Each Choclatea bar is a layered experiment containing high quality Belgian chocolate and finely crushed organic tea. Choose from twelve tastes ranging from very dark chocolate to white and pairings such as Pomegranate White Tea and Pistachio Green Tea. Each has its own illustrated identity which in turn becomes the focal point of the chocolate bar packaging on a simple white background.
:: via The Dieline
Introducing Smart Spice. These spices, herbs, and kitchen essentials are of the highest quality. They’re fresh, organic, and packaged in pre-measured, single-use packets. Just tear one open, toss it in, and the unused packets stay freshly sealed awaiting their turn. Instead of having a crowded spice cabinet with bottles of spice growing stale and tasteless, cooks have on-demand freshness.
A more than genius idea. As much as I love my spice rack it doesn’t get as much love as it deserves. I’d love to be able to buy top shelf goodies to fill its jars, but because I don’t use them all the time things tends to end up clumpy and stale. So what’s the point? Problem solved. Each of the Smart Spice packets is pre-measured into one teaspoon. Each box contains four packets. I love the design as well and that the prominence rests on the name of the spice.
NOTE: Smart Spice is not available yet. Hang in there for Fall 2008!
:: via Cool Hunting
Posted In food, grand design, packaging
Columbus, OH-based Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is well known for its creative flavor combinations and quality ingredients used in all of their ice creams, sorbets and frozen yogurts. All flavors are inspired by local dairy and fruit. It’s also interesting that Jeni’s uses NO eggs because she believes they distract from the flavor of the cream. Instead she uses small amounts of corn starch and gelatin as thickeners.
There’s nothing better than a quality product in equally outstanding packaging. Jeni’s is spot-on, relying on clear plastic containers and a handwritten font that really allows the ice cream to be the star. At the same time it also reminds you that all of Jeni’s frozen treats are handmade in small batches.
Founder Jeni Britton is featured in this month’s Food & Wine magazine in How to Make Ice Cream Like an Artisan. I’m pumped that the article contains lots and lots of her recipes as well.
Posted In food, packaging, recipes
Most well designed bottles fall into one of three product categories: wine, vinegar or olive oil. So it’s really no surprise how lovely Terra Medi’s packaging of their Greek and organic extra virgin olive oil happens to be. They also offer a selection of vinegars, sesame oil, olives, olivades and olive bruschetta. This product line alone calls for open shelving in the kitchen.
The Dessert Truck. The adult version of the Good Humor Man. The gourmet version in fact. If you happen to live near or be around the vicinity of 8th Street and University Place in NYC between Tuesdays and Sundays check it out. Every neighborhood in entitled to a Dessert Truck. Wonder when they’re going to franchise this idea?! I’d definitely run down the street to catch it.
This week’s special: Rhubarb and lemongrass soup with fresh strawberries, lemon-lime cubes, and creme fraiche. Holy yum.
Posted In food
At least once a week I’m reminded of just how much I loved living in Minneapolis. This week it’s courtesy of Sweet, a chocolate shop that resides in the Twin Cities. Love the color palette and bold, yet demur graphics. I guarantee that if I were lucky enough to get my hands on this one, the packaging wouldn’t go anywhere near the trash.
:: via The Dieline
Posted In food, packagingWhile flipping through some older bookmarks I came across Coco-luxe Confections and immediately started salivating something fierce. The truffle guide is brilliant – I always hate having to guess what’s on the inside. They remedy this by putting the most obvious illustrations on each piece to identify them. And they’re packaging is whimsical without going overboard. Love it.
Check out Activate.
Apparently vitamins lose their potency while sitting in water – who knew? Activate physically separates the two until the instant you open the bottle. That’s the moment they’re released from a specially designed moisture-resistant chamber hidden in a compartment in the underside of the cap. As of now there are four flavors available (Vitamin = Fruit punch, Immunity = Orange, Antioxidant = Berry, Energy = Lemon lime) and Activate is only in retail locations on the coasts. Hopefully they’ll spread like wildfire because I’m eager to try the functionality of this packaging out.
Posted In food, packaging
A few weeks ago I was out for Saturday dinner with my mom. She had a cold and wanted some hot tea to soothe her scratchy throat. After ordering, the waitress brought out the tea caddy for my mom to make her selection. Upon opening the packet we were both surprised (and a little confused) to see this little drawstring tea bag! The drawstring allows you to get every drop out of the bag in an unintentionally fun way. Completely functional, awesome design which works really, really well.
I love what design shop little fury has done with the identity and packaging of Beehive Honey. Really clean and innovative work.
:: via The Dieline
Posted In food, packaging