raise $25,000 to help launch an initiative that showcases smallholder knowledge and innovations.

The project will generate a sustainable income source for their programmes and, by sharing smallholder expertise with western audiences, flip the standard transfer of knowledge from the North to South on its head.

SmallFolders will help CPF to develop, modify and adapt their urban gardening products further, creating more robust products for your home, and to continue supporting their network of 280k smallholders improve livelihoods through their programmes.

You can help by making even the smallest donation, and also get some really amazing urban gardening products as rewards. Click here to see the full campaign. Samples of rewards are listed below.

Deadline: 28th December 2015

Bug Trap - a simple way of controlling unwanted bugs from destroying a harvest. From farmers of: FEDECARES, Dominican Republic

Vertical Garden - a simple way of keeping a kitchen garden in a small space From farmers of: Michimikuru Tea Factory, Kenya

CITY OF LONDON SUCCESFULLY RENEWS ITS FAIRTRADE STATUS

June 2015 - PRESS RELEASE

The City of London has been successfully in its bid to retain its status as a Fairtrade Zone.

The re-accreditation which takes place every two years under the watchful eye of the Fairtrade Foundation, is the fourth time the City has successfully demonstrated its commitment to Fairtrade since its first sought recognition in 2007.

Winning this accolade has only been possible due to the wide availability of Fairtrade products in local shops and high levels of support from local people, businesses, faith groups and schools.

The City of London’s Fairtrade Steering Group which is composed of residents, businesses, faith groups, liverymen, common councillors and even high court judges, has promoted Fairtrade through events, debates, tasting evenings and markets across the Square Mile.

Group Chairman, The Revd George R. Bush, Rector of St Mary-le-Bow Church on Cheapside said: "We’re really delighted that the City has been recognised for its efforts. City businesses, communities and institutions have taken this issue to heart and Fairtrade procurement is very much the norm for responsible businesses.”

Adam Gardner, Communities Campaigns Manager at the Fairtrade Foundation, said: “We’re so pleased that the City of London has renewed their Fairtrade status and laid out clear exciting goals to take Fairtrade further.”

“Thanks to the ongoing support of the public and campaigners, an increasing number of farmers in developing countries are now selling their products on Fairtrade terms, bringing them a stable income, and the chance to trade their way out of poverty.”

Fairtrade helps small-scale farmers ensure they earn stable incomes and have long-term contracts with companies. In addition, they earn the Fairtrade Premium, which they invest as the farmer-owned co-operative democratically chooses, in projects that will benefit their business or community.

To get involved in the Fairtrade campaign in the City of London email fairtrade@cityoflondon.gov.uk

NOT GUILTY!

On Tuesday 21st April, we hosted a special evening raised awareness about the best in ethically and fairly sourced/produced wine and chocolate on the market. This unique and exclusive tasting is guided by Sarah Jane Evans, Master of Wine, and Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine, was held in the Judges’ Dining Room at the Old Bailey with kind permission of our host, Alderman and Sheriff Dr Andrew Parmley.

Over £600 in proceeds were raised from this event and donated to the Bow Food Bank. 

We look forward to holding this event again in 2016 - be sure to check back here so you can book your tickets - places are quite limited. It's a great night out!

Thanks to all of the producers for letting us feature your excellent ethically certified products:

WINES
Torres Santa Digna Estelado Sparkling Rosé, Chile
Kleine Zalze Chenin Blanc 2014, Coastal, South Africa
De Bos Walker Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2014, South Africa
Journey’s End Shiraz 2009, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Finca Monteflores Malbec 2013, Mendoza, Argentina

CHOCOLATES
Amedei
Chocolate Madagascar
Damson Craft Chocolate
ICAM SpA, Vanini range chocolates
Marc Demarquette
Original Beans
Pacari
Paul A. Young
Pretat
William Curley