Unboxed: 12 products revitalizing time-honored ingredients
Buckwheat, dates and sesame seeds have historic roots but can be hard to find in CPGs. Take a look at 12 brands that celebrate sustainable superfoods.
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Buckwheat Puffs
Buckwheat is a nutrient-rich powerhouse with origins that date back thousands of years. Diggables uses gluten-free grain sourced from Maine on regenerative farms as a wholesome alternative to traditional grains. These savory, garden herb-flavored puffs are a great crispy snack and are Non-GMO Project Verified.
Peanut Butter Dates
Dates have been enjoyed for their natural sweetness in various cultures throughout history. Rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals, dates are now being reimagined in modern products as a healthier alternative to refined sugars. Realsy is harnessing the natural goodness of dates to create delicious treats that not only satisfy the sweet tooth but also contribute to a well-balanced diet.
Sea Salt Tortilla Chips
What makes these tortilla chips stand out is that Kazoo makes them using upcycled corn germ. Corn germ is a co-product of the corn wet milling process and is often discarded or used as animal feed. Corn germ, however, is more easily digested than corn kernels. Corn germ also contains protein, fibers and minerals like zinc and iron. Using more of the whole corn is helping Kazoo’s sustainability efforts to use less water and get more out of a harvest. With being made from 40% upcycled corn germ, this product is Upcycled Certified.
Everything Crackers
Better with Buckwheat supports Maine farmers who grow loads of buckwheat, which they rotate in the same fields that support the state’s vibrant potato industry. Much of the Maine crop, though, gets exported to other countries. Now, with these crackers, Better with Buckwheat gets its naturally gluten-free main ingredient from Maine and turns the flour into crunchy, flaky crackers. Packed with essential nutrients such as fiber, protein and various antioxidants, these crackers are Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified NSF Gluten-Free. No wonder they were this year's Expo East NEXTY Award winner for Best New Salty Snack.
Ancient Grain Grits
Gruff uses a relatively underutilized grain, farro, for its delicious grits. While farro is usually consumed as a berry or flour, Gruff cracks the grain and turns it into nutrient-dense grits. The farmer-focused Regenerative Organic Certified brand sources farro from a single multigenerational farm in Montana.
Multi-Grain Bread
Equii bread packs an impressive 10 grams of protein and nine essential amino acids in each slice using a special fermentation process. The grain and seed blend in Equii’s bread contains time-tested nutritional ingredients like rolled oats, flax seeds and quinoa. This bread is sure to leave consumers feeling satisfied and full for longer.
Cashew Lime Crisp
With its fun flavors and artistic packaging, Date Better is really reinventing how we see dates. Date Better uses Medjool dates for their rich caramel-like texture and coats them in dark chocolate. These satisfying snacks are loaded with fiber, vitamins and minerals, and no soy, preservatives, fake sweeteners, dairy or palm oil.
Birthday Cake Clusterbucks
Lil Bucks’ star ingredient in its newest SKU of USDA Organic certified granola clusters is buckwheat. A great nut-free and gluten-free snack, these crunchy bites contain plant-based protein, prebiotic fiber and a celebratory flavor without artificial flavoring or processed sugars. Lil Bucks promotes sustainability using buckwheat and has an entire Regenerative Organic Certified product line.
Figgee
Figgee is perfect for coffee lovers who can’t or choose not to drink coffee. It’s brewed just like coffee and tastes like it, too. Harnessing the power of figs, this beverage helps provide focus but without the jitters, harsh acids or digestive issues usually associated with caffeinated coffee.
Tigernut Root Milk
This milk alternative is made from only two ingredients: water and tigernut root, a climate-friendly cover crop that is an excellent source of prebiotic fiber. Tigernuts are native to much of Africa and can be traced back to being one of the earliest harvested crops in Ancient Egypt. Fortified with calcium and vitamins A and D, Elari Tigernut Root Milk is free of sugar, oils, fillers and allergens. BIPOC- and women-owned Elari partners with Nigerian farmers who follow organic practices to grow tigernuts, which are drought and flood-tolerant and require very little water to cultivate.
Triple Cacao Chocolate Date Bar
This bar is decadent, like traditional candy, but with no cane sugar or fillers. It uses the natural sweetness and chewiness of dates. The bar also mixes cocoa and cacao nibs with the dates and is covered in dark chocolate for a clean vegan snack that is Non-GMO Project Verified.
Snack Bites
Soom uses simple ingredients for these decadent tahini cherry chocolate snack bites. Dates, tahini and oats are combined with cherries and dark chocolate to create bites free from refined sugars and artificial flavors. Each bite has 1g of protein, and tahini is made from sesame seeds, tiny nutrient powerhouses packed with iron, magnesium and healthy fats.
Snack Bites
Soom uses simple ingredients for these decadent tahini cherry chocolate snack bites. Dates, tahini and oats are combined with cherries and dark chocolate to create bites free from refined sugars and artificial flavors. Each bite has 1g of protein, and tahini is made from sesame seeds, tiny nutrient powerhouses packed with iron, magnesium and healthy fats.
In the ever-evolving landscape of dietary trends and superfoods, some ancient ingredients are often overlooked in favor of the latest health fads. Buckwheat, dates, sesame seeds and other time-honored crops have sustained civilizations for millennia, providing not only sustenance but also unique nutritional benefits. While these ingredients may not have always taken center stage on American shelves, a new wave of brands is introducing innovative products that celebrate the enduring qualities of these superfood staples.
Fulfilling the growing demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly food choices, many of these crops are hardy and require fewer resources, such as water. Their resilience contributes to the health of an agricultural ecosystem. By featuring these ingredients prominently in new products, brands are not only highlighting the nutritional value of ancient superfoods but also promoting a more sustainable approach to food innovation.
The resurgence of quinoa and figs is a testament to the enduring appeal of these nutritional powerhouses. As brands continue to produce products that celebrate these ancient staples, consumers can reconnect with the wisdom of the past while embracing a sustainable and health-conscious future. The revitalization of these ingredients not only enriches our diets but also contributes to a more diverse and eco-friendly food landscape.
Click through the gallery to discover 12 products from brands using ingredients like dates, buckwheat and more.
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