Organic Almond Butter

Organic Almond Nut Butter is rapidly gaining in poularity since it has superior healthy attributes that peanut butter does not. In fact when properly created almond butter can have the same nurtitional benefits as whole raw almonds- see my other blog post on almond nutritional benefits: https://www.chorganicalmonds.com/post/almond-health-benefits

How is Almond Butter Typically Made:

To make any nut butter the chef must release the oils in the nut. The cheapest way to do this is to use roasted (cooked) almonds in an inexpensive milling machine. When you use rosted almonds you degrade the nutritional value of the almond and kill the live enzymes. Additionally the flavor is not as robust as raw, stone-ground almond butter. Its not uncommon to see a "fresh" almond butter kiosk at a grocery story, push the button and you get fesh almond butter,... right? well, not really. Those almonds in that machine have been roasted!

When you shop for almond butter in the retail store, roasted almond butter is what you are going to get, but not what you want.

The Best Almond Butter

At Capay Hills Orchard we use truly raw, unpasteurized almonds from our orchard. The stone grinders are bought from India. Our process involves using a food processing machine to grind the whole almonds into a coarse flour, then it is added to the grinding mill. After about 13 minutes at room temperature it is ready with the consistency of peanut butter. It is the best small batch almond butter available. Very little oil separation since the whole grinding process is done at room temperature. No ingredients are added, just almonds, but the stone grinding process really makes the natural flavor of the almonds come out. No salt, No sugar No added oil.

Can you do this at home?

Yes, but best not to use a food processor or blender since after 15 minutes the butter will be rather warm and then chances are you have killed the enzymes in the nut.

Shopping for Almond Butter

In retail stores, 90% of the almond butter available is made with roasted almonds. If you are able to find raw almond butter in the store, its been made with foreign almonds since foreign almonds are not subject to the USDA pasteurization law. Nice huh

If shopping on-line be careful. Be sure to look for unpasteuized, California almonds from the farm that grew them! A California farm must do the processing themselves (make the almond butter), otherwise the 3rd party company that is creating the butter must, by law, pasteurize the almonds since that party is now a handler and is subject to the pasteurization law 7 CFR Part 981.

How to Enjoy- check out our recipes

• Blend into smoothies.

• Spread on apples, toast, or crackers.

• Add to oatmeal or yogurt.

• Use in baking.

  
  

  Feel free to comment and share this article with your friend who might be interested and who are looking for a top notch orchard to buy real almonds from.

  Brian

  The Farmer

  Almonds may not be cheap, but they are cheaper than the doctor or hospital. Eat well, live well, and support your organic farmer and family farm.

  You can buy unpasteurized raw almonds and almond butter directly from the California farmer at Capay Hills Orchard. Order off the website, www.chorganicalmonds.com or call or text 530-507-8222.

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  Organic Raw Almond Butter