• Pork is complimented fantastically by the acidic appley taste in dishes like braised pork chops with leeks
• A fresh spin on coleslaw
• In salad dressings paired with your favorite grainy mustard and some organic EVOO
• Waldorf salad - this vinegar takes it to the next level
• Pan roasted chicken breast perfectly absorbs the flavor complexities when simmered with apple slices and a bit of chicken stock

• Add delicious complexity to the liquid for poaching pears
• Raw and cooked tomatoes shine with a splash of this vinegar over salads or added to sauces and dishes like ratatouille
• Use as the key ingredient in a marinade for richly flavored meats like lamb or duck
• Make a show stopping reduction that could be used to drizzle over fresh figs wrapped in Prosciutto and mint
• Include in a dressing for a blue cheese, walnut and fresh peach salad

Please Note: Any sediment that may settle on the bottom of your bottle is a sign of the natural, handcrafted process in which the vinegar was made. Though not necessary, the vinegar can be simply filtered through a strainer, and poured back into the bottle.

Volume: 200ml, 6.8oz

Why it's in the Slow Food Ark of Taste

The Katz Late Harvest Zinfandel Agrodolce Vinegar is produced with love using the traditional Orleans Method; a style of vinegar production developed in France around 200 years ago. It is now rarely practiced as today's technology allows vinegar to be force-fermented in a few short hours with blasts of oxygen.

Newer methods lose out on the full-bodied taste and health benefits of the traditional Orleans Method vinegars, which are slow-aged in large oak barrels using a nutrient-rich starter called "mother of vinegar". The resulting golden elixir isn't ready to hit your table until it has been hand crafted and aged in 55 gallon oak barrels on the Katz family farm for at least a month. Good things come to those who wait.

Health Benefits

Vinegar produced in the Orleans method is ahead of your grocery store variety because the barrel-aged, unpasteurized vinegar retains the nutrient rich properties of the "mother of vinegar". In studies wine vinegar has been correlated with lowering glycemic levels in patients with type II diabetes. Other exciting benefits include that acetic acid in red wine vinegar aids in lowering fat production when fatty foods are consumed. Also, when added to food, it tends to lessen the amount of salt needed to enhance flavors. We all know too much sodium is linked with many health concerns, so go crazy experimenting with all the exciting ways vinegar can expand and sharpen your palette!

Uses

The Late Harvest Voigner Honey Agrodolce Vinegar works wonders right out of the bottle or when thrown in the pan to caramelize. Some ideas to try:

• Add welcome complexity to pan-seared scallops and tuna
• Freshen up the earthy flavors of legumes such as lentils and chickpeas
• Marinade poultry with honey vinegar, mustard, fresh herbs and olive oil
• Take your fish and chips to a new level
• Roast root vegetables with this vinegar to caramelize their hidden sugary flavors
• Salad dressings will never be the same!

See full Slow Food Ark of Taste Orleans Method Vinegar Article

Katz & Co Honey Agrodolce Vinegar Product Description

Health Benefits of Wine Vinegar

Volume: 12.7oz

Why it's in the Slow Food Ark of Taste

The Tait Farms family revived what was nearly a dead colonial tradition when they started to make their fruit shrubs from a combination of fresh fruit-derived vinegar, cane sugar, honey, and spices.

When packaged food production became more ubiquitous in the late 19^th century, the complex flavor of this day drink lost popularity to pre-made soda pop. Shrub gets its name from the Arabic word "sharab", which means "to drink". Tait farms produces this delicious concoction with the finest ingredients they can obtain and ensures eco-friendly packaging and production practices all along the way. This shrub is considered highly authentic nation wide; it is served at Philadelphia's historic City Tavern as well as some of the best participatory colonial era reenactments in Williamsburg, VA.

Health Benefits

If all the talk about getting cancer from your cellphone, the sun, cooking pans, or your mother-in-law has gotten you in a tizzy, fear not. From our very own experts at the Memorial University of Newfoundland (universities in Newfoundland?), the exact same phytochemicals that make fruit excellent for cancer prevention may be even more powerful when they are concentrated and fermented in the making of fruit vinegar. Drink to your health!

Uses

We went over the most typical use of shrub with a bit of water, but the Tait Family likes to get creative with their recipes by adding it to white wine, champagne, or lemonade and fruit juices. They even have what they call "Radical Uses" such as drizzling a little of this concentrated elixir on things as diverse as ice cream, cooked red cabbage, or mixing it into cream cheese for a fresh take on breakfast. We plan on taking a page out of their book and getting a little risqué.

Ingredients: Tait Farm Fruit Vinegar, Florida Crystals^TM Organic Cane sugar, honey & spices

Information Sources

See full Slow Food Ark of Taste Shrub Article

Tait Farms Shrub Product Description

Volume: 8oz

Why it's in the Slow Food Ark of Taste

Traditionally used by Hawaiians for everything from purifying and blessing tools to flavoring Poke and grilled meats, this non-processed, mineral-rich salt gets its unique coloring from the reddish Hawaiian volcanic clay after which it is named, Alaea. Alaea Hawaiian sea salt is part of Native American tradition and hand harvested. It is not widely exported, and is one of only a few types of sea salt harvested in the United States. Who knew national pride could be so exotically delicious.

Health Benefits

Subtly intensify flavors while getting your daily dose of over 80 unique minerals including: iron, magnesium, potassium, fluoride, calcium, and chloride. The red Alaea clay does not affect the scent or flavor of the salt but it really does increase its health benefits!

Uses

We chose to carry the finer crystal finishing salt as we found the color does not stay so vibrant when ground from a salt mill. It looks especially eye-catching on lighter colored dishes like roasted cauliflower, potato puree, a savory soufflé, or a salted caramel dessert. The cork-topped glass jar it comes in makes it a great gift as well.

Information Sources

Volume: 1lb

Why it's in the Slow Food Ark of Taste

Wild sustainability reigns for this delicious crop! It is harvested from the Manoomin stalks that naturally grow in abundance along the rivers and lakes of the Great Lakes region; it doesn't even need to be planted. The Anishinaabeg harvesters go out in two-person canoes, bend the live stalks over the boat, and use a paddle to knock the grains out of the plant to where they are collected in the bottom of the canoe.

Once harvested, seeds are slowly parched over a wood fire and then hand threshed and winnowed in the wind to remove the coarse hulls. Currently the natural habitat for this tradition is losing ground to recreational zoning, damming, and agricultural runoff. Support the efforts of WELRP to preserve this tradition and serve something that is good for the earth, your soul, and uniquely wild caught!

Health Benefits

We get a little excited when something this full of poetic tradition is also packed with health benefits. Compared to other grains, even health conscious brown rice, Manoomin claims significantly higher levels of protein, fiber, B vitamins, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, and niacin. It even contains traceable amounts of zinc. A carbohydrate that may well be nutritionally guilt-free - we don't think your box of synthetically enriched breakfast cereal could do better.

Uses

Because the Manoomin we feature is authentically hand harvested, more of the hull is removed than in mechanical processes and it takes less time to cook; about 45 min, vs. a full hour. In the hotter months we like to cook the Manoomin to a slightly more al dente texture and serve it as the base for a room temperature salad with flavors that compliment it's already rich complexity: cremini mushrooms sautéed in salty broth, roasted, chopped hazelnuts, and a healthy dousing of brightly flavored apple vinegar to juxtapose against the earthy aromas. We've found other wild rice fanatics use it at every meal of the day:

• Leftover rice made into breakfast porridge with a little added water and milk, and dressed with chopped pecans and dried cranberries
• Added to soups for flavor depth and textural thickness
• For those who want to get fancy: cooked Manoomin makes a fantastic stuffing for small autumn squashes when combined with chestnut slices, oregano, mushrooms, celery and onion

Information Sources

See full Slow Food Ark of Taste Manoomin Wild Rice Article

Nutritional Info & Recipes

White Earth Land Recovery Project Website

Volume: 12oz

Why it's in the Slow Food Ark of Taste

Van Morrison's "sweet as tupelo honey" lady love may be immortalized in song, but real deal tupelo honey is becoming more and more of a rare delight. The once abundant Georgian and Floridian swampland home of tupelo trees losing ground to development. Spread some on your toast to support the dedicated beekeepers that collect it. Tupelo honey is so valued because it can only be collected during a short 2-3 week period in which the tupelo tree's flowers are in bloom. Beekeepers of this honey are unique among their peers for their waterborne ways. To ensure the purity of honey, hives are often placed on small floating docks that the beekeepers maintain and collect from via boat.

The tupelo honey on our site comes direct to you in its most natural state: raw, unprocessed, unheated, unfiltered.

Health Benefits

You wouldn't think something this sweet and delicious could be fit for diabetic individuals, but because of the high levels of laevulose and low levels of dextrose sugars in this honey, many doctors say our glycemic-sensitive friends can enjoy it as well. We never cease to be surprised by what Mother Nature brings to the table.

Raw honey is also known for its antibacterial properties - which led to be a common salve for wounds, burns, and skin-based infections as early as 2500BC. It also works wonders for sore throats in tea, is said to have anti-inflammatory properties, and boosts the immune system. It's powerful stuff!

Uses

Other than the aforementioned buttered toast, this prized honey is a perfect compliment to your favorite teas, flaky pastries, and thick Greek yogurts. In summertime you can't stop us from swirling a spoon of tupelo honey over vanilla bean ice cream or soft serve frozen yogurt and fresh berries. Use it in place of sugar any place you can, and your body will thank you!

Information Sources

See full Slow Food Ark of Taste Tupelo Honey Article

Honey Health Benefits

Volume: 12.7oz

Why it's in the Slow Food Ark of Taste

The Tait Farms family revived what was nearly a dead colonial tradition when they started to make their fruit shrubs from a combination of fresh fruit-derived vinegar, cane sugar, honey, and spices.

When packaged food production became more ubiquitous in the late 19^th century, the complex flavor of this day drink lost popularity to pre-made soda pop. Shrub gets its name from the Arabic word "sharab", which means "to drink". Tait farms produces this delicious concoction with the finest ingredients they can obtain and ensures eco-friendly packaging and production practices all along the way. This shrub is considered highly authentic nation wide; it is served at Philadelphia's historic City Tavern as well as some of the best participatory colonial era reenactments in Williamsburg, VA.

Health Benefits

If all the talk about getting cancer from your cellphone, the sun, cooking pans, or your mother-in-law has gotten you in a tizzy, fear not. From our very own experts at the Memorial University of Newfoundland (universities in Newfoundland?), the same phytochemicals that make fruit excellent for cancer prevention may be even more powerful when they are concentrated and fermented in the making of fruit vinegar. Drink to your health!

Uses

We went over the most typical use of shrub with a bit of water, but the Tait Family likes to get creative with their recipes by adding it to white wine, champagne, or lemonade and fruit juices. They even have what they call "Radical Uses" such as drizzling a little of this concentrated elixir on things as diverse as ice cream, cooked red cabbage, or mixing it into cream cheese for a fresh take on breakfast. We plan on taking a page out of their book and getting a little risqué.

Ingredients: Tait Farm Fruit Vinegar, Florida Crystals^TM Organic Cane sugar, honey & spices

Information Sources

See full Slow Food Ark of Taste Shrub Article

Volume: 2lb

Why it's in the Slow Food Ark of Taste

Carolina Gold rice gets its name from the golden appearance of the rice when ripening in the field, but might also be associated with the fortune it brought to those who grew it and exported it worldwide in the late 1700's. Many things changed after the US Civil War, and it appears that the cultivation of Carolina Gold rice was a practice that quickly died out due to a lack of funding and labor in the war-torn south. One of the aspects of this rice that makes it unique is the delicateness of the rice grain.

When pounding and hulling the rice even the best hand-pounders (or these days, carefully constructed hand-pound emulators) break around 30% of the grains. Although broken rice is considered less valuable to most, the antebellum tastemakers of the Carolinas began to cherish "midlins" or "rice grits" for their superior ability to absorb the flavors in various dishes.

This Carolina Gold Rice can claim authenticity by being grown and hulled in South Carolina. It is grown with sustainable farming practices and because the flooded rice fields make it economically beneficial to keep the Carolina coastal wetlands undeveloped, programs have been put in place to farm Carolina Gold Rice in many historic plantations.

Health Benefits

Carolina Gold Rice doesn't hold a lot over most rice in terms of overall nutritional value, but it may improve your posture. Your head will be held high from the knowledge that this rice is grown using sustainable farming practices and with a lot of South Carolina love.

Uses

Not only does this rice get top ratings for flavor and aroma - it is very adaptable! Try some of these ideas from the Carolina Plantation Rice team:

• A sweet, aromatic base for a shrimp risotto
• The starchy thickener for a delightful chocolate rice pudding
• The medium and absorber of a myriad of flavors in paella
• The hearty base for a tasty and easy to prepare chicken casserole
• And of course it cooks up beautifully as a side dish for any stew or sautéed protein

Information Sources

See full Slow Food Ark of Taste Carolina Gold Rice Article

Volume: 375ml, 12.7oz

Harvested: December 2010

Why it's in the Slow Food Ark of Taste

Meyer lemons are storied to have made their debut in the US around 1908 when mandarin oranges were brought to the country by the US Agricultural Department and then crossed with a standard lemon. The result is a lemon that is much juicier and that yields a slightly sweeter zest and fruit than your typical lemon. This fruit is well loved by top pastry chefs around the country for between-course palette cleansers or refreshingly tart desserts.

Katz & Co, run by Albert and Kim Katz, is a trailblazer in the world of US producers of artisanal, gourmet, eco-conscious foods. The organic Taggiasca olives and organic Meyer Lemons that make this oil are grown on the Katz own farmland. Katz & Co holds to the highest production quality standards and farming practices from vine to press.

Health Benefits

Because you will be getting the Meyer Lemon Olive oil from a small American, family-run farm, the time in which this oil goes from olive branch to your table far outpaces any average grocery store variety from across the sea. Based on our (slightly obsessive) research on olive oil health benefits, many specialists agree that to reap the full value of olive oil, freshness is key and that many grocery store varieties leave the press over a year before you buy them. We love olive oil for its ability to aid liver function, deliver monosaturated fats that actually help lower cholesterol, and its phytonutrients and antioxidants.

Uses

Any dish that would benefit from olive oil with a zesty, fruity kick is fair game!

• As a buttery, lemony basting liquid for roast chicken and potatoes with sea salt and black pepper
• Make your homemade vinaigrette pop with freshness when tossed with baby lettuces
• It makes an unbelievable marinade for all types of seafood; shrimp, salmon, tuna, halibut
  
• Drizzle it over your favorite summer green vegetables such as roasted artichokes, asparagus, and green beans
  

Information Sources

See full Slow Food Ark of Taste Meyer Lemon Article

Katz & Co Meyer Lemon Olive Oil Product Description

Olive Oil Health Benefits

Volume: 6oz

Why it's in the Slow Food Ark of Taste

Meyer lemons are storied to have made their debut in the US around 1908 when mandarin oranges were brought to the country by the US Agricultural Department and then crossed with a standard lemon. The result is a lemon that is much juicier and that yields a slightly sweeter zest and fruit than your typical lemon. This fruit is well loved by many of the top pastry chefs around the country for their favorite between-course palette cleansers or refreshingly tart desserts.

The Blue Chair Fruit team is certifiably obsessed with jam. Not only do they make their small-batch jam, preserves, and marmalades in special copper kettles, they have classes, books, and clubs that generously share their artisanal secrets. We are very excited to share this marmalade with you.

Health Benefits

Lemons are full of vitamin C and apples keep the doctor away; we think we have it covered! In all seriousness, jams made from fresh, unprocessed, unfrozen fruit, untouched by synthetic sweeteners or syrups are just better for your body and your peace of mind.

Uses

This sweet and tart marmalade is surprisingly versatile! We found ways to include it with every meal:

• Spooned onto a buttered crepe fresh off the griddle
• Spread onto the crusty bread of a cheddar and tomato sandwich
• Combined with a bit of wine vinegar to marinate a mouthwatering chicken breast
• Baked into a tart with a layer of summer plums and topped off with whipped cream

Volume: 9oz

Why it's in the Slow Food Ark of Taste

Artisanal jam - made with love from a flavorful rare fruit - slow food to a tee! The Blenheim apricot was prized for its fantastic flavor and therefore hugely abundant in California in the early 1900s. Because the fruit ripens later in the season, damages easily when shipped, and because harvesters and consumers must understand that the fruit ripens from the inside out, it gradually lost popularity to other varieties. This fruit is an example of how consolidated farming results in the varieties of produce in grocery stores being chosen based speed to market and transportability, not on flavor or nutritional value as they should be.

The welovejam team can claim a lot of "firsts" in the retail jam world and their production practices make them exemplary Slow Food advocates. Their fruit never sees the freezer, they never use pectin or lemon juice to thicken or preserve the jam - ensuring that the fruit's full flavors pervade. Among other highlights, they were the first jam makers to label the variety of fruit used (i.e. Blenheim apricot vs. apricot), they use subtle hints of spice in their recipes, and they focus on using biodegradable packaging in every aspect possible. The growing and the jam making all happen in the summer months of sunny California, but the goodness of this apricot can be sent straight to your door for you to enjoy at any time of the year.

Health Benefits

Made from fruit fresh off the tree, these apricots are able to better retain their richness in vitamin A and vitamin C. Plus, we stand by the logic that jams made from fresh, unprocessed, unfrozen, fruit, untouched by synthetic sweeteners or syrups are just better for your body and your peace of mind.

Uses

Maybe we're obsessed, but we've want this jam in every meal of the day:

• Spread on our breakfast croissant or on top of cream cheese on our poppy seed bagel
• A thin layer that mingles with the stone ground mustard on our roast turkey sandwich
• A spoonful dropped into our homemade vinaigrette
• Basted with black pepper and a little more mustard on our grilled pork tenderloin
• In a tart - 'nuff said.

• Drizzle it over grilled vegetables with salt, pepper and grated Parmesan to bring out their sweet and smoky flavors
• Sprinkle salt and rosemary on top of some oil in a small dish to dip your favorite crusty bread
• Use it to dress some fresh summer tomatoes along with a little balsamic, sea salt, and cracked pepper
• After broiling a white-fleshed fish, finish the dish with a drizzle of Mission olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice

Volume: 20oz (1.25lb)

Why they're in the Slow Food Ark of Taste

Originally found in Peru, these big delicious beans with rustic steampunk appeal have been part of our gastronomic heritage since the early 1840s. Back then it was our southwestern counterparts who couldn’t get enough of the many delicious ways to employ its firm texture and chestnut-like taste. Although the bean is known for its hardiness and high yield it lost popularity to more commercially available white lima beans.

Now Christmas Lima Beans are grown and harvested with much care by many smaller producers and home gardeners. We chose beans from Zursun due to their founder’s dedication to growing, perfecting, and protecting the most delicious bean varieties. We’ve been told Idaho is the downright perfect agricultural setting for nurturing these gorgeous legumes.

Health Benefits

These beans are like a Christmas present for your heath. Just one serving contains:

• 15% of your recommended daily value of iron
• 28% of your recommended daily value of fiber (7g)
  
• 7 grams of protein, and more!

Uses

We personally like these nutty-flavored, beautiful beans to stand on their own with some of the seasoning ideas we mention below, but we’ve heard their texture stands up beautifully in soups too. Here are some ideas:

• Our friends at Zursun like to combine them with sautéed garlic and fresh chopped parsley
  
• Cook them with some caramelized onions and smoky lardons
• Use a Christmas Lima bean stew as a colorful, hearty filling for some vegetarian tacos
• Use the leftover stew to make a green salad more colorful and filling!

Information Sources

See full Slow Food Ark of Taste Christmas Lima Bean Article

Zursun Idaho Heirloom Beans Recipes

Volume: 24oz (1.5lb)

Why they're in the Slow Food Ark of Taste:

According to the Slow Food USA’s research Jacob’s Cattle (or Trout) beans were considered so beautiful and so delicious that some legends say they were given as a gift from the Passamaquoddy natives of Maine to the first white child born in Lubec, Maine, Joseph Clark, which makes it a very historic New World heirloom. Others, such as our friends at Zursun trace the bean’s roots to early German settlers. Like our other heirloom beans, this varietal lost farm territory to more commercial, less colorful and less distinctly flavored bean varieties. We couldn’t find too much history on the name of the bean, but in the Slow Food Ark of Taste its indicated that both Jacob’s Cattle Bean and Trout bean are acceptable names, but that the former is the older name for the bean.

Now Jacob’ Cattle beans (or Trout beans) are grown and harvested with much care by many smaller producers and home gardeners. We chose beans from Zursun due to their founder’s dedication to growing, perfecting, and protecting the most delicious bean varieties. We’ve been told Idaho is the downright perfect agricultural setting for nurturing these gorgeous legumes.

Health Benefits

Jacob’s Cattle beans aren’t just a gift of legends, they’re a gift for your heath. Just one serving, 1/4 cup of cooked beans, contains:

• 15% of the recommended daily value of iron
• 36% of the recommended daily value of fiber (9g)
• 7 grams of protein
• Some vitamin C, some calcium and more!
  

Uses

Jacob’s Cattle Beans are said to add wonderfully to soups and stews. Here are some ideas:

• Our friends at Zursun like to make a rich stew of simply Jacob’s Cattle Beans, and some chopped carrots, celery and onion
• Their distinctive flavor is also highlighted in soups that include ham and sage
• Take any pinto bean recipe and replace the pintos with Jacob’s Cattle Beans for a more ornate presentation

Volume: 20oz (1.25lb)

Health Benefits

These beauties pack a nutrition-filled punch! Just one serving, 1/4 cup of cooked beans, contains:

• 15% of the recommended daily value of iron
• 28% of the recommended daily value of fiber (7g)
• 8 grams of protein and more!

Uses

We personally like these nutty-flavored, colorful beans to stand on their own with some of the seasoning ideas we mention below, but we’ve heard their texture stands up beautifully in soups too. After they’ve been soaked and simmered in some salted water we like to:

• Combine them with sautéed garlic and fresh chopped parsley (this is the favorite preparation of our friends at Zursun)
• Stir them in with some caramelized onions and smoky lardons
• Use them as the colorful, hearty filling for vegetarian tacos
• Use the leftovers to make a green salad feel hearty and filling

Volume: 6oz

Why it’s on the Slow Food Ark of Taste

The word “mariposa” means butterfly in Spanish and this jam is so flavorful and sweet, we think it’ll make your heart flutter. Mariposa Plums are originally from Pasadena, California. They started out as a seedling chosen by Jennie Benedict Thompson in 1923 and became well loved for having all the characteristics of the perfect plum. Rich, juicy, deep red flesh surrounded by glossy, tart skin and with only a small, easy to free pit. Juicy and with a spicy, lingering flavor they are a big hit when eaten off the tree or cooked.

The Blue Chair Fruit team is certifiably obsessed with jam. Not only do they make their small-batch jam, preserves, and marmalades in special copper kettles, they have classes, books, and clubs that generously share their artisanal secrets. We are very excited to share this marmalade with you.

Health Benefits

Plums are valued for their high content of vitamins C, A, and fiber – where do you think prunes - which are dried plums - get all their nutritional benefits?! In all seriousness, jams made from fresh, unprocessed, unfrozen fruit, untouched by synthetic sweeteners or syrups are just better for your body and your peace of mind.

Uses

This sweet, spicy jam tastes good everywhere! Here are some ideas:

• The mariposa plum flavor skyrocket your PB&J to the next level
• It tastes fantastic on a turkey sandwich that needs a fruity kick
• Shaken up with your favorite Italian vinaigrette recipe and drizzled on baby spinach, goat cheese, and walnuts
• We couldn’t help eating a few spoonfuls on it’s own while adding it to some greek yogurt

Information Sources

See full Slow Food Ark of Taste Mariposa Plum Article

• A FREE 100% cotton, reusable Heirloom Table tote with 100% recycled material ribbon
• Meyer Lemon Infused Olive Oil – for the richness of Suisun Valley organic olives and meyer lemons as the perfect citrus base to any vinaigrette or topping for pasta and rice (375ml, 12.7oz)
• Honey Infused Voigner Agrodolce Vinegar – for that sweet and sour blend that will make your vinaigrette more complex and flavorful or your soup taste ever so bright (200 ml, 6.8 oz)
• Raspberry Shrub – for taking your standard vinaigrette to an sharp, berry-flavored masterpiece that makes it taste like you have been perfecting the recipe for weeks before the party (12.7 oz)
  

• A FREE 100% cotton, reusable Heirloom Table tote with 100% recycled material ribbon
• Apple Meyer-Lemon Marmalade – for taking a block of Gouda and crackers from after class snack to Le Gourmet-style hors de oeuvres (6 oz)
  
• Blenheim Apricot Jam – croissants and bagels with cream cheese will never be the same (it also tastes awesome on a spoon…) (8 oz)
  
• Mariposa Plum Jam – makes PB & J worthy of kings and toasted English muffins decadent enough for Princesses (6 oz)
  

Volume: 24oz (1.5lb)

Why they're Slow Food & a Treasured Heirloom:

Dapple Grey beans are said to be sister beans of the Anasazi beans cultivated for centuries by the Anasazi people of the U.S. southwest. Dapple Grey beans are an American heirloom treasured for their sweeter flavor and slightly mealy texture, which lends to the beans being an excellent addition to thick soups.

Now Dapple Grey beans are grown and harvested with much care by many smaller producers and home gardeners. We chose beans from Zursun due to their founder’s dedication to growing, perfecting, and protecting the most delicious bean varieties. We’ve been told Idaho, where this batch of beans was grown, is the downright perfect agricultural setting for nurturing these gorgeous legumes.

Health Benefits

Dapple Grey beans have amazing health benefits! Just one serving, 1/4 cup of cooked beans, contains:

• 25% of the recommended daily value of iron
• 25% of the recommended daily value of calcium
• 24% of the recommended daily value of fiber (9g)
• 7 grams of protein

Uses

Dapple Grey beans make a fantastic addition to soups and chilis. Here are some ideas:

• Our friends at Zursun like to make a rich stew of simply Dapple Grey Beans, chopped carrots, celery, onion, and braised greens
• Their distinctive flavor is also highlighted in vegetarian chilis with lots of tomato
• Take any pinto bean recipe and replace the pintos with Dapple Grey beans for a lower carb result (and less of the unwanted digestive effects of beans)!

Volume: 12.7oz

Why it's in the Slow Food Ark of Taste

The Tait Farms family revived what was nearly a dead colonial tradition when they started to make their fruit shrubs from a combination of fresh fruit-derived vinegar, cane sugar, honey, and spices.

When packaged food production became more ubiquitous in the late 19^th century, the complex flavor of this day drink lost popularity to pre-made soda pop. Shrub gets its name from the Arabic word "sharab", which means "to drink". Tait farms produces this delicious concoction with the finest ingredients they can obtain and ensures eco-friendly packaging and production practices all along the way. This shrub is considered highly authentic nation wide; it is served at Philadelphia's historic City Tavern as well as some of the best participatory colonial era reenactments in Williamsburg, VA.

Health Benefits

If all the talk about getting cancer from your cellphone, the sun, cooking pans, or your mother-in-law has gotten you in a tizzy, fear not. From our very own experts at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, the exact same phytochemicals that make fruit excellent for cancer prevention may be even more powerful when they are concentrated and fermented in the making of fruit vinegar - which is the key ingredient in this Lemon Shrub. Drink to your health!

Uses

We went over the most typical use of shrub with a bit of water, but the Tait Family likes to get creative with their recipes by adding it to white wine, champagne, or lemonade and fruit juices. They even have what they call "Radical Uses" such as drizzling a little of this concentrated elixir on things as diverse as ice cream, cooked red cabbage, or mixing it into cream cheese for a fresh take on breakfast. We plan on taking a page out of their book and getting a little risqué.

Ingredients: Tait Farm Fruit Vinegar, Florida Crystals^TM Organic Cane sugar, honey & spices

Information Sources

See full Slow Food Ark of Taste Shrub Article

Tait Farms Shrub Product Description

• Ancient Grain Oatmeal – for that fuller, old fashioned steel-cut texture and the rich, nutty flavors (and health benefits) of organic ancient grains including Kamut® Khorasan, flax, oats, barley, and rye (1 lb)
  
• Apple Meyer Lemon Marmalade – as the perfect sweet & tart way to get some extra vitamin C while topping your toast (6 oz)
• Apricot Jam - to drizzle on croissants or pancakes for the delicious sweet and spiced flavors of the finest Blenheim Apricots (9 oz)
• Lemon Shrub - a dash to brighten up mom's mimosa or her morning OJ with this delectable, fruit vinegar and organic cane sugar-based cordial (12.7 oz)