You've likely heard of the French cooking technique "en Papillote," which steams fish, vegetables or meat in individual parchment pouches. Simply Organic's new Steam Gourmet pouches make cooking dinner as effortless as possible by pairing their signature USDA Organic spices with parchment bags large enough to stuff in several servings of meat or fish. Though I question whether it would be easier (and cheaper!) to make your own spice blend and parchment bags, this small kit makes "en Papillote" approachable for home cooks seeking a healthy, quick meal. Trends: Assisted dinner prep; Steaming for health
Organic tea flavored with natural sweeteners and fruit is the foundation of Zone 8's line of bottled beverages. They're pretty simple. The Honey Lemon flavor offers an unadulterated, unmistakeable blast of honey (verging on overwhelming), while Red Rooibos & Pomegranate is a bit more complex, as it contains organic orange and lemon juice, clove, cinnamon and pomegranate. My only beef with Zone 8 is that calories and sugar run high. The rooibos blend packs 176 calories and 40 grams sugar into a 16.9 ounce bottle—a result of added cane sugar, which I believe is unnecessary. But for a natural, albeit sweet beverage, it might be just what some consumers are seeking. Trends: Organic tea beverages
The recipe for Formosa's awesomely delicious Mexican-style hot sauces—available in Habanero and Chipotle—dates back 30 years. A combination of tomatillos, habanero, chipotle, peppers, vinegar, salt, cumin, garlic, vegetable oil and other spices lends a a pleasant burn and dusky yellow hue that brightens dishes ranging from eggs to tacos to pasta to… um, everything. As an unrelated side note, Formosa has a beautifully designed website. Well done! Trends: Authentic spice; Simple ingredients
Props to Suja for transferring holiday flavors—typically laden with fat and sugar—into products that appeal to ultra-natural consumers. Cute flavor names like "Call me Pumpkin," "Wassail to You," "Under the Mistletoe," and "'Tis the Nog" will undoubtedly make Suja's enthusiastic fan base glow with excitement come November. Make no mistake, these smoothies are not the saccharine beverages we expect around the holidays—in fact, though each flavor contains a bit of natural sugar (date paste, maple syrup, coconut palm sugar), they definitely don't taste sweet. I recommend Wassail, a spiced blend of fruit and vegetable juices that beg for a splash of rum or whiskey. Clocking in at nearly 300 calories, Under the Mistletoe is a decadent, filling smoothie containing coconut meat, cacao, peppermint, ashwaganda tea and more. Trends: Organic, raw indulgences; Sweet departure
Now this is a paleo dream! Followers of the cavemen diet will delight in a suitable sandwich wrap that isn't made of lettuce. Rather, Pure Wraps makes this 60-calorie tortilla alternative with only coconut meat, coconut water and Himalayan sea salt. Though Original carries just a faint taste of coconut, Curry imparts nuanced flavor into fillings. The wrap isn't a perfect substitute for a flour or corn tortilla—it's a little too chewy to be a doppelgänger. But it's pleasant, allergen-free and quite lovely to eat. Trends: Grain-free eats; Coconut craze
New offerings from the dairy-free folks at So Delicious include almond milk coffee creamers that also contain no soy, gluten, oil, and carrageenan, a seaweed-derived ingredient that some find to be stomach-irritating. Available in Original or French Vanilla, the Non-GMO Project Verified creamers represent meteoric growth in the almond trend. (So Delicious also recently launched cultured almond milk yogurt.) Trends: Almonds are everywhere; Goodbye, carrageenan
I became enamored with Capello's at Expo West last March when I noshed on their gluten-free, grain-free gnocchi and cookie dough. But it wasn't until I tried cooking their fettuccine that I turned into a die-hard fan. Made with almond flour, egg, tapioca flour and xanthan gum, the paleo-friendly pasta takes just 45 seconds to cook, and acts almost exactly like traditional fresh pasta. (Case in point, one night I happily slurped Cappello's by tossing with cream sauce and pairing with a glass of tannic malbec.) The only drawback? This stuff is pricey! You'll drop $44 for four boxes if you buy it online. But if you want to eat grain-free noodles that truly act, taste and look like pasta (hey, we love a good spaghetti squash, but it's just not the same), Capello's is your answer. Trends: Grain-free eats; Almonds are everywhere
I'm still deciding how I feel about Mr. Cheese O's. They're really tasty, don't get me wrong. Made with cheese, quinoa, oat bran and organic brown rice, they have all the hallmarks of a better-for-you snack. Indeed, they pack a bit of calcium, vitamin A and protein into each serving. But I'm confused. They seem like a kid's snack, though they're sold in very adult flavors, such as the garlicky Tuscan Herb and the spicy Sweet Chili. I just can't envision many health-minded adults feeling great about eating small, crunchy orbs of cheese as a lunch accoutrement. Perhaps I'm being close-minded, but the likelihood that I would buy these in a store or deli is low. Trends: Cheese snacks; Evolved palates
I had high hopes for ProTings, high-protein chips mainly comprised of pea protein isolate, potato flakes and flax seeds. I was truly impressed that each serving contains 15 grams of protein for just 120 calories. Plus, protein-infused packaged foods are very on-trend. But these crispy baked chips are not exactly tasty—and the Sea Salt and Chili Lime flavors unfortunately did little to mask their inherently bland flavor. That's why the Tangy Southern BBQ flavor is your best bet—you taste the savory-spicy blend of paprika, onion, garlic, tomato and molasses rather the chalkiness of the pea protein. ProTings are a great idea. But I feel as though the only flavor that would entice shoppers is the BBQ. Trends: Ethnic for all; Protein power
Imagine's USDA Organic culinary simmer sauces enable busy consumers to make delicious meals in a cinch. Flavorful and full of spices, just dump these pouch-packaged sauces over meat, fish or vegetables to impart restaurant-quality taste to main meals or sides. I test-drove Imagine's Thai Coconut Curry sauce by thickening it with coconut milk, and simmering veggies and tofu cubes until cooked through—a velvety, vegan curry that took minimal effort. Also available in Louisiana Creole, Latin Veracruz and Portobello Red Wine. Trends: Dinner made easy; Evolved palates
Nona Lim's fresh, refrigerated noodles are intended to be paired with the company's flavorful broths for an authentic main meal, but I think they would be equally tasty stir-fried with thinly sliced veggies and soy sauce. Available in Laksa (semi-thin), Pad Thai, or Pad See Ew (wider) styles, these gluten-free noodles are simply made with rice, corn and tapioca. And I'm especially smitten because Nona Lim upholds their mission to create clean and convenient products. Trends: Ethnic for all; Fresh food connection
I know that Amazing Grass products are for the hardcore natural consumer, but I love how the company is dedicated to widening its appeal. Actually considered a supplement, Amazing Grass recently launched four new flavors of smoothie add-ins: Greens & Protein Chocolate, Greens & Protein Vanilla Spice, Green Superfood Energy Watermelon and Greens Superfood Immunity Tangerine. Always raw, USDA Organic and vegan, I'm giving a big kudos to Amazing Grass for making products containing blue-green algae, kelp, dandelion, kale and spirulina actually taste palatable. Trends: Probiotics; Protein power; Greens nutrition
I know that Amazing Grass products are for the hardcore natural consumer, but I love how the company is dedicated to widening its appeal. Actually considered a supplement, Amazing Grass recently launched four new flavors of smoothie add-ins: Greens & Protein Chocolate, Greens & Protein Vanilla Spice, Green Superfood Energy Watermelon and Greens Superfood Immunity Tangerine. Always raw, USDA Organic and vegan, I'm giving a big kudos to Amazing Grass for making products containing blue-green algae, kelp, dandelion, kale and spirulina actually taste palatable. Trends: Probiotics; Protein power; Greens nutrition
Natural & organic unboxing: Edition 1
Because I’m not a Southern belle from 1930, I never had a debutante ball. But thankfully, I can live vicariously through the new natural products that seem to materialize on my desk nearly every day. In many ways, this is their formal presentation to the natural products industry (though they lack the obligatory white ballgown).
All cheeky comparisons aside, these products hold power: They don’t just highlight current natural food trends, but also are clairvoyants that predict future hot ingredients and food values.
In this new gallery series titled "Unboxed," I'll, ahem, unbox (both literally and figuratively) the piles of natural products mailed to me, and provide my unbiased opinion in an honest, straightforward way. Do I think the product will sell? Is it tasty? Is it healthy? Were conscious ingredients used to manufacturer it? These questions are tenets of what I believe to be an exemplary natural product.
In an effort to better categorize hot food movements (coconut, chia, quinoa, kale, for instance), I’ll also identify the new or existing trends these products symbolize.
Woe to me, there was no debutante ball—but these natural products serve as a crystal ball. I’ll take it.
Want your natural product to be included in next week’s gallery? Message me on Twitter @JennaBlumenfeld; and follow @newhope360 on Instagram for even more natural product reviews.
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