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TRENDS, NEWS and VIEWS
By editor: Fall, 2005
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Archived NEWS, TRENDS and VIEWS »
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Our quick (and unscientific) look at some of the trends and news
we find interesting and relevant.
Iced Tea Brewers
When most of us make iced tea we usually make our favorite hot tea, let it cool and pour it over ice. Well - now major appliance manufacturers are making “Iced Tea Brewers”.
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Visit Hamilton Beach for more details » Be sure to check out our feature on making great iced tea » |
These machines, made by manufacturers like Hamilton Beach , Melitta and Mr. Coffee, are now available at major retailers throughout the United States.
For the most part they have a “tea brewing” area that produces hot tea and then you pour it into the refrigerator friendly pitcher attached to the brewer. Some machines even have the hot tea pitcher attached and then you simply let it cool and then place that pitcher in the fridge.
While we are yet to test these “new” machines ourselves they are more proof of how popular tea has become and just how popular “iced tea” has become.
Drinkers may be smarter !
For many of us this comes as a relief.
From the Daily Telegraph, Sydney, Australia comes the results of an Australian National University study of 7,000 people that found “those who drink in moderation have better verbal skills, memory and speed of thinking than those at the extremes of the drinking spectrum.”
Researcher Dr Bryan Rodgers said people who drink moderate amounts also seem to be healthier, physically and mentally.
"The research looked at factors including physical health, personality, social lives, social supports, friendships and enemies, and yet these did not explain it," he said. "It's a mystery."
He said there appeared to be no social factors - such as better education of one group - that could explain the phenomenon.
The survey was conducted on more than 7000 Canberra and Queanbeyan residents. Moderate alcohol consumption was considered to be 14 to 28 standard drinks a week for men and seven to 14 drinks a week for women.
Beverage of Choice: It’s now Wine – no longer Beer
Gallup Poll reports that Americans alcoholic beverage of choice is now wine.
Gallup Poll has been tracking this since 1992 and this is the first time Wine has “beaten” beer. 39% of Americans report they drink wine most often versus 36% who report that beer is their beverage of choice.
Backyard Patios and bars: Hot, Hot hot…
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Check out some Outdoor Patio Sets |
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The Wall Street Journal recently highlighted the growing trend of elaborate backyard patios and the growing business around this popular renovation and new home feature.
In fact backyard patios are now so standard that 45% of all new homes have them versus 37% that had them in 1992 according to the Census Bureau.
The American Home Furnishings Alliance reports that in 2003, $2.3 billion dollars were spent on outdoor tables, seating and umbrellas. This is up 129% from 1994.
As the Wall Street Journal reports this has been reflected in the retail market with retailers like Restoration Hardware expanding the number of pages in their catalog dedicated to outdoor entertaining from 25 pages to 52.
Outdoor bars play a big role in this trend with a full range of options - “Among Restoration Hardware’s new items are the 4½ foot long Montauk Bar, for $1,149” and even Sears in the market with a “$4,999 outdoor cedar bar with built in lighting, a small refrigerator, a ceramic-tiled countertop, hanging wine-glass holder , dual mounted outdoor speakers.”
