july 18, 2008   

Summer's Sweet Tea		Thanks a Million		Basking in the glow

Summer's Sweet Tea

It’s hot outside, and when it’s hot like THIS, there is nothing quite so refreshing as a tall glass of cool, sweet tea. “Sweet Tea” is a Southern tradition. Although now rooted in Berkeley CA, Tennessee-born eco-chef Bryant Terry, author of “GRUB: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen,” knows Sweet Tea … Bryant says: When it comes to non-alcoholic, beverage staples from The South, Sweet Tea will consistently be in the top two, along with lemonade.  And it ain't called "sweet" for nothing. Although Sweet Tea usually comes pre-sweetened with refined white sugar, most people add just “a lil' bit more” of some kind of sweetener when it hits the table.   I created this equally sweet version that will satisfy the most selective Sweet Tea connoisseurs, and won't give drinkers an insulin spike. Wholesome Sweeteners’ Organic Blue Agave syrup is becoming a popular food and beverage sweetener in general, but it is especially good for non-insulin dependent diabetics, as it is a low glycemic index sugar substitute. It's pleasantly sweet, can be used in a range of dishes, and lacks that chemical-ly taste of a lot of chemical sweeteners like acesulfame-K, aspartame, and sucralose.   I intentionally over-sweetened this tea in order for it to even out once ice is added. Enjoy!”                                                -- bryant   Agave-Sweetened Double-Orange Pekoe Tea   Ingredients  12 cups cold water 2 2-inch sticks of cinnamon 12 orange pekoe black tea bags 2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 1½ cups Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Blue Agave nectar (see note below)  Ice cubes Thin orange wedges, garnish   Method In a stockpot, combine the water and cinnamon sticks and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add the tea bags, orange juice, lemon juice, and blue agave nectar.  Cover and let stand for 30 minutes.    Allow the tea to cool.  Remove the tea bags with a slotted spoon.     Ladle into glasses filled with ice and garnish with orange wedges.    Yield: about 1 gallon   Note from the Sugar Club: Use Organic Raw Blue Agave nectar for a slightly richer flavor profile. For other summer cooler ideas, visit Wholesome's Recipe Library’s beverage recipe collection.

Thanks ... a MILLION!

Women gather at Kasinthula's water well, dug with Fair Trade dollars generated by consumers' support of our Malawi Sugars. What a difference a dollar makes ... now imagine a million of them.   We extend a million THANK YOUs to each of you for your continued support of Wholesome’s Fair Trade Certified sweeteners. Working together, we really are making a difference for so many people in the developing world. At the end of the 2nd quarter, Wholesome Sweeteners wired the one-millionth social premium dollar to our Fair Trade partners.    “You all have so many choices in today’s marketplace,” says Pauline McKee, vice president of marketing for Wholesome Sweeteners. “We are genuinely pleased to offer socially and environmentally concerned consumers Fair Trade Certified organic options. Your support of these products demonstrates their commitment to the larger cause. Fair Trade Certified means that they can compete with factory farms, send their kids to school, develop the quality of their crops, practice sustainable agriculture, and build thriving communities. Fair Trade Certified products are healthier for consumers, for farmers and for the world we live in.” For independently verified updates on Wholesome Sweeteners' Fair Trade Certified co-op partners' investments, please visit our Fair Trade page.

Basking in the glow ...

For the second consecutive year, Wholesome Sweeteners products basked in the glow of the sofi Awards, the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) award for specialty outstanding food innovation, hence, “sofi.” (NASFT is the organization that sponsors the Fancy Foods Shows). Wholesome’s product line and 5g packages were nominated from among more than 2100 entries and celebrated as being two of the market's most innovative specialty products. Where in the world was our globe-trotting Technical Services Manager last time? Congratulations to Mia H from NY; John K from San Francisco; and Patricia L from Fullerton, CA … you’re right! Joo-Hee is visiting Wholesome Sweeteners first Fair Trade Certified Cooperative in Kasinthula, Malawi, a tiny country in southeastern Africa bordered by Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia. The Fair Trade Cooperatives in Malawi produce Wholesome's delicious, golden Fair Trade Certified Raw Can and Natural Cane sugars.   Well done! Your Fair Trade gift boxes should be arriving soon!

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