Hello there!
Now that you've got the kit in your hand, you have opened the doors to a lifetime of nICE drinks. We believe that making the nICEmugs is a like an art. But it's not a difficult one. In a few tries, you'll be making them so well that you'll be writing to us with tips and tricks of your own. Think of it like this - when you start learning to drive a car, the very first few attempts are very strenuous. You are continuously and completely focused on the vehicle, the traffic and everything. But after a few hundred kilometres, you can drive and have chips at the same time.
After a few mugs (not a few hundred) you will start making mugs like snapping your fingers. There are just a few things to keep in mind. Hence, this email.
So let's get you started with what you've received. The big piece of transparent plastic that looks like an enlarged can of cola is the mould. The stronger, conical piece that has lips with which to hold the mould snugly is called the lid. The two smaller cup-like things operate together and are called as the holders. The smaller of them is called the "hole-der" (😃) and the other is called the "boulder." (😃 😃)
If it's confusing, just look at the image below.
Today's homework - memorise the names of the parts. There will be a quiz tomorrow and the winner gets a prize. No, we're kidding. There's no prize. (😜)
OK, a bit more seriousness. So we basically know that we make the mugs by pouring water and freezing them. And we also know that it is not exactly that straightforward. There's actually a nICE (pun intended) level of water that you need to fill in so that the shape is stunning. Too less will make the mug smaller and too much will make the mug bulge at its bottom. Why's that? Because water expands as it freezes, and it can't come over and out of the cup, so it tries to go down and bulges. A possible question for tomorrow's quiz. Here's a good measure of the appropriate amount of water:
1. Fill the mould with about half with water.
2. Place the lid and ensure that the lips lock at the sides of the mould.
3. Pour a little water through the gaps until the lid tries to leave the mould because of buoyancy. Another question for tomorrow.
4. If the lid actually separates, discard a spoonful (or two) of water and try again. Remember that the lid must fit the mould snugly.
Right. Good job so far. Now gently place the mould (with the lid. And the water.) in your freezer and keep a peacock's feather in the middle of the thickest book in your home for good luck. Nope, kidding again. But you must ensure that you try not to disturb the mould once it is placed in the freezer. Yeah, we get it. The curiosity will be too much and we will want to check on the progress and see if it is freezing or not... if there's something wrong inside the freezer like the packet of milk attacking the mould or not... if the temperature is set alright or not... if Musk's rockets have come back safely or not... But remember, freeze it and forget it. The best way is to keep it in the freezer just before you go to bed so that it's not disturbed until you are. But why shouldn't it be touched? Good question. The minor movements cause some bubbles to form and they are trapped when the ice is formed. So later on, when you are drinking from your mug, these bubbles melt before the actual mug and cause a crack and there will be a tsunami of the drink in your holder. In the interest of poor hole-der and boulder, please. Don't disturb.
That's about it. We're almost close to ending now. So hang on.
A few tips and tricks that might help: the mugs must be clear. The clearer the better. It connects back to the bubble theory. (Psst... last question for tomorrow's quiz!) If it is not clear, it is probably a bubble. But it's not fatal or dangerous always, so not a major headache. Just that... the clearer the better. If it's crystal clear, take a hundred photos and forget drinking. You are in the top 1% of the nICEmug artists in the world.
To encourage the clarity, you can try boiling and cooling the water before you freeze it. That banishes all the ghosts and goblins in the water. Or rather, it helps banish the dissolved gases that might become bubbles. And you can use filtered water. The best is that you filter the water, boil it and cool it and freeze it. You must be really dedicated to this... or quite jobless. Hey, we're not judging! We're the same. How else do you think we manage to do this while keeping our day jobs?
A last piece of advice: for the very first mug, try not to have a drink that's risky and/or expensive. Maybe just try it with water, because if it leaks and/or cracks, you'll probably stain yourself and curse us. We're not very worried about the former but we're definitely very worried about the latter.
That's it! You have now graduated in the theory classes of the art of making the nICEmug. Go get some mugs. Click photos before, during and after. FB it, Insta it, YouTube it, tweet it, frame it, post it, this it and that it. Spread the word, help us. If this is completely idiotic, tell us. If it is hilarious, tell us. If it's anything in between, tell us. We'll pass on your feedback to Shakespeare.
If you are happy or not, we'd love to know. Although we'd really not want it, in case you are very, very dissatisfied, send us the kit back and we'll refund your money. No questions asked. Except maybe a few. Like what's the problem and why don't you try this again? And maybe a few follow-up ones.
Cheers.
For more info:
Now that you've got the kit in your hand, you have opened the doors to a lifetime of nICE drinks. We believe that making the nICEmugs is a like an art. But it's not a difficult one. In a few tries, you'll be making them so well that you'll be writing to us with tips and tricks of your own. Think of it like this - when you start learning to drive a car, the very first few attempts are very strenuous. You are continuously and completely focused on the vehicle, the traffic and everything. But after a few hundred kilometres, you can drive and have chips at the same time.
After a few mugs (not a few hundred) you will start making mugs like snapping your fingers. There are just a few things to keep in mind. Hence, this email.
So let's get you started with what you've received. The big piece of transparent plastic that looks like an enlarged can of cola is the mould. The stronger, conical piece that has lips with which to hold the mould snugly is called the lid. The two smaller cup-like things operate together and are called as the holders. The smaller of them is called the "hole-der" (😃) and the other is called the "boulder." (😃 😃)
If it's confusing, just look at the image below.
Today's homework - memorise the names of the parts. There will be a quiz tomorrow and the winner gets a prize. No, we're kidding. There's no prize. (😜)
OK, a bit more seriousness. So we basically know that we make the mugs by pouring water and freezing them. And we also know that it is not exactly that straightforward. There's actually a nICE (pun intended) level of water that you need to fill in so that the shape is stunning. Too less will make the mug smaller and too much will make the mug bulge at its bottom. Why's that? Because water expands as it freezes, and it can't come over and out of the cup, so it tries to go down and bulges. A possible question for tomorrow's quiz. Here's a good measure of the appropriate amount of water:
1. Fill the mould with about half with water.
2. Place the lid and ensure that the lips lock at the sides of the mould.
3. Pour a little water through the gaps until the lid tries to leave the mould because of buoyancy. Another question for tomorrow.
4. If the lid actually separates, discard a spoonful (or two) of water and try again. Remember that the lid must fit the mould snugly.
Right. Good job so far. Now gently place the mould (with the lid. And the water.) in your freezer and keep a peacock's feather in the middle of the thickest book in your home for good luck. Nope, kidding again. But you must ensure that you try not to disturb the mould once it is placed in the freezer. Yeah, we get it. The curiosity will be too much and we will want to check on the progress and see if it is freezing or not... if there's something wrong inside the freezer like the packet of milk attacking the mould or not... if the temperature is set alright or not... if Musk's rockets have come back safely or not... But remember, freeze it and forget it. The best way is to keep it in the freezer just before you go to bed so that it's not disturbed until you are. But why shouldn't it be touched? Good question. The minor movements cause some bubbles to form and they are trapped when the ice is formed. So later on, when you are drinking from your mug, these bubbles melt before the actual mug and cause a crack and there will be a tsunami of the drink in your holder. In the interest of poor hole-der and boulder, please. Don't disturb.
That's about it. We're almost close to ending now. So hang on.
A few tips and tricks that might help: the mugs must be clear. The clearer the better. It connects back to the bubble theory. (Psst... last question for tomorrow's quiz!) If it is not clear, it is probably a bubble. But it's not fatal or dangerous always, so not a major headache. Just that... the clearer the better. If it's crystal clear, take a hundred photos and forget drinking. You are in the top 1% of the nICEmug artists in the world.
To encourage the clarity, you can try boiling and cooling the water before you freeze it. That banishes all the ghosts and goblins in the water. Or rather, it helps banish the dissolved gases that might become bubbles. And you can use filtered water. The best is that you filter the water, boil it and cool it and freeze it. You must be really dedicated to this... or quite jobless. Hey, we're not judging! We're the same. How else do you think we manage to do this while keeping our day jobs?
A last piece of advice: for the very first mug, try not to have a drink that's risky and/or expensive. Maybe just try it with water, because if it leaks and/or cracks, you'll probably stain yourself and curse us. We're not very worried about the former but we're definitely very worried about the latter.
That's it! You have now graduated in the theory classes of the art of making the nICEmug. Go get some mugs. Click photos before, during and after. FB it, Insta it, YouTube it, tweet it, frame it, post it, this it and that it. Spread the word, help us. If this is completely idiotic, tell us. If it is hilarious, tell us. If it's anything in between, tell us. We'll pass on your feedback to Shakespeare.
If you are happy or not, we'd love to know. Although we'd really not want it, in case you are very, very dissatisfied, send us the kit back and we'll refund your money. No questions asked. Except maybe a few. Like what's the problem and why don't you try this again? And maybe a few follow-up ones.
Cheers.
For more info:
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