Latest news with #DolceGusto
Daily Mirror
02-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners warned not to use 'cheap drink' on hydrangeas and roses
Gardeners have been warned not to use 'instant coffee granules' on hydrangeas and roses after a woman asked for advice on the popular household scrap item Gardeners are buzzing over a household scrap that could spell the end for disappointing hydrangea and rose blooms. Coffee grounds, long considered waste, have been hailed as green gold among the gardening community for helping to deliver massive bursts of blossoms that are universally adored. For plant lovers seeking that extra flourish, Luci Nunes turned to social media for advice, posting on the Gardening Hints and Tips Facebook group: "Hi can anyone clear a doubt for me please? Someone has said to use coffee grounds to get nice blooms from hydrangeas and roses and to get blue hydrangeas. Can I use instant coffee granules?" Rapid responses piled up in the comment section, but the consensus was a resounding no, especially considering the specificity of coffee type. Eileen Austin added her input, stating firmly: "No. It needs to be ground coffee. A lot of coffee shops give away the spent grounds, but not all." Meanwhile, Clare Wilson shared her unique method: "I use finished Tassimo pods and Dolce Gusto pods to keep getting bigger and better blooms from roses and hydrangeas. It keeps slugs and snails away from my plants too. "I empty them all into a container then yes just sprinkle around the base of plants. But until they dry out don't put a lid on the container or they go mouldy." Karen Davis wrote: "Only add used coffee grounds to your plants. I found that they turned my pink hydrangeas blue. I love it." The green-fingered pros at PlantIn note that coffee grounds are packed with minerals like magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. Phosphorus and potassium are known to boost plant yields, while nitrogen plays a key role in photosynthesis, aiding plants to "grow faster". Additionally, coffee grounds possess antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that transfer essential nutrients to your garden. Unused, fresh coffee grounds can be too acidic, so they're not recommended for brewing, reports the Express. Being slightly acidic, coffee is a treat for acid-loving flora such as hydrangeas, along with nutrient-starved beauties like roses; however, moderation is the watchword for any individual plant's dosage.
Metro
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
'Addictive' Aussie Mars chocolate launches in UK supermarket
From Kylie Minogue to Bluey, the UK loves an Australian export — but some are more well-received than others. The latest Aussie favourite to hit British shores is Mars Pods, which launched on Iceland shelves last week. Priced at £3.50 per 160g bag, these shell-shaped snacks (not to be confused with the brand's Dolce Gusto hot chocolate pods) feature crunchy wafer topped with caramel and smooth milk chocolate. Despite being rarely spotted over here, they've long remained a staple Down Under, where they were invented by the confectioner back in 2008. On the K-Mart website, Mars Pods have an overall rating of five stars, with shopper Melanie calling them 'yummy'. Similarly, Reddit users describe the treats as 'orgasmic', claiming: 'They are impossible to stop eating.' Metro senior entertainment report Pierra Willix agrees, saying 'it's been a sad three years without them' since she moved to the UK from Perth. 'Pods might not sound particularly appealing, but they are a go-to movie night snack across Australian households,' she adds. 'The crunch of the wafter biscuit mixed with the sweet chocolate filling is surprisingly addictive — it's incredibly easy to devour an entire bag yourself.' However, the reaction from Brits hasn't been as overwhelmingly positive. Under a Facebook post about the launch on the Food Finds UK group, Sammi Jane said they looked 'banging', but Christopher Granton – who'd managed to get hold of them in B&M – commented: 'They were absolutely awful to be honest!' Over on TikTok, @tommyl6770 balked at the price tag, describing them as a 'rip off'. To decide for yourself, head down to your local Iceland. If you're heading to the supermarket solely to get your Mars Pods fix though, it may be worth calling ahead, as stock varies from store to store. Last year, another iconic Australian chocolate bar was released here in the UK, sending fans into a frenzy. More Trending Tim Tams – beloved by Margot Robbie – combine crunchy biscuit, a velvety cream filling and smooth chocolatey coating. And from the moment they became available on the shelves of Waitrose, they proved an instant hit with customers. 'I absolutely should not eat a whole sleeve of TimTam cookies for dinner, no matter how good they taste with my cold brew,' @DCLovesDestiel wrote on X, formerly Twitter. View More » 'Tim Tams are the best,' added @ElizaPlume212. 'I leave half a suitcase empty when I visit family. I go home with as many Tim Tams as will fit.' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Tesco has 'new rule' for bakery products — and it involves 60p pastries MORE: Woman suffers seven year infection after boyfriend farted in her face MORE: Map shows where 10 new Aldi shops will open this summer
