Food news: coffee, tea & ugly jumpers

9th July 2021 | Eativity editors

What’s making food news this week? It’s well and truly winter woollies weather, and one iconic food brand has knitted up a real treat, releasing some limited-edition apparel that lets you stay warm, show your Aussie pride and frighten small children all in one fell swoop. Speaking of getting warm, a new global report card has been released on how each country is progressing with climate action… and Australia really didn’t do very well. At all.

Also on the Eativity food news radar this week, thousands of Australian consumers have voted on the best coffee brands that you can find in supermarkets, and a Melbourne hotel has teamed up with a master patissier to create a special afternoon tea that showcases seasonal fruits and local producers. Sound tempting? You can find all the details below.

Australian food news: Vegemite ugly jumpers
It’s getting ugly in here. (Mullet optional but highly recommended.)

Xmas in July gets ugly

For those who celebrate the Yuletide in the Northern Hemisphere, it just wouldn’t be Christmas without some well-meaning but sartorially misguided relative gifting you an ugly festive sweater. Now Aussies can get in on the hideous Xmas jumper act as well and celebrate Christmas in July with the newly launched limited-edition Vegemite Ugly Christmas Sweater. And boy, is it ugly. You can buy them from the brand’s dedicated Mitey Merchandise online store, or you can head to the Vegemite Instagram page and enter to win one for you and two unfortunate mates. The competition runs until July 18.

Australian food news: Product of the Year 2021 best supermarket coffees
In a world of uncertainty, there is always coffee. And for that, we are truly grateful.

The roasts with the most

In this new world of lockdowns and restrictions that we’ve found ourselves living in, more people have been opting to make their morning coffee at home. Consumers also have more choice when it comes to home brewing. Some like beans, some like pods and some just want you to shut up and let them get that caffeine hit now and will opt for instant. But whatever your personal preference, what brand should you buy? Consumers voted on the best supermarket coffees in the Product of the Year awards, and the winners are…

Beans – Coles Urban Coffee Culture Dark

Pods – Daley Street Medium/Dark Coffee Capsules

Instant – Nescafé Plant Based Lattes

Australia ranked dead last in global Sustainable Development Report
Nothing to see here. Just a spot of coal burning.

Climate clanger

Well this is embarrassing. A new report has ranked Australia dead last for climate action out of 193 member states of the United Nations. The latest edition of the annual Sustainable Development Report assessed each country’s progress towards adopting affordable and clean energy, reducing emissions and reaching climate action goals. Australia had the worst performance due to its fossil fuel use and exports and the lack of effective carbon pricing, scoring just 10 points out of a possible 100. Considering that more extreme weather events and rising temperatures due to climate change are already threatening our food supply, maybe now might be a good time to, you know, do something about it.

Australian food news: Park Hyatt Melbourne Winter Afternoon Tea
When life gives you lemons, pop them in the fruit bowl and head out to eat cake.

Loving it local

Park Hyatt Melbourne has launched a new event in support of Hyatt Loves Local, a global initiative to support and collaborate with small local businesses impacted by COVID-19. The hotel has partnered with Santiago Cuyugan, winner of 2017 Savour Patissier of the Year and owner of Mamé Cocoa, to develop a special Winter Afternoon Tea that showcases seasonal flavours from local producers. Cuyugan has created bespoke cakes inspired by classical French pastries that pay homage to Melbourne’s coffee culture and seasonal winter fruits. These are accompanied by freshly-baked fruit and plain scones served with a selection of local preserves and cream. The afternoon tea will be served daily in the hotel’s Tea Lounge from 2:30 to 5pm. Bookings can be made via email or by calling (03) 9224 1211.

Want to stay up to date with all the latest in Australian food news? Just sign up to our weekly newsletter in the box below. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We’ve got more good food news to inspire you and entice you next week. Stay tuned!