22 Celebrities who love tea (We're sure there's more)

1. Lady Gaga
2. Peter Seller
3. Michael Caine
4. Penelope Cruz
5. Al Pacino
6. Dean Martin
7. Helena Bonham Carter
8. Meryl Streep
9. Hugh Laurie
10. Kevin Spacey
11. Johnny Depp
12. David Beckham
13. Jimi Hendrix
14. James Dean
15. Taylor Swift
16. C.S Lewis
17. Mick Jagger
18. Pamela Anderson
19. Ozzy Osbourne
20. Daniel Craig
21. Pierce Brosnan
22. Sean Connery

Source: zesttea.com

At Dinasou.com, where you can Earn, Shop & Save, we have a varied selection of teas. Check out the whole selection here.

5 Ways to Enjoy Soy Sauce

Of course, here in Malaysia, soy sauce is better known as 'kicap' ... We at Dinasou.com wanna share you at least 5 ways in which you can enjoy soy sauce as more than just a condiment ... We've found this wonderful site called taste.com.au, which lists down 15 ways to enjoy soy sauce, but we'll just focus on 5 of those ways.

1. To enhance the flavours of foods typically eaten as dessert.

    Here in Malaysia, there are people in some parts of the country that will enjoy a sprinkle or a good dash of 'kicap' with 'pisang goreng', or banana fritters. But do you know that soy sauce can be added to ice cream? If you buy a tub of vanilla ice cream, and you want to bring out the butterscotch flavour in it, soften the ice cream first, meaning don't put it in the freezer for a while. If it's a one-litre tub, pour one teaspoon of soy sauce in the softened ice cream and mix well. Put the tub back in the freezer to harden the ice cream. Ice cream is only nice to eat when it's firm. 

Another dessert which you can enhance the flavour of with soy sauce is chocolate brownie. Before baking, add two teaspoons of soy sauce so that the brownie's flavours will be intensified.

You can do the same to other desserts such as blueberry muffins and cakes. Add two to three teaspoons of soy sauce to the mixture before baking and voila! The sweetness of the desserts will be enhanced.

2. To add flavour to meat

    This is not a secret as some of us may actually use soy sauce to boost the richness of meat. But, there's a way of doing it that all of you may not know, such as mixing soy sauce with marmalade before basting chicken or lamb. Roast the meat when its properly basted with the marmalade & soy sauce mixture to give a citrus boost to your chicken or lamb. 

If you like making burger patties from scratch, don't forget to a teaspoon of soy sauce for every 100g of mince beef. This will definitely improve the taste of of your burgers. 

If you want a rich taste and a deep mahogany colour to your ribs (not your ribs, but those taken from a cow, like, duh!) or a beef roast, use soy sauce as a baste. Before or during roasting chicken, make sure to brush soy sauce over it to make it evenly brown and for better flavour. But we're sure you know this already, or else how can we enjoy the Malaysian quintessential dish, 'nasi ayam'?

3. If you want to add depth of flavour to your stews, soups and casseroles, use soy sauce in stock instead of salt. 

4. There are many ways to enjoy pumpkin and pineapple, either in savoury or sweet dishes. But how about just enjoying pumpkin and pineapple on their own with soy sauce? Mix soy sauce with honey and drizzle it over pineapple. Chargrill until golden and just warm. Mix soy sauce and sweet chilli sauce and glaze the mixture over wedges of pumpkin. Pop the wedges in the oven and bake until golden. 

5. This last one may not be a secret at all to most Malaysians. Then again, who knows? We all enjoy our curry gravy, right? But what about brown gravy? The one which you eat with meatballs, for example. For every quarter of water, add a quarter of soy sauce before making your gravy. It will sure add a kick to that brown gravy of yours. 

Here at Dinasou.com, where you can Shop, Save & Earn, we have a variety of soy sauces and in varying volumes. Check them out below. Alternatively, you can go to our website and key in 'soy sauce' in the search box. You'll get to see the whole shebang.

Kewpie Sesame Soy Sauce. 1L for RM31.10
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MCM Prime Light Soy Sauce. 5.5kg for RM22.50
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Lee Kum Kee Seasoned Soy Sauce for Seafood. 410ml for RM8.70
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Brand Street: House of Planners

Need a diary organiser that has the name or logo of your company? Well, look no further than House of Planners on Brand Street.

For those looking to offer corporate gifts, either that of your own company or that of your clients, Singaporean brand House of Planners is the perfect solution. It offers a range of diary organisers in different paper sizes that can be customized to include a company's logo or insignia. It makes for an elegant personalised gift to your clients, if you own a business. Some of House of Planner's diary organisers come with a calculator that runs on long-life battery. Need to crunch some numbers by your employees in the accounts department? Not to worry, they can do it on the go with House of Planner's diary organiser with calculator.

With prices ranging from RM RM49 to RM188, it gives you a wide choice as to which is the perfect corporate gift you want to customize. Let's Shop, Earn & Save with Dinasou.com.

Brand Street: Yakuno Black Soybean Barley Green Grass Powder Juice

Yakuno Black Soybean Barley Green Grass Powder Juice
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Yakuno is a Japanese brand and the black soybeans used in its product are harvested from only one region in Japan, which is the Tamba region of Kyoto in western Japan. 

What's so great about Yakuno Black Soybean Barley Green Grass Powder Juice, you may ask. Well, black soybean on its own has the following nutrients:

1) Linoleic Acid

2) Lecithin

3) Saponin

4) Isoflavone

5) Anthocyanin

6) Cyanidin

We suggest that you click the link above to know more about the benefits of these nutrients. Black soybeans combined with barley grass gives extra boost to your health. As outlined on organicfacts.net, the nutritional value of barley grass cannot be overestimated. It's loaded with the following vitamins:

- Vitamin A

- Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

- Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

- Vitamin B6

- Folate (Also a Vitamin B)

- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

- Vitamin E (Alphatocopherol)

- Vitamin K (phylloquinone)

In addition to all these vitamins, barley grass also contains plenty of electrolytes, such as magnesium, potassium and phosphorus. On top of all these, the multi-nutrient rich super food has essential minerals that include calcium, iron and zinc. Beneficial enzymes, essential amino acids and strong anti-oxidants combine to make barley grass one of the best super food out there. It's no wonder then that with all these nutrients, barley grass can offer the following health benefits:

1) Effective in treating ulcerative colitis

2) Lowers the risk of cancer

3) Improves the body's immune system

4) Strengthens and detoxifies the liver

5) It can help in combating addiction to nicotine, alcohol and drugs

6) Helps to shield skin against harmful UV rays

7) Cuts down on excessive acidity in the body

8) Halts signs of aging

At RM120, Yakuno Black Soybean Barley Green Grass Powder Juice, with 30 sachets in one pack, is great value, considering its normal price is RM156. That's value for money, don't you think, with all the added goodness that this super drink can provide you. At Dinasou.com, we want to give you the best products at value prices. Let's Shop, Earn & Save!

Wanna get whipped? ;) ... Here's the lowdown on Whipped Cream

1. It's also known as Chantilly cream or crème Chantilly

2. Whipped cream became popular as far back as the 16th century in Europe. Back then , it was called 'milk snow', or neve di latte in Italian and neige de lait in French. 

3. From the 16th century until the end of the 19th century, whipped cream was whipped using using willow or rush branches, resulting in a process that took more than one hour. 

4. Imitation whipped cream does not have any dairy ingredients and is often sold under the name whipped topping or squirty cream.

5. Guess what?! Whipped cream is a popular topping for most desserts.

The last info is a shocker, isn't it? What's also shocking that Dinasou.com only sells one brand on whipped cream. Hey, but at least we sell whipped cream.

All facts taken from Wikipedia.

Emborg Whipped Cream
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Are soft drinks really bad for you?

Now, a lot of debate has taken place over this subject matter. We want to provide as much as an objective viewpoint on the matter as possible. After all, we're kind of on the side of the soft drink manufacturers, since we sell soft drinks on our online store. At the same time, we want our Dina-fans to have all the facts so that they can make well-informed decisions on whether or not to consume soft drinks or cut them out completely out of their diet. 

The debate, according to what we have read on webmd.com, has been ongoing, with no real conclusion as to whether soft drinks do more harm than good to your health. 

On the side of the team against soft drinks, Michael Jacobson, the executive director of the non-profit Center for Science in the Public Interest, sugary soft drinks are the biggest single source of empty calories in the American diet. He adds that in the typical American diet, the percentage of calories that come from refined sugar accounted for 16% of all calorie intake, and that 50% of that 16% come from beverages with added sugar. 

On the side of the team for soft drinks, the American Beverage Association says that "the vast majority of studies supporting a soda-obesity link were done by researchers with strong anti-soda biases and that many of these biased or poorly done studies are covered by news media, while studies showing no link don't get the same attention."

Somewhere in the middle, Rachel K. Johnson, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association (AHA), served as a panel member of the AHA in 2009 in which the panel recommended that added sugars be limited in beverages, including soft drinks. Johnson believes that there has been no misrepresentation or over-reporting on the science that connects soft drinks to obesity and other health issues. Johnson concludes that by limiting added sugars in drinks is an important step in the right direction. 

So, what do you think? As we like to believe, moderation is key to most things, especially when it comes to food. But then, it also boils down to common sense. If you don't exercise, lead a sedentary lifestyle and have a sweet tooth, maybe you should consider not having one too many soft drinks. Otherwise, if you lead a very active lifestyle and want to treat yourself to the occasional soft drink or ice-blended drink, then please go ahead and do so. Only you have the power to choose what is good for your body and health.

Anyway, we at Dinasou.com wouldn't be doing our job if you don't inform you that we sell a variety of soft drinks. Check out some of them below.

Fanta Grape 1.25L

Coca Cola Zero 1.25L

100 Plus 1.5L

Dinasou 1st Anniversary ... A look down Memory Lane

Oh my goodness! Dinasou.com has turned ONE! Exactly 1 year ago today, we were launched. Since then, it's been a pretty good ride. Our list of Brand Street merchants has gotten longer, and we have managed to get by with our grocery sales. If you have been checking our News Content on our website, you will see that we've done a lot of sales and promotions. 

But Dinasou.com is more than just about sales and promotions. We just don't aim to be one of those run-of-the-mill e-commerce start-ups. Our goal is just not to promise our customers to SHOP, EARN & SAVE at Dinasou.com. We also aim to provide e-digital marketing services to prospective merchants. They not only sell their products on out platform, but also get a host of e-digital services provided by us to boost their online presence.

Anyway, here are some of the pictures taken one year ago. Walking down on Memory Lane *Dinasou Mascot has a wistful look* ...

Dinasou Online Supermart's founder, Mr Lee Kong How, surrounded by some of the company's partners as well as staff getting ready to cut the ribbon on the balloons to mark the launch of Dinasou.com

Mr Lee Kong How giving a speech to partners and prospective merchants prior to the launching event

The unveiling of our Mascot. If you still don't get it, shame on you :P Dinasou.com is a wordplay of Dinosaur 

Mr Lee Kong How with his mentor, Dr Joseph Wong

And the balloons float away into the bright blue sky, hopefully marking a prosperous journey for Dinasou.com ...

Essence of Snakehead Fish: The Benefits

According to a paper published in the International Journal of Science and Technology in June 2012, it was shown that in Indonesia, patients with hypoalbuminaemia, a condition where blood levels of albumin are abnormally low, accounted for 45%-50% of post-operative patients. The administration of albumin in the form of Human Serum Albumin proved to be expensive. These patients were then administered with albumin derived from snakehead fish extract (channa striata), which was less expensive compared to  HSA, and exhibited significant levels of albumin to treat hypoalbuminaemia. The administration of albumin derived from snakehead fish extract also accelerated their post-operative wound healing. The paper also states that extract of snakehead fish contains an abundance of albumin accounting for 64.61% of protein. Patients with hypoalbuminaemia, post-surgical patients and growing children would benefit greatly from consuming snakehead fish extract due to its high content of albumin.

Some amino acids and fatty acids in snakehead fish extract play an important part in the synthesis of collagen fibers, which aid the wound healing process. Thus, the administration of snakehead fish extract for post-surgical patients expedites the process of tissue formation. Among others, albumin also functions as an anti-oxidant, which helps slow down the aging process.

The zinc content in snakehead fish extract is relatively higher compared to other sources, such as tuna, chicken egg and duck egg. The content of zinc in snakehead fish extract is 3.34mg/100gm. Comparatively, tuna only contains 1.6mg of zinc per 100gm, chicken egg 1.5gm of zinc per 100gm and duck egg 1.8gm of zinc per 100gm. Zinc plays an important role in protein synthesis and multiplication of cells, thus it accelerates the healing process of surgical wounds.

Combined with ginseng, ginger and sea cucumber, each with their own set of health properties, snakehead fish extract can be a potent source of traditional medicine.To find out more about its health benefits, read up on the following products under the brand Maspati, which are sold on Brand Street.

Essence of Snakehead Fish
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Essence of Snakehead Fish with Sea Cucumber
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Essence of Snakehead Fish with Ginseng
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Essence of Snakehead Fish with Ginger
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Variety of Organic Rice, Beans & Whatnot ... Hmmm, which one is delicious?

Nowadays, people are growing more and more health conscious. Take this point, for example. Sourced from huffingtonpost.com, an article written in USA Today on 20 January 2015 pointed out to a survey of more than 30,000 consumers in more than 60 countries. The survey was on how concerned these consumers be on the need to eat healthily. It found that more younger consumers, specifically those born under Generation Z (before age 20), are far more concerned about everything with regards to a healthy diet. This includes food ingredients, genetically modified food to organic foods. According to the USA Today article, sales of organic products have enjoyed an increase of 24% over the past year, while sales of natural grown products saw a hike of 28% over the past year.

Here at Dinasou.com, we offer you a variety of organic products under the brand Lohas. If you Wikipediaed LOHAS, you will find that its an acronym of Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability. While the brand Lohas makes no claim to the definition found on Wikipedia, it certainly strives to attain such a lifestyle of healthy eating with organically grown foods. Check out the link to see the variety of Lohas products at http://bit.ly/1pvmMBd. If you can't get to the page via the link given, simply go to our website and type "Lohas" in our search box. Voila! You will see variety of Lohas products. 

Brand Street: Yanda

Dinasou.com wants you to Shop, Earn & Save while shopping on the site. We cannot emphasize this anymore as every week or so, new products come online on Brand Street. One such brand is Yanda, whose products include Premium Bird's Nest & Essence of Chicken with Cordyceps.

According to Yanda, its Premium Bird's Nest is harvested from natural mineral-rich mountain caves, among others. The normal price for Yanda's Premium Bird's Nest is RM205, but on Brand Street, it has been slashed to RM158, giving you a savings of 23%.

Then, there's the Essence of Chicken with Cordyceps. Among its benefits is that it helps you to recover from fatigue and illness. Priced at RM60, one box of this product, which contains 6 bottles, is now 50% off at RM30. To know more, check out the individual products.

Yanda Premium Bird's Nest
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Yanda Essence of Chicken with Cordyceps
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