With so many nut butter options making various health and environmental promises, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction when browsing grocery store shelves.
Whether you are a health food enthusiast, a passionate cook, or simply looking for a tasty product, choosing a quality nut butter should not be a headache.
Here are some key questions to ask yourself to make an informed choice!
1. What are the ingredients?
The first thing to check on the label is the ingredient list. Some brands add oils, sugar, salt, or other additives to alter texture and taste, but these extra ingredients can reduce the product's nutritional value.
A good nut butter should have a short and simple ingredient list. Ideally, it should contain only nuts, or, if it's a mix, you should be able to recognize its component foods.
At Mille et Une Noix, we prepare our classic and organic nut butters from nuts only!* Additionally, our gourmet blends are 85% nuts, and are subtly sweetened with natural products like maple syrup, honey, and dates.
*With the exception of the Almond + Chia and Peanut + Chia butters, which also contain chia seeds, and cashew butter, which contains a little organic sunflower oil for texture.
2. Is the texture pleasant?
Many nut butter brands choose to add additives or hydrogenated oil to achieve a nice texture rather than relying on high-quality ingredients and proven manufacturing processes.
However, by combining carefully selected nuts from trusted suppliers with production techniques that respect the ingredients, it is entirely possible to achieve a smooth consistency in natural butters. This is how we achieve the much-loved creaminess of our products!
Note that natural nut butters need to be stirred occasionally, as they do not contain a stabilizing agent to prevent the oil from rising to the surface.
To restore a homogeneous texture, simply stir them well with a spoon, or even process them in a food processor for 30 seconds.
3. Does it taste good?
Beyond the ingredient list and texture, taste is an undeniable factor!
And when it comes to taste, nothing beats the authentic flavor of nuts! Yet, some brands rely on adding large amounts of sugar and salt to confuse consumers' palates.
We want to offer you a taste experience that celebrates the purity of ingredients, without artificial or overly sweet aftertastes. That's why our products are designed to enhance the natural flavor of nuts through a rigorous selection of ingredients and manufacturing methods that respect and preserve it.
4. Is the nut butter locally prepared?
Buying local products is not only beneficial for our province's economy, but it also guarantees optimal freshness and supports local producers. While nut butters and spreads from many large brands and multinationals are available on the market, why not turn to local businesses?
At Mille et Une Noix, all our nut butters are prepared locally in Quebec, specifically in Sherbrooke. This allows us to offer you products of superior quality, while supporting our local economy and minimizing our ecological footprint.
5. Does the company that produces this nut butter have sustainable practices?
Today, all companies should get involved when it comes to environmental sustainability. So, when choosing a nut butter, you can consider the ecological actions of the company that produces it!
At Mille et Une Noix, the environment is at the heart of our concerns. This is reflected in the choice of our ingredients, our transition to more sustainable packaging, our organic certification, our bulk sales network, and more.
Discover 10 of our environmental commitments in this blog post.
What to remember…
In summary, when choosing the best possible nut butter, you must, of course, consider the ingredients, texture, and taste.
However, the product's place of production and the sustainable practices of the company behind it can also be decisive factors! Opt for products that highlight the quality of nuts, support the local economy, and favor environmentally friendly practices.
At Mille et Une Noix, we are committed to offering authentic flavors and products that meet these criteria.