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A couple of weeks ago a blog reader Andrea emailed me asking if I could do a post on some of the more un usual ingredients I feature on the blog. I often forget that back when I started reading blogs I had no idea what chia seeds or nutritional yeast were or where to get them so I thought this would be a great idea for a post.

I’m going to start with a list of a few items which Andrea asked about, with why and how I use them and where to find them:

Item: Non Dairy Milks – soy, rice, oat, coconut (kara brand) and almond – some of these also come in various flavours such as vanilla, chocolate, hazelnut and almond and also sweetened / unsweetened.

Why and how – I use non dairy milks as I like the taste better than normal milk and feel that they add more variety to my diet. I also try to avoid consuming too much dairy as I have concerns over the levels of antibiotics in cows milk and the treatment of the cows as part of the dairy industry. I like to rotate the kinds of non dairy milk I drink for variety but also so I don’t end up consuming too many soy products.

Where to find it – soy milk is pretty widely available at supermarkets. I find that my local Tesco also stock vanilla rice milk and kara coconut milk. For almond milk (which is expensive – try making your own – its easy!) and hazelnut and almond rice milk (my fave) try Waitrose or Holland and Barrat.

Item: Natural unrefined sweeteners – including agave syrup, brown rice syrup, barley malt, sweet freedom, maple syrup, honey, xylitol

Why and how – I use natural sweeteners in place of sugar for most things as I find that regular refined sugar raises my blood sugar levels too much leading to sugar highs and lows which can cause me to eat more and have energy slumps. I sweeten my coffee with agave syrup, add brown rice syrup to porridge etc. Brown rice syrup has a mellower taste than agave syrup which is very sweet. Xylitol is a low GI sugar alternative that I have used instead of caster sugar in baking. A lot of healthier baking recipes often use agave or brown rice syrup instead of sugar too. Basically where you would add sugar there is usually an unrefined natural alternative!

Where to find it – My local Sainsbury stocks agave syrup and Xylitol next to their sugars (not with the honey as I had thought!) They also stock maple syrup with the ice cream sauces. Brown rice syrup is a little harder for find. You can purchase it from Goodness Direct. I bought mine as part of a big iHerb order (more on iHerb later) Holland and Barrat also stock Sweet Freedom which is delicious!

Item – Tofu – plain firm tofu, silken tofu, flavoured tofu, braised tofu.

Why and how – I use tofu because I love it! Even before I became a vegetarian I ate tofu because it is a truly versatile ingredient. I could probably write a full post on tofu! I like tofu in stir fries, baked in a marinade in the oven scrambled, in salads or blended into a dessert or smoothie. Tofu is an excellent source of protein for veggies and even if your not veggie – some recipes that use tofu are delicious and cheaper, and arguably more environmentally friendly than meat.

Where to find it – I get Cauldron Foods plain firm tofu from my local Sainsbury’s refrigerated section, it seems pretty widely available. I also get the small packs of mori nu silken tofu at my local supermarket too. The Taifun organic and non GMO basil, smoked tofu and tofu sausages that are my absolute favourites only seem to be stocked at Waitrose and can also be found at Goodness Direct (along with a wider range of flavours). Holland and Barrat stock small tins of marigold braised tofu which I’m yet to try, but again I have heard good reviews. I have seen blocks of firm tofu in oriental supermarkets but I’m dubious about buying them as they don’t say that they do not contain genetically modified soy which I try to avoid.

Item – Maca powder

Why and how – I use maca powder in smoothies or sprinkle the powder on to sliced apples with cinnamon to add extra nutrition due to its benefits which include supporting the adrenal gland and helping the body to cope with stress, balancing hormones and providing energy – find out more here. It has a pleasant malty taste.

Where to find it – It is available online from UK sources including Detox your world and Viva Pure. It could be that your local independent health food shop sells it, I haven’t seen it in Holland and Barrat however.

Item – Chia Seeds

Why and how – I use chia seeds in porridge, smoothies, pancakes and to make a tasty chia seed pudding. Chia seeds are a great source of essential fatty acids, they absorb liquid so can help to make you feel fuller and add volume to foods. They also contain an impressive amount of protein, calcium and iron – find out more here. I like the texture and bulk they add to porridge as they absorb water and become an almost jelly like substance, hence why they make a nice pudding if soaked in a flavoured non dairy milk.

Where to find it – I bought mine from iHerb but it is also available from UK sources such as Viva Pure and Red 23 like the maca powder this could also be available at your local independent health food shop.

Item – Matcha Green Tea Powder

Why and how – I’m a huge fan of green tea in any of its guises but matcha green tea powder has to be the best. Its the ground up green tea leaves so your getting 100% of the actual tea leaf. It is full of antioxidants and some research has been done to show that it can support metabolism and weight loss. I love adding it to smoothies, juices or making a matcha latte with soy milk and agave.

Where to find it – I have bought my matcha from Teapigs. You can also purchase it from Vita Life

Item - Nutritional Yeast

Why and how – Nutritional yeast is a non active yeast product that has a cheesy taste and is high in protein and B vitamins. It is therefore used by veggies and vegans to add a cheesy taste to many recipes.

Where to find it – I bought my nutritional yeast as a powder from iHerb but in the future I would be looking to purchase the Engevita nutritional yeast in flake form from Goodness Direct.

So there’s a quick run down of a few of the more unusual ingredients I talk about here on the blog. Are there any other ingredients that you’ve seen me use or mention on the blog that you’d like to find out more about? Leave me a comment and I will make sure I cover them in Part 2!

I also thought it would be useful to give you a few links to some of the websites that I have came across that stock some of these kinds of ingredients:

• iHerb – a US based site which is excellent for sourcing a lot of the goodies you see on US blogs including Bob’s Red Mills products, Spirutein Protein Powder, Luna Bars, Clif Bars etc. The main downside with iHerb is the scary delivery charges and the tax that you have to pay once you receive the goods, I usually look at what I can get here in the UK, convert the cost from dollars to pounds and compare the whole price of the goods plus delivery to workout what provides best value. If you use code AGA105 you’ll receive a discount off your first order.
• Goodness Direct – Excellent UK based site with a wealth of healthy living foods and ingredients. They also stock some refrigerated items so they’re great for sourcing some of the vegan cheese alternatives and tofu etc.
• Viva Pure – I haven’t ordered from this site yet (but I have a wish list ready!) They seem to have a great range of mainly raw products.
• Detox Your World – Another site that I haven’t yet ordered from but seem to have a good stock of raw superfoods.
• Red 23 Organic Food – A fantastic range of specialist products including my beloved Sun Warrior protein powder!

Do you have any favourite online sources for more unusual ingredients and products that you’d also like to share?