Spice for savvy foodies; Organic olives capture farm-to-table flavor; Honey spreads

Organic olives capture farm-to-table flavor
Brimming with bold flavors, Alive & Well’s Probiotic-Rich Organic Olives reflect how Greek farmers have connected to the land for centuries, hand harvesting and curing the organic fruit in small batches using natural lactofermentation that yields live, active cultures similar to those found in naturally cultured yogurt, cheese, and sauerkraut.

“Alive & Well Olives—as the name implies—protects the live, raw, fermented cultures in the fruit and in the brine,” says Sotiris Kitralikis, head of product sourcing. “In addition to being full of nutrients, our olives have a richness and depth of flavor that comes from the terroir that is unique to each region in which these olives are grown.”

The collection is sourced from four different areas in Greece, each known for a specific heirloom variety—Kalamata, Rovies, Chalkidiki, and Atalanti—and can be found in the refrigerated section of select natural grocers for a suggested retail price of $7.95 a jar.

Creamy, spreadable honey
Bumbleberry Farms’ founder Karen Mosholder created her company to address the disastrous Colony Collapse Disorder that was destroying a significant number of the world’s honeybees. After becoming an apiary expert, she developed her own hives and sold her heritage honey locally until the demand grew and she expanded into a national brand.

The company’s latest offering is its Honey Cream Spreads, which can be added to sweet and savory recipes, mixed into yogurt, oatmeal, or beverages, or spread on toast. Available in four flavors—Lover’s Leap Sea Salt Caramel, Squirrel Crazy, Sticky Bun Cinnamon, and Molten Lava Spiced Chocolate—each spread is handcrafted of honey, whole milk, butter, pure vanilla, pure cane sugar, and sea salt for just the right amount of sweetness.

All Honey Cream Spreads are free of gluten, grains, refined sugar, and artificial flavorings and preservatives. They can be found online and at retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $8.99—$12.49 for an 8-ounce jar.

A spice for savvy foodies
There are hundreds of ways to make it and hundreds of ways to use it—Zahtar, that is. A new spice from Pereg Gourmet, Zahtar is showing up in everything from pita and pizza to matzo balls and cocktails.

Zahtar has been a staple of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine for centuries. Base ingredients usually include hyssop, sesame seeds, oregano, marjoram, and salt. The blend of herbs and spices works as a dry rub for meat, poultry, and fish, and can be added to stews, soups, marinades, and breads. It can also be mixed with olive oil, sour cream, or yogurt for a sensational dip.

Zahtar is full of antioxidants and contains antibacterial and antifungal properties. The aromatic spice is a blend of 100% pure hyssop, parsley, sesame seeds, ground chickpeas, coriander, salt, and olive oil and can be found online and at select retailers for a suggested retail price of $5.50.