Gluten Free Superfood: Navitas Naturals Goji Berries

PRODUCT NAME:                       Goji Berries

COMPANY NAME:                       Navitas Naturals

COST:                                         $5.49

SIZE:                                           4 oz

COST PER OZ:                            $1.37

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           N/A

ORGANIC:                                   YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           USDA Organic

VEGAN:                                       YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:            UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:            N/A

SHELF LIFE:                                1 year +

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.

REVIEW:

Taste:

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: health enthusiasts just LOVE to push the Goji berry. As mentioned in other reviews I have written, it is a nutritional powerhouse. This tiny little guy is known as a “superfood” because of its extreme nutrient density. In addition to the low calorie doses of vitamin A and vitamin C, zinc, riboflavin, fiber, and beta-carotene that you would expect from a berry, it also has tons of essential amino acids and even PROTEIN packed into it. Although it is relatively benign in appearance, The Goji berry has some seriously wonderful health promoting properties.

I had previously only tried Goji berries within vegan, raw, faux dessert types of products and had been vastly unimpressed with the flavor. I found Goji berries to be seedy, bitter, sour, and texturally a bit paste-y. When I was given a plain bag of these berries to review I wasn’t exactly excited, but I was certainly attempting to keep an open mind. For something so nutritionally awesome, there are always second and third chances.

First, I tried sprinkling these plain berries atop some oatmeal, once I was done cooking it. I was surprised that the formerly repellent chewy quality actually added a lot to the texture of my oatmeal. The taste was strong, it’s true, but due to the price of the Goji Berries, I actually found this to be a beneficial component. A little Goji went a long way flavor wise!

I was pleased with Gojis as a simple oatmeal topping but still found the flavor to pack just the slightest bit more punch then I would like with breakfast. In a second attempt I stewed the berries in the oatmeal as it cooked. This is when the true miracle happened! With the benefit of softening the Goji’s tartness and integrating the flavor into the oats I was the recipient of some true flavor delight. My bland morning meal was suddenly a delicious textural dream, all due to just a few Gojis. Time to hang up my Goji hater cap and claim it loud and proud: these berries are my new best friend!

I imagine this product would be best in situations where it was cooked a bit. Oatmeal, sweet polentas, and accents to pies seem ideal but experimenting with topping yogurt and granolas with them might work too. Don’t give up on the Goji! It just might surprise you.

Labeling

I found labeling of this product to be very sufficient. All the nutrition information was very clear, and lots of other facts about the benefits of Goji berries were included on the bag.

Packaging:

Packaging of this product was a thick plastic sealed bag. It seemed sufficient for upholding the freshness of the product.

Reader’s Reviews:

Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:           4

Taste:               4         

Value:              3

OVERALL:        3.7

Reviewed by Lacy D.

Gluten Free Chocolate: Navitas Naturals Cacao Nibs

PRODUCT NAME:                        Cacao Nibs

BRAND:                                       Navitas Naturals

COST:                                          $9.99

SIZE:                                            8 OZ

COST PER OZ:                             $1.25/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:           NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            N/A

ORGANIC:                                    YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            CUC

VEGAN:                                        YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:             YES

LOCATION OF FACILITY:              NOVATO, CA

SHELF LIFE:                                 1.5 YEARS

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.       

REVIEW:

There is something wonderful about consuming a snack that you can feel physically benefiting your body. This is especially true when the snack is not only healthy, but also tastes great. Navitas Naturals specializes in snacks which are raw, vegan, and organic. Their products make it simple and convenient to add more Superfoods into your diet. Superfoods, or foods which have a low caloric count but are packed with nutrients, can give you an energy boost and improve your health. It can be hard for busy people to be able to enjoy the benefits of such foods, and Navitas Naturals makes it easy.

Cacao nibs are simply made of the bean of the cacao plant, which is the base of all rich chocolaty treats. To turn cacao into chocolate, a lot of processing needs to be done and a good amount of sugar will be added, changing its flavor immensely. in it’s pure, raw form, it still has a strong, smoky bitter chocolate taste and is very rich in all that is good for you, like antioxidants and dietary fiber. High in magnesium, Navitas Naturals processes their organic Raw Cacao Nibs at low temperatures, insuring that none of the essential nutritional benefits are destroyed.

I enjoyed my cacao nibs in my yogurt, giving it a boost of rich flavor and nutrients. I also added the nibs to my baked goods, like the crust of a chocolate, gluten free pie, which gave the crust a little crunch as well as a gourmet touch. Some people really like the taste of bitter chocolate, and unfortunately I am not one of them, and find the taste of pure, un-doctored Cacao Nibs a little intense. I would recommend substituting cacao in any recipe in which you would use chocolate. Navitas Naturals provides a great list of recipes for cacao nibs like Antioxidant Superfood Truffles and Acai Chocolate Flourless Cake on their website www.navitasnaturals.com/recipes/cacao-recipes.html.

Taste: Cacao nibs are rich, chocolaty, smoky and bitter. They can be enjoyed by the handful or added wherever you would use chocolate chips for a healthier snack.

Labeling:   The designers of Navitas Naturals’ package seem to take extra care to make their product appear healthy and clean. The design is cute and contemporary with brown and white silhouetted leaves and a sunny label on the front of the package stating that the snack is certified organic.  On the front it says this product is full of antioxidants, iron and magnesium. The back of the package not only had an ingredients list and nutrition facts, but also included information about the benefits of and suggested uses for this quality product.

Packaging:   Eight, 1oz servings were stored in a Ziploc-style bag.

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:
Texture:         4  
Taste:             4
Value:            3
OVERALL:      3.7

Reviewed by: Jennie L.