Category: Reviews

Go with the Grain

Now that everyone’s acquainted with the unique rice beverage known as amazake, I’d like to introduce an option for those of you who balk at a recipe that takes nearly a day to complete.  Though limited there are commercial options available, but beware that not all are created equal.  For ages, I thought that all amazakes were gritty, grassy, slightly bitter, and altogether unpalatable, when in fact I had simply chosen a bad brand to start with.  Instead of making that same mistake, I’d like to recommend to you a tried-and-true source, my all-time favorite producer of these rice beverages: Grainaissance.

Based in California, this small company’s products can be more difficult for an east coaster like me to find, but the hunt is more than worth it. Churning out nearly a dozen different flavors of this drink, in addition to a handful of flavors of mochi, one gets the sense that they must really love their rice. That passion certainly shows in the end results as well. Ever since that fateful day when I stumbled upon one of those unassuming bottles at my local health food store, I’ve become utterly addicted. Sadly, I could only track down three flavors, so I actually went straight to the source, and asked the manufacturer for a wider sample. Opening that box filled with sweet rice delights was like receiving a long overdue birthday present!

Only sporadically available locally, the Vanilla Pecan Pie is the flavor that started it all and got me hooked. Expecting another sad excuse for a health elixir, I was nothing short of shocked at how incredibly and apologetically sweet it was. After skimming the label many times to find no added sugar, this is a fantastic demonstration of how amazake is naturally sweet enough to replace refined sugars in some desserts. Leading with a nutty, roasted pecan flavor, complimented by a gentle vanilla essence, I can’t say it really tastes like a slice of pecan pie, but it sure is damn good.

Similar to the Pecan Pie, but with a new nut taking center stage, the Almond Shake has a very fresh, mellow almond flavor, nothing like the almond flavor I’ve come to expect from so many artificial baking extracts. Simple and straightforward, this would be a great option for blending up into fruit shakes, or just about anything else.

Another variation on the same nut-centric theme, the Chocolate Almond promises great things, but might disappoint the serious chocoholic. Tasting much more of almond than chocolate, it has subtle cocoa undertones, but lacks the full-bodied chocolate punch I had hoped for.

For the hazelnut-lovers, you’re in luck! This oft forgotten nut gets a place of honor in the Go Hazelnuts amazake, showing just how rich and delicious they can be. Not a hint of bitterness mars this sweet but nicely balanced drink, and just the true flavor of the nut shines easily through.

Moving into more iffy territory, I wasn’t entirely sure I would like the Cool Coconut variety. Having suffered some overuse of coconut recently, the flavor has quickly grown old to my palate, but happily, it took no great effort to drink the whole bottle. Just like fresh coconut meat, pureed to creamy perfection, it still somehow manages a light and vibrant flavor. I have a feeling that even fair-weather coconut fans might like this one!

Changing up the nutritional profile a bit, the Vanilla Gorilla is the only variety to have added soy protein and calcium, making it a great option for those concerned about such things. Besides that, it’s a tasty banana and vanilla treat that I think any kid would enjoy. Sweet and soothing, it’s easy to drink and could play very nicely with plenty of other fresh fruit additions. I’m thinking that next time I open a bottle, some strawberries and an extra banana could be just the ticket to smoothie heaven.

For all you green smoothie fans out there, Grainaissance has options for you, too! The flavor that I end up buying the most, largely thanks to it being frequently stocked but also its fantastic taste, is Gimme Green, a faintly banana-flavored shake enhanced with spirulina, wheat grass, oat grass, barley grass, kamut grass, and alfalfa grass to achieve that bright green hue. Though that might all sound a little scary, fear not; All you can taste is that sweet, creamy amazake, not a hint of grassiness to taint the palate.

Switching things up a bit, Go Go Green throws a tropical twist into the mix, livening up the standard green shake with coconut and banana. I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this cheerful blend. It’s so sweet, fruity, and delicious, you could practically get away with mixing in a splash of rum, plopping in a little umbrella, and calling it a day! Yet again, the green color doesn’t impart any offensive taste in the least. Both of these flavors would be great starting points for green smoothie novices, or options for a healthy traveler without a blender.

Spicing up the array, Tiger Chai isn’t quite as powerful or aggressive as I might prefer, mellow warmth is a delightful change of pace all the same. Leading with ginger, this is a very approachable version of chai that should be agreeable with all levels of spice tolerance, with subtle undertones of black tea that round out the flavor profile nicely. Truly a complex drink that stands apart from the rest, I can’t think of anything else on the market quite like it.

Coffee enthusiasts, be aware: Mocha Java, actually contains no coffee whatsoever, taking flavor from chicory, barley, and rye instead. More malty than coffee, and not really reading as chocolate, I have to say that this may have been the biggest disappointment of the lot. Don’t get me wrong, it was still pleasant and drinkable all the same, but mocha it was not.

Of course, for those endlessly indecisive, there is always the plain Oh So Original, which you can easily dress up or down however you so desire.  This one is especially well suited for baking or cooking with, thanks to its neutral flavor.  The only thing to keep in mind is that these amazake drinks are thinner than homemade amazake, so if using them in a recipe, take that into account and adjust accordingly.

Across the board, each variety is amazingly sweet, thick, and creamy; I tend to think of them as refrigerated vegan milkshakes. Personally, I like to mix them up with different fruit juices or non-dairy milks to thin them out, or freeze them into ice cubes to blend up for frosty treats!

Hannah (BitterSweet)24 Comments

Easing into Easter

Despite my typical enthusiasm for celebrating holidays, any holidays at all, whether they come from my own culture or not, there simply aren’t enough days in the year to pull together anything truly elaborate for the upcoming spring occasions on the calendar. The duty of making a Passover dessert like usual is still haunting me, and the seder is only two days away! Easter might have gotten entirely swept under the carpet in this household, if not for the most delightful and festive surprise that arrived in the mail…

Real, authentic, vegan, peeps, courtesy of Sweet and Sara. You may recall that I went out of my way to make my own version last year, but oh, what a treat to be able to simply purchase cruelty-free, adorable marshmallow bunnies, chicks, and even eggs! Decorated with their signature dark chocolate, each one is unique; a sign of a truly handmade product. Ever so lightly pastel colored with natural ingredients, you get all the best components of the classic marshmallow peep, with no nasty bits included. It’s hard to not coo at these intensely cute creatures, but of course, the best part is still their taste.

It’s not too late to order, and if you hop on over there right now, you can get a 10% discount with the code “E10.” I don’t know about you, but finding even one of these springy mallow creatures in my Easter basket would absolutely make my holiday!

Hannah (BitterSweet)32 Comments

iHerb, youHerb…

Though I usually like to keep my reviews focused on specific edibles, books, and food companies themselves, the opportunity to go on a little shopping spree and give my 2 cents on iHerb.com, an online superstore, was just too tempting to pass up. Plus, it got both Celine’s and Ricki’s blessings, and I absolutely trust their judgment as conscious consumers, in every sense of the term.

Anyway, the thing about iHerb is that it’s pretty much like Amazon.com, but with only supplements, snacks, ingredients, and all those consumables in between. Complete with helpful customer reviews and often better prices than can be found elsewhere, even I was impressed at the selection of specialty items available, in addition to simple pantry staples like whole wheat flour, nutritional yeast, and just about every simple commodity I could think of. Excited to have the chance to give all those rare ingredients a spin, I snatched just about every strange powder I had heard of but never been able to find locally. Into my cart went pomegranate, lucuma, maca, and mesquite powder, in addition to a bag of sorghum flour that was so reasonable priced, I just couldn’t refuse.

Arriving quickly and in great shape, I’m happy to report that my shopping experience was 100% positive!

Finally, those fabled mesquite chocolate chip cookies were no longer beyond my reach! By just swapping out the butter for margarine and eggs for flax “eggs”, I had the most unusual but addictive version of a CCC I had tasted yet. It’s hard to describe the flavor, but think whole wheat with a nutty twist, plus dark, roasted notes, and perhaps a very faint hint of anise. Really, it’s one of those things that you have to taste to believe.

Next up, a new creation that begged to be brought to life: What I lovingly call Maca Maca Bars. Maca powder and macadamia nuts combine in one buttery, sweet, and decadent cookie. Though I would never post anything I thought was so-so, these were beyond delicious. I must admit, I actually hid the whole batch from my family so that I alone could eat them! If you can manage to share, I commend your will power.

That recipe will be coming up soon, and I’m sure the remaining purchases will turn up sooner or later in my baking experiments, but for now, I’m willing to bet that you’re already wondering “Okay, that’s all great, but what’s in it for me?” Well, how about a $50 shopping spree of your own? That’s right, iHerb has generously offered one reader just that, and if you comment any time between now and February 28, midnight EST, you can be entered into the running. Just tell me what you would buy if you won!

If you just can’t wait, or if you don’t win after the contest has closed, don’t fret- I have something for you too. Just enter the discount code “NAH833” at checkout to receive $5 off your first order at iHerb.

Hannah (BitterSweet)140 Comments

Saved By the Bel

Prowling the carefully arranged rows of ancient canned goods, dusty boxes, and mysterious jars that seemed more like science experiments turned sour than anything consumable, my eyes were locked in on all the new and unusual items displayed at the grocery store. Not merely shopping, but hunting, the objective was not to find something I had heard of before, but to discover something new- Something “accidentally vegan.” The thrill of the hunt brought me back to this little game time and again, excitedly flipping over packages that held even an ounce of potential, and scanning labels with a fierce, laser-like stare, seeking out any nasty bits that wouldn’t agree with me. Inevitably hitting upon something not vegan more often than not, that once prized jewel would be hurled back on the shelf where it came from with such venom, I’m surprised there weren’t more casualties left in my wake.

Rarely do I have the time to indulge this old habit any more, more inclined to get in and then get out of the store as quickly as possible, but it does always pose a temptation. Many fantastic eats have been uncovered as accidentally vegan, and I can only dream that there’s still a whole trove of delicacies yet to be revealed.

Increasingly, manufacturers are beginning to get smart to the plight of the rushed grocery shopping vegan, and have begun to actually label their goods as such. What a concept! Unlike the mainstream treats of yesteryear, these shiny new wrappers have a neat little “V” or even the whole word “Vegan” emblazoned as a bold declaration, taking the guess work (and the wild goose chase) out of it. Q.Bel is one such company, and they’ve made sure there’s nothing “accidentally” vegan about their newest creation, actually pushing that angle pretty hard in all their press releases and on the candy itself. I, for one, was thrilled, and jumped at the opportunity to sample such an unapologetically cruelty-free mainstream candy for myself.

A higher-end candy in the grand scheme of things, Q.Bel has a number of chocolate-covered wafer options, but bear in mind that only the Double Dark Chocolate Wafer Bars have no animal products. Happily, there’s no need to bemoan the lack of options; this little number is fantastic, and leaves no reason to be envious of the others. A multi-layered affair with two tiers of fluffy chocolate filling interspersed between three sheets of wafer cookies, all covered in 70% dark chocolate, it could impress any chocolate connoisseur.

Audibly crunchy, the wafers are nothing if not crisp, which is a good thing, as they have very little flavor to offer. The filling, falling somewhere between a thin sheet of frosting and chocolate mousse, brings just enough sweetness to the party, balanced out perfectly by that blanket of unadulterated chocolate on top, which brings the real chocolate flavor as well. Quality cacao to be sure, there’s a slightly bitter, woodsy edge to it, with just enough bite that it could never be deemed as cloying. Somewhat like a Kit Kat Bar, but all grown up, it’s absurdly easy to eat through a whole package without even blinking.

One of the best things about this candid labeling is that those tricky ingredients are no longer an uncertainty- No worrying about whether that lecithin came from eggs or soy. No more sinister “natural flavors” that could come from darned near anything. And, if you’re lucky enough to spy one in in your local grocery store, it could save the day when it seems no vegan options are available. Trust me, if you’re strapped for time and ideas as Valentine’s day rapidly approaches, just get your sweetie a pile of these babies. They’re no fancy, mail-order boxed chocolates, but I know I sure wouldn’t mind.

Hannah (BitterSweet)23 Comments

Get It Ripe!

Sifting through the recent deluge of new vegan cookbooks, it’s hard to judge a cookbook by its cover. Though some may claim to promote “healthy eating,” (and really, what does that mean?) as most do these days, it’s almost impossible to know if the author means to imply that just by virtue of being vegan that their dishes are magically forgiven of any other nutritional sins. Information overload quickly creeping out like a wet blanket over my brain, I’m grateful to have at least one reliable text to fall back on, one that can be trusted to make both nutritionally sound and tasty meals. Get it Ripe, written by my good friend Jae Steele, is so much more than a recipe book; Complete with advice on digestion, ingredient explanations for the more unusual items, cooking tips, suggestions on pantry essentials, and so forth, it’s a great place for newbie vegans to start, and still advanced enough in the recipe department to teach a few “old” vegans like myself some new tricks.

With a focus on organics and whole foods, there’s no dubious health claims or miracle diets to be found here, thank goodness. Jae is a registered holistic nutritionist, and she knows her stuff! Happy to err on the more wholesome side for a bit, I was also thrilled with her sense of seasoning- Plenty of spicy, ethnic foods, Asian flavors, and of course, a good bit of homey comfort food thrown in. No bland twigs and grass clipping-type dishes here.

Moving right into the breakfast section, the Buckwheat Blueberry Muffins immediately caught my eye. Made from whole grains, no flour at all, and no refined sugars, I was just too curious to pass them up. Impressively moist and tender, I was truly surprised at how well these lightly sweetened breakfast cakes turned out. Though I personally might enjoy them a bit sweeter, it’s true that I’m somewhat known for my sweet tooth, so I’d leave that judgment up to your own discretion. A light and fluffy treat this is not, but if you’re after a more hefty option that will keep you full and satisfied through a long morning, this recipe is a welcome breath of fresh air.

When it came time for a sit-down meal, I knew even before I had the book in my hands what I wanted to cook first. The Sesame Kale Soba was positively calling to me, leaping off the pages. Whipped up painlessly and in an instant, it was exactly what I had been hoping for: Lightly but well-dressed with a simple tamari and sesame oil mixture, the contrast between toothsome noodles, barely wilted kale, and briny sea veggies made every bite engaging. Super simple to make, utilizing very few ingredients, this is now a staple in my daily menu.

Tempted by the more complex dishes, I set aside some extra time for dinner one night and selected the alluring Andrew’s Butternut Risotto, brimming with vibrant orange squash, roasted garlic, and fresh herbs. So luscious, richly flavored and creamy were the end results, that the extra effort seemed like nothing at all. This is the sort of dish you could make for company and elicit “wows” all around the table, whether your diners are vegan or not.

Being somewhat biased in my opinions of what makes a good dessert, I opted to go for something I would normally not make for myself, so I had few previous eating experiences that might color my opinion. A childhood classic with a little kick, the Cardamom Tapioca Pudding proved to be a happy surprise. Though I used maple syrup instead of stevia, it was the perfect, light ending to a more decadent meal. That tiny pinch of spice really elevated the flavor to a whole new level, changing my initial thoughts about how boring tapioca pudding would be.

At times when I’m at a loss for what to cook, be it just for myself or for a sizable crowd, I’m happy to have Get it Ripe on my shelf. It’s a tried-and-true text that has yet to fail me, either in the nutrition or taste department.

Hannah (BitterSweet)29 Comments

Edible Alchemy

Transforming ordinary ingredients into something truly extraordinary: That’s the basic idea behind the concept of alchemy, which Alkemie Ice Cream rightly exemplifies. Utilizing a unique base comprised of cashews, coconut, and agave, this small company is making a big splash in the frozen dessert market, setting itself apart from the competition with quality ingredients, and perhaps just a little bit of magic.

Although still unavailable in much of the country, I went right to the manufacturer as soon as I caught wind of this mystical creation, and all but begged for a taste. Luckily, I needn’t have pleaded so hard, as it turns out the people behind Alkemie are very friendly and easy to communicate with. I had three solid pack pints arrive on my doorstep in no time at all.

If you can make a good Vanilla ice cream, you can make anything, as I firmly believe, so that container is where I plunged my spoon in first. Plentiful flecks of vanilla bean dotted the surface and interior, promising to pack in the flavor, and it did not disappoint. Full-bodied and assertive, this proved that vanilla isn’t always just a backup singer, but quite capable of taking the lead. Incredibly smooth and creamy, this little number is undeniably rich, rivaling any super-premium pick. In fact, it was practically buttery, the way it coated and lingered on my tongue. Some might detect and be bothered by a very slight aftertaste from the base ingredients, but it wasn’t enough to stop me from going back for seconds, thirds, and eventually fourths.

Runner up as America’s favorite ice cream flavor but still number one in many peoples’ opinions, the Dark Chocolate has some pretty high expectations to live up to. Luckily, it not only met, but exceeded any I had. More than merely cocoa-flavored, this dark temptress throws a one-two punch of no-holds barred chocolate intensity, powerful enough to send the most dedicated chocoholics spinning. Though I’m not usually one to go for plain chocolate ice cream if given a choice, this alone could change all of that. Not a hint of coconut nor cashew impedes the flavor here, so all the eater experiences is pure frozen chocolate bliss.

Now thoroughly excited to discover what that final pint held, I could hardly break into the Mint Chocolate Chip fast enough. The powerful aroma of mint wafted up to my nose as soon as I lifted the lid, betraying the otherwise plain-looking, snow white and black-speckled ice cream inside. Its very bright, fresh mint flavor without any grassiness to speak of makes for highly refreshing, well-balanced treat begging to be served in the heat of summer. Generous handfuls of chocolate pieces with just a hint of bitterness cut the sweetness perfectly, and their even distribution but irregular sizes made every bite different and exciting. Deceptively light, this is the kind of dessert I would never tire of.

Smooth-scooping straight out of the freezer, there’s none of the chalkiness or iciness that I’ve come to associate with some commercial vegan ice creams. If Alkemie could just ramp up production, distribution, and perhaps add a few more flavors to their strong but small line up, I think they could really take the market by storm, with or without a little pinch of magic.

[Written for Go Dairy Free]

Hannah (BitterSweet)24 Comments