#and about 80% sugar by volume

[tetedurfarm]

finally able to make this gâteau sirop recipe given to me by my mom's old french neighbour, stay tuned to see if it turns out

[torturedreid]

The Perfect Formula

BARTENDER SPENCER

word count: 1265

warnings: drunk reader

The BAU’s bullpen had been transformed for the night, a rare occasion where work was on pause, and celebration took center stage. Strings of lights sparkled around the desks, and a large Bluetooth speaker on Derek’s desk blasted Garcia’s eclectic mix of holiday classics and ‘80s pop. The mood was relaxed, the team scattered around the room with glasses in hand, laughing and unwinding. A makeshift bar had been set up on the break room counter, cluttered with liquor bottles, mixers, and fresh fruit.

You leaned against the counter, watching as Spencer Reid stood at the center of it all, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, meticulously measuring liquids into a shaker. His tongue poked out slightly as he concentrated, and his cheeks were flushed a light pink, either from the heat of the room or the attention he was drawing from the team.

He’d taken charge of the cocktails after Morgan joked that Reid’s genius might finally be put to use for something other than criminal profiling. What had started as a tease quickly turned into a spectacle, as Spencer muttered to himself about ratios, volumes, and chemical balances while precisely measuring ingredients.

“Spence, you could just eyeball it, most people just pour and pray,” you teased, resting your chin on your hand as you watched. “It’s a party, not a chemistry experiment.”

His eyes flicked to yours, wide and flustered. “Eyeballing it would risk an imbalance in flavor profile, which could ruin the entire drink. It introduces too many variables. Cocktails, especially something as classic as a Daiquiri, require precision. The ideal ratio is two parts rum, one part lime juice, and one part syrup. Deviate from that, and you throw the balance off entirely.”

“Sounds pretty straightforward,” you said with a shrug, obviously joking, but of course he didn’t understand that.

“It’s deceptively simple,” he countered. “The ratio is easy to remember, but the variables compound quickly. For example, the dilution from the ice adds approximately twenty percent water to the final mixture, so you have to account for that when calculating the initial ingredient volumes. And then there's the acid-to-sugar ratio in the lime juice and syrup, which needs to fall between 1.2:1 and 1.6:1 for optimal flavor.”

You stared at him, blinking. “Did you just…math a cocktail?”

Spencer smiled faintly as he reached for a lime. “Of course. Math is the foundation of mixology.”

He began squeezing the lime, pausing briefly to weigh the juice on a small scale he’d brought over from the lab. “The average lime produces about 30 milliliters of juice, but that can vary depending on the ripeness and size. Too much acidity and the drink becomes harsh. Too little, and it tastes flat. This lime gave me 28 milliliters, so I'll adjust the syrup accordingly to maintain balance… for the record, this isn’t just a cocktail. It’s a daiquiri. The original recipe was created by Jennings Cox in the last 1800’s, and its simplicity makes it particularly vulnerable to imprecision.” 

You couldn’t suppress a laugh. “You really are a genius, you know that?”

Spencer glanced at you, his face flushing deeper. “I’m just applying basic principles of chemistry and physics,” he said, his tone modest but his expression pleased.

“You’re applying science to make a party drink,” you teased.

“And doing it perfectly,” he replied, with a rare bit of sass, pouring the lime juice into the shaker.

You watched as he added the rum with his standard precision, using a jigger to measure out 60 milliliters before pouring it in. Then came the syrup, which he poured slowly, his eyes narrowing as he calculated the exact amount to offset the slight deficit in lime juice. Finally, he added ice, giving the shaker a firm tap before picking it up and shaking with a smooth, practiced rhythm.

The clink of ice against metal filled the room as his arms moved fluidly, the muscles in his forearms flexing, exposed from where he’d rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. You tilted your head a little, unable to look away as he focused entirely on his task.

“Spencer-” you started, your tone teasing.

“Not yet,” he interrupted, holding up a finger without breaking his rhythm. “If I stop shaking too soon the drink won’t chill properly, and the dilution will be uneven.”

You smirked, waiting until he finally strained the drink into a glass. He slid it across the counter to you, looking up with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

“Here,” he said, his voice soft. “Let me know what you think.”

You took a sip, letting the tartness of the lime and the smoothness of the rum wash over your palate. It was perfect- bright, balanced, and refreshing.

“Spence, this is amazing,” you said, meeting his gaze.

His lips quirked up into a small, bashful smile. “Really?”

“Really,” you confirmed, raising the glass in a mock toast. “To Spencer Reid, cocktail extraordinaire.”

He chuckled softly, his blush deepening and he turned to prepare another drink. 

--------------------------------------------

Hours later, the party was in full swing, but you found yourself repeatedly drawn back to Spencer’s bar. Each time he made you something different- a Margarita, a Negroni, an espresso martini- explaining the history and chemistry behind each one as he worked. You found it endearing, and hot, even as your head began to feel pleasantly fuzzy from the alcohol.

“Another, please,” you smiled, sliding your empty glass across the counter.

Spencer raised an eyebrow, his hands hesitating over the bottles. “That’s your fourth drink,” he said cautiously.

“And every single one has been delicious,” you replied, leaning on the countertop.

“Maybe you should slow down,” he suggested, his tone gentle but firm.

“Come on, Spencer,” you sighed, pouting dramatically. “You’re the barkeep here. Don’t leave me hanging.”

He sighed, relenting as he began preparing another cocktail. “You know, alcohol inhibits your prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and impulse control.”

“Yeah, yeah, science boy,” you said, waving him off. “Just make the drink.”

By the time you finished that one, the world felt slightly tilted, and your laugh had become louder, less contained. You stumbled against the counter, giggling as Spencer reached out instinctively to steady you.

“Okay,” he said firmly, taking your glass from your hand. “That’s it. You’re done.”

“What?” you protested, looking up at him with puppy dog eyes. “No way, I’m fine!”

“You’re drunk,” he replied, his voice soft but unwavering.

“I am not drunk.”

“You just called me a wizard and asked if we could open a bar together,” he pointed out. “No more drinks for you. You need water.”

“But Spence,” you whined, swaying slightly.

“Water,” he repeated adamantly, guiding you to a nearby chair and handing you a glass of water. “Drink this. You’ll thank me in the morning.”

You took the glass with a dramatic sigh, slumping into the chair. “You’re no fun.”

He crouched down in front of you, his elbows resting on his thighs, his eyes warm and concerned. “I’d rather be no fun than let you drink yourself into a black-out.”

“Fine,” you grumbled, sipping the water. After a moment, you added, “But you’re still cute when you’re bossy.”

Spencer froze, his eyes widening as his face turned a deep shade of red. “I-uh-”

“Relax, genius wizard,” you said with a lazy smile. “It’s a compliment.”

He stood quickly, muttering something about getting a snack. As he moved behind the counter again, you couldn’t help but grin. Even in your inebriated state, it was fun watching the famed Dr. Spencer Reid unravel.

[novahreign]

Happy Birthday Terry Richmond

Terry Richmond xCharlie Richmond

"I want to say Happy Birthday to you, to you, OOoooh." Charlie hit a little dougie as she danced her way to Terry with a plate of chocolate chip pancakes top with powdered sugar, strawberries, a single candle. "Now, close your eyes, make a wish, think about it and blow out your candles." she continued to sing out. Terry closed his eyes and blew the flame out.

"Happy Birthday old man." Charlie wrapped her arms around her man and kissed her way up his neck, ending it with a deep longing kiss. Charlie eyes were closed long after he released her mouth, she ran her tongue across her lips.

"Whew" she needed to take a minute or two or five, after that kiss. She opened her eyes "Dang baby, you got my thoughts all jumbled, you know what kissing me like that, does to me." She chuckled "Babe. I have an amazing weekend planned for you, so, eat your breakfast and get dressed." Charlie knew that he was suspicious, but she walked out before he could speak on it.

**********************************************************************

"Mama and Daddy are picking the kids up from school, I'm leaving the expedition."

Terry slowed his steps down as he watched Charlie go to the driver's seat. "You want me to drive?"

"No, I got it, thank you though." She winked at him.

"Alright, Cool." They got into his truck, "You gave the kids the rundown?"

"Ha! you know it, but my mama and daddy are not about to play with them like that. They know what it is." She answered confidently in her parents' ability to handle their five little rascals.

"I'm surprised the boys didn't tell me anything." He put his seatbelt on as Charlie started driving. "Where we going Charlie?"

She ignored his question "No one knew until this morning, that's why." Leaning over the console, she ran her manicured hand down his chest. "This weekend is all for you, you get whatever you want."

He cocked a bro, "Whatever I want huh?" He stroked his goatee "Can we do Anal?"

Charlie's jaw dropped before she busted out laughing. "Terry."

"You said, Whatever I want."

He was so serious. Charlie shook her head, "We'll See, she turned the volume up," Since I'm driving. It's my choice." She serenaded him the whole way there ""Let's make a love scene, steamy and blue. Erotic memories for an audience of two." Terry joined in caressing her bare thigh" and we'll make a love scene, let the foreplay begin and replay each moment again...." He rested his hand, where he always did whenever they were together-between her legs, and it stayed there. The ride was full of 2000's R&B, 80/90's hip-hop to present day. Charlie turned the music down as they pulled into the Marina.

"Come on." They walked up to the boathouse, outside waiting for them was the Boathouse owner Jerry. He was a tall white man, looked to be in his late 40's wearing a long sleeve Bamboo shirt with a green hat with sunglasses sitting on top. He extended his hand to Charlie

"Charlie?"

"Yes, Nice to meet you. This is my husband Terrence."

"Nice to meet you both. I'm Jerry, the owner of Murray's boathouse."

They listened as he gave them a little information about the company. "We've been renting out boats for about 15 years now. I'm glad that you chose to partner up with us today, man. Either of you have experience with driving a boat?" Charlie pointed to Terry.

He nodded his head "Maybe we can get you driving today." Charlie shook her head laughing "Oh, I don't know about that. Jerry, I think that you want your boat back intact, so I'm gonna let my man handle that." she rubbed Terry's back.

"So, you have boating experience. Navy?" Jerry asked eyeing Terry's stance.

"Marines."

"I figured it was something. Thank you for your service. I really mean that. If y'all want to follow me, we can get paperwork started and then we'll get you started on a boat." That took thirty minutes, as they ran copies of their IDS and liability and insurance papers.

Jerry handed Terry the keys but looked at Charlie "You sure you don't want to drive."

"I'm good, thank you though." Charlie eyed Terry and took everything in her to keep a straight face."

"You two enjoy yourselves, if you need anything, you know how to contact me. Happy Birthday Man." He patted Terry on the back before walking away.

"He was flirting hard with you, how much off did you get from this experience."

She hit him while laughing "Shut up Terry."

Terry was like a giddy kid as he maneuvered the boat out of the Marina. Charlie relaxed against the comfy leather seat. It was a perfect day to be on the water. It was a bright sunny day, not a single cloud in the sky. The wind blew, giving them a whiff of the salt water. Charlie studied his shirtless body, the muscles in his back and the veins in his arms popped out as he whipped the boat this way and that. Charlie took tons of photos and videos. She leaned her head on Terry's arm as she held the phone out. "Out on the water with my husbanddd. "Terry threw up an awkward peace sign "Happy Birthday baby."

"Thank you, baby." He lifted his hat to kiss her. "Babe, look it's a dolphin." Chalrie eyes lit up "man, the kids would've loved this!" Forever the family man. She was over the moon that he was enjoying himself. He had been talking about getting back on the water for some time now and she was glad that she could this for him. They spent six hours on the water, before Terry was bringing that baby in."

"How was it?" Jerry asked smiling just as hard as her husband. Terry shook his head. "Man, that was amazing experience. Thank you."

"Hope to see y'all back again, one day."

"Oh, definitely." They thanked Jerry again before hopping back in the truck. Fifteen minutes later they were pulling up to their Air bnb, it was a beach house with private access to the beach. The house was decorated with cream and browns. The living room had floor to ceiling windows with a cream colored sectional with a round brown coffee table. Paintings of the ocean hung on the wall adjacent to the built in bookshelf that carried books about Marine life. They did a small house tour before moving to the Master bedroom. Charlie let Terry go in first. Blue ballons were all over the room with a banner that read "Happy Birthday Terry!" Terry took it all in, before moving to open the gifts laid on the bed for him, it was an even bouquet of flowers. He looked back at Charlie before busting out laughing. "You play too much," One day he joked about how nice it would be to come home to flowers, and she didn't let it go.

"Enjoy your flowers babe." she teased swatting his hands away "Open your gifts," It was funny seeing Terry not knowing what gift to open first. He got clothes, shoes, an expensive watch and a brand new gun. He whistled out ,looking at the weapon.

"Charlie, this is nice as fuck, how you got this without me knowing?”

"Trey. "She said plainly. He was one of her husband's best friends out here.

***********************************************************************

Later that evening, Terry stood in front of the mirror edging up his goatee. He went through with a comb until it was to his satisfaction. Charlie leaned against the doorjamb watching him. He looked so good. He caught her eye in the mirror, leaving her with a wink that she shyly returned. Charlie was about to say to hell with these reservations, but they had all weekend for that. "You look so good, I could hump you, but we got to hurry." After a quick little photoshoot, they were out of the door. They went to a popular steakhouse. The restaurant had a nice ambience, and the food was definitely up to par. Terry looked at Charlie as she signed the receipt. She always kept him in mind. She's been with him for 13 years and whether together or apart, she always made his birthdays special. Terry was never the one to get emotional, but man, this was hitting him in the chest. Charlie glanced up and smiled brightly at him. "Did you enjoy everything baby?"

"Come here, Charlie."

She immediately moved closer to him. He enveloped her in his arms. she looked up at him "Thank you for making my birthday special. This means everything to me baby. You mean everything to me. I love you baby."

"I'm glad that you could enjoy yourself baby and I love you too boo." They Kissed.

"Let's get out of here."

Back in the truck they facetimed the kids, so they could wish their daddy a Happy Birthday.

"When are y'all coming back?" TJ asked

"We're never coming home. Y'all living with your grandparents forever.” Charlie told the kids

"NOOOO" Callie started crying "I want my daddy."

"Babe, why you made her cry."

Charlie was cracking up "Callie stop, you're gonna see your daddy tomorrow. He'll be there to tuck y'all in. In the meantime, y'all better be good."

"Aye Mom, can we get Cane's tomorrow?"

"No. Love you, bye."

"Me and mommy will see y'all tomorrow. Love y'all."

" Love you, Daddy."

"Happy Birthday Terry." Charlie's parents said, "Don't come back pregnant." her mama added.

"No promises. Bye mama." he hung the phone up.

"You're a mess." he slipped his hand under her dress and into her panties. She gasped "Terrence Richmond, we are in public." He slipped his fingers into his mouth, Charlie's jaw dropped. "Ummm, taste so good."

Her body shudder as he sucked his fingers. She turned in her seat, buckling up. Terry didn't say anything, he reversed smoothly out of the parking lot. The music filled the space as Terry drove them back to the air bnb. He opened the door, Charlie swung her legs around, as he helped her down. Terry licked a trail up her neck before sucking gently as she opened the door. He kicked the door behind him, as he picked Charlie up, carrying her to the room. he knocked everything off the bed before placing her in the middle.

Thirteen years later, and she still made him feel a certain way.

"Can I get it?" He licked his lips, as he caressed her spread legs.

"It's your birthday. You can whatever you want."

thanks @megamindsecretlair for the birthday idea!

@notapradagurl7 @saraiscollection @theglamclosetsl @venusincleo

@theereinawrites

[artsy-hobbitses]

Are there any facts or headcanons you can share about Megatron?

-Cracks knuckles- By which you mean old man Morgantron, boy do I.

LOVES dogs. Thaddeus/Terminus used to own a mining dog that would help pull carts, a Bernese Mountain named Boudicca which both he and a young Morgan would dote over. While Bouda passed away in his late teens, that childish adoration for dogs hasn't diminished, and has instead been transferred to Old Fella---an old pit bull rescued and initially intended for rehoming by Barricade/Barrin, who eventually couldn't find the heart to give him up. Megs often has Old Fella curled up at his feet while he's catching up on reading in his free time.

Has a surprising sweet tooth. Sugar was a luxury in Morgan's childhood and not something Thaddeus couldn't afford very often on miner pay, and what sweet food was common there were coal miner cakes… which are loved but an acquired taste. His guilty pleasures include Mars Bars which a young!Omar/OP would share with him through the fence that separated them as children, and more poignantly, Brooklyn-style Blackout Cake since it was tradition for Thaddeus to get him a slice of it for his birthday every year until they were shipped off to Messatine.

Within Morgan's personal office in a glass case is an old blood-spattered and battered copy of Umar ibn al-Khattâb: His Life and Times (Volume One). This is the very first book he read outside of what was greenlit/approved for the manual class and was lent to him decades ago by a young Omar, who threw it over the fence they would talk through, for him to catch. It had been confiscated from him during a spotcheck, but he found it years and years later in a HR contraband warehouse and he's kept it guarded ever since. What he doesn't know is that Omar still has the second volume of that book (there are two) kept in the same manner.

Secretly listens in on Omar's increasingly popular book club sessions (Part of an Autobot PR programme after they figured out that Omar had a voice fit for ASMR and people genuinely wanted to hear him read to them) on the radio during nights where he's feeling particularly lonely and melancholy.

Is an excellent fiddler. However, was not allowed to bring his instrument to Messatine and hasn't played since.

Morgan can cook, but is primarily relegated to British pub fare. Makes a mean steak and ale pie, one of his favorite foods. He also serves potential Decepticon recruits slices of coal miner cake he bakes during their first meet/interview (he does not tell them he baked it) to see how they react. If they act like they're too good for the humble bit of joy miners like him partook in, they're out.

Morgan does not have a great sense of direction, because when you're living 80% of your life underground, everything looks the same and you simply follow the neatly delineated cart tracks to your workplace or berth. Tracks above ground ie. roads are. Messy, and very confusing. He gets lost more easily than one might expect.

He has however, a sharper than usual sense of smell, which helped him out a lot as a miner when it came to seeking out fresh air and quickly identifying toxic or flammable gases emitted underground.

He is also in Grimlock/Graeme's team of Sometimes Cannibalism Is Correct. Those guards who beat to death a miner in front of him while he was on Mining Outpost C-12? He found two of them years and years later (he never forgot their voices over the miner's pleas) as a gladiator, killed the one who struck the first blow and ate their heart (they had no hearts to begin with, he surmises, so really, they're not missing anything) while the other watched. This was symbolic of his hatred for them, but also to loosen the remaining guard's lips about Decimus' movements after the incident up to this point, and for sure, it worked.

No longer gets drunk (he assumes his gladiatorial 'upgrades' are part of the reason for this), deeply wishes he still could sometimes.

Morgan forged his own armor pieces as a gladiator, and this is something that has carried on into the present, as he helps forge the armor the inner circle Deceptions wear, which is then programmed by Shockwave (the exception is Starscream/Stefan, who has been using a prototype armored flightsuit made by Senator Shockwave/Sharifuddin from day one). He uses this time as a one on one session to get to know them better.

Still visits the little public library in the Dead End that Omar set up in honor of him every now and then when he needs somewhere quiet to collect his thoughts and slog through paperwork.

Is the asshole who dog-ears books, but in his defense, he'd never seen a book in his community as a child that wasn't banged up to hell and back---what mattered were the contents. The SOLE exception here is the book that OP gave him and was confiscated from him. It's more than a book; it's a gift from his oldest friend.

"You didn't ask, I don't see why it's an issue" gay. Though one can't tell from first glance because Impactor will bring up the time that he booked a male and female stripper for Megs as a 20th birthday surprise/joke, and came back to find both of them engrossed listening to Megs reading his notes for Towards Peace and discussing it between the three of them. Basically, he's Enjolras (cause above all) for everything and everyone except Prime.

If you're an enemy he respects, he'll kill you himself and make it quick. If he hates you, he'll prolong it. If you don't register on his radar/aren't worth the effort, you get Tarn.

Suffers from a mild case of black lung carried over from his mining days, which only becomes more apparent in his 50s, as his healing factor slowly decreases.

[broidobe]

𝔡𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔣𝔢𝔫𝔯𝔦𝔷 𝔴𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔡 𝔦𝔫𝔠𝔩𝔲𝔡𝔢

requested! i'm always taking requests unless i say m not in my intro!

⁎⁺˳✧༚black metal masterlist

sooo in love

like honestly

loves you smile

love it even more when he makes you smile

i could see him being a grabby person but not in a sexual way

in a constantly holding your hand way

not a date person

more of a stay in bed, laying with you person

BUT when you do go on dates

they are thought out

a walk through a forest with a picnic at the end

stuff like that

values independence

wants someone that doesn’t NEED him to survive

he wants you to have your own passions

he’s the type to give you his jacket when it’s cold or make you tea when you’re feeling under the weather

not one for DRAMATIC arguments

just very laid back and would rather sit through things and talk about it

his passive-aggressive move during a disagreement is playing loud, chaotic black metal at full blast until you’re both laughing too hard to stay mad.

REALLY shy when you first got together

this is how he asked you on your first date

so… uh, do you, like, want to listen to real music sometime?

you thought he was trying to sound mysterious and deep, but he was just nervous and didn’t know what to say

his idea of impressing you was playing obscure black metal on a boombox at max volume in the middle of the woods

romantic, right?

has STRONG opinions on coffee

did i just see you put SUGAR in your COFFEE

that COMPLETELY RUINS the purity of the coffee

fenriz has a secret love for cheesy 80s pop

and you’ve caught him dancing to wham! in the kitchen at least twice

he’ll deny it every time

he absolutely cannot whisper

if he tries to tell you something secretive, the entire room will hear it

they’re using pre-ground beans. pre-ground, for god’s sake! (said in a tone so “subtle” the barista gives him a death glare.)

i’m not paying $20 for this! i could make it better at home!

so… are we supposed to like your uncle, or is he the one everyone secretly hates? (your uncle definitely hears this.)

[saccharinescorpion]

Oooh would love to hear more about the older shoujo works you've been reading lately! /gen

Princess Knight: finally finished the omnibus my boyfriend bought me ages ago. very neat to finish a Tezuka work and one of the grandmothers of the entire medium

The Poe Clan: bought the first volume, one of those aforementioned "omnibuses that could double as a weapon," i'm halfway through and really digging it so far, Moto Hagio's art is incredible

Fushigi Yuugi: a few chapters in, "original isekai" jokes aside this is probably the most "teen girl fantasy" of everything i've been reading recently, with the cute boys and "escaping my stressful life" situation. i like Miaka a lot and actually like her dynamic with Tamahome, and i'm really curious as to how Yui is going to factor into the story

Basara: i like Yumi Tamura's art a lot and i've read a bit of Don't Call It Mystery and have really wanted to read some more, and i think it's cool that she's done this kind of big dramatic post-apocalypse epic, but i'm a few chapters in and i dunno, it's probably not going to be for me, especially now that i reached the "hot springs" chapter and now know who the love interest is going to be lol. i've heard good things about 7 Seeds and going purely by the description i feel like i would be more interested in that

Neighborhood Story: i like Ai Yazawa's art but again i don't know if this one is going to be for me. i still want to give it a few more chapters

Phantom Thief Jeanne: i LOVE this setup and i enjoy the characters. i got the sense from other's comments that Chiaki was going to be a lot more unbearable but ehhhh he's not so bad really? conversely i feel like i should like Miyako and Maron's relationship more but somehow it feels like they kind of dropped the ball on establishing their friendship- AND SPEAKING OF DROPPING BALLS LMAO, this is so nitpicky but i don't like the running gag where Miyako constantly drops balls (??) on Maron when she's annoyed, a subgag of that thing where 80% of these manga has one character smacking another for the dumbest possible reasons. and before you say anythiiiiing i'm not saying it's problematicccccc it's mostly just dumb and annoying. also lmao at the fact that Miyako's dad is drawn as an ugly chibi in the manga but in the anime he's just a normal dude???? ok lol

Pretear: i'm reading one of those mid scanalations i mentioned earlier lol. i'm enjoying it but more than that i want to watch the anime specifically which seems like it kind of a more "complete" version of the story? also i'm happy to read this one because Pretear is one of the first magical girl animes i heard about other than Sailor Moon (in a now-defunct American anime magazine lol)

speaking of magical girls i so badly want to read Rayearth and Sugar Sugar Rune but i think i'm going to have to bite the bullet and buy physical copies, i tried a scan for SSR and the translation was annoyingly bad

haven't touched the manga yet but i've been loving the Dear Brother anime and recently started watching Glass Mask with my boyfriend too

this one is way too new but it's worth noting, Kageki Shoujo was basically what sparked this recent shoujo kick for me, damn what a good series (and is also very heavily inspired by older shoujo series so hey! full circle!)

[spooniechef]

Helpful Household Items: Air Fryer

To use the meme format: "I've only had my air fryer for a week and a half, but if anything happened to it, I would kill everyone in this room and then myself". I mean, not literally, but largely because I'm not in that place in my life anymore and live alone, but you get what I mean. I had some gift voucher and it was about enough to get myself a small air fryer - only two litre capacity. It seemed a good compromise; I didn't have to spend any money, I could see how an air fryer could or could not change my life, and I could get a new, bigger one if it worked out.

...Okay, I mostly got an air fryer so I could try this quasi-recipe that Jordan Howlett tripped over, so here's your recipe for the post:

I haven't tried that yet, but I will tell you this much: it has absolutely changed my life, and honestly, I think every spoonie should own one. Here's a few examples of why:

It's great for when the physical spoons are lacking. I'm not just talking about bad pain days, either. My experience with fibromyalgia has involved a fair few days where my grip strength is hit and miss, or when I have spasms so my motor control is equally hit and miss. But as long as you're keeping things in a single layer, you hardly even have to turn anything in an air fryer (though I grant it sometimes helps). No bending to put things into or pull things out the oven, no shoving things around a skillet, nothing like that. Just put a thing in the drawer, set it to the right parameters, and withdraw the drawer when done.

To add to that - little to no cleaning. You're using little to no oil, so all it takes is lining it with parchment and a quick wipe-down when done. Washing a skillet is hell on bad days, especially if your skillet is a good heavy one.

It's also great when mental spoons are lacking. My personal experience with a combination of ADHD and brain fog is that sometimes I forget when something's in the oven, mostly when I'm doing oven chips or something. Or I get a little unsure as to exactly how long a piece of meat should be in the oven for the level of done-ness I want. Or both. Either way, I could go to the rigamarole of getting an egg timer and setting it and the like ... or I could have a nice little machine that not only automatically beeps like the microwave when it's done, it also turns itself off like the microwave when it's done. So if I, say, got involved in something I couldn't easily pause because I didn't realise my food would be ready in two minutes, I don't have to worry about it burning.

There's an economic benefit as well. I'm single. I live alone. Even if I got (when I get) a larger air fryer, running one of those to cook a chicken leg quarter or a a salmon fillet has to be easier on the electric bill than doing it in a full-sized oven. Because of the size, it also pre-heats faster than a full-sized oven, just because there's less space to heat.

Seriously, I used it to cook salmon for dinner tonight. Done perfectly with little to no effort. Mine is small, but the basket is the perfect size for a serving of fish or a chicken leg quarter or just the right number of tater tots. Mostly I want a bigger one for when I have company or when I want to do chicken nuggets and tater tots. Also to make a decent-sized batch of potato chips, or frozen fries where I don't have to stop midway through to shake up the contents of the container because their shape doesn't lend well to a single layer in a basket that small. I worried about the space it took up until I learned that an air fryer can also serve as a dehydrator. So I could get rid of my dehydrator, put a good-sized air fryer in its place, and ... I dunno, keep the little one around for emergencies?

No, not for emergencies - for small batches of the above recipe so I don't end up becoming 80% sugar by volume.

[maklodes]

I saw some threads in which people were condemning use of agave syrup, on the grounds that agave cultivation has deleterious ecological consequences.

I haven't actually checked whether agave cultivation is more destructive than growing potatoes or carrots or anything else on a per calorie basis, and I don't know whether environmental damage per calorie is the best metric, but my curiosity took me in a different direction: how much agave goes to agave syrup, how much goes to tequila, and how much goes to mezcal?

I'd think agave farming associations would have this data -- that they'd be pouring over the data, trying to see if they could market agave-syrup baklavas, wondering whether they could somehow sell people on a double-tequila margarita for Taco Tuesday specials, etc. Maybe they do, but I can't find it.

For the amount of agave syrup, I found this site, ominously called Mordor Intelligence, claiming that the agave syrup market in 2024 was $187.24 million. How much agave is that, though? One Amazon source of bulk agave is $147.58 for 44 lbs. (There are other sources, but they don't differ radically.) This suggests that about 25,322 tonnes of agave syrup were sold in 2024. A USDA source claims that agave syrup is about 68% sugar by weight, the amount of sugar being sold in agave syrup is around 17,219 tonnes. (I have way more significant figures than is justified here, but I'm leaving them in mid-process.)

Mordor Intelligence claims the 2024 tequila market 457.96 million liters. Tequilas are, I've heard, often 80 proof, or 40% alcohol by volume. So a liter of tequila should, in principle, have 400 ml of alcohol, weighing 0.79 g/ml * 400 ml = 316 grams of alcohol. It's generally accepted that fermentation yields about 55% of the starting sugar mass as ethanol. I.e., 1 kg of sugar will give you about 550 grams of ethanol. So each liter of tequila started from 575 grams of agave-sourced sugar.

This suggests that the amount of agave-derived sugar going into tequila is about 263,119 tonnes. Except one thing: a lot of tequila is not pure fermented agave. Up to 49% of tequila can be some other neutral grain spirit. This could potentially cut sugar going into tequila to 134,191 tonnes.

So, back-of-the-envelop, it looks to me like 7-8 times as much agave goes to tequila as to agave syrup, although some tequilas are higher than 80 proof, and contain more than 51% agave sugar, so this is probably something of an underestimate. I also feel there's a lot of uncertainty in the agave syrup quantity estimate -- is the agave syrup market the market for selling agave from farm to processors, or is it final purchases by consumers? I think most consumer agave syrup is bought in smaller batches, at higher per-volume prices, than the four gallon Amazon agave jug, so perhaps total agave sugar in syrup is an overestimate.

What about Mezcal? I tried to figure that out, but I got exhausted, so I'm not sure. The North American market page puts market volume at 19.73 million liters. The global market page puts Mexican exports in 2020 at 4.8 million liters. So is ~15 million liters consumed within Mexico? I don't know if I trust this data. I don't know if I trust a lot of the previous data either. I think it's a significantly smaller market than tequila. if anyone has good data on Mezcal -- or better data than what I have on agave syrup and tequila -- I'd certainly welcome it.

(I'm not going to disingenuously pretend not to understand why some people on Tumblr get super mad about agave syrup rather than condemning Friday night margaritas, but that seems to me like a fairly obvious and uninteresting phenomenon, at least in my current state, so I focused on trying to reverse engineer the allocation of agave from scattered data on final agave products.)

[the-squeeze-inn]

Ingredients

Gluten free pumpkin sponge:

3 US large/UK medium eggs, room temperature

150 g (¾ cup) caster/superfine or granulated sugar

150 g (⅔ cup) canned pumpkin puree

½ tsp vanilla bean paste (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)

80 g (⅔ cup) plain gluten free flour blend (I used Doves Farm Freee plain gluten free flour that doesn't have any xanthan gum added. You can also mix your own gluten free flour blend using this recipe. Note that for this homemade blend, 1 cup = 150g, so ideally use a digital food scale for best results.)

¾ tsp xanthan gum (If your gluten free flour blend already contains xanthan gum, reduce the amount to ½ tsp.)

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

½ tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp ground ginger

¼ tsp ground nutmeg

Vanilla cream cheese filling:

155 g (⅔ cup) heavy/double cream, cold from the fridge

60-80 g (½-⅔ cup) powdered/icing sugar, sifted (depending on how sweet you want the filling to be)

½ tsp vanilla bean paste (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)

150 g (⅔ cup) cream cheese, cold from the fridge

You will also need:

1-2 tbsp powdered/icing sugar, for dusting the top of the cake

Instructions

Gluten free pumpkin sponge:

Adjust the oven rack to the middle position, pre-heat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC) and line a 10x15-inch (25x38cm) rimmed baking sheet with parchment/baking paper.

Using a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or a hand mixer fitted with the double beaters, whisk the eggs and sugar together until pale, thick, fluffy and about tripled in volume (the ribbon stage). This should take about 5-7 minutes on a high speed setting.

Add the pumpkin puree and vanilla, and whisk briefly until combined.

In a separate bowl, sift together the gluten free flour blend, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.

Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and whisk well for about 15-30 seconds until no flour clumps remain. Scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl to prevent any unmixed patches. The final batter will be smooth and fairly fluffy in texture.

Transfer the batter into the lined baking sheet and smooth it out into an even layer. You can tap it a few times on the counter to make it perfectly level and also to get rid of any large trapped air pockets.

Bake at 350ºF (180ºC) for about 12-14 minutes or until well risen, golden on top, soft and spongy to the touch, and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Immediately out of the oven, cover the baking sheet with a large sheet of aluminium foil. Allow to cool to room temperature or lukewarm – ideally, the temperature of the sponge shouldn't drop below 72ºF (22ºC).

Tip: Covering the sponge with aluminium foil traps the moisture within the sponge, making it much more pliable and flexible – and therefore less likely to crack when you roll it.

Vanilla cream cheese filling:

You can prepare this filling by hand with a large balloon whisk, using a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or with a hand mixer fitted with the double beaters.

If using a stand or a hand mixer, whisk the filling on a low speed setting. This gives you better control over the texture/consistency of the filling and it lowers the chances of over-whipping it.

In a large bowl, whisk together the heavy/double cream and powdered/icing sugar until soft peaks form.

In a separate bowl, whisk the cream cheese until it's smooth and looser in texture.

Add the cream cheese and vanilla to the whipped cream, and whisk until well combined and soft peaks form.

Assembling the pumpkin roll:

Once the sponge is sufficiently cooled, remove the sheet of aluminium foil and loosen the sponge from the edges of the baking sheet with an offset spatula or a thin knife.

Tip: For the next steps, you can work with the sponge still in the baking sheet, or you can carefully slide it off the baking sheet onto a work surface – either option works well.

Spoon dollops of the filling evenly over the sponge, and use a small offset spatula to spread it out into an even layer all the way to the edges.

Note that when assembling the pumpkin roll, you want to get a 10-inch/25cm long pumpkin roll, starting out with a 10x15-inch/25x38cm sponge.

Turn the sponge so that a short edge is closest to you.

Using the parchment/baking paper underneath (the one that lines the baking sheet) to help you, lift the edge of the sponge closest to you and gently fold it over itself to start the roll.

Gently lift the parchment paper to continue the roll all the way to the end (so that the sponge rolls away from you) – the parchment paper should easily peel away from the sponge as you roll it. You should get a crack-free 10-inch (25cm) long pumpkin roll.

Tip: Make sure to keep the roll fairly tight from the very beginning, otherwise you’ll be left with an empty hole in the centre of your pumpkin roll.

Dust the pumpkin roll with some powdered/icing sugar before slicing and serving.

[jazzeria]

Green Tea Mead

Day 31 (10 Sep) - Now that I had a goal, I needed a plan.

I want to add sugar and flavours.

If addding sugar, I need to stabilise the mead (so it doesn't ferment the sugar)

Generally, there are two paths to make the yeast stop fermenting: chemical, or physical. I didn't feel like going out to buy the additives, so I opted for physical.

There's lots of ways to physically kill off microbes, but the easiest for me to control is temperature. If I opt to freeze, I'd have to freeze cold and fast to kill enough yeast, and preferably do a few cycles of freeze/thaw. That's way too hard. Heat it is.

Pasteurisation is (traditionally) the application of heat over time to kill or deactivate "most" of the microbes that cause spoilage in something. Generally, you can pasteurise at a lower temperature for a longer time, or a higher temperature for a shorter time.

Some example combinations:

62C (143F) for 5 minutes

58C (136F) for 22 minutes

Ethanol boils at 78C (173F), so to minimise alcohol loss, I should keep everything below that.

I opted for 58C for 22 minutes.

If you have a sous vide machine, it's really simple to pasteurise.

I don't.

So.

I used my electric kettle to boil water without having to worry about boiling over. Then poured the hot water into my stockpot. I added some hot water from the faucet, and a kitchen towel to soften the contact between the stockpot and my glass jar, then slowly added my glass fermentation jar (airlock removed).

(It's important not to shock the glass with sudden temperature changes, which could make it explode.)

The airlock hole in the jar lid provided the perfect access for a probe thermometer. I used a clothespin to keep the probe from falling in completely. I wanted the probe somewhere in the middle of the jar, not too close to the sides, the bottom, or the top.

I topped the stockpot with more hot water so the level came up near the fill level of the jar. The water bath was about 70 to 80 C, and I could turn on the stove if I needed it hotter. If I needed it cooler, I would use the extremely high-tech method of...removing the jar from the bath and setting it on a cloth on the counter (again to reduce the thermal shock).

I set my probe thermometer's alarm to 61 C to warn me if it was too hot. When the brew came up to 58C, I started my countdown timer.

After 22 minutes, I took the jar out of the water bath, and let it sit on the towel on the counter to cool. I waited about two hours, and the brew came down to about 40C or so. Cool enough to work with, warm enough to dissolve honey easily, and fast enough for my attention span. Great!

I decided to taste and adjust as I go, keeping a tally of incremental additions of various ingredients. Except the honey, which was too much arse to measure each time. I figured the beginning and end volume, and the final Sp Gr would give me a decent indicator how much honey I added (or at least, how much honey proportionately).

For this 1.7-ish L batch, I added about:

Lemon extract, 4 mL

Lemon juice (bottled), 30 mL

Matcha powder, less than 1/8 tsp

Ascorbic acid powder, 1/8 tsp

Honey, approximately 80 - 100 mL

Final Gravity: 1.029

Which puts the ABV around 9.82%

I let the brew sit in the jar for a few days, then siphoned to bottles on day 40 (19 Sep). I got about 1500 mL or so.

Appearance: A bit hazy. Golden-amber coloured. Maybe ever so slightly green?

Scent: Honey and lemon!

Taste: It tastes exactly how it sounds. Honey lemon green tea mead. There's a slight bitterness from the matcha powder that developed since sitting. It's got a nice balance of sweet and tart. The lemon extract really takes it toward "lemon candy flavour", but the lemon juice and ascorbic acid keep it tart and fresh.

I would love to try this cold on a hot summer day (and not a hot day of September, fuck you Manitoba weather).

The mouthfeel is also very nice. Not too light, not too heavy.

It's been a great experimental brew. I'd definitely make a 1 gallon batch of this (minus the pumpkin fuckery). It features shelf-stable ingredients (tea, lemon juice, lemon extract, frozen lemon zest, honey) so it could be made at any time of year. I'm curious how ageing would affect it, but this strikes me as a quick ferment to enjoy right away. And I don't think this bottle will last very long.

[seerofmike]

Mike's Media Medley--April 2024

henlo and welcome to my monthly diary review thing where i talk about movies/shows/games i experienced for the first time this month. there are a lot of things i watch/play throughout the year that i really like but don't ever get the opportunity to talk about due to the restrictions of my 7 game/7 movie restrictions on my end of year list + the fact i limit movies to 2024 releases. this list encompasses movies and games from any time period that i watched or played for the first time ever this month.

feel free to reply to this post with things you think i should watch or play!

here are some things i watched and played for the very first time this april:

2024 movie/show releases: Monkey Man, Civil War, Abigail, Fallout

non-2024 movie/show releases: Alien (1979), My Octopus Teacher (2020), The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

games: fallout 3 (2008), the battle of polytopia (2016), let's build a zoo (2021), mineko's night market (2022)

my thoughts on all of them below, in alphabetical order--movies/shows first, then games:

Abigail (2024)

this movie was honestly pretty fun. enjoyed it more than i was expecting tbh, i used my membership tuesday price on this cuz i did not feel like paying full price for a ticket to see this. kind of thought it would be just dumb "ooh evil kid" shock horror

and like. don't get me wrong it is definitely ooh evil kid horror but the twist is given relatively early with only minor padding for a bigger twist later. thought it was decently funny and it works well enough as a singular movie but i don't see it warranting a sequel which the ending might be building up to. and though it was fun everything was like. Fine. directing was fine. acting was fine. music was fine. probably would not see it again but did not hate my decision watch it

60/100

Alien (1979)

YES this is really my first time seeing Alien, i am pretty unfamiliar with basically everything about Alien, nothing i say will probably be new

first off the sound was like. really quiet? and idk if it's because my theater had the volume too low or if that's the way it was mixed--it is an old movie after all--but i couldn't hear a lot of the dialogue and i feel like it would've boosted my enjoyment of the movie a lil more but i did really like it

specifically the art direction and set design. the alien planet and the ship, the fossilized skeleton on that big chair all with this really distinct weird black mechanical look that is also like. weirdly alive. and how that extends to the nostromo having parts of it as the movie progresses that looks like the alien. biomechanical is i think the word for it? its awesome. epic, even. makes u paranoid

big fan of the directing as well. very claustrophobic at some scenes. the refusal to show you the alien in full for a while. reaction shots instead of direct sight of the gore and horror (the cat when the janitor dies, ripley hearing parker and lambert die as she runs)

the thing that detracts from the movie for me is the sexual violence undertones. just simply not a fan

p good, might need to rewatch with subtitles to appreciate a bit more once i understand the actual plot lmfao. also this movie is very sweaty just like love lies bleeding. maybe i like sweaty movies. 80/100

(more under the cut)

Civil War (2024)

this movie was not very good

i was not going to see it and then i heard that it was less a typical war movie from the perspective and soldiers and shit that it was more about war correspondence and that piqued my interest as someone who used to want to be a journalist. turns out it's not even that much about war correspondence either. the main characters are war photographers but it all feels like. pretty surface level?

not to mention i understand the intent of keeping the politics of a theoretical civil war part 2 vague so as to not actually incite any specific kind of rage or controversy from either side but like. its a civil war movie. about war correspondence and photography.

the emotional hook of the movie just does nawt work for me. the young photographer lady is incredibly dumb. why does she do the things she does. why does she jump between the cars like that when she's so obsessed with the main lady. i had other gripes with her but i dont even remember all of them because this movie is already a distant memory. the bonding between them does nothing for me and just feels really forced and corny.

that being said there are some nice shots in this movie. it's well-directed but the sound design is really fucking carrying. all of the gunshots are LOUD and impactful and i think that really helps with the conflict where the wishy washy centrist politics fail.

30/100. not the worst movie ive ever seen but i would not watch it again.

Fallout (2024)

yeah yeah the show is really good. acting is good all across the board. was fun seeing the fun references / easter eggs to fallout. i was particularly interested in norm's side of the plot and lucy was a really refreshing protagonist. i think maximus was the weakest of the main plotlines but i'm hoping they go somewhere with his darker side because while i think it was the weakest i think he has the most potential

like lucy and the ghoul are pretty squarely set on their own sides with their own clear morals (or karma, good and evil) but maximus is someone who wants to be a good person but is often just. not good at being a good person. he's naive and not very competent at his job tbh but is still being heralded as a new wave of the brotherhood of steel. very interested to see where all that goes.

enjoyed it a ton. 85/100

Monkey Man (2024)

dev patel really made a movie about the healing power of trans people and he's awesome for that

good action flick with some scathing political commentary that i wish i was more well-versed on indian politics to say something substantial about but i could Feel the contempt for modi/the bjp and hindu nationalism as a whole

it's shot & edited sooooooo frenetically and i think this works a lot of the time HOWEVER at some points it is like. an active detriment. i never really feel nauseous when movies use shaky cam but this movie's camera is not just shaking. that shit is rocking. vibrating. particularly when he's outrunning the police thats when it gets Bad

otherwise i really enjoyed it. the action hits. the aesthetics and cinematography are probably my favorite of everything i watched this month! that being said i probably wouldn't watch it again just because i'm not the type to rewatch action movies like these i think ive only ever seen john wick the one time

75/100

My Octopus Teacher (2020)

it was fine. it's a documentary idk i don't have much to say. doesn't really feel right rating it but i watched it and the visuals were breathtaking but like it doesnt rly have a plot or anything. its neat. nice background thing to put on while you do something else

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)

yeah yeah. unique color palette and color grading. directed well to suit the framing device. everyone and everything is smartly positioned onscreen.pretty good performances from people who have to just dump like 60 lines of dialogue on you all at once. yall know this one is good its wes anderson go watch it its 40 minutes long

75/100

video games:

The Battle of Polytopia (2016)/Let's Build a Zoo (2021)

putting both of these games here because i really don't have a lot to say about them, i played them both very briefly. in let's build a zoo's case, literally for five minutes. the battle of polytopia was boring and after like two runs i was like ok welp that's it for me. i did play the mobile version so that might be part of the problem but idk i don't think the gameplay loop would've grabbed me even if expanded. let's build a zoo had atrocious UI and controls on console and i immediately got pissed off trying to build an enclosure and uninstalled

Fallout 3 (2008)

i am not immune to propaganda

is this game good? not really but my favorite elder scrolls game is oblivion so you should know i, for one, love bethesda jank. love walking around in a big ass world full of weird people and discovering places and just taking a look around. frankly i don't care if i died five times to the same pack of super mutants. i'm having a good time.

not super deep into the main story and have only completed about ten quests but i'm into it

Mineko's Night Market (2022)

man i like. really wanted to like this game. it has a really cute art style and a good sense of humor, and i like management and sim games. unfortunately it just failed to grab me. i had a chuckle or two for the first hour i played but after that i was just really bored running around looking for flowers and i quit before i even got to attend the actual night market. i played it through my dad's gamepass and i usually end up quitting games quickly due to buying them on steam and needing to decide if i like them or not under 2 hours. otherwise i try not to quit games that early unless they're super boring or glitchy/unplayable. unfortunately even without that time limit looming over my head it just wasn't really doing anything for me.

if u got this far into reading this i love u

[ladybug0007]

The Ultimate Filter Coffee Quest: My Top Pick for the Best Coffee Powder in India

There are journeys you take for adventure, some for food, and a rare few for something as specific—and sacred—as the perfect cup of filter coffee.

I’ve spent years traveling through India’s coffee heartlands—sipping strong brews in Chennai’s local cafés, savoring smooth blends in Coorg’s lush plantations, and tasting every variety from the bustling streets of Bengaluru to the quiet cafés of Kerala. Each place brought me closer to the truth: filter coffee is more than a beverage in India—it’s a lifestyle, a ritual, and, for many of us, a cherished comfort.

After countless cups, brews, and comparisons, I can finally say I’ve found my top pick for the best coffee powder in India: Levista Filter Coffee.

Here’s how I arrived at that conclusion—and why you’ll probably agree once you’ve tasted it.

A Journey Fueled by Caffeine and Curiosity

When I first began this quest, I wasn’t looking for a brand—I was looking for a feeling. That moment when the aroma hits your senses, the first sip warms your soul, and the taste lingers long after. I was after a filter coffee powder that could deliver consistency, authenticity, and flavor—no matter where I was brewing it.

And so, I tried it all.

Pure Arabica and Robusta blends

Chicory-heavy mixes

Artisan coffee from small roasters

Mass-market options from well-known brands

Some were too bitter. Others lacked depth. A few were great—but only for specific brewing methods or with certain types of milk. It wasn’t until a trip to Coorg that someone handed me a packet of Levista Filter Coffee.

Let’s just say: that cup changed everything.

What Makes Levista the Best Filter Coffee Powder in India?

1. Authenticity in Every Sip

Levista doesn’t try to reinvent filter coffee—it perfects it. With roots in Coorg, one of India’s premium coffee-growing regions, Levista has direct access to high-quality beans. Their blend captures what I’ve loved most about South Indian filter coffee: strength, body, and a bold flavor that stands up beautifully to milk.

Whether you like your coffee mild or strong, Levista has a blend for you. The 80:20 (coffee to chicory) blend is my personal favorite—it gives you a full-bodied experience without being overpowering.

2. Consistency That Matters

A big issue with many brands is inconsistency between batches. One pack might be excellent, and the next? Flat and uninspiring.

Levista stood out because every cup tasted exactly how I wanted it to—day after day, pack after pack. That kind of quality control speaks volumes.

3. Crafted for Filter Coffee Lovers

Some brands try to be everything to everyone: espresso, French press, cold brew, all in one. Levista proudly focuses on traditional South Indian filter coffee, and that specialization makes a difference. The grind size, the roast profile, and even the packaging are designed for this method.

If you’re using a South Indian filter (or even a Moka pot or AeroPress), Levista performs exceptionally well.

Buy Best Filter Coffee Powder in India: Here’s Why It Should Be Levista

You’re probably searching online to buy best filter coffee powder in India, and you’ve seen dozens of options. Let me break down why Levista tops that list.

✅ Bean Quality: Sourced from Coorg, freshly roasted, and expertly blended

✅ Affordable Luxury: High-end taste without breaking your budget

✅ Accessible: Easy to buy online via Levista’s official website

✅ Tried and Trusted: Loved by long-time coffee drinkers and first-timers alike

It’s that rare combination of heritage, quality, and modern convenience.

Brewing a Cup of Levista Filter Coffee – My Go-To Method

Over the years, I’ve perfected a brewing method that brings out the best in Levista’s blend. Here’s how I make it:

You’ll Need:

South Indian coffee filter

Freshly boiled water

Levista Filter Coffee (80:20 blend recommended)

Hot milk

Sugar (optional)

Steps:

Add 2 tablespoons of Levista into the top chamber of the filter.

Tamp lightly (don’t press too hard).

Pour boiling water over the coffee.

Close the lid and wait for the decoction to drip.

Mix the decoction with hot milk and sugar to taste.

Result? A velvety, aromatic cup of coffee that rivals any café in India.

Levista in Chennai: A Local Favorite

Chennai isn’t just the capital of Tamil Nadu—it’s the unofficial capital of filter coffee in India. Walk down any street in the city, and you’ll find a vendor pouring hot filter coffee between a dabarah and tumbler, creating a frothy, fragrant brew that defines mornings for millions.

When I visited Chennai, I did a side-by-side tasting of local filter coffee favorites and Levista. To my surprise, even the die-hard regulars admitted that Levista held its own—and in many cases, surpassed what they were used to. That says a lot.

Check out Levista’s own experience in Chennai in their blog: Best Coffee Powder in Chennai

Final Thoughts: The Best Coffee Powder for Filter Coffee Lovers

There are many good filter coffee powders in India—but Levista is great. It honors tradition while embracing modern quality standards. It’s easy to brew, deeply satisfying, and widely available.

So if you’re on your own coffee journey and wondering where to buy best filter coffee powder in India, let me save you some time: 👉 Start with Levista. You won’t need to look any further.

Whether you’re a coffee novice or a seasoned sipper like me, this is the brand that brings India’s filter coffee legacy straight into your cup—no passport needed.

[kabr0ztrousers]

Kabr0z Writes volume 2

Episode 61: Angels and Demons - My first story in this series from a third person POV! Ever wondered where new demons come from, how hell is infinite, or what are angels like? This is the one! Read the CWs, but I feel like this is one of the best yet

Episode 62: Affectionate, passionate Minotaur smut - Another very short one, Fem!Reader worries about her stressed Minotaur S/O, gives him a ride

Episode 63: Reality TV - A man wishes he was selected for the hucow program, then gets his wish

Episode 64: Inheritance - A meek student goes to the last Freshers party before term begins, and learns more about himself than he expected

Episode 65: Escape Attempt - A part 2 to Disciplinary Action, Fem!Reader and her new husband escape the Chitinids and get away with it

Episode 66: Housemates - Fem!Reader may have given werewolf!BF the wrong idea, he deals with the situation by formally claiming her in front of his brothers

Episode 67: Chew Toy - An attack on a caravan leads Fem!Reader to seek help from an adventuring party. She doesn't find adventurers, instead she gets "adopted" by a pack of gnolls without any matriarch

Episode 68: Toying Around - Fem!Reader is a Verbena mage who wants to fuck her friends boyfriend. Using a bit of magic she links a portal between his pocket pussy and her underwear, but gets a little more than she bargained for

Episode 69: Lich Dom - When Fem!Reader is summoned by her lich master, she's expecting the worst. On balance, it ends better than she'd hoped

Episode 70: Land of the Dragons - Fem!Reader's draconic owner needs to take a trip, and wants her with him, so of course she needs to "ride" him to wherever it is they're going

Episode 71: Bikini Line - Fem!Reader's intimate wax gets a little more intimate than she planned

Episode 72: Concerning Portals, part 2 - Portals, tentacles, a train, lots of fun

Episode 73: Dog Days - Wealthy CEO resigns to fulfil his real dream: becoming a full time sub for his wife. Expect heavy kink, sexualised violence, and an allusion to an apocryphal tale involving threadlock and a chastity cage. Don't try this one at home, folks

Episode 74: Loxodon Warhammer - Fem!Reader gets very drunk and gets taken advantage of by a gigantic elephant hybrid. Good thing she's kinda into it

Episode 75: Snakes in a cave - Fem!Naga!Reader gets captured by a feral male Naga while caving. Expect paralytic venom and lots of noncon deep in the bowels of the earth

Episode 76: How do centaurs fuck? - A pair of centaur ladies have some wlw fun. Surprisingly few CWs, to the extent where I'm not sure if I needed to include the fisting tag. After all, if your biology is made for horses, what's a human forearm?

Episode 77: the raid - Fem!Reader starts on a Chitinid farm, then a raid of armoured aliens blows through the gate and things go sideways fast

Episode 78: One Night Stand - super quick one about fem!reader taking a man she met at the library home, and getting more than she bargained for

Episode 79: Hotter than Hell, part 2 - Masc!Reader's demon friends want to make it up to him after how he was treated last time. Obviously, the apology also involves him bottoming for them. It's fine, he loves it

Episode 80: What's a drabble? - Fem!Reader gets a bag of sugar from her neighbour, and gets him a little hot under the collar whilst doing so. Not gonna lie, this one's clean enough for daytime TV.

Episode 81: Alternative Ending - An alternative end to episode 51, where we ask what if instead of bringing the rogue to the agreed rendezvous he decided to keep her for himself

Episode 82: Creatures of the Night - A vampire and a werewolf speedrun lovers to enemies and back to lovers

Episode 83: First Contact Protocol - An ensign on a starship has a close encounter with an alien species, with egging and mpreg aplenty

Episode 84: Duke of the Iron Forest - Fem!Reader is a prisoner of a demon duke, who isn't shy about having his way with her

Episode 85: Mommy Milkers - Reader spends some quality time with their cow-hybrid stepmother, and her tits

Episode 86: Shopping Trip - Fem!Reader is made aware of a glitch in her portal panties. The manufacturer warns not to exploit the bug, the forum users encourage it. You are nothing but easily encouraged

Episode 87: Crocodilian - Fem!Reader is travelling alone up the Nile, and is kidnapped by crocodile-headed servants of Sobek, becoming a focus for their worship of the Lord of Semen

Episode 88: Turnabout - Masc!Reader and his better half have been trying for a baby for a while. When aliens swoop in and offer a surefire treatment, of course he agrees. Only problem is, he's got to carry it, and setting that up requires some advanced surgery

Episode 89: Intermission - A quick break from requests; fem!reader finds herself on the receiving end of a gloryhole

Episode 90: Assimilation - Another one couched in the world of Elite. Masc!Reader is doing some geology when he runs across a fungal hivemind, which quickly figures out the easiest way to assimilate him

Episode 91: Wolf Wifey - Masc!Reader and his beloved dommy-mommy werewolf wife have some fluffy face-sitting fun

Episode 92: Communion - The same Fem!Reader from episodes 53 and 86 is looking to transgress ever greater social boundaries, and finds herself pondering what to try next on a Sunday morning.

Episode 93: Communion, part 2 - A quick sequel. Fem!Reader confesses her sins, then commits some delightful new ones. CNC freeuse, gangbang, spitroasting and power-bottoming

Episode 94: Haunting, Part 2 - Fem!Reader from episode 39 has been possessed by the three ghosts for a while now, and is faced with a terrible choice

Episode 95: Satyr - Fem Satyr is the last to wake after a revel, so she has to find the site for the next one. Instead she finds a minotaur she decides to tempt into giving her exactly what she wants

Episode 96: Maid Service - A wealthy chair of a nonprofit takes on a catgirl maid, then the predictable happens

Episode 97: Hyena Girlfriend - Were-Tigress and her Hyena Girlfriend get home real drunk and go to town with some delightful 69 action

Episode 98: Harvest Moon - Amateur stargazing gives way to intense outdoor breeding between Fem!Reader and her werewolf husband when she acts on an impulse and howls at the moon

Episode 99: Faustian Bargain - Fem!Reader bets her soul against a demon, if she wins she gets her 3 wishes. If he wins, he gets to do what he likes with her. The sport? Fucking, crazy style

Episode 100: Enchanted Glade - The centennial episode! Fem!Reader was searching for the rumoured home of the centaurs, and finds it

Episode 101: Dungeon Slime - Fem!Reader is delving an ancient dungeon in search of a marvellous treasure, and finds more than she bargained for

Episode 102: Polyphemus - Fem!Reader is a sacrifice to Poseidon, who decides to set her up with one of his sons. It doesn't go well for her

Episode 103: Housemates, part 2 - You don't need to have read episode 66 for this one, it cuts to the chase fast. Fem!Reader is spending a pre-wedding night in with her future brothers-in-law and fiancee, things get hot

Episode 104: Acts of Service - A bit of a study in perception and revealing information to the reader only as it becomes pertinent. Expect oral sex, Dom/sub relationships, and explicit depictions of aftercare

Episode 105: Browser History - Fem!Reader snoops her minotaur husband's browser history and discovers he has a thing for hucows and breeding. She's pretty sure she can work with that

Episode 106: Guardian Angel - A male angel lives with Fem!Reader and thinks they can't be together, until they find a way to satisfy her urges safely

Episode 107: In Her Majesty's Service - Fem!Reader is owned by a cruel demon queen with corruptive cum and a penchant for brutal facefucking

Episode 108: Academic Misconduct - Fem!Reader is up against a deadline. Instead of talking to her tutors and maybe getting an extension, she cheats, and faces the consequences

Episode 109: Accursed - FTM!Reader gets got by a werewolf, doesn't realise for a month, then gets force-masc'd by his transformation before rutting into his girlfriend

Episode 110: Bull Milk - Fem!Reader is an alchemist, and needs a special ingredient: minotaur semen, freshly squeezed

Episode 111: Orientation - What happens when a lesbian in a committed relationship gets kidnapped by an evil werewolf man? Honestly probably not this story, but it's fun

Episode 112: Unicorn - Fem!Reader invites a pair of bisexual tiger men to her university dorm so she can play at being the inside of a sandwich

Episode 113: Slime Time - masc!reader is woken up by someone raiding his camping supplies, but soon forgives the theft

Episode 114: Kindred Spirits - Lesbian sex between a ghoul and her Nosferatu mistress, with bonus immobilisation play

Episode 115: Oceanography - Fem!Reader is doing some science in the sea, and gets set upon by a foursome of merfolk looking for a warm place to put their eggs

Episode 116: More Gnolls - Returning to episode 67, Fem!Reader has had her pups, and is fertile again. She knows it, and so do the rest of the pack, so she decides she'd like to get passed around again

Episode 117: Deep Space - A love letter to the facehugger, more of a sci-fi horror than porn, but sometimes that line's thinner and blurrier than you think

Episode 118: Road Trip, part 1 - Fem!Reader is spending the first few days of summer with an old friend, who just so happens to be a nerdy werewolf. It's only when they're in the car she realises just how much he missed her

Episode 119: Road Trip, part 2 - Liam and Fem!Reader get to their hotel at the rough halfway point of the journey, where he returns the favour from before

Episode 120: Road Trip, part 3 - The pair complete their journey, and the inevitable happens. Expect some rough fucking and fluffy feelings to conclude volume 2

Kabr0z Writes: A contents page!

The Kabr0z Writes series is a smut anthology that I am writing one per day, every day. Episodes will often not be related to one another, and will be clearly marked if they do.

Each part will have separate CWs at the top of the story, along with any author's notes I feel are pertinent. Please read these as tone veers wildly throughout

If you want to see something, and it doesn't look like it's been written already (or even if it does) please, please, please, send me an ask, a dm, anything, and I'll probably wind up writing it. 365 stories is a lot of stories! I need all the inspiration I can get!

Everything is OK to reblog, remix, copy, paste, whatever. Just please credit me if you do.

#########################################

Episode 1: The First Time - in which masc!reader invites a man from the internet for oral sex

Episode 2: The Previous Tenant - in which a presence in a cheap flat invades fem!reader's dreams, then body

Episode 3: A Very Bad Idea; Part 1 - in which fem!reader and a close friend dabble in demonology

Episode 4: A Very Bad Idea; Part 2 - in which things go from bad to worse

Episode 5: A Very Bad Idea; Part 3 - a moment of tenderness, then bad medicine, then mad science, a feeling we haven't seen the last of this

Episode 6: Wedding Dong - Fem!reader goes to an old friend's wedding, meets another old friend, and has a roll in the rhododendrons

Episode 7: The Rowing Team - in which fem!reader attends a party, and gets ganged up on in more ways than one

Episode 8: Concerning Portals - in which fem!reader wears some mysterious underwear on the bus. It turns out to be a bad idea

Episode 9: Farm Work - In which Fem!Reader has a really bad day, culminating in being livestock on a hucow farm, with some added TF fun thrown in

Episode 10: Debt, part 1 - In which Fem!Reader agrees to 3 nebulous tasks in return for enough money to cover her mounting debts

Episode 11: Debt, part 2 - Professor Blaidd takes Fem!Reader to a party, as the main course

Episode 12: Debt, part 3 - The experiment involving Fem!Reader and Professor Blaidd comes to a sloppy conclusion

Episode 13: Tiptoe Through the Tulips - In which a gardening contest is taken too seriously, and leads to some whipping, then some tribbing

Episode 14: Artistic Intent - Fem!reader sits for an art class, then sits on the teacher

Episode 15: German Sausage - A long distance train sees Fem!Reader get very well acquainted with her cervid travelling companion

Episode 16: Fae Deals, part 1 - the start of the third 3 parter, Masc!Reader meets a Fae prince on Grindr and tries to hook up. They go to a second location where Masc!Reader becomes Fem!Reader

Episode 17: Fae Deals, Part 2 - Newly Fem!Reader is turned over to the Fae Prince's friends before being passed around

Episode 18: Fae Deals, Part 3 - Fem!Reader is introduced to her new friends at the hunting lodge. It's... a lot (seriously, read the CWs on this one)

Episode 19: Four Seasons Landscaping - Another palette-cleanser after yesterday. Fem!Reader has a gig to do some "minor weeding" and winds up getting up-close and personal with a flower

Episode 20: Your Minotaur Boyfriend - A quick scene of intense, enthusiastic fucking between fem!Reader and your king-bed sized minotaur boyfriend

Episode 21: The Lake - By request! Fen!Reader goes skinny dipping in a lake and gets got by a tentacle monster. Expect heavy noncon and impregnation

Episode 22: The Ritual, Part 1 - Another request! Fem!Reader is a barmaid with a slightly unconventional selling point. Lots of CNC, enthusiastic consent and multiple men on one woman

Episode 23: The Ritual, Part 2 - Fem!Reader winds up having a bad time at the hands of a cult

Episode 24: The Ritual, part 3 - The conclusion of this 3-parter. Fem!Reader finds out more about her new husband, and enjoys the wedding night

Episode 25: Suddenly Sci-fi - Fem!Reader gets abducted by aliens and probed. Expect drugging, overstim, and the end of human civilization as you know it!

Episode 26: Disciplinary Action - Fem!Reader tries to escape her alien overlord, winds up dispensing refreshments at his upcoming party

Episode 27: The Wounded Beast - Another fantasy! Forest ranger fem!reader is tracking a poacher, winds up meeting a minotaur and has some fun

Episode 28: Mountain Oni - Masc!Reader takes shelter from inclement weather on a mountain hike, gets femdom'ed by a beautiful Oni

Episode 29: Farm Work Part 2 - We return to the hucow farm to follow up on Fem!Reader during the last few weeks of her pregnancy with her monster child. This one actually turned out less dark than expected, which is a nice change

Episode 30: The Hash Slinging Slasher - Fem!Reader doesn't think she fits the MO of the local masked serial killer, turns out she does, and he's got a thing for plump women with great tits

Episode 31: Bug Buzz - Fem!Reader is doing cartography when she gets jumped, stung, and filled with eggs

Episode 32: Homecoming - Fem!Reader's Naga girlfriend is coming back from a business trip, expect fluffy wlw fucking with remarkably few CWs

Episode 33: The Book - Fem!Reader finds a book of summoning magic and decides to get an incubus encounter out of it, this one might get picked up again later

Episode 34: Free Range - A broken down car leads to Fem!Reader getting kidnapped and taken to a free-range hucow farm. Think episode 9 but less awful

Episode 35: Interdiction - Space Explorer FtM!Reader gets got by new life and filled with eggs in a slightly horrifying scene. It's fun, and the closest thing to fanfic I've written so far

Episode 36: Hunter, Hunted - Fem!Reader is hunting a beast terrorising a village, gets hunted in return and mercilessly bred, with some turnabout at the end

Episode 37: Coulrophilia - Fem!Reader doesn't like clowns, then meets a few she winds up really liking. Expect a nice and fluffy clown gangbang

Episode 38: Date Night - Another quick standalone, Fem!Reader gets home from work and has enthusiastic kitchen-table sex with her werewolf husband. Enjoy!

Episode 39: Haunting - Fem!Reader gets the attention of an unpleasant ghost, and duped into releasing its pals

Episode 40: Sanguinare Vampiris - Fem!Reader's vampire boyfriend comes over for dinner and a movie. It's either sorta fluffy or really horrifying depending on how familiar you are with 90's Vampire TTPRGs

Episode 41: Dances with snakes - Fem!Reader is doing an anthropology on an alien world, herself having been made into a snake-hybrid to better survive, ends up in a closer encounter than anticipated. It goes a bit Dune, a bit Foundation, very long

Episode 42: Orc Daddy - Fem!Reader is the only human in the orc village, and her adoptive father has a suitor in mind for her. expect enthusiastic consent, size difference, arranged marriage, and breeding

Episode 43: Getting into the nose - Probably not my best work, Fem!Reader discovers her husband is a part-time clown and gets drawn into the hobby for an afternoon

Episode 44: 'Neath a Pale Moon - Fem!Reader sneaks out of her village to meet her werewolf lover, winds up being able to spend a lot more time with him

Episode 45: Resistance - Fem!Reader is part of a resistance cell fighting the Chitinid forces, a failed act of defiance goes very, very badly for her

Episode 46: Another day in the fields - Following on from episode 34, Fem!Reader has had her child, and is going to get her minotaur lover/owner to giver her another one

Episode 47: One Year Later - It's Fem! Reader's anniversary with Oreg! They fuck! It's good! Enjoy!

Episode 48: Medical Attention - Funtime's over but Professor Blaidd is still stuck in Fem!Reader. Good thing you're both friends with a werewolf doctor who does house calls

Episode 49: Medical Science - Roswell-style aliens abduct and experiment on Fem!Reader using transformation serums. If you like rapid growth, you'll like this one

Episode 50: Hot as Hell - Masc!Reader is having a movie night with some demon friends, one is late, the other goes into rut, he helps out

Episode 51: Daring Escape - Fem!Reader has to escape a fantasy city without being spotted. Help arrives in the form of a centaur and, tied to his belly, the escape is launched. Dubcon cumulation fun abound

Episode 52: Doll - Fem!Reader offends a faerie and gets turned into a clockwork fucktoy. She later gets found, and claimed (a bit shorter tonight, sleep cycle is so out of whack)

Episode 53: Hornyposting - Fem!Reader gets a pair of portal panties off the internet and posts her friend code to a public forum. Then she wears them to a café and really irritates a barista by getting publicly knotted

Episode 54: The In-Laws - Fem!Reader is out of options and needs to stay with her in-laws to keep a roof over her daughter's head. It turns out to be a mixed blessing. CWs for vampires, and I'm not kidding at all when I say gallons of blood

Episode 55: Young Lovers - It's A-level results day and Fem!Reader has done well. She spends the day with her doting werewolf boyfriend and they get up to some fun

Episode 56: Demonic Awakening - Fem!Reader tries to summon a succubus to break her dry spell. It doesn't work, and she gets more than she bargained for

Episode 57: Ranch Hand - Fem!Reader didn't get a job as a hucow, and almost gave up on her ambition to become a professional whore for the three minotaur brothers who run the ranch until a mysterious text message gives her hope (I'm real proud of this one)

Episode 58: Pack Tactics - The world ended several years ago. Fem!Reader has been running with wolves since then. A juvenile takes an interest in her, and one thing leads to another

Episode 59: Sacrifice - Fem!Reader escaped a terrible fate long ago, and now has to come back to her hometown to save her niece from the same. It ends badly

Episode 60: Beauty and the Beasts - It's the 1600s and Fem!Reader has a pair of wolf boyfriends! It's a good time, lots of consensual fucking, lots of exposition about the origin of lupines in the continuity, some implied impregnation

[healthiq]

How Many Calories Is in a Shot of Tequila? Get the Facts Here

Introduction

So, you’re trying to keep an eye on your calories but still want to enjoy a night out (or in) with a shot of tequila in hand. Totally understandable. Whether you're tracking macros, living the keto life, or just being mindful, the question pops up: how many calories is in a shot of tequila?

Good news — you're not alone in asking. And even better news? This guide breaks down everything you need to know about tequila and its calorie count, so you can sip smart and stay informed.

What Is Tequila Made From?

Tequila isn't just any alcoholic drink — it has roots in centuries-old Mexican tradition and is made from a very specific plant.

The Role of Blue Agave in Tequila Production

Tequila is made from the blue agave plant, grown primarily in Mexico. This plant is naturally sweet and low in fat, which is good news for your calorie tracker.

How Tequila Is Distilled

The harvested agave is roasted, fermented, and distilled — usually twice — to create the final product. The distillation process removes most sugars, which keeps the calorie content relatively low.

"Watching your calorie intake? Discover how many calories are in a shot of tequila and sip smarter!"

How Many Calories Is in a Shot of Tequila?

Let’s get right into it — this is why you're here.

Standard Shot Size Explained (1.5 oz or 44 ml)

In the U.S., a "shot" is generally considered to be 1.5 ounces or about 44 milliliters of liquid. That’s the standard we’ll use for calculating calorie content.

Average Calorie Range (96–105 calories)

A standard shot of 80-proof tequila (which is 40% alcohol by volume) contains about 96 to 105 calories. The exact number can vary slightly depending on the brand and whether it's been aged.

How Alcohol Content Affects Calorie Count

The higher the alcohol content (ABV), the more calories. Why? Because alcohol itself contains 7 calories per gram — nearly double what carbs and proteins provide. So, stronger tequila = more calories per shot.

Does the Type of Tequila Matter for Calories?

Yes, it absolutely does. Not all tequilas are created equal.

Blanco vs Reposado vs Añejo Calories

Blanco (Silver): Usually the lowest in calories, clocking in around 96 per shot.

Reposado: Slightly aged, may have trace amounts of sugar from barrels — up to 100–105 calories.

Añejo: Aged even longer; can reach 110+ calories per shot due to increased complexity and additives.

Are Flavored or Infused Tequilas Higher in Calories?

Yes — flavored tequilas often include added sugars and syrups, making them noticeably higher in calories. A fruity or caramel-flavored tequila might have 130+ calories per shot!

Tequila’s Nutritional Profile

You may be wondering: is there anything else in that shot besides alcohol?

Are There Carbs or Sugar in Tequila?

Pure tequila (100% agave) contains 0 grams of carbs and 0 grams of sugar. That makes it a favorite for keto and low-carb lifestyles.

Fat, Protein, and Other Nutrients (or Lack Thereof)

Tequila has no fat, no protein, and negligible vitamins or minerals. It's not a health drink — but it's definitely not the worst option if you’re watching your intake.

Is Tequila a Better Option Than Other Alcoholic Drinks?

Let’s see how tequila stacks up against other popular beverages.

Tequila vs Vodka: Calorie Showdown

Both have similar calorie counts (~96 per shot). However, vodka often appears in sugary cocktails like screwdrivers, while tequila is often taken straight — a small win for tequila.

Tequila vs Whiskey: What’s Lighter?

Whiskey is usually heavier due to aging and caramel coloring. A shot can run between 100–115 calories. Tequila stays leaner.

Tequila vs Beer and Wine: Which One’s Slimmer?

Beer: One regular 12 oz beer = 150+ calories

Wine: One 5 oz glass = 120–130 calories Tequila wins for calorie density if you keep it simple and straight.

Drinking Tequila on a Diet

If you're dieting but don’t want to skip happy hour, tequila might be your new best friend.

Is Tequila Keto-Friendly or Low-Carb Approved?

Absolutely. Since pure tequila contains no carbs or sugar, it fits well within keto and other low-carb eating plans.

How Tequila Fits Into a Weight-Loss Plan

Moderation is key. One shot won’t kill your progress, but three or four might — not just because of calories, but also because alcohol can increase appetite and lower willpower.

Myth or Truth: Does Tequila Boost Metabolism?

Some claim that agavins (natural sugars in agave) have metabolism-boosting effects. While this is somewhat true for raw agave, distilled tequila doesn’t retain enough agavins to make a significant difference.

Tips to Enjoy Tequila Without Extra Calories

Want to keep things clean while you sip? Follow these tips.

Avoid Sugary Mixers and Syrups

Mixing tequila with margarita mix or soda can double or triple the calorie count. Stick with soda water, lime, or fresh juice.

Healthier Tequila-Based Cocktail Options

Try:

Tequila + Soda Water + Lime (about 100 calories)

Tequila + Fresh Grapefruit Juice (130 calories)

Skinny Margarita with Stevia (under 150 calories)

Stick to Standard Serving Sizes

It’s easy to over-pour at home. A shot is 1.5 oz — no more. Use a jigger or shot glass to measure.

High-Calorie Tequila Drinks to Watch Out For

Some tequila-based drinks are calorie bombs in disguise.

Margaritas: Hidden Calorie Bombs

Restaurant-style margaritas can pack 300–500 calories per glass — mostly from sugary mixers and triple sec.

Pre-Mixed Tequila Cocktails and Sugar Content

Watch out for canned tequila drinks and flavored shots. They often have hidden sugars, syrups, and artificial sweeteners, making them a no-go for calorie-conscious folks.

Fun Facts About Tequila and Its Calories

Let’s take a breather and enjoy a few fun tequila facts.

Historical Uses of Tequila

Did you know tequila was once used for medicinal purposes in Mexico? Talk about “liquid courage!”

Does Tequila Really Act as a Digestif?

Some believe a post-dinner tequila aids digestion. While not medically proven, many still swear by it.

FAQs: How Many Calories Is in a Shot of Tequila?

Q1: Is tequila low in calories compared to other alcohol? Yes, especially when consumed straight without mixers.

Q2: Can I drink tequila and still lose weight? Yes, in moderation and if you account for the calories in your daily intake.

Q3: Does aged tequila have more calories? Slightly more due to potential additives and longer processing.

Q4: How can I reduce calories in tequila cocktails? Use fresh juices, skip syrups, and stick with soda water or citrus.

Q5: Is flavored tequila higher in calories? Yes — flavored or infused tequilas can have significantly more sugar and calories.

Conclusion

So, back to the big question: how many calories is in a shot of tequila? The answer is — around 96 to 105 calories for a standard 1.5 oz shot. If you’re watching your intake, go for 100% agave tequila, skip the sugary mixers, and stick to one or two shots.

Tequila can absolutely be a part of a balanced lifestyle — just sip smart, track if you must, and enjoy the moment.

"Curious about the calorie count of your favorite spirit? How many calories are in a shot of tequila? Here’s the answer to help you stay informed!"

[nichromepackagingmachine]

The Right Fill for Every Grain: Nichrome’s Auto Filling Systems for Bangladesh’s Agri Sector

In the competitive agri-business landscape of Bangladesh, packaging isn't just the last step—it's the power move. Whether you're in rice packaging, pulses distribution, or seed processing, the right packaging solution can make the difference between commodity and brand, between bulk and brilliance. That’s where Nichrome Bangladesh comes in—your trusted partner for advanced, precise, and powerful rice packaging machines, grain packaging machines, and seed packaging machines that are built to fill, seal, and deliver value with every pouch.

That’s why we’ve made our automatic rice packaging machines and seed packaging machines to overcome every obstacle:

With above features, intelligent automation, versatile pouch formats, and tech-packed innovation, our range of agri-packaging solutions is designed to meet the needs of both ambitious startups and high-volume exporters.

So let’s deep dive into why Nichrome is the one name to remember when you’re ready to seal success.

The Importance of Specialized Packaging in Agriculture

Moisture, pests, and oxygen are your worst enemies when it comes to packaging rice, pulses, or seeds. A trusted rice bag sealing machine forms an impregnable barrier that helps preserve aroma and texture. Hygienic contact parts and gentle handling eliminate grain breakage and dust in our rice filling system, ensuring “fresh off the farm” happiness in every rice packaging job.

Good packaging isn’t only for eye-catching on the shelf. It’s about keeping the conditions in each bag right where they need to be. Incorporating advanced filling systems and airtight seals will translate into shelf life increases from weeks to months, translating into reductions in returns, spoilage, and waste. Whether you utilize our Excel 400 Plus Intelligent Electronic Weigh Filler or opt for the lighter Sprint 250 Plus, you’re choosing gear that guards your products through the night and day.

In the world of packaging, first impressions aren’t just important—they're everything. When distributors and retailers assess your product, the clarity, cleanliness, and consistency of your rice bag packaging speak volumes. A neatly sealed, perfectly presented 25 kg rice bag doesn’t just look impressive—it reflects a brand’s commitment to quality and professionalism. With our machines, every bag becomes a testament to precision engineering, uniform performance, and unwavering reliability. Because in a competitive market, excellence isn’t optional—it’s your identity.

Packaging solutions of Nichrome for Rice, Grains & Seeds

At Nichrome, we provide a trio of powerhouse machines—each expertly designed for specific throughput and application requirements, but all sharing common hallmarks of quality.

Applications: Grains, pulses, rice, sugar, tea, whole spices, seeds

Pouch Formats: 4‑line seal, pentaseal, CSPP, gusset pouch, D‑cut

Technical Specifications:

Features: CE‑marked PLC, touchscreen HMI, print‑mark scanners, servo‑driven film length control, adjustable cross‑sealing jaws

Benefits of our Rice Packaging Solutions:

Applications: Grains, pulses, rice, sugar, detergent

Pouch Formats: Same as Intelligent Electronic Weigh Filler

Technical Specs & Features: Mirrors the Excel 400 Plus weigh filler, but uses a volumetric cup for filling—ideal for granular products like rice or pulses where weight accuracy is less critical than speed.

Benefits Include:

Applications: Grains, pulses, rice, sugar, tea, whole spices, seeds

Pouch Formats: CSPP, gusset pouch

Technical Specifications:

Still Wondering why the Sprint 250?

Business Benefits: Transforming Machines into Money Manufacturers

Every minute spared is income gained. Our automated rice packaging machine answers lower cycle times, therefore you may run several shifts with fewer workers. Going 80–120 sealed rice, seed, or grain bags per minute means faster return on investment.

Using our electronic weigh fillers and cup fillers, you will precisely reach target weights, therefore lowering giveaway and increasing your earning per bag. For high‑value grains or top seed packaging machine uses, this is especially important.

Change rice packaging machine duties to pulses, sugar packaging machine tasks, or special seed packaging machine assignments in minutes. With changeover capabilities, you may vary bag sizes, seal types, and fill volumes without SWAT-team levels of downtime.

Our machines can be seamlessly integrated into existing production lines. With remote access for maintenance, print mark scanners for upstream branding, and compatibility with dynamic check weighers and metal detectors, you gain a turnkey rice packaging machine ecosystem that meets end‑to‑end quality and compliance standards 

Tailored Solutions for Diverse Business Needs

No two companies are the exact same—and neither should their packaging lines be. This is why we do not operate a one-size-fits-all approach. We work with:

Need a seed packaging machine that can switch between cumin, sesame, and sunflower seeds? Or a grain packaging machine optimized for rice and pulse blends? We work with you to configure pouch formats—standee, quad seal, gusset, and more—and ensure your packaging line addresses everything from "grain machine price" concerns to "packaging machine Bangladesh" budget brackets 

We do this successfully by conducting an on‑site needs analysis, mapping your throughput targets, floor space, and product specs to the perfect Nichrome configuration. Our goal? To seal your success, bag your profits, and sow long‑term relationships.

Seal the Deal with Nichrome 

Investing in the right rice packaging machine is not just about sealing bags; it’s about sealing deals, securing quality, and scaling profits. At Nichrome Bangladesh, we pride ourselves on offering precision‑engineered packaging solutions—from our Excel 400 Plus Intelligent Electronic Weigh Filler to our high‑speed Sprint 250 Plus—that empower B2B clients to package rice, grains, pulses, and seeds with confidence and creativity.

In the packaging machine Bangladesh arena, efficiency, accuracy, and adaptability aren’t optional—they’re mission‑critical. You are investing in more than just a machine when you choose from our wide range of machines.

Ready to bag big profits and seal in quality? Explore our full range of automatic rice packaging machine solutions, from the Excel 400 Plus Intelligent Electronic Weigh Filler to the lightning‑fast Sprint 250 Plus. Contact our Nichrome Bangladesh sales team today for a personalized consultation, on‑site demo, and competitive grain machine price quote. Let’s make your next packaging line the best in the business—together!

[budgetpe]

How Much Organic Waste is Needed Daily to Run a Small-Scale Bio-CNG Plant?

Bio-CNG (compressed biogas) is produced by anaerobically digesting organic waste to generate biogas, then purifying and compressing that biogas to CNG-grade fuel. A key question for anyone exploring a small-scale Bio-CNG plant setup is how much organic waste must be fed daily to sustain the plant. The answer depends on the plant’s scale (definition of “small-scale” in India) and the type of organic feedstock used, since different wastes yield different amounts of biogas. This article defines what qualifies as a small-scale Bio-CNG plant in India, and provides verified waste-to-gas conversion ratios for common feedstocks like cow dung, food waste, and press mud. We will also translate daily input quantities into daily Bio-CNG output, referencing industry norms and government data for accuracy. The aim is an informative yet accessible overview for prospective Bio-CNG plant operators.

Defining a Small-Scale Bio-CNG Plant in India

In India’s renewable energy context, “small” biogas plants are traditionally those producing up to around 25 m³ of biogas per day. Such plants (often family or community digesters) mainly use raw biogas for cooking or power, rather than upgrading it to Bio-CNG. However, upgrading biogas to compressed Bio-CNG fuel typically becomes economical at somewhat larger throughputs. In practice, even a “small-scale” Bio-CNG plant often handles a few tons of organic waste per day, yielding tens to a few hundred kilograms of Bio-CNG daily. For example, one commercial modular Bio-CNG system can digest 0.5 to 5 tons of organic waste per day and produce up to ~250 kg of Bio-CNG fuel per day. This corresponds to a biogas output of a few hundred cubic meters per day – much smaller than municipal-scale projects, but enough to fuel local vehicles or generate power. In summary, a small-scale Bio-CNG plant in the Indian context might be defined as one processing on the order of 2–20 tons of waste per day, resulting in roughly 50–500 kg of Bio-CNG per day. This scale is suited for institutions, farms, or small towns, as opposed to large industrial plants processing 100+ tons daily.

Waste-to-Gas Conversion Ratios for Different Feedstocks

The amount of feedstock required daily depends on how much biogas (and hence Bio-CNG) that material can yield. Different organic wastes have different biogas potentials. Below are real-world biogas yields for common feedstocks, based on industry and government data, along with the Bio-CNG output that translates to:

Cow dung (cattle manure): Yields roughly 0.04 m³ of biogas per kg of dung​ This equates to about 40 m³ of biogas per ton of cow dung. Under optimized conditions (e.g. proper mixing and retention time), yields can be a bit higher – on the order of 55–60 m³ per ton​. After purification (removing CO₂ and impurities), this volume of biogas would yield roughly 16–24 kg of Bio-CNG per ton of cow dung input (since not all biogas is methane). Cow dung is a relatively low-yield feedstock because it is fibrous and already partially digested by animals.

Food waste (kitchen or market waste): Yields about 80–100 m³ of biogas per ton of waste under typical conditions. Food waste is high in easily degradable organic matter, so it produces more biogas per kilogram than dung. The methane-rich biogas from 1 ton of food/vegetable waste can be upgraded to roughly 32–40 kg of Bio-CNG. In fact, one Indian Bio-CNG plant in Chennai processes 8 tons of food and kitchen waste per day, producing about 1,000 m³ of raw biogas, which is then purified into ~400 kg of Bio-CNG fuel each day. This real-world example (Mahindra World City Bio-CNG plant) demonstrates a conversion of about 125 m³ of biogas per ton of food waste (yielding ~50 kg Bio-CNG per ton), which is in line with the higher end of the expected range given good waste composition and process efficiency.

Press mud (sugar industry waste): Yields on the order of 90–100 m³ of biogas per ton of press mud​. Press mud (the residual filter cake from sugarcane juice clarification) is rich in organic content and moisture, making it suitable for biomethanation. From 1 ton of press mud, the biogas generated can be refined to roughly 36–40 kg of Bio-CNG. For instance, commercial-scale digesters at sugar mills report biogas yields in this range, as reflected in industry analyses. (Press mud is often co-digested with other waste streams like distillery spent wash for even higher gas generation, but the above figures are for press mud alone.)

It’s important to note that biogas typically contains ~55–60% methane (the burnable component) and the rest is CO₂ and other gases​. Only the methane is converted to Bio-CNG. This means that after upgrading, roughly half the volume of raw biogas is retained as purified biomethane. In practice, about 1,000 m³ of raw biogas yields ~400 kg of Bio-CNG​ (since 1 m³ of biogas at 55–60% CH₄ gives ~0.4 kg of CNG-grade fuel). The remainder of the biogas volume is removed as CO₂ (often released or captured for other uses) and some methane losses.

Daily Input vs. Bio-CNG Output

Given the above conversion ratios, we can estimate how much organic waste is needed daily to achieve a target Bio-CNG output in a small-scale plant:

Cow dung requirement: Because of the lower gas yield, a larger quantity of dung is needed. Roughly 4–6 tons of cow dung per day could produce about 100 kg of Bio-CNG daily (4 tons × ~20 kg/ton = 80 kg; 6 tons × ~20 kg/ton = 120 kg). For a small plant aiming at ~250 kg Bio-CNG per day, on the order of 10–12 tons of cow dung daily may be required. In practical terms, this means a sizable dairy farm or cluster of farms (for context, one cow produces about 10 kg dung per day, so thousands of cattle would be needed to supply ~10 tons of dung daily).

Food waste requirement: Thanks to higher biogas yield, the feed input can be smaller. About 2.5–3 tons of food waste per day can generate ~100 kg of Bio-CNG (2.5 tons × ~40 kg/ton ≈ 100 kg). Similarly, ~6–8 tons of food or kitchen waste per day could produce around 250 kg of Bio-CNG. This scale of feedstock might be available from a large hotel, university canteens, or a small municipality’s organic waste collection. Indeed, the earlier example showed 8 TPD yielding 400 kg, so even ~5 tons/day of food waste can reliably yield ~200–250 kg Bio-CNG​ with the right technology – a ratio of about 50 kg of Bio-CNG per ton of food waste.

Press mud requirement: Press mud’s high yield means similar quantities as food waste are needed. On the order of 2.5–3 tons of press mud per day would produce ~100 kg Bio-CNG, and ~6–7 tons per day could produce ~250 kg Bio-CNG. In regions with sugar mills, press mud is generated in bulk; a small-scale plant could partner with a sugar factory or a jaggery unit for a steady ~5–10 TPD press mud supply. (In large-scale setups, e.g. a 100 TPD press mud bio-digester, outputs of ~8,000 kg CNG per day have been achieved – but those are beyond “small” scale and benefit from economies of scale.)

It’s worth noting that co-digestion (mixing multiple feedstocks) can improve gas yields and stabilize the digestion process. For example, blending press mud with cattle dung or food waste can increase biogas output compared to press mud alone​. However, for estimating feedstock needs, the above single-feed figures give a reliable baseline. Also, operational conditions (like temperature, retention time, and digester design) affect actual yields. The figures cited are industry norms under mesophilic digestion (~35°C) with proper feedstock preparation.

Conclusion

In summary, running a small-scale Bio-CNG plant requires on the order of a few tons of organic waste per day, with the exact amount depending on feedstock type and desired gas output. A plant of roughly 100 kg Bio-CNG/day output would need about 4–6 tons/day of cow dung or 2.5–3 tons/day of food waste or press mud as input. Thanks to higher gas yields, food waste and sugar press mud require much less feedstock (per kg of Bio-CNG produced) than dung. We saw that 1 ton of food waste or press mud can yield roughly 80–100 m³ of biogas (about 32–40 kg of Bio-CNG), whereas 1 ton of cow dung yields closer to 40–60 m³ (only 16–24 kg of Bio-CNG). Thus, securing an adequate daily supply of high-yield organic waste is key for efficient Bio-CNG plant operation. A “small” Bio-CNG plant in India, which might handle 5–10 tons of waste per day, could produce on the order of 200–400 kg of Bio-CNG each day – enough to fuel several dozen vehicles or replace a few cylinders of LPG in local use. These figures, drawn from both government data and actual project case studies, provide a realistic guideline for anyone planning a Bio-CNG setup. The key takeaway is that feedstock quantity (and quality) directly determines Bio-CNG output: for reliable fuel production, one must ensure a steady daily inflow of sufficient organic waste. Armed with these benchmarks, prospective Bio-CNG entrepreneurs can better estimate their feedstock needs and design their plants accordingly for sustainable operation.