Thursday 31 March 2011
Saxana's Blog: Self-Directed TFSAs Top Tax Tip
Saxana's Blog: Self-Directed TFSAs: "Editor's Note: from http://www.thefastlaneforum.com/ I heard about this a while back (it's new), and decided to find out more about it. I kn..."
Self-Directed TFSAs Top Tax Tip
Editor's Note: from http://www.thefastlaneforum.com/
I heard about this a while back (it's new), and decided to find out more about it. I know there aren't that many Canadians on this forum, but I'm surprised this has never been brought up.
TFSAs seem like the ultimate savings vehicle (To hold liquid funds).
I'd like to know what people think of this TFSA? Even if you are American, given the choice, would you see yourself investing in a TFSA?
And to Canadians, have you opened your TFSA?
I've compiled a list of the important points regarding the TFSA. If you need more information, you can go to Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) for Individuals
Honestly, it almost seems too good to be true. Pretty insane actuallly. In a few months when I turn 18, I will be opening one.
Who is eligible for TFSA
Any individual (other than a trust) who is at least 18 years old, who is a resident of Canada and has a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) can be a holder of a TFSA.
You cannot contribute to a TFSA until you turn 18. However, when you turn 18, you will be able to contribute up to $5,000 because this amount will not be prorated.
You don't need employment income to accumulate TFSA contribution room!!!
Self-Directed TFSA
A self-directed Tax-Free Savings Account allows you to build and manage your own investment portfolio by buying and selling a variety of different types of investments.
You can contribute certain property to a self-directed TFSA, such as a mortgage, shares, cash, bonds, or a unit of a mutual fund trust. If you are considering this type of TFSA, you may want to consult with your financial institution.
TFSA dollar limit
For 2009, if you are eligible, you can contribute up to $5,000 to your TFSA. After 2009, the annual TFSA dollar limit will be indexed to the inflation rate.
The indexed amount that will be provided will be rounded to the nearest $500 increments. For example, assuming that, in 2009, the inflation rate is 2%, the TFSA dollar limit would remain at $5,000 for 2010 and 2011, but would increase to $5,500 in 2012.
How is a TFSA different from an RRSP?
Some of the differences between a TFSA and an RRSP are:
· Contributions to a TFSA are not tax deductible.
· Withdrawals from a TFSA are not taxable and are added back to next year's contribution room.
· With a TFSA you don't need earned income to accumulate contribution room.
· There is no age limit by which you can no longer contribute to a TFSA.
· You can provide money to your spouse or common-law partner so they can contribute to their TFSA.
You can contribute to a TFSA by transferring money directly from your RRSP. If you contribute to a TFSA using money from your RRSP, we will consider that you have withdrawn the money from your RRSP. By doing this, you will be subject to the applicable tax implications for withdrawing money from an RRSP. For more information consult your TFSA issuer.
TFSA contribution room
The TFSA contribution room is made up of:TFSA contribution room accumulates every year that you are 18 or older and a resident of Canada throughout the year. You do not have to set up a TFSA to earn contribution room.
- your annual TFSA dollar limit;
- any unused TFSA contribution room in the previous year; and
- any withdrawals made from the TFSA in the previous year, excluding qualifying transfers.
Based on information provided by the issuers, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will determine the TFSA contribution room for each eligible individual. Your annual contribution room will be indicated on your notice of assessment.
Any dollar limit from the current year that you do not use will be added to your TFSA contribution room for the next year.
Withdrawals, excluding qualifying transfers, made from your TFSA in the year will be added back to your TFSA contribution room at the beginning of the following year.
You can contribute to a TFSA without filing a tax return. However, the CRA will not provide you with a TFSA room limit as this amount is shown on your notice of assessment when you file a return. You should keep track of your room limit to ensure you do not contribute more than your TFSA room.
Example
(Assuming no indexing) In 2009, Carl is allowed to contribute $5,000. He contributed $2,000 for that year.
2009 TFSA dollar limit: .................$5,000
2009 contributions:.................. − $2,000
unused TFSA contribution room
available for future years ........ .... $3,000
In 2010, Carl does not contribute to his TFSA, but makes a $1,000 eligible withdrawal from his account.
2009 unused TFSA contribution room ......$3,000
2010 TFSA dollar limit........................ + $5,000
2010 unused TFSA contribution room
available for future years.......................$8,000
Carl's unused TFSA contribution room for 2011
2010 unused TFSA contribution room
available from previous year...................$8,000
2010 eligible withdrawal .....................+ $1,000
2011 TFSA dollar limit........................ + $5,000
2011 TFSA contribution room ..............$ 14,000
You cannot contribute more than your TFSA contribution room in a given year, even if you make withdrawals from the account during the year. If you do so, you will be subject to a tax equal to 1% of the highest excess amount in the month, for each month you are in an overcontribution position.
Example
In 2009, Sarah invests $5,000 in a TFSA. Later that year, she withdraws $3,000 for a trip to Europe. Unfortunately, her plans change and she cannot go. Since Sarah has no unused TFSA contribution room left, she will have to wait until the beginning of 2010 to deposit the $3,000 in her TFSA. If she does so earlier, she will have overcontributed to her TFSA and will be charged a monthly tax of 1% on the overcontributed amount.
Making withdrawals
Depending on the type of agreement that you have for your TFSA, you can generally withdraw any amount from the TFSA at any time and for any reason, with no tax consequence!!!
#1 Canada Tax Tip TFSA vs RRSP
Editor's note: from http://network.nationalpost.com/by Jonathan_Chevreau
We'll get to their arguments in a second, and below reproduce the gist of BMO's analysis, but let me start with my own view that Canadians should do BOTH, with only a few exceptions. I was chatting earlier this week with David Chilton, author of The Wealthy Barber [pictured below] and he emphasized more than once that he thinks Canadians just aren't saving enough. We need to save till it hurts and it makes sense to maximize what little tax-sheltered vehicles that Ottawa sees fit to grant us.
Still, BMO does come to the surprising conclusion that "Canadians are saving more today than they have at any point in the last decade." Since its introduction a year ago, the TFSA has made great strides: BMO says more than 3.5 million Canadians opened a TFSA in the first six months of 2009, and you have to think the figure is considerably higher today.
Choose Self-Directed TFSAs if you want to double your money in under a century
What you want is a Self-Directed TFSA, which is analogous to a Self-Directed RRSP. This doesn't mean you HAVE to take on stock market risk: you're still free to hold GICs and interest-bearing investments in a self-directed TFSA but you also gain the possibility of investing in a broader range of securities -- including bond ETFs.
As we noted earlier this week with Franklin Templeton's findings, too many Canadians missed out on the stock market recovery last year -- including all those new TFSA account holders who accepted a paltry return of 1 or 2%, perhaps a tad more, in interest-bearing investments. And money market funds? You don't want to know how many centuries it will take to double your money at their current tiny yields. Yes, centuries, in the plural. More on that in an upcoming column on Saturday.
Herewith a chart produced by the inimitable Tina Di Vito, BMO Financial's director of retirement strategies:
Canada TFSA Tax-Free Savings Account
Editor's note: from http://www.canadiancapitalist.com/
Another great feature of the TFSA is that earnings within the account and withdrawals do not affect income-tested benefits such as the Canada Child Tax Benefit or Guaranteed Income Supplement. While the benefits of a RRSP are debatable for low-income earners, the TFSA will provide the tax deferral benefits of a RRSP without any of the drawbacks.
Find more videos like this on Zoomers
Tuesday 29 March 2011
Dividend Tax Credit in Canada
Editor's Note: from http://www.canadastock.ca/
This tax credit does not apply to dividends received outside of Canada or to those who file taxes elsewhere. It is also non-refundable meaning that if the taxpayer should have a negative balance after doing the final calculation on their tax forms, they will not receive a refund of any kind from the Canadian government.
Dividend tax credit rates vary by the providence and are separate from Federal taxes. Depending on the type of dividend tax credit an individual is eligible for, their total income for that year can also determine how much of a percentage they will pay.
There are two types of dividend tax credit. The most common is called eligible (also known as enhanced) which are paid to shareholders of public corporations. The other is non-eligible (also known as ordinary), which pertains mostly to private or Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs).
Every year companies issue to shareholders an information slip, or simply ‘slip’, which shows dividend information to be filed with taxes. The most common is called the T5 (Statement of Investment Income) but there are other slips are issued for the following tax situations - Trust Income, Employee Sharing Plan or Statement of Partnership Income.
If an investor did not receive a slip to be filed with their taxes, they are still responsible for calculating and reporting this on their taxes as part of their income.
If an investor did not receive a slip to be filed with their taxes, they are still responsible for calculating and reporting this on their taxes as part of their income.
To receive individual tax advice, forms and other related information, contact the Canada Revenue Agency. Their homepage can be found at http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca and available in either English or French.
Non-residents of Canada may contact the International Tax Services Office, which has a toll-free number and will accept collect calls from anywhere in the world. Telephone service hours are extended between mid-February and April 30 every year.
101 Canada Income Tax
Editor's Note: from http://www.taxescanada.ca/
Line 101 Employment income
Don't miss out on the following tax saving ideas:
Office in the home
Automobile expenses
Salaries paid to an assistant (your partner or child perhaps)
Supplies used to earn employment income
Automobile expenses
Salaries paid to an assistant (your partner or child perhaps)
Supplies used to earn employment income
If you already are claiming the above expenses, don't forget to see if you qualify to claim the GST rebate for the GST you paid on deductible expenses.
If you are a waiter don't forget to report your tips!
If you work on the railroad, don't forget to claim your away from home expenses.
If you paid legal fees to collect salaries or wages you may be entitled to a deduction.
Line 104 Other employment income
If you received a taxable disability payment this year, you may be able to deduct all the premiums you paid into the plan since you started contributing to the plan. You may also elect to pay CPP premiums on other employment income not otherwise pensionable.
Line 113 Old Age Security
Don't miss out on the following tax saving ideas:
Claim the Age personal tax credit if you are over 65.
Check your T4AOAS slip to see if any tax has already been withheld.
Claim the Age personal tax credit if you are over 65.
Check your T4AOAS slip to see if any tax has already been withheld.
Line 114 Canada and Quebec Pension Plan
Don't miss out on the following tax saving ideas:
Averaging the tax on lump sum CPP benefits received.
Reporting a death benefit on a separate trust return and pay less tax than on your personal return.
Averaging the tax on lump sum CPP benefits received.
Reporting a death benefit on a separate trust return and pay less tax than on your personal return.
Line 119 Employment insurance benefits
Deduct any amounts repaid to EI during the year!
Line 121 Interest and other investment income
Income splitting with your partner and children.
Investing the child tax benefit payments in your children's names.
Deducting interest expense on money borrowed to purchase investments or invest in a family business.
Deducting the interest paid to purchase Canada Savings Bonds on the payroll plan at work.
Deducting your safe deposit box fees.
Deducting accounting fees paid to calculate the investment income reported on your tax return.
Deducting the interest paid on your margin account.
Review in detail the charges on your brokerage accounts for any possible interest or other fees paid that may be deductible. Look for accrued interest charges on bonds and similar investments purchased.
Investing the child tax benefit payments in your children's names.
Deducting interest expense on money borrowed to purchase investments or invest in a family business.
Deducting the interest paid to purchase Canada Savings Bonds on the payroll plan at work.
Deducting your safe deposit box fees.
Deducting accounting fees paid to calculate the investment income reported on your tax return.
Deducting the interest paid on your margin account.
Review in detail the charges on your brokerage accounts for any possible interest or other fees paid that may be deductible. Look for accrued interest charges on bonds and similar investments purchased.
Line 126 Rental income
Claim all expenses incurred to earn rental income such as taxes, insurance, minor repairs and maintenance, interest expense and accounting fees paid to have the rental statement on your tax return prepared. Do not expense the cost of major repairs or additions to your property. Claim capital cost allowance to reduce your rental profit to zero.
Rental income is based on the accrual method and therefor any expenses incurred but not paid such as property taxes may non the less be claimed in the year to which they apply.
Consider purchasing rental property that will generate a profit in the name of the family member with the lowest net income, or consider income splitting with another family member.
Rental income is based on the accrual method and therefor any expenses incurred but not paid such as property taxes may non the less be claimed in the year to which they apply.
Consider purchasing rental property that will generate a profit in the name of the family member with the lowest net income, or consider income splitting with another family member.
Line 127 Taxable capital gains
Reduce any capital gains by any capital losses incurred in the year.
If you still have a capital gain at this point, claim any capital losses from previous years not otherwise deducted.
If you have an overall capital loss for the year, consider deducting these losses from any capital gains reported on your prior 3 year's income tax return or carry them forward until used..
If you still have a capital gain at this point, claim any capital losses from previous years not otherwise deducted.
If you have an overall capital loss for the year, consider deducting these losses from any capital gains reported on your prior 3 year's income tax return or carry them forward until used..
Line 128 Support payments received
Some child support payments are not taxable!!!
There are joint elections that can be filed to make certain support payments not taxable.
Deduct any legal fees paid to enforce the payment of taxable support payments.
If you are single or unmarried you may be entitled to claim the equivalent to married exemption for on of your children.
There are joint elections that can be filed to make certain support payments not taxable.
Deduct any legal fees paid to enforce the payment of taxable support payments.
If you are single or unmarried you may be entitled to claim the equivalent to married exemption for on of your children.
Line 129 Registered retirement savings plans
Cash in RRSP's in amounts less that $5,000 at any one time to reduce the withholding tax to 10%. Of course the balance of the tax has to be paid when the tax return for the year is filed. Spousal RRSP's are a means of shifting the tax burden from one spouse to the other.
Line 130 Other income
The first $3,000 of certain scholarships and bursaries are not taxable.
You may be able to deduct expenses against a research grant you received this year.
You may be able to deduct expenses against a research grant you received this year.
Line 135 to 143 Self employed income
Self employed individuals are entitled to claim a host of expenses as long as they are reasonable and incurred to earn income. The most common are goods purchased for resale, office supplies, consulting fees, salaries and benefits, travel, insurance, equipment rental, bank charges and repairs and maintenance.
Often missed are the entertainment expense incurred to earn income such as meals, coffee, drinks in the bar and gifts.
If you home is your main place of employment you may also be entitled to claim a portion of your occupancy expenses such as rent, mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance, utilities, telephone and minor repairs and maintenance. The portion you claim varies based upon the amount of space and time the space is used for business.
If you use your car, you my be entitled to claim a reasonable portion of gas, repairs, lease, insurance, driver's license, interest on car loans, motor league, parking, washes and 30% per year on the cost of the vehicle used.
If you partner or other family members participate in the business a reasonable salary paid may be deducted.
This may be a great tax savings strategy depending upon your circumstances. You might also consider making another family member the owner or partner in the business in order to split income.
Its also important to know when its time to incorporate and what family members to include as shareholders. There are many tax saving strategies associated with incorporating a family business and its important to get proper professional advice.
Sometimes its possible to combine a family vacation with a business trip and expense a portion of the expenses.
Often missed are the entertainment expense incurred to earn income such as meals, coffee, drinks in the bar and gifts.
If you home is your main place of employment you may also be entitled to claim a portion of your occupancy expenses such as rent, mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance, utilities, telephone and minor repairs and maintenance. The portion you claim varies based upon the amount of space and time the space is used for business.
If you use your car, you my be entitled to claim a reasonable portion of gas, repairs, lease, insurance, driver's license, interest on car loans, motor league, parking, washes and 30% per year on the cost of the vehicle used.
If you partner or other family members participate in the business a reasonable salary paid may be deducted.
This may be a great tax savings strategy depending upon your circumstances. You might also consider making another family member the owner or partner in the business in order to split income.
Its also important to know when its time to incorporate and what family members to include as shareholders. There are many tax saving strategies associated with incorporating a family business and its important to get proper professional advice.
Sometimes its possible to combine a family vacation with a business trip and expense a portion of the expenses.
Line 208 Registered retirement savings plan
Consider making your RRSP contributions now, but save claiming the deduction for when you are in a higher tax bracket.
Consider making spousal RRSP contributions.
Make an excess contribution of $2,000, but remember you may never have more than a $2,000 excess contribution at any time.
Make your RRSP contribution early in the year to take advantage of the tax free accumulation of earnings.
File income tax returns no matter how low your earned income is or how young you are to start accumulating contribution room.
If you are short on cash, consider transferring certain existing asset to your RRSP in order to obtain an RRSP deduction.
If your income will be nil or significantly less next year, buy an RRSP before March 1st., and cash it in one day later.
The contribution will be deductible this year at your marginal tax rate and taxable next year at your new marginal tax rate
Consider making spousal RRSP contributions.
Make an excess contribution of $2,000, but remember you may never have more than a $2,000 excess contribution at any time.
Make your RRSP contribution early in the year to take advantage of the tax free accumulation of earnings.
File income tax returns no matter how low your earned income is or how young you are to start accumulating contribution room.
If you are short on cash, consider transferring certain existing asset to your RRSP in order to obtain an RRSP deduction.
If your income will be nil or significantly less next year, buy an RRSP before March 1st., and cash it in one day later.
The contribution will be deductible this year at your marginal tax rate and taxable next year at your new marginal tax rate
Saturday 26 March 2011
10 Easy Steps to a Great Garden
Editor's note: from http://www.hgtv.ca/by : Haig SeferianBehind every beautiful garden is a great garden design outline. Who better to give a quick lesson on how to begin planning your own garden masterpiece, than garden design expert and one of the popular hosts on Garden Architecture, Haig Seferian? Here are his quick and easy tips to ensure that you can plan a beautiful garden and keep it looking fabulous all year long.
· Don't forget the water feature. Be sure to locate a water feature in an area so that it can be seen from both inside and outside of your home throughout the year.
Canadian Dividend Tax Credit
The dividend tax credit is a credit the Canadian government issues to its taxpayers. This type of tax credit is very desirable, as it helps to prevent double taxation. Here are the basics of the dividend tax credit.Editor's Note : from http://www.finweb.com/
The dividend tax credit in Canada is a credit received in conjunction with receiving corporate dividends. Whenever an individual investor receives dividends from a Candian corporationa, she will also receive a tax credit in the same amount. When she files her taxes at the end of the year, she will be able to apply this credit to offset the gains that she received from the dividend. In this way, individual investors can lower the amount of money that they have to pay in taxes on dividends. The government will not be taxing the same money twice.
Without the dividend tax credit, double taxation would occur. This is a scenario that is played out in the United States on a regular basis. To understand double taxation, you have to look at how corporations are taxed. Whenever a company brings in revenue, it is going to be taxed on the profit at the corporate level. When it disperses some of the profit to investors, it is issuing what are called dividends. When investors receive dividends, they are also taxed on the amount that they receive. In the United States, dividends are taxed at regular marginal tax rates instead of at the capital gains tax rate. This means that the money that was generated by the company is effectively being taxed two times by the government. With Canada's dividend tax credit, you can completely avoid this scenario. The money is going to be taxed one time, and the investor gets the major benefit of this.
Non-Refundable
This tax credit is considered non-refundable. This means that if you offset your taxes so much that you have a negative balance, the government is not going to write you a check for the difference. You would simply not owe any taxes for that particular year.
With the new dividend tax credit law implemented in Canada, effective tax rates on dividends have been lowered significantly. The amount of money that you have to pay the government in dividend taxes will vary depending on your income and which bracket you are in. The smallest effective tax rate on dividends is going to be 3 percent. The largest effective tax rate on dividends is 30 percent.
In Canada, there are two different types of dividends that you could potentially receive. You could get eligible or non-eligible dividends. Eligible dividends come from Canadian public corporations, while non-eligible dividends come from Canadian-controlled private corporations. Depending on which type of dividend you are receiving, you are going to get a different type of dividend tax credit.
Bohemian Absinth
Editor's note: from http://www.associatedcontent.com/by: Scott Kessman
Many people often confuse absinthe with Bohemian absinth, which utilizes a somewhat different recipe and is absent of some of the ingredients that comprise traditional absinthe. Bohemian absinth can often be recognized
as such by the absence of the 'e' found at the end of traditional 'absinthe'.
Bohemian absinthe is produced mainly in the Czech Republic, and the most noticeable difference from regular absence is the flavor. The Czech recipes for bohemian absinthe do not normally contain anise, which gives absinthe its distinctive black licorice flavor. As Bohemian absinthe started to become more popular, more countries and companies began producing their own blends in order to capitalize on the absinthe craze. Many consumers are unaware of the differences between the two drinks.
Besides lacking anise, bohemian absinthe typically does not contain fennel and other herbs also found in traditional absinthe. Additionally, there is usually no distillation process; rather, high-proof alcohol is blended with a mixture of herbs or herbal oils. The drink does contain wormwood, an essential component of traditional absinthe, and is also sometimes referred to as wormwood bitters.
Many are attracted to absinthe after hearing stories of hallucinogenic properties or other strange effects that result from the consumption of the ingredient thujone. This was originally the reason for the ban of absinthe in several countries, though the United States and others have since relaxed their rules, allowing absinthe and Bohemian absinthe that contain thujone in a moderated quantity. However, some Czech Republic brands and others produced in other countries have advertised high levels of thujone, in order increase the allure of the drink.
Because the recipe for bohemian absinth is also absent of some of the ingredients in absinthe that render the traditional form of the drink illegal in some parts of the world, bohemian absinthe is now gaining in popularity as a suitable alternative. In fact, several brands of bohemian absinthe can now often be found easily in liquor stores and served in bars.
Saxana's Blog: The world’s best booze
Saxana's Blog: The world’s best booze: "http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mexico/travel-tips-and-articles/761141. Sake, Japan Called nihonshu in Japan, sake is a rice wine with an alcoho..."
The world’s best booze
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mexico/travel-tips-and-articles/76114
1. Sake, Japan
Called nihonshu in Japan, sake is a rice wine with an alcohol content of 15% to 17%. Prior to the first sake brewery being established at Kyoto’s Imperial Palace in the 7th century, sake was consumed in a form that resembled porridge, with the rice primed for production by the chew-in-the-mouth method. There are more than 1,600 brewers of this almost transparent alcohol, with varieties ranging from sweet to crisp and fragrantly fruity. Serving sake slightly chilled generally brings out its best qualities.
2. Guinness, Ireland
It takes 119.5 seconds to pour the perfect pint. The famous ‘surge and settle’ should be executed in a two-part pour, served at 6°C (43°F). But the malt-and-caramel flavoured dark body (actually ruby coloured, rather than black) with a creamy head is worth getting right. Based in Dublin, the Guinness brew is a malt-heavy porter (dark, sweet ale brewed from black malt) – so called because it was the favourite beverage of porters.3. Beer, Belgium
Someone once said: ‘beauty is in the eye of the beer holder’; if that’s the case, then Belgium is exquisite. It produces around 450 varieties of beer, with a specifically shaped glass for each, and some world renowned brews. The Trappist dark ales were first brewed by monks who fled France after the Napoleonic period. The best-known of them is Chimay – served in a goblet-like glass. Hoegaarden is a fine example of Belgian Witbier (white), distinguished by its pale golden colour, extra fizz, sediment and hint of herbs, such as coriander.4. Absinthe, Czech Republic
For instant bohemian, just add water. But ensure you add it a drop at a time through a sugar cube on a spoon placed over the glass of absinthe. This turns the emerald green 140-proof liquor a cloudy opalescent colour. Bohemians also burn sugar into their absinthe to mellow its bitter anise flavour. Made from wormwood, fennel and anise, the ‘Green Fairy’ has opium-like effects – the inspiration for many artists such as Van Gogh, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde. Banned in European countries during the early 19th century, governments now limit the level of thujone (an ingredient in absinthe likened to cannabis’ THC).5. Burgundy wine, France
The sought-after wines of Burgundy (Bourgogne) possess particular qualities attributable to the region’s 400 soil types. White Burgundy is essentially a chardonnay, with an added depth and delicacy courtesy of the limestone soil in which it’s grown, while red Burgundy is a gutsy pinot noir. To be classified ‘Burgundy’, the wine must be produced within the recognised region of the AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) in the Côte d’Or. The region’s vineyards were originally entirely owned by the Church, then divided up among workers according to Napoleonic Inheritance Laws.6. Caipiroska, Brazil
This simple three-step cocktail is composed of vodka, limes and sugar. In a short glass, muddle fresh limes with two teaspoons of sugar, add loads of crushed ice and then pour a good quality vodka over the lot. This is of course the vodka version of the popularly known caipirinha, made with cachaça. Though native to Brazil, you should be able to walk into many bars around the world and ask for one by name.7. Becherovka, Czech Republic
Only two people know the secret recipe to produce this all-natural liquor (36% alcohol volume). The ‘chosen few’ are the only ones allowed into the ‘Drogikamr‘ where many herbs and spices are combined, placed in a sack, then steeped in alcohol for a week. The mixture is then combined with water and sugar and placed in oak barrels for two months. No-one can agree on a definitive flavour, but it’s traditionally served chilled, as a digestive.8. George Dickel Tennessee Whisky, USA
Back in 1870, old George Dickel reckoned his whiskey resembled a scotch whisky, and so adopted that spelling (dropping the ‘e’) for his special brand. He also discovered that whisky made in winter was smoother, so added a lengthy cooling step to the production process to distinguish his drop. He also refined a special combination of mashed corn, barley and rye to use as base ingredients. Double-distilled and aged in charred white-oak barrels for up to 12 years, Dickel Tennessee Whisky (40% to 45% alcohol volume) is a very fine drop.9. Tequila, Mexico
Made from the hearts of blue agave plants grown in Mexico’s Tequila region, tequila measures between 70 and 110 proof. This classic spirit is hit-the-wall stuff. Usually clear and transparent, other varieties include those that are aged or rested in oak casks. It’s best served at room temperature and sipped slowly. Only gringos do the salt-and-lemon slammer, although some folk add lemon to their glass. All tequilas are mescals (made from agave plants), but only true tequila is 100% blue agave.10. Vodka, Poland
As one of the countries that saw the genesis of vodka, Poland produces dozens of varieties. Made from starch (usually rye or potato) and alcohol, pure vodka is clear, filtered and refined. This versatile spirit, in its purest form, is considered neutral, and has little or no hangover effects – dependent on your consumption levels of course. Large-scale production of vodka began in Poland in the 16th century, becoming a major export from the 17th century. Probably Poland’s best-known vodka, Zubrovka (40% alcohol volume), is infused with bison grass.How To Plant Herb Garden
Editor's Note: from http://www.indoorgrowing.org/
by : SONNY CHENOWETH
Growing herbs is rapidly gaining favor with gardeners today. Both the experienced and beginners are discovering the rewards of growing fresh herbs. They are joining an age old pursuit of seeking to enjoy the delightful products offered by herbs. This pursuit has touched all societies and ages. These how to plant herb garden tips will help the beginning herb gardener get off to a good start on the path to fresh herb enjoyment.
Here are a few suggestions with comments for the new gardener's considersation.
Armed with this information you are now ready to start your adventure in herb gardening so go for the gusto.
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