tahini

[peteroconnell]

how bout tahini? is it raw when bought in the jar? krinos is the brand name.

[swingbolder]

I don't know about that brand. Usually tahini is made from roasted sesame seeds.

Raw tahini will usually specify that it is raw on the label.

[codajess]

I have some tahini that says "Raw," but it's that Mara Natha (? I'm at work, I can't remember if thats right) brand; so it's in the glass jar with the vacuum seal top. So..technically not raw. My first jar of coconut oil before I bought the virgin de coco stuff was in the same kind of jar (which by the way, it all tastes the same to me, I can't believe I paid $42 for the virgin de coco!). I also have "raw" almond butter in the same kind of jar. I don't want to make my own almond butter or tahini, so..I don't know. I guess that's ok with me.

[swingbolder]

so it's in the glass jar with the vacuum seal top. So..technically not raw.

Why is vacuum sealed in a jar technically not raw?

I vacuum seal food at home without the use of heat. Does commercial vacuum sealing use a different process?

[codajess]

Everything I've read here says that if the jar has a vacuum seal and pops when you open it, it's not raw because it has to be heat processed to do that. So although the product in the jar was raw in the making of it, it was "cooked" in the heating portion of sealing it.

Oh my..i'd love if that wasn't true. Please tell me you're right and everyone else is wrong!!! I want to keep buying the vacuum sealed stuff at my local HFS instead of ordering "truly raw" stuff on the internet for way too much more!!!

[SNMB]

I don't know about that brand. Usually tahini is made from roasted sesame seeds.

Raw tahini will usually specify that it is raw on the label.

On the Maranatha website, in the FAQ they say:


What temperature are your raw nut butters produced at?

During the grinding process for all of our products (and for most any commercially made nut butter), there is considerable heat generated by the friction of the ingredients inside the grinder. We do not specifically monitor this temperature, but we know by our Quality Assurance tests and product safety standards that it is sufficient to eliminate any harmful or opportunistic bacteria.


Can I eat your raw products as part of a raw foods diet?

Different raw food diets use different temperature thresholds to define what is "raw" by that diet's standards. The term "raw" is not regulated and we do not wish to mislead any consumer who is following a strict raw eating plan.

With over 20 years of producing nut butters, our professional suggestion for any strict raw food eater is this: Purchase a high quality food mill or food processor and conduct your own grinding trials to monitor the temperature of the finished product. With a smaller batch you may be able to better control the friction and heat produced during the grinding. We wish you every success in this process as this was how our business began over 20 years ago.

[SijaeintheRaw]

On the Maranatha website, in the FAQ they say:


What temperature are your raw nut butters produced at?

During the grinding process for all of our products (and for most any commercially made nut butter), there is considerable heat generated by the friction of the ingredients inside the grinder. We do not specifically monitor this temperature, but we know by our Quality Assurance tests and product safety standards that it is sufficient to eliminate any harmful or opportunistic bacteria.


Can I eat your raw products as part of a raw foods diet?

Different raw food diets use different temperature thresholds to define what is "raw" by that diet's standards. The term "raw" is not regulated and we do not wish to mislead any consumer who is following a strict raw eating plan.

With over 20 years of producing nut butters, our professional suggestion for any strict raw food eater is this: Purchase a high quality food mill or food processor and conduct your own grinding trials to monitor the temperature of the finished product. With a smaller batch you may be able to better control the friction and heat produced during the grinding. We wish you every success in this process as this was how our business began over 20 years ago.

Dang! That is disheartening. I've got "raw" almond butter and tahini in my fridge right now.

Laura

[exurb]

codajess, that could be a different "pop" - it is possible (but VERY rare) to vacuum seal in jars, but this is very rare. Usually the vacuum comes from heating the jar after it's filled at high temps for considerable time. Maranatha is not done under the critical temperature, they will admit that if you call and inquire, not appropriate for raw foodists is what they said about it and their almond butter. The grinding process also generates heat. It is less roasted than the roasted versions, but not under the critical temp.

[codajess]

Ok, well, just repeating what the "gurus" on this site have said.

For example: the whole olive drama. I keep reading that olives aren't raw because of the canning/vacuum process; and that nothing with that vacuum seal (nothing that pops when u first open it, breaking the seal) is raw.

[rawpriestess]

I haven't seen anything about a vacuum seal being not raw, but I do know that anything canned is not raw.

You can buy vacuum packed stuff, and I vacuum pack my foods that I mail and it is totally raw, the vacuum sealing makes it easy to ship, and totally air tight, although it is not canned, I do use a vacuum seal when I put things in jars, just like swingbolder, but they do not use any heat, so they are still raw.

however, Marantha, does use enough heat to kill any bacteria, then it useds enough heat to kill any enzymes too. So, definitely Not raw.

[Sheryl]

Someone asked about vaccuum sealed jars before (I thought it was here) and I said I didn't think they were raw. Someone came on with all kinds of detailed info saying they could be done raw and in fact most vaccuum sealing was not done at high temperatures.

I never looked into it, as I really don't buy anything bottled... but there may be something there.

Cheers,
Sheryl

[Graciebeliever]

Why is vacuum sealed in a jar technically not raw?

I vacuum seal food at home without the use of heat. Does commercial vacuum sealing use a different process?
Hey Swing :)
Can you please give me any info on the Vacuum thing that you use. I feel the same way about wanting to keep my stuff fresh for as long as possible!
Thanks!

[codajess]

I've read all along on this board that if a jar pops when you open it (from the vacuum seal) even though the items might be raw to begin with, the processing to seal it heats it. And if the search function would include all the words i was searcing for, instead of removing important ones, I'd have found a couple of the exact ones I was looking for. But oh well. This is what I can find for now.

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=143151&postcount=6

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=75530&postcount=4
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=87768&postcount=2http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=87946&postcount=3


http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=75530&postcount=4

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=69456&postcount=6

I have to finish getting ready for work, so I don't have time to look up more.

[spicyfull]

I have a Vacuum Sealer that I seal thing in jars and bags with. I think what you should notice is: are these items refregerated or not. When I seal thing it takes the air out, and when I open it the air is released and it makes a noise. But if it is something raw and not dehytrated it MUST be refrigerated...........

[codajess]

For clarification, I'm not talking about the foodsaver vacuum sealer type thing. I'm talking about the conventional store bought jars that are mass produced & vacuum sealed (olives, some coconut butters, nut butters, tahini, etc.) Like I said, I know I've read it on here a million times. It would be great to get some clarification on that, now that some people are saying it doesn't matter. I'd go back to buying the jarred coconut butter over the virgin oil de coco creme stuff.