Important info on Trader Joes Almond Butter.

[Jodi]

I called the store I bought it from. The man I spoke with told me all their almond butter under the TJ label is pasteurized. Even the one labeled raw.

So...does that mean their Almond Butter is not truly raw?



Jodi

[veg-one]

AUGH! Your kidding??? I've been buying that one! i was so excited to see they now carry raw almond butter. i guess ill have to go back to what i was using. bummer! Thanks for sharing that information.
Oh, and ya, it wouldn’t be raw if its pasteurized. That would mean it would have to be cooked!

[Jodi]

I figured pasteurized was not raw. I don't see how they can continue to label it raw, but I suppose there are no actual laws governing raw foods and labeling. It's a big bummer, indeed as they has the best price on raw almond butter.


Jodi

[levamssg]

Perhaps the almonds they used were raw, but I would assume it would have to be heat processed when it is put into a jar.

If you have a food processor, you can make your own almond butter. I have a small food processor - throw in 3 handfuls of almonds and a small drizzle of olive oil. Turn it on (REALLY noisy) to start, and let that baby run for a minute ... stop it and scrape down the sides --- let it run another minute. You can tell when it is done - it balls up, then flattens out and is really creamy. Very Good.

[spockafina]

thank you so much for finding that out!

[Rawkinlocs]

Bummer. Ah well, I guess I can always start making my own unless I allow that to be one little non-raw thing in my diet. Decisions, decisions.

Thanks Jodi for finding out and posting your findings! :)

[CAdreamer]

It's pretty safe to assume that anything in a jar or can has been subjected
to high temps to eliminate bacteria and preserve the shelf life. you're better off making your own.

My personally favorite which I am not willing to give up for 'raw' is any form of olive....they're so awesome, and it's one of those strange foods that has to have something done to it in order for it to be edible. You just have to decide how far you are willing to go with raw and whether it matters to you personally to indulge in something special to you. For me, it isn't an issue.

[VeganVixen]

It's pretty safe to assume that anything in a jar or can has been subjected
to high temps to eliminate bacteria and preserve the shelf life. you're better off making your own.




The majority,if not all of the raw and canned goods are in the refridgerated section......not isles.

[Sweet lips]

I really didn't want to know that I know that - you know what I mean - hey, that is what canning is - huh.

[tames]

Hmmm.... I just watched Alissa's DVD on preparing raw food. She used almond butter in one of the recipies. She stated that to make your own you would need a juicer that also homogenizes. She specifically mentioned the Champion juicer. Does the blender method mention above work just as well? Does "homogenize" mean that it uses water instead of oil?

--Tim

[VeganVixen]

Hmmm.... I just watched Alissa's DVD on preparing raw food. She used almond butter in one of the recipies. She stated that to make your own you would need a juicer that also homogenizes. She specifically mentioned the Champion juicer. Does the blender method mention above work just as well? Does "homogenize" mean that it uses water instead of oil?

--Tim


Yes , you can definatley use your blender or even a good food processor , I think homogonize means to blend REALLY well .....I will go on my online encarta /dictionary to find out ........

[VeganVixen]

verb

1. transitive verb give milk or cream even consistency: to emulsify the fat particles in milk or cream in order to give it an even consistency and prevent cream from separating from the rest of the milk


2. transitive and intransitive verb become or make homogeneous: to become homogeneous, or cause something to become homogeneous


ok I dont think she means the first definition -LOL!!!!

But I think the idea is to turn alot of things (nuts) and turn it into 1 (homo) thing ......so there are no rules on water ,oil - you could even just try the nuts by themselves (blend REALLY weel though)

[tames]

Do you need to soak the almonds first? How long?

--Tim

[VeganVixen]

you dont HAVE to , it just helps to release the enzymes and create better digestion ......however after you soak THEM (FOR 12 hours) , you might want to dehydrate them to get them "buttery -er " ,lol - but Ive never tried them soaked so it might be great w/o the dehydrating.....

[levamssg]

I don't soak my almonds when I'm making almond butter ... just a personal thing, I don't like the texture soaked almonds when I make the butter. however, you could soak them, the dehydrate them back to crispy, then make the butter I suppose.

I just take raw almonds - put into my food processor - and process. I usually add a small drizzle of olive oil to make the butter really creamy. I don't know how long the butter keeps in the fridge, because I make small batches and never have any left over for more than a day.

I do have a green star juicer with a blank plate, but prefer the texture of the almond butter made in the food processor best.

[Leiloshka]

I did a search for almond butter and found this thread among others. The price has just doubled to $16 for almond butter at a local (well, 30 min. away) health food store and I'm looking for something cheaper.

Many people make their own I see. Several gave prices on the almonds per pound but can anyone give an example on how many raw almonds does it take to make...say a serving? several servings? A jar of almond butter? I'm just trying to weigh which is more cost effective.

I have to face it that the almond butter is TOO expensive. Maybe after what I read about Trader Joes being pasteurized I can then think ALL the others are also pasteurized and then maybe my craving would cease? Mmmm, probably not. I LOVE THE STUFF. The kids like it on sandwiches and it will stop some of my cravings. ESPECIALLY my chocolate cravings when I use it to make Alissa's fudge ball recipe. Yes, I could easily become addicted to those things I think. See. I need a cheaper habit. So, can someone break down the price on a homemade version vs. the store bought version?

THANKS!! ;)

[VeggieMel]

I don't know why such inaccurate labeling is allowed. For instance, I just bought a bag of "raw cashews" from my health food store, but I've heard from numerous people that you can't really buy raw cashews, and if it's labeled raw, it's not really. How can they get away with that? And why don't they just sell them raw? What's the problem?

[kel]

the number is 1-800-SHOP-TJS (800-746-7857)
I went through their web site and their almond butter says it contains roasted almonds, although I am not certain that I was looking at the label of the raw almond butter, as i was on the web.
I would not take the word of a fellow working in a store, call the manufacturer.
I manufacture a product and the people selling my products don't always know what is in it and what is out. Although if I have a consumer calling I listen. :D

http://www.traderjoes.com

[Rawkinlocs]

I don't know why such inaccurate labeling is allowed. For instance, I just bought a bag of "raw cashews" from my health food store, but I've heard from numerous people that you can't really buy raw cashews, and if it's labeled raw, it's not really. How can they get away with that? And why don't they just sell them raw? What's the problem?


To their knowledge and by their standards, the cashews ARE raw. More than likely they don't know anything about enzymes and nutrients being killed if something is heated for a certain amount of time at a certain temp.

If heat is used to remove the nut from the shell, they don't count that because the nut itself, once removed from the shell, is not roasted. I mean, there is a taste difference between roasted cashews and "raw" ones and to me they taste...raw. It is our beloved raw community that has placed such high standards/expectations on things such as that.

I, personally, am not such a purist. Don't know that I ever will be...perhaps later in my life, but as for now, TJ's or anyone else's "Raw" almond butter and "raw" cashews will continue to be staples of mine.

[twinyoga]

Trader Joe's raw almond butter...check the label...it says "raw roasted almonds" (or something like that). Totally misleading. But I still buy it. It's so cheap and I use very little of it.

[meganthevegan]

I have a jar in my hand and it says organic raw almond butter. Ingredients: organic raw almonds. It says trader joes distributes and sells but I can't tell who manufactures, guess you call trader joes? I believe it is pasturized but then does that mean my tahini is pasturized also? and what else? this raises a lot of questions.

[Rawkinlocs]

I mentioned this before, but when I was buying TJ's raw almond butter before, it had a different label. Then, the last time I was there, it had a new label. The words on the ingredient list for the old label was "raw almonds". The ingredients on the new label said, "roasted almonds". But the flavor was the exact same as the ones I had bought in the past with the old label. I honestly think it was a typo. I've tasted the roasted almond butter by TJ's (grabbed the wrong jar one day by accident) and the raw almond butter I buy from them (with the newer label) tastes nothing like the roasted one I tasted by accident but rather tastes identical to raw almond butter.

[Essensual]

I remember reading that David Wolfe's company sells truly raw cashews which one of the consumers was actually able to sprout and grow a plant from. If it's true, I'd say that qualifies as raw, but I also remember them being really expensive too.

[RawTruth]

I've bought the "raw" cashews sold under Nature's First Law's label. I personally don't believe they're truly raw -- as in not any raw-er than other raw cashews. They didn't feel any different in my body. I'm not buying them anymore.

Megan, the only raw nut butters that I know of are ones that have to be refrigerated, like the Rejuevenate brand that they sell up the street at Wild Oats (also at Mother's in Huntington Beach -- if you've gone there). I bought that brand of tahini, also, but I'm not sure if they use raw sesame seeds or if it's called raw just because it's not pasteurized. Since they're a reputable (and expensive!) raw brand, I'm assuming it's truly raw.

BTW, your son is darling -- it was fun seeing you at Good Mood Food Cafe last week! I hope you're feeling better :D

[meganthevegan]

I go to both places (mother's seems to be a bit less expensive). I'll have to check for those.

It was also nice to meet you and thank for the compliment! I do feel better and it hasn't happened again-weird! I swear I want to eat at Good Mood Food everyday. I'm craving their cakes!!

[Mike]

I've bought the "raw" cashews sold under Nature's First Law's label. I personally don't believe they're truly raw -- :D

Hi friends,

Raw almonds have a toxin in them called Tannin.

The only way to remove the tannins is to soak the almonds. The tannins are what turns the soak water brown.

I soak the almonds and then run them through the food processor with the S blade for five minutes. Another option is to run them through the blender with a small amount of water.

The Truely raw cashews on the raw food sites will sprout after you soak them. I always soak the cashews, they taste much better that way (they are alive and juicy!)

The raw cashews in the health food store won't sprout. My friends said the cashews at Whole Foods are truely raw and will sprout, but I haven't tried them out yet.

Quote
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tannin_(demon)
"Tannin is also a toxin that is found in acorns and will shut down the digestive system. Tannin is located on the inner skin of an acorn."