Wake up and smell the coffee

THAILAND’S WELL-KNOWN coffee brand Khao Shong is longer waking up its customers with a shot or two of java juice but it’s taking its call to rise and shine into the bathroom too with a range of products that guarantee an aromatic start to the day.

Sold under the brand Coffee Tree with its very own shop at Siam Discovery, the skin care line and spa goodies offer the same invigorating scents of coffee as freshly brewed beans. You can build up an invigorating lather with coffee, milk and cinnamon with cappuccino liquid soap or pamper yourself with the foam from the coffee whisky soap bar. The richest in terms of coffee concentration, the espresso scrub exfoliates while the chocolate latte cream moisturises and pampers.

“The new line was dreamed up by second-generation owner Dr Ariya Chiralertpong who wants to extend the firm’s traditional instant, roasted and ground coffee products. She studied food science and technology so the skin care and home spa products are in her area of expertise. Khao Shong has the full range of coffee ingredients so natural coffee-infused products that utilise the antioxidant property of coffee oil and finely ground coffee have tremendous potential for a new business venture,” says the brand manager Suebsakun Boonakarin. “The products are all hand-made so the line is eco-friendly too.”

Already proving popular, the skin pampering soaps contain coffee oil, cold-pressed coconut oil and milk protein and come in a range of aromas from cappuccino, latte, mocha, espresso, coffee whisky, black coffee and even o-liang or Thai-style black coffee.

“Caffeine is one of nature’s best antioxidants. It pulls toxins away from the body and gives the skin a soft smooth feel. Rich in milk protein, the cappuccino soap with its hints of cinnamon can help nourish and moisturise your skin while the natural antiseptic property of alcohol in coffee whisky soap helps kill microbes, reduce undesired odours as well as eliminate excess oil on skin. The mocha soap contains real cocoa, which is effective in fighting free radicals,” says Suebsakun.

To celebrate the festive season, Coffee Tree is offering a limited-edited collection of fancy soaps infused with jasmine that look just like a slice of butter cake. Another soap resembles popular coffee-flavoured Italian dessert tiramisu and comes with the same decadent aroma.

To get rid of the dead cells, try the ready-to-use espresso scrub that is rich in coffee concentrate. You can also customise your own with a powder scrub of original black coffee that can be mixed with yoghurt, honey or whatever else takes your fancy.

The hair gets a look in too with espresso shampoo while the skin gets an aromatic treat with a latte body lotion that is rich in real coffee extract and milk protein. Conditioner and hand cream will be launched soon.

It is claimed that coffee has the same pH level as human body, which makes it a great cleanser for hair and skin.

The shop also offers aromatic oil diffuser machines releasing purifying essential oils with your choice of latte or mocha to infuse your home with a coffee aroma. Coffee Tree has another branch at Central Festival Chiang Mai and you can shop online at www.CoffeeTreeForSkin.com.

 

 

FULL OF BEANS

>>Coffee Tree is on the first floor of Siam Discovery. It is open daily from 10 to 10. Call (02) 175 1842 or search for “coffee tree for skin” on Facebook.