Here’s What Flavour Cola Really Is, And The Secret’s In The Name

Posted on 04/09/2024 by Boris Clair

If you had to guess what the secret behind that distinctively malty Biscoff flavour is, you probably wouldn’t say sugar ― but that’s likely what it is.

Similarly, red velvet cake’s earthy, tender flavour isn’t created by crimson berries or beetroot; traditionally, it’s the action of buttermilk and vinegar on Dutch-processed cocoa and baking soda that gives it its signature taste and hue.

It also contains vanilla.

So, it shouldn’t have shocked me that cola’s taste is partly down to an unexpected source; namely, the kola nut (yes, there is such a thing).

What’s a kola nut, and what other flavours are involved?

According to beverage company StrangeLove, “cola brands guard their own secret formulas with their lives, using generic terms such as ‘artificial and natural flavours.’”

Talk of Coca-Cola’s top-secret “7X” ingredient seems to confirm such theories.

Nonetheless, some ingredients stay constant, StrangeLove explains.

“Cola generally is a carbonated beverage which consists of these key ingredients; kola nut, citrus oils, vanilla and cinnamon,” they say.

This is usually mixed with a caramel base for that slightly sticky, moreish texture.

Kola nuts contain caffeine and are from tropical regions of Africa, Britannica says.

They look a little like the lovechild of chestnuts and cocoa beans.

They’re dried in the sun before being used in products like soft drinks and medicine, though Britannica says that “American and European soft-drink manufacturers, however, do not use the kola nut; instead, they manufacture synthetic chemicals that resemble the flavour of the kola nut.”

Nonetheless, “kola concentrate” is listed in Coca-Cola’s EU ingredients.

@sooziethefoodie

This is undoubtably the most interesting fruit I have ever been able to work with- the kola but. It is native to West Africa and is traditionally used for its high caffeine content. It grows in a pod similar to cacao. Now here’s where it gets interesting- it was used in the first recipe for Coca Cola and many say that it’s where the Cola part came from! Now every time I hear the word cola I’m going to think of this beautiful pink African fruit 🥹 It has a crunchy texture and a bitter flavor and I have been told that some tribes will eat it on its own with a little bit of salt and it also can be used to sooth a sore throat when mixed with honey. Once cooked with other ingredients the flavor is super pleasant. I boiled the Kola Nuts I had with fresh ginseng, ginger, yuzu peel, kumquats, clove, cinnamon, honey, and date syrup 🍵 #tiktoktaughtme #kolanut #cocacola

♬ original sound – Suzy

Anything else?

Given how secretive the biggest cola brand ― Coca-Cola ― has been about its 7x ingredient, many have speculated about what’s really in the world’s favourite fizzy drink.

A surprising amount of people use coriander seed in their attempted Coca-Cola remakes, alongside cassia (also known as Chinese cinnamon) and lavender.

Coca-Cola inventor John Pemberton is said to have written a recipe into his diary before he died that included lavender, coca leaves, alcohol, coca leaves, orange, cinnamon, lemon, coriander, nutmeg, neroli, and of course 7x.

Of course, the recipe has since changed ― it no longer contains alcohol and certainly uses no coca leaves, so it’s likely other elements have been switched as well.

Given that the brand won’t even let the two people who know how to mix 7x on the same plane at the same time in case it crashes, I don’t reckon we’ll be certain any time soon…

I Just Learned What Bisto Actually Stands For, And It’s Pretty Clever

Posted on 02/09/2024 by Boris Clair

We’ve already shared the adorable meaning behind LEGO’s name, as well as the surprisingly posh origin of KitKat’s branding.

We’ve even explained how Biscoff gets that hard-to-explain flavour into their biscuits.

But what about Bisto, the iconic gravy base?

Well, it turns out that the name is actually an acronym ― each letter of Bisto refers to a property of the granules themselves.

What does it stand for?

Invented in 1908, Bisto was made by Mr Roberts and Mr Patterson, who were two employees of Cerebos salt (per Britshop).

The men were inspired by their wives’ requests to find a way to produce smooth gravy every time, an archived page from Bisto’s site says.

There were certain qualities a good gravy has; thick, tasty, and glossy, with a deep rich colour.

So when Mr Roberts and Mr Patterson came up with a product that managed to hit all the marks with only the addition of hot water, they seem to have used its name to celebrate their success.

According to the same archived Bisto page, “The finished product is named ‘Bisto’ for its unique ability to ‘Brown, Season and Thicken in One.’”

Where did the ‘Aaah, Bisto’ come from?

It might surprise you to learn how long the brand’s instantly recognisable “aah” has been around.

Per Bisto, a 1919 ad, made by cartoonist Wilf Owen only eight years after the launch of the product, featured two kids sniffing a pie.

“Ah! BISTO,” the text of the advert reads ― “nobody knows exactly who came up with the idea for Bill and Maree [the children] but they soon became loved by the nation,” Bisto says.

“Their legacy lives on to this day with their catchphrase ― ‘aah! Bisto.’”

Bill and Maree had a makeover in the ’70s, appearing on packs and in ads until 1995.

I Just Learned What The White Bits On Used Pimple Patches Really Are, And No, It’s Not Pus

Posted on 31/08/2024 by Boris Clair

My first experience with a hydrocolloid patch ― the generic name for the various pimple patches people apply to their faces ― actually had nothing to do with a spot.

That’s because the same technology, and a lot of the same ingredients, are used on those blister patches you place on your ailing heel (fellow Docs lovers will know the pain).

But if I’m being totally honest, I had no idea why they shrunk my spots or healed my post-run bubble ― until I saw a TikTok from board-certified dermatologist Dr. Witney Bowe.

And yes, she did clarify what that white gunk is.

How do they work?

Speaking to the American Chemical Society (ACS), Hadley King, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist, said that the patches work by drawing moisture out of your skin.

That way, they shrink the spot while covering it so it has room to heal. The barrier means you can’t touch your spots, either.

“As the hydrocolloid gel adheres to the skin, it absorbs excess oil and dirt away from pimples,” Dr. King told ACS.

So it makes sense that, as Dr. Bowe explained in her Tiktok, the white spots you see after wearing patches overnight are not pus.

“They’re actually the hydrocolloid material absorbing fluid, extra moisture, extra water, which thickens the hydrocolloid material and just makes it look a little bit whiter in those spots,” the doctor said.

Should I use pimple patches for serious acne?

It’s not that you can’t use them in addition to an existing routine ― but they’re better for one-off “spot treatments,” Dr. Bowe shared.

That’s because, aside from being a bit wasteful if you’re using them on the daily, they don’t tackle the real root of the issue ― they just help to speed up the recovery of a certain type of existing zits.

ACS writes that patches are best for spots that are raised and have visible pus (basically, those you’d be tempted to squeeze otherwise).

Longer-term treatments may include salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, niacinamide, tea tree oil, or, in more serious cases, retinoids.

If you’re just looking to cover the odd spot, though, at least you can be rest assured your patch won’t be stuffed with its unspeakable contents…

Here’s How Many Seconds Science Says It Takes To Poop, And Wow, Am I Doing It Wrong

Posted on 30/08/2024 by Boris Clair

We’ve already shared at HuffPost that you’re not actually meant to sit on the loo for more than five minutes at a time.

We’ve also written about the fact that, although women tend to have more complications with their BMs, men spend a lot more time on the porcelain throne.

While writing the second article, though, I learned something that turned my world inside out.

According to some scientists, most mammals (and yep, we’re a part of that) should take no longer than 12 of Gillian McKeith’s own seconds to pass a poop.

What? Why?

Well, okay, it’s not as exact as that.

But according to a paper published by the Royal Society of Chemistry in their journal Soft Matter (I know), most mammals take between five and 19 seconds; 12 seconds on average.

The study, called Hydrodynamics of Defecation, looked at a range of mammals of different sizes at Zoo Atlanta. They didn’t study humans.

It found that, from a cat to an elephant, a majority (roughly 66%) of mammals took the same, sub-20 amount of seconds to pass a stool.

Patricia Yang, a mechanical engineer at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, said that that may be because “The smell of body waste attracts predators, which is dangerous for animals.”

“If they stay longer doing their thing, they’re exposing themselves and risking being discovered,” the study’s main author told New Scientist.

How come it all takes the same time?

Pooping doesn’t work the way most of us think, the study revealed.

We’re not pushing the BMs out like removing toothpaste from a tube; “It’s more like a plug that just goes through a chute,” the study’s lead author said.

That’s partly because of the mucus that lines our gut and makes it slippery.

Add to that the fact that poop seems to take up a similar amount of space in the gut before it’s excreted across most species (five times the diameter of the mammals’ rectum), and it’s no wonder they exert a similar amount of pressure and take around the same time.

Though, again, the study didn’t look at humans, its lead author said “If it’s taking far longer than 12 seconds, I’d say you should go see someone about it.”

“But you can’t count the newspaper time,” she added.

So… Why Do Men Spend So Much Time In The Bathroom?

Posted on 29/08/2024 by Boris Clair

In an Instagram Reel that’s been viewed over 70 million times, site user Hannah Stocking put a book above her loo’s cistern, placed a seat cover on the toilet, and walked out to her partner.

“I have to go,” he said forlornly; “I love you,” they both whispered as he entered the WC.

Arms on a clock span as he played games, scrolled, and generally hung out in there, pants around his ankles. He eventually emerges, bearded and disoriented.

“When your man goes to the bathroom,” the caption reads.

It’s not just an anecdotal thing or a funny post, though; according to a survey run by UK Bathrooms, men spend, on average, one hour and 35 minutes perched on the toilet each week compared to women’s 55 minutes.

Why?

It’s not usually stomach issues; or at least, it’s less likely to be that than it is for women.

Dr. Kyle Staller, a gastroenterologist, told Yahoo Life: “It’s true that men do spend longer in the toilet or on the toilet than women do, but in reality are much less likely to have bowel issues and chronic constipation than women are.”

Women’s colons are, on average, 10cm longer than men’s; our hormones also typically fluctuate more often, beleaguering our BMs.

A 2017 study from the University of Oxford and the University of Canberra found that not only are men more likely than women to scroll on the loo (20% vs 26.5%).

A YouGov study also found women feel more nervous about going number two in public loos, where lines are generally also longer than men’s.

But if we’re being real, I reckon we all know the true answer ― a lot of men admit to looking for a bit of an escape and some “me time” on the porcelain throne.

One-third of British men admit to hiding in the loo to escape their families compared to one-fifth of women, according to a survey by bathroom company Pebble Grey.

In a Vice article,

one leisurely loo goer said

: “Now that I live with my girlfriend, I often use that alone time to plan dinners for the both of us and just generally take stock of the days ahead and what I’ve got going on.”

But doesn’t everyone like some me time?

Well, yes.

“I’ve had some clients tell me that the bathroom allows for the perfect escape from parenting duties,” Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist and author, told LiveScience.

“It can be a hideout for people because no one ever asks what you’re doing in there, even if you take a long time. It can truly be a safe place.”

That’s despite Office of National Statistics data that showed fathers of children aged five to 10 enjoyed five hours more leisure time than women per week, and “consistently took more leisure time than women regardless of how old the child in their household was.”

A 2023 Mumsnet post from a poster whose husband took several half-hour-long loo breaks daily reads, “The house would [be] chaos, the family wouldn’t eat and nothing would get done if I took 20 minutes out several times a day.”

Of course, if medical issues are to blame, ensure you see a doctor. And if it’s not a real cause of contention, hey ― scroll away.

Just don’t stay seated while, er, exposed for longer than five minutes (that can cause piles); and if you dash to the bog every time you need an escape, you might want to consider other, less pungent sources of “me time.”

Here’s The Only Italian Seasoning Italians Actually Use, And It’s Not The One In Your Cupboard

Posted on 28/08/2024 by Boris Clair

Before you even ask, I’ll come clean. Yes, I do own a tub of “Italian herbs” myself.

To be honest, though, I’m something of a seasonings libertarian ― I’ve never understood how people trusted a stranger to find the perfect mix of flavours for every dish.

So, I’m not surprised food site My Recipes says the invention of the generic “Italian herbs” mix is likely American, adding that you’d be “hard-pressed” to find an equivalent in Italy.

Eva Santaguida, cookbook author and the Italian half of YouTube couple Pasta Grammar, seemed baffled by the concept in a video about the topic. “They put everything together without a defined taste,” she said of the mix.

One version is native to Italy, however; and it sounds delicious.

What is it?

“Salamoia Bolognese, a blend of rosemary, sage, garlic, salt, and black pepper, is popular in Bologna and beyond,” My Recipe says.

Italian restaurateur and celeb chef Massimo Capra seems to confirm that.

In a TikTok, he sniffed a metal container of the stuff ― “smells like a roasted chicken,” he said between whiffs.

“It smells like roast veal,”Capra added, writing in the caption of his video that “it’s something you need in your pantry right now”.

It’s used on grilled meat, fish, vegetables, and (obviously) veal and chicken; Italian food YouTuber Janna’s Cooking Show used it in her chicken marsala recipe.

It also makes soups, stews, and spuds sing (perhaps reassuringly, if inconveniently, most of the recipes I saw for it online were in Italian).

How do I make it?

It’s pretty simple, though as with all seasoning mixes, there’s no one true recipe.

Slow food cooking site Hare & Tortoise suggests mixing equal parts salt and rosemary with one clove of garlic per two teaspoons of salt or rosemary; there’s one teaspoon of black peppercorns per two teaspoons, or one clove, of the rest.

They whizz the lot up in a blender.

Italian cooking site Il Cucchiano D’Argento’s more complex affair puts sage, bay leaves, and lemon zest in their “easy” recipe too.

Their large-scale recipe uses 1kg of salt, the zest of two unwaxed lemons (though they admit these aren’t “traditional”), half a head of garlic, five sage leaves, four bay leaves, three sprigs of rosemary, and 45g (ish) of black peppercorns.

“The [herb’s] oils released are absorbed by the salt, [which is] left to dry… for a couple of days: a process that guarantees its shelf life for a few months,” the cooking site adds.

They say the final product’s texture should be halfway between coarse and fine salt. You can store it in an airtight glass jar when it’s done.

BRB, just taking out my blender…

NHS 111 Is Now Providing A New Mental Health Service, Here’s Everything You Need To Know

Posted on 27/08/2024 by Boris Clair

People facing a mental health crisis in England can now access support through NHS 111.

The service, which is available now, offers another vital lifeline to those experiencing mental health difficulties. A similar service is available in Scotland and Wales.

According to the BBC: “The number connects to a local team of call handlers with mental health training, alongside nurses and clinicians who are available around the clock.

“The team can organise a mental health assessment, send out a crisis team and flag up help available in the local area. A talking-therapy service is also available – people can refer themselves to it online via nhs.uk”

How to access the NHS mental health helpline

The mental health charity Mind estimates that around two million people on waiting lists for NHS mental health care and the latest NHS figures show that mental health services have treated an extra one million people a year compared with six years ago.

The new integrated service can give patients of all ages, including children, the chance to be listened to by a trained member of staff who can help direct them to the right place, says NHS director for mental health Claire Murdoch.

“So, if you or someone you know needs urgent mental health support, please call 111, and select the mental health option.”

The mental health option is option 2, so those looking for support can simply call 111 and choose option 2 to be directed to the support that they need.

Rethink Mental Illness chief executive Mark Winstanley said: “A mental health crisis is traumatic and disorientating, and getting help as quickly as possible is vital. The last thing people need when they or a loved-one is in crisis, is uncertainty about where to turn.

“The NHS have made it easier to access urgent support via 111, building on provision already in place through crisis lines. We welcome this important step.”

Help and support:

Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI – this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.

I Just Learned What ‘Bank Holidays’ Were Originally Called And I Can’t Stop Laughing

Posted on 23/08/2024 by Boris Clair

This bank holiday weekend is looking pretty good, with Notting Hill Carnival set to take place in London and just-about-okay (by UK standards, anyway) weather predicted across much of the country.

Uncontroversially, I’m a huge fan of bank holidays. But I’ve always wondered why they’re called that.

I had a vague idea it had something to do with banks (which is true), but I wasn’t sure what it is about, say, a Monday in late August would necessitate a teller’s day off.

So, I looked into it recently ― and I’ve been laughing about what I found since.

What’s the history of bank holidays?

Sir John Lubbock, the 1st baron of Avery, who authored the Bank Holidays Act of 1871, is the reason why we have them in the first place.

Some say the politician, author, and banker (hence the name) set the dates according to when cricket was played in his local village ― he was said to have been a huge fan.

And per BBC Radio 4′s site, this bank holiday per weekend used to take place on the first, not the last, Monday of August.

That’s not the only change they shared, though.

“For a while some called the first bank holidays ‘St Lubbock’s Days’ after the banker Sir John Lubbock” who helped them to become law, BBC Radio 4 says.

“Funnily enough that didn’t stick,” they added.

We used to have a lot more of them

According to the Trade Union Congress, “Prior to 1834, the Bank of England observed about thirty-three saints’ days and religious festivals as holidays, but in 1834, this was drastically reduced to just four: Good Friday, 1st May, 1st November, and Christmas Day.”

The ’70s was the last time the Trade Union Congress (TUC) successfully campaigned for an extra bank holiday, the TUC says.

Nonetheless, they say about a third of UK workers clock in on at least one bank holiday a year (anyone in hospitality, food, transport, and more will know that other peoples’ time off is your peak crunch time).

I guess Lubbock isn’t a saint to everyone…

I Just Realised What ‘Pepsi’ Really Stands For, And It’s More Medical Than I Thought

Posted on 22/08/2024 by Boris Clair

We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about what everything from Twix to HobNob and HARIBO really stands for.

We’ve even shared the hidden detail in Twix’s clever branding.

So what about Pepsi, the iconic red, white, and blue-branded soft drink?

Is its moniker some mixture of real, human names (like HARIBO), or a clever portmanteau (like LEGO)?

Is it an acronym or a clever reference (like how the name Marmite sneakily refers to its former cooking and distribution method)?

No, no, no, and no, it seems.

The brand is actually named after indigestion.

What?

I’m as surprised as you are. But then again, I also didn’t know the beverage was originally called “Brad’s Drink.”

Its inventor, Caleb D. Bradham, changed the name in 1898.

Pepsi’s site merely says, “He bought the name ‘Pep Kola’ from a local competitor and changed it to Pepsi-Cola.”

But according to the LA Times, who heard from Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband Justin (both hosts of Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine), the name “derived from dyspepsia (ie, indigestion), which the beverage was supposed to assuage.”

MEL Magazine says the drink’s supposed main ingredient, pepsin, was marketed as a way to get rid of stomach issues.

“A 1902 advertisement that was developed with at least the blessing of Pepsi inventor Caleb Bradham referred to it directly as ‘Pepsi-Cola (The Pepsin Drink),’” they wrote.

Pepsin is an enzyme your stomach makes to help digest proteins in your food.

Though I couldn’t find that specific ad, I did find a 1902 ad that says it “aids digestion” and a 1907 ad that reads ”[Pepsi] is an absolutely pure combination of pepsin ― for the ingestion ― acid phosphate and the juices of fresh fruits.”

However according to Pepsi themselves, “Despite its name and hearsay, pepsin was never an ingredient of Pepsi-Cola.”

How could people think it was a health drink?

Whether it comes from “dyspepsia” or “pepsin” (or perhaps a vague association with both), Pepsi was certainly marketed as a health aid at first.

They were far from alone, though.

Digestives were originally marketed and designed as (you guessed it) digestion aids.

Maltesers were first sold as “energy balls” and used as diet food at first too, with a 1936 ad saying, “made LIGHT for energy… non-fattening.”

It wasn’t just food, either; around the same time, people thought sitting up straight would cure tuberculosis.

What a world…

Do This 1 Trick Immediately After Using A Sieve To Prevent Stuck-On Food

Posted on 21/08/2024 by Boris Clair

Ah, sieves ― they’d be such a handy tool if they weren’t nigh-on impossible to clean.

As someone who tends to be much kinder to “current me” than I am for “future me,” – I still end up using mine about once a day.

It’s perfect for draining pasta (except for the washing). It’s a great way to ensure no lemon seeds end up in the juice (except for the washing). It’s useful for sifting flour, too, except… well, you get the message.

So you can only imagine how relieved I was to find that taking one simple step immediately after using the tool can prevent an awful lot of stuck-on food.

Which is?

Food magazine Bon Appétit wrote that whacking the utensil against your sink as soon after using it as possible is really, really helpful.

“As soon as you finish using your sieve, bang it against the sink,” they shared.

“This helps dislodge some of those smaller pieces that haven’t had time to mush up and settle in.”

They add that you should also soak your sieve in very hot, soapy water for 15 minutes “right away.”

A dash of distilled white vinegar added to the mix can make cleaning it even more effective, the publication says.

However, for both methods, speed is key.

Is that the only hack?

Far from it. In a Reddit thread about the cooking conundrum, site users were full of recommendations.

“I turn it upside down in the sink, and use the sprayer to blast the back side. This usually cleans it pretty well,” one Redditor wrote.

Many advised against letting your sieve rest after use, even for a minute ― more people than I’d expected knew about the “banging it against the sink” trick too (am I the only one this is news to?).

Yet another person suggested using a toothbrush if the debris gets really dire (Bon Appétit reccomends this too).

With all the resentment I’ve built up to that accursed mesh, hitting it against the sink should be easy…

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