CHINA REVERSES BAN ON STINKY IMPORTED CHEESE

An import ban on many soft and mould-ripened British cheese has been lifted by the Chinese government as authorities meet with the European Union, BBC confirms. The authorities imposed the ban in September, claiming they were not in favour with strains of bacteria used to make the cheese.

Reports show that Chinese cheesemongers have rejoiced enthusiastically at the news.

‘We are very happy about the decision. I think it’s a way for China to show they’re open-minded to selling foreign products and especially cheese,’ asserts Vincent Marion, co-founder of Cheese Republic.

KIZOMBA- SWING UP, TWIST, AND GROW HEALTHY

One typical African dance that is gaining global popularity is the Kizomba. It appears to have a committed contingent of people of all walks of life who are drawn to it by its romantic rhythm.

Kizomba originates from Angola and draws on influences from Cape Verde and the Caribbean. The term means ‘party’ in Kimbundu, one of the most dominant languages in Angola. Angolans have it that this cultural Kizomba dance has helped shape and preserved their traditional dance, the Semba.

Kizomba is very sensual. It was initially perceived to be meant for couples as a result of its swaying movements by the dancers in a close romantic embrace, but these days it has held everyone spellbound, from the youth to the aged. Accompanied by cool, harmonious and a catchy beat, dancers twist their bodies in calm, suave and suggestive ways.

Kizomba has not only become a fashion phenomenon. It has so many health benefits. It is a de-stressor and immerses one’s senses into a satisfying experience. It is an excellent form of relaxation and rest. A quality session of Kizomba dancing helps one get rid of toxins. Sweating it out amid the dancing helps tone muscles, reduce risks for coronary heart diseases, regulate blood pressure level and of course can prepare the grounds for a proactive social life, professionals of the Kizomba Zurich Institute indicate.

Little wonder it is being taught in London, Paris, New York and Johannesburg with festivals and workshops as far afield as Shanghai, Moscow, Tokyo, Mumbai and Ackland, reports indicate.

In Accra, Ghana, Kizomba lessons are conducted every Tuesday at the Republic. You could also feast your eyes or get into the mood at Afrikiko, near GBC clubhouse, on Wednesday nights as the Kizomba king and queen, Ebo and Nana, together with their crew transform the restaurant into a giant mesmerizing dance floor with their suave Kizomba performance.

APPETITE FOR CROISSANTS TAKES THE WORLD BY STORM

French pastries like croissants and pains au chocolat along with their dairy product, the main ingredient, have taken the world by storm to the point that France is now experiencing a shortage of butter.

It is alleged that publication on a long ‘how-to-piece on baking and cooking’ by the French daily newspaper Le Figaro might have been emblematic on the current crisis of butter, where demand has overtaken supply, resulting in the price of the dairy product skyrocketing by 60 percent and dairy sections of some supermarkets screaming empty.

Although industry experts say the shortage is partly due to the decrease in French milk production following a European-wide drop in yields, the main reason comes on the back of an increased global appetite for French butter and the country’s famous patisserie. Butter constitutes up to one quarter of France’s beloved croissants, pains au chocolat and brioches.

If the trend continues, bakers claim, it could pose serious problems at the end of the year, in the production of traditional French Christmas pastries.

Source: France 24