From November onwards I’m in the kitchen by 4.30 am - 5.00 am if I’m having a lie in. The house is dark and not remotely supportive. The air is cold. I turn on an audio book or a postcast. The cat opens one eye, gives me a look of profound disdain. I am crushed. Satisfied, she closes the eye and goes straight back to sleep.

World Chocolate Day is 7th July. Here, we take a look at the difficulties in achieving a sustainable cocoa trade.

Have you ever opened a bar or box chocolates to find they look white and streaky? Here’s why that happens and tips to store your chocolate and keep it looking and tasting delicious.

Tainted glove

It’s all too easy to be lulled into a false sense of security. You think you’re being hygienic because you’re wearing gloves. You’re hands are covered so you’re not transferring bacteria from them to anything else, right?

A brief history of gin: the murky past of a crystal clear spirit.

Why you should think again about this much maligned treat.

Fudge, by any other name, would taste as sweet! What’s your favourite kind?