Nan's Cottage

Visit Nan’s Cottage Facebook page to see the awesome range of products we have available for purchase.

• Wax Food Wraps – assorted sizes.
• Wheat bags to ward off the Winter chills; relieve tight muscles; and small bags to pop in the freezer for those moments when a cold compress is what the body needs.
• Knitted items – 100% cotton cloths; Funky knits for little people.
• Top Knot machine sewn baby beanies.
• Soothing Lavender Eye Pillows – a daily necessity to assist you to relax and unwind from your day.
• Natural beeswax candles.
• Assortment of Balms made from natural products – Kawakawa Balm; Baby’s Bum Balm; Healing Balm; Lavendular Balm; Lip Balms and an All Time Moisturiser.

Everything is made using natural products to help you make healthy choices.

Over the past few years my Kombucha Tea has gone from strength to strength and now the most logical of steps; Organic.  I now use good quality orgnic ingredients and this is reflected in how Nan’s Organic Kombucha tastes. Producing an organic line of Kombucha made perfect sense as it is such a health giving product that anything but organic, doesn’t do it justice.

At the moment I am focusing on 3 flavours: Ginger Twist; Mango Nip and Organic Cha. Each one possessing it’s own unique flavour.  Another special thing about Nan’s Organic Kombucha is that it is Raw.  This means all of the “goodies” that occur naturally in the fermentation process are available to bring health and vitality to your system.  How cool is that?

So very exciting times!!

I still have a monthly stall at the the Cambridge Lions Market and the owners of Binn Inn Clyde Street Hamilton East have very kindly begun stocking Nan’s Organic Kombucha. There will also be a new shop opening its doors in Hamilton East and it too will be stocking Nan’s Organic Kombucha.

Keeping up with the manufacturing is the next part of the process that will receive my attention and fine tuning.  So watch this space.

Enjoy the health benefits and effervescent nature of Nan’s Organic Kombucha, daily.

Firstly, Happy New Year and thank you for taking the time to read my blog.

It has been quite sometime since my last entry here.  The realisation of the importance of keeping up to date with this site was made real to me at my last market.  So, prompted by a couple of my customers that day, here I am.

How 2015 came and went in what seemed like a flash.  It did however see the development of a new Kombucha flavour, using fresh ginger, which I have called Ginger Twist.  This is proving to be the ‘new’ favourite overtaking Summertime and Pina Colada.  They are all my favourites.

It is very exciting to experience lots of interest being shown in Kombucha; hearing comments of “Ah, Kombucha!” and to have people come visit me repeatedly each month. When I first started out there was much fear and uncertainty from the public.  I was almost as fearful of them too I think!! So what a huge comeback Kombucha is experiencing.

Sitting alongside the Kombucha are my Balms and Moisturisers, Hand spun Knits, Neck Coolers and Lavender Eye Pillows.

In the remedy line I have: Healing Balm, Lip Balm, Grapefruit Moisturiser, Lavender Moisturiser and Bugs Away Repellent.   I grow all the plants that are used in the Healing Balm which means I know their history and I can assure you, they have not been coated in herbicides or other ‘nasties’.  It is safe for ‘baby’s bottom’ and can be used for a host of other purposes by all the family.   My aim is to produce products that are safe, nourishing and full of health promoting goodness.  The Lavender Eye Pillows are fabulous straight out of the freezer for tired eyes; relief of head ache or if you need to block out the light while you have a ‘wee’ lay down.  I’ve made the neck coolers for several purposes; hot flushes; gardening; tramping; chefs and anyone else who needs help to cool down.  They can be worn around the neck or as a head band or as you like.  Quite a remarkable thing.  The coolness lasts for about 3-5 hours so they can be very useful.  Another use is freeze them and use as an Ice Pack.  Their uses are many for sure.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  There is lots of information about the health benefits of Kombucha on the internet.

Once again thank you for reading my blog and I do hope that you are able to get some benefit from my products.  Blessings, Nan.

I have added several new products to sit along side my range of Kombucha Tea.

Calendula & Plantain Healing Balm.  Great for Cuts, Bites, Scratches and gentle on Babies bottoms as both healer and or preventer.

Calendula and Lavender Balm.  Use on tired and aching muscles.

Grapefruit Moisturising Balm.  Uplifting Citrus benefit.

Lavender Moisturising Balm.  Calming and soothing effect.

Rose & Calendula Hand Cream.

Soy Melts for room aromatic effect:

• Vanilla
• Spiced Sandalwood & Honey

Add to your Tea Light Oil burner.  Melt lasts for hours.

Visit me at Lions Trash n Treasure Market 2nd Sunday each month on my permanent stall site Victoria Street Cambridge next to Drycleaners.

Kombucha Tea
Reputed benefits from drinking Kombucha Tea

Kombucha tea is a delicious healing and detoxifying drink. The first difference people notice is increased energy and better skin colour. It has a reputation for healing hundreds of different ailments, and is renowned as an anti-ageing treatment and secret to retaining youthful looks. It is an effective chelator that removes heavy metals and a wide range of other toxins from your body. People who drink it seem to be healthier and younger-looking than the rest of the population. Being healthy on the inside has to reflect on the outside!
Kombucha tea is made using a culture, filtered water, sugar, black tea and in this instance, fruit flavoured herbal teas. The fermenting process transforms the tea into enzymes, vitamins and organic acids.
Probiotic: Kombucha tea encourages the growth of beneficial bifida bacteria in your intestines, particularly those that produce lactic acid. Bifida are similar to acidophilus bacteria, the active organisms in live yoghurt. Kombucha tea produces two organic acids, lactic acid and acetic acid, which accelerate this pro-biotic effect. Lactic acid is essential for healthy digestive action and for energy production by the liver. Acetic acid is an antiseptic and inhibitor of pathogenic bacteria.
Detoxifier: Glycuronic acid (GA) binds toxins in your liver, and makes them water-soluble. Your kidneys then eliminate these toxins in your urine.
Skin: Kombucha tea improves your skin elasticity, tone and colour. It acts as a humectant (moisturiser). People report a reduction of wrinkles, scarring, freckles, brown age spots and rashes.
Kombucha Tea is an ideal beverage to drink, along with water, following an exercise regime and/or massage, to assist the body with the elimination process of toxins. Enjoy.

I decided that my focus with the stall at today’s Lions Trash n Treasure Market, needed to be on the promotion of the benefits of Kombucha Tea.
A “Tasting Now” sign hung invitingly on the front of my stall.
I had two flavours. Apricot and Cranberry & Apple. Once again I was positioned on the shaded/cold side of the main street. The day promised sunshine and warm temperatures so I was optimistic. My plan was to educate and market the Kombucha Tea.

It wasn’t until I poured out Kombucha ready to taste, that I attracted some interest. Each person who tried the tea was suitably impressed and very interested in how it is made and from what. It is a Fermented Tea that has been around for eons and widely used in Asia and Northern Europe.

I realised that I didn’t have printed material on the benefits of Kombucha for people to take with them or read on my website/blog. So that is my next move, to have it available to read here and printouts on the day. In order to raise my profile, I shall be a regular feature at this monthly market. Raising awareness through education and building trustworthy relationships is the key.

A big “Thank-you” to all of you who chose to take some tea home. May it serve you well.

In Love, Laughter and Gratitude, Rose

Because I experience really cold ankles and don’t necessarily want to wear socks, I decided to knit something this morning.   Cranking up my needles with some left over alpaca used for a pair of Knee Warmers for my elderly friend, I had my first pair of Ankle Warmers underway.  They were finished in next to no time.

Wow what a difference they make.  The alpaca is a great fibre for sure.  Light, soft and so warming.  Yay.

These will be the first of many and by jazzing them up with some funky buttons, will make them a groovy accessory to any wardrobe.

Keep your eye out for these at the Cambridge Trash n Treasure Market.