Spring 2015 - Grape Tree

EE
FR
The
Winter/Spring 2015
O
UC
HERS W
O
V
TO
*
SE
How the
coconut
came out
of its shell
PLUS:
ings
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T
10
ever
n
u
t
yo
abou
w
e
kn hia
C
Our
Super Lo
af
Recipe
Visit www.grapetree.co.uk for the latest news and products
Walnut
Brain
Booster
H
RT
£100
B E W O N*
EB
ACK PAGE
In a nutshell...
by the KERNEL
There was a time when the only use the
western world had for chia seed was to put it
inside a terracotta pot and sell it as a whacky
American Christmas gift.
When you water the pot – made in the
shape of an animal – the seed grows into the
animal’s “fur”.
Then, thanks to a chance discovery by a
university professor, chia became recognised
as an important natural food and in the
space of a few years has been transformed
into a global commodity that is improving the
diet of millions of people.
A very similar thing has happened to the
coconut. Once it was just an oddity that you
won (or in my case most often didn’t win) at
the fair or occasionally tasted in a Bounty Bar.
Now its full nutritional benefits have become
internationally recognised and it has become
available in an astonishing range of different
products.
The only issue here is that in neither case
do we yet know just how significant the
new “discovery” will turn out to be. Both
have impressive nutritional profiles which
include elements known to have positive
health effects. But claims made for some of
the “miracle food” effects of both chia and
coconut have not yet been demonstrated by
science. The research needed to reveal the
true facts will take years.
It took a very long time indeed for science to
reveal that eating a handful of nuts a day can
actually add years to our life expectancy. Or
that walnuts really can improve your memory.
Or that eating fruit and vegetables regularly
can fight off heart disease. But no one is
rushing around claiming that a brazil, a
walnut or a dried apricot are “miracle” foods.
They are simply whole, natural foods that
contain vitamins, minerals and fats that are
vital for our health and which have not been
adulterated, refined, processed or chemically
manipulated.
Chia seeds and coconut may never prove to
be the kind of miracles that as single foods
offer cures for specific medical conditions.
But they already are two additions to the list
of nutritious, natural, whole foods that we
know support our health and which, in
combination with other foods, may have
profound effects on our lives. And that’s
miracle enough isn’t it?
Nick Shutts
Founder of Grape Tree.
2
It’s the
bar that
bars
sugar
When Sharon Goodyer read a
magazine report on the ingredients of
cereal bars sold by major companies
she decided to make her own.
The result is Bar15 a no sugar bar she
describes as “like a flapjack with all the
sugar removed” or “like the best muesli
but in a bar form”.
Bar15 – now in store – also has no
dairy, no wheat, no nuts, no salt and
no hard fat. But it does have 15 healthy
ingredients which include oats, apricots,
prunes, raisins, dates, linseeds, pumpkin
seeds, sunflower seeds, apple juice,
pear juice, cocoa, desiccated coconut,
coconut oil, sunflower oil, fresh orange
juice, root ginger and cranberries.
It has enough fruit to count as one of
your five a day.
Former head teacher Sharon first
switched to the food business with the
launch of her own cake company and it
The latest on
food and health
Fruit and Nuts Cut Dementia Risk
Switching to a Mediterranean diet is
one of the key factors in reducing the
risk of dementia says Age UK. Cutting
back on meat and dairy products and
stepping up consumption of vegetables,
fruit, nuts, cereals and fish is one of
five golden rules the organisation has
outlined for cutting the dementia threat.
Adopting just four of the five rules can
reduce your dementia risk by a third, it
says. The rules also include: take regular
exercise, stop smoking, drink alcohol
in moderation, guard against diabetes,
high blood pressure and obesity.
In Store
Now...
was three years ago that, having read
the Which magazine report on cereal
bars, she decided to launch Bar15.
“It contains absolutely no added sugar,
sweetener or syrup” she says “the
sweetness comes from the fructose
naturally in the fruit. I’m not against
sugar as such I’m just against not
knowing how much is in our food.”
Her bar does contain a small amount of
the food preservative potassium sorbate
E202 regarded as one of the safest in
the food industry.
Bar 15 is not just a filling snack (it has
loads of fibre) but can also be instantly
converted into a nourishing dessert.
Just break up a Bar15 into cubes and
add it to any combination of fruit and
yoghurt. To make it simpler just put out
the ingredients and let everyone make
their own favourite combination.
Eat Porridge And Live Longer
Eating a bowl of porridge a day could
mean a healthier and longer life. That’s
the conclusion to be drawn from a major
new study into the importance of whole
grains (like the oats in your porridge).
Researchers at Harvard University’s
School of Public Health monitored the
diet of 100,000 people for more than
14 years. Everyone involved was healthy
when the study began in 1984 but by
2010 more than 26,000 had died. The
research found that those who eat whole
grains – like porridge oats, brown rice
and quinoa – dramatically reduced their
chances of death. Just one helping of
whole grains a day – 28g – saw overall
mortality drop by 5% and death from
heart conditions by 9%.
Buy One
Get One
FREE
How walnuts
can boost
your brain
power
Eating a handful of
walnuts a day can
significantly boost
your brain power,
according to a major
new research project.
Scientists in America found that regular
walnut eaters improved their memory,
their powers of concentration and the
speed at which their brain processed
information.
Researchers at the David Geffen
School of Medicine, University of
California analysed information
gathered by America’s National
Health and Nutrition Surveys which
has undertaken detailed examinations
of the eating habits of more than
20,000 individuals who were then
asked to undergo a series of medical
examinations.
Coconut Ad JG Foods.pdf
1
28/11/2013
The six brain-related tests included
recall and reaction times including how
well individuals could memorise and
recall lists of numbers.
Those over 60 also undertook a special
recall test in which they were told a
short story and then asked to repeat it.
The walnut-eaters did better in all the
tests even when age, gender, levels of
physical activity, smoking and alcohol
consumption were taken into account.
The researchers concluded that “walnut
consumption had significant and positive
associations with cognitive functions.”
The study adds to a growing body of
research linking walnuts and brain
health and adds to the possibility that
simple changes in diet may be able
to slow or prevent the progress of
Alzheimer’s Disease.
Just which of the nutrients packed into
walnuts are responsible for their brain
boosting effects is not clear.
But as well as calcium, iron, zinc and
vitamin B6 they have extremely high
levels of Omega-3 fatty acids especially
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) which is closely
related to both heart and brain health.
“Walnut consumption had significant and
positive associations with cognitive functions.”
The highest category of walnut eaters
in the tests consumed around 13g of
nuts a day, less than a handful. The
researchers took into account all types
of consumption including walnut cake
with whipped cream.
The research team leader Dr. Lenore
Arab said “It isn’t every day that
research results in such simple adviceeating a handful of walnuts daily as a
snack or as part of a meal can improve
your cognitive health”.
13:44
They also have more antioxidants
than almost all other nuts.
Nuts in general have been shown
to have a dramatic effect on health
and life expectancy.
Last year another major US study
showed that regular nut eaters slashed
their risk of death from heart disease
by almost a third and their risk of death
from cancer by 10%.
• Cold-Processed • Chemical Free • Certified Organic & non-GM
www.optimah.com
3
How the coconut
There was a time when the
most exciting use we could find
for a coconut was to stick it up
in a booth at a fairground and
throw wooden balls at it.
Now it has been recognised not just as a super natural food
but one of the most versatile sources of nutrients, vitamins
and minerals in the world.
Here are eight coconut products that you can now find in
your Grape Tree store.
All of them contain the basic coconut health food
package of Vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5 and B6 and minerals
including iron, selenium, sodium, calcium, magnesium
and phosphorous. The solid products all have a high fibre
content and all of them are very rich in saturated fats.
While long chain saturated fat in the diet is known to raise
“bad” cholesterol levels the fats in coconut are largely
the medium chain variety which can have positive health
benefits. One in particular – called lauric acid – is thought
to be responsible for actually boosting the levels of “good”
cholesterol.
So eating coconut should be good for your heart health,
boosting your thyroid, increasing your metabolism and
supporting your immune system.
Enthusiasts also point to the fact that in those regions of
the world where the coconut forms a major part of the diet
populations are remarkably free of heart disease.
Research continues into all of these health links. But at last
the coconut has been given the recognition it deserves as a
great, natural food. Coconut shy? Not any longer.
Use Your (Favourites) Loaf
Ingredients:
100g Plain flour
¼ tsp Bicarbonate of soda
¼ tsp Baking powder
½ tsp Salt
160g Light brown sugar
100g Walnuts coarsely chopped
100g Pecans coarsely chopped
100g Almonds coarsely chopped
100g Dates cut into quarters
100g Dried figs cut into quarters
35g Glacé cherries
30g Dried cranberries
85g Dried apricots cut into quarters
3 Large eggs beaten
1 tsp Vanilla essence
EC
IPE
Method:
1 Preheat oven at 150 degrees and butter a 9” x 5”
loaf tin and line the bottom with parchment
2 Mix together the flour, bicarbonate of soda and baking powder
and salt. Stir in the brown sugar, walnuts, pecans, almonds and dried fruit.
Make sure the fruit and nuts are covered in flour.
3 Whisk the eggs and vanilla essence until light and fluffy and thick in texture, this
will take several minutes
4 Mix together the flour mixture with the egg mixture
5 Put into the loaf tin and spread out until it is even
6 Bake for about 60 mins until the loaf is golden brown in colour and has pulled away
from the sides of the tin. Place on a wire tray and when cool remove from the tin
7 To store place in a plastic bag or cover with foil. It will keep for 2 weeks at room
temperature or up to 2 months in a fridge.
Ingredients in bold (and a wide choice of alternatives) are available in store.
4
CU
T
& K OUT
EEP
R
This is the ultimate recipe for a dried fruit and nuts loaf because you can more or
less choose your own ingredients. The key is to keep the proportions the same.
So any three kinds of nuts as long as each is 100g and your favourite dried fruits
as long as they match the weights given.
came out of its shell
Coconut Oil. There’s a battle raging on health web
sites to list the most number of uses for coconut oil.
The longest list so far appears to be “107 Everyday
Uses” for the product that is made by pressing the
raw coconut flesh. While official advice is to use it
moderately as a cooking oil it fills a vast range of
categories from hair care to skin treatment. There
is no part of the body which doesn’t seem to benefit
from an application.
Coconut Flour. Gluten free coconut flour
is an excellent alternative for those who
have issues with eating grains and is
also low in carbohydrates. It contains the
same medium chain saturated fatty acids
as coconut oil but is said to be easier to
digest than other nut or seed flours. It has a
very high fibre content and some enthusiasts
recommend limiting intake to four tablespoons a
day. But a small amount of coconut flour goes a long way.
Coconut Butter is, in effect, the solid form
of coconut oil because it is created by simply
processing coconut flesh. And what to its
devotees do with it? They spread it on bread,
put it in smoothies (and even coffee), melt it
and pour it over fruit, cook it in cakes and put
a dollop of it on their curries. Some even use
it to stuff dates or cover raisins.
Coconut Water. This is the clear liquid that
occurs naturally inside green coconuts.
In the 21st century the product has been
widely marketed as a sports drink due to
its high potassium and mineral content. It is
said to have an almost identical electrolyte
composition to human blood plasma and so
replaces salts and minerals lost through sweat and
its natural sugars boost energy. As a result in American the sales of
coconut water went from virtually zero to $35 million in five years.
Coconut Milk. Widely used in Asian cooking –
particularly curries – coconut milk is made by simply
mixing grated coconut flesh with a little water and
then squeezing out the solids. It curdles when
heated unless constantly stirred as it cooks. It is
lactose free which is crucially important for some
and is a useful dairy alternative for vegans.
It is also used in smoothies, milkshakes and baking.
Coconut Sugar is harvested by tapping into the
blossom of the palm tree. Farmers make a
cut in the flower and collect the clear sap
in bamboo containers. They then heat the
collected sap in giant woks to drive off the
moisture. The result is a sugar that may vary
in taste and colour according to the type
of palm involved but generally has a subtle
sweetness similar to brown sugar with a slight
hint of caramel.
Coconut Syrup. Made in exactly the same way
as coconut sugar but the process simply stops
before all the moisture has been driven off.
It can be poured over just about anything
including pancakes, waffles and ice cream
but is also used in smoothies and hot drinks
and even as a glaze on vegetable and meat
dishes. Cool coconut enthusiasts deploy it in
their cocktails.
Coconut Jam is known as Kaya in Singapore,
Malaysia and Indonesia where it has been a
hugely popular treat for generations. Now it
is catching on in the West particularly as an
alternative to traditional jam or marmalade
on toast. You can even make your own if
you have an hour to spare and can gather
together the egg yolks, sugar, coconut milk
and pandan leaves, which are from a tropical
plant and widely used in Asian cooking.
5
TEN
THINGS
YOU NEVER
KNEW
ABOUT...
Chia
1
Chia is an annual flowering
plant in the mint family native
to Mexico and Guatemala.
For centuries it was an important food
source for the Aztecs but after invasion by
the Spanish it mysteriously disappeared
from farmers’ fields. The discovery of its
remarkable nutritional profile has created
a massive global upsurge in demand
for the tasteless (well perhaps a little
nuttiness) black seeds. With demand
rising by 200 per cent per year experts
have predicted it will become a $1 billion
global commodity by 2020.
2
In the 1970’s US shops
launched the whacky Chia
Pets – terracotta animal
figures with seeds inside that when
watered grow to become the creature’s
“fur”. A TV advertising campaign using
the catchphrase “Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!”
helped promote the Christmas present
pets – pigs, puppies, frogs and hippos –
which have gone on to include cartoon
characters and human figures including
President Barrack Obama.
It is said that if you need to
choose just one food to take
to a desert island it should be
chia. It’s rich in nutrients, and
is spectacularly high in fibre. A one ounce
serving of chia (that’s around 28 grams
or 2 tablespoons) contains a third of our
daily fibre requirement. It also contains
10 per cent of our protein allowance
as well as calcium (18%), iron (12%),
manganese (30%), magnesium (30%)
and phosphorous (27%).
3
6
4
Like flax seeds chia seeds
are high in Omega 3 fatty
acids which have been shown
to lead to lower blood pressure and
reducing fat build-up in the arteries.
Chia seeds have, gram for gram, more
Omega 3s than salmon. But the type of
ALA Omega 3 found in plant sources is
different from the EPA and DHA found
in oily fish – now part of an officially
recommended diet. ALA is converted by
the body into the “active” forms and the
implications of this for consumption levels
is unclear.
5
Chia Seeds are gluten and
cholesterol free and their
high protein content makes
them of particular interest to vegetarians.
Of special interest to vegans is the fact
that they can be made into replacement
eggs. Simply mix a tablespoon of ground
seeds with 3 of water and allow to sit
for 15 minutes. And your egg is laid!
It can now be used in a recipe of your
choice. Chia can be eaten whole (unlike
flaxseed which needs to be chewed well
or processed before releasing its health
benefits.)
6
Fibre in the diet has a range
of benefits including helping
to prevent heart disease,
diabetes and some cancers but the high
levels of fibre in chia appear to have
an extra bonus. The seeds absorb up to
10-12 times their weight in water. In the
stomach this forms a gel-like substance
and theoretically this should increase
the feeling of fullness, slowing the
absorption of calories and so help with
weight loss. No research has yet proved
this to be the case.
Because of their “neutral”
taste chia seeds are excellent
mixers with other foods. One
of the most popular ways to
eat them is to blend them into a smoothie
or sprinkle them on your cereal, yoghurt,
salads, dressings or even ice cream.
They can be added to any baking recipe
including bread and cake and included
as a thickener in soups and gravies.
Then there’s the chia drink. Just add two
tablespoons of seed to a cup of warm
water and stir. Allow to stand in the fridge
overnight and the result will be a thick
gel. Now mix with a cup of juice of your
choice (serves 2).
7
8
According to America’s
Harvard Medical School some
preliminary research suggests
that chia could help improve the health
of people with diabetes. In animal studies
a chia rich diet helped lower harmful
LDL cholesterol and triglycerides (fats)
while increasing HDL cholesterol. A white
seeded variety of chia, called Salba,
helped diabetes sufferers control blood
sugar and blood pressure. But the effect
was only slightly better than those eating
wheat bran. The important factor, says
the Medical School, may be that chia is a
whole grain. And eating whole grains is
good for everyone’s health.
9
Eating chia seeds might
just make you feel good...
not to mention sleep better.
They contain high levels of Tryptophan
the amino-acid that the body uses to
help make serotonin, which is known
to modulate mood, emotion, sleep and
appetite. While Tryptophan is found in
a wide range of foods from walnuts and
sunflower seeds to cheese and brown rice
the levels in chia mean that one ounce
of seeds will give you 44 per cent of your
recommended daily intake.
10
Chia was “rediscovered” as a
food by American agricultural
research professor Dr Wayne
Coates while he was investigating
possible new crops for Argentinian
farmers. When he began analysing
the nutritional qualities of Chia he
realised it had the potential to become
an important wholefood in the West.
Now known as “Mr. Chia” he has spent
the last 25 years promoting the health
benefits of the plant and writing books
including “The Complete Guide To The
Ultimate Superfood”.
Company founder, Nick, outside the new Kidderminster store.
Grape Tree has seen the opening of more than 55 new stores in the
past two years. And every one has been considered a special event.
But the new store in Kidderminster has had the extra significance of
a homecoming for company founder Nick Shutts.
Because Nick was not only born in
the Worcestershire town and went to
school there but has lived in the area
all his life. Many of the landmarks in
his retail career have taken place
in the town and the surrounding
West Midlands.
His earliest involvement with dried
fruits and nuts began with a stall
which regularly appeared in the
Kidderminster market.
But by the late Eighties he had joined
forces with business partner Nigel
Morris to launch the Julian Graves
chain of stores. The Kidderminster
branch opened in 2003.
Being able to come back
to Kidderminster is
very special indeed
Nick said “Every new shop opening is
a big event. But there is no question
that being able to come back to
Kidderminster is very special indeed.
“I am delighted to be able to say that
since it opened in December it has been
given the same fabulous level of support
as other stores across the country. It
gives me a very pleasant feeling of pride
to be back in business in my home town.
And the family has a local Grape Tree
shop at last!
F
or full details of
store addresses
please visit the
website.
The new shop is in Weavers Wharf, just a
short walk from the Town Hall. The Grape
Tree headquarters in Kingswinford is just
10 miles away.
Other new store openings have taken
place in Redhill, Surrey; Castleford;
Bridgnorth, Barnstable, Dorchester,
Hereford and Gretna in Scotland.
The Grape Tree on-line
shopping service is now
also fully available at
www.grapetree.co.uk
ne
Shop
g
That makes me more determined than
ever to ensure that as many people as
possible in the UK get their own local
Grape Tree as soon as possible.”
Loch Lomond
Maidstone
Newbury
Newton Abbot
Poole
Redhill NEW
Sheffield
Shrewsbury
Skipton
Southampton
Staines
Sutton Coldfield
Swansea
Welwyn Garden City
Weston-Super-Mare
Wilton Village
Woodbridge NEW
Worcester
Worthing
Yeovil
pi n
The company grew to include almost
350 shops across the UK and was
finally bought by NBTY Europe, the
owners of Holland and Barrett. When
the name Julian Graves disappeared
from the High Street in August 2012
Nick saw an opportunity. He brought
together his former partner and most
of their former management team.
Grape Tree – the company dedicated
to marketing “feel good” foods at feel
even better prices was born.
Aylesbury
Bakewell
Banbury
Barnstaple NEW
Bedford
Bicester
Bideford
Bridgnorth NEW
Burgess Hill
Buxton
Carlisle
Castleford NEW
Chester
Cheltenham
Chippenham
Dalton Park
Diss NEW
Dorchester NEW
Eastbourne
Ely
Exmouth
Falmouth
Fleetwood
Gloucester
Gretna NEW
Grimsby
Harrogate
Hastings
Hatfield
Hereford NEW
High Wycombe
Horsham
Ipswich
Kendal
Kidderminster NEW
Leicester
Onli
It’s A Home Town
Opening For Nick
7
WORDSEARCH
Now with
10 more
prizes
A dozen Grape Tree products are hidden in our
Wordsearch matrix. They might be horizontal, vertical
or diagonal, backwards or forwards. All you have to
do is find them to be in line for our winner’s £50 voucher.
Ten runners-up each receive a £5 voucher.
Just circle each one and send your entry to: Grapevine Wordsearch, One db
Ltd, Cross Of The Tree Farm, Deerfold, Lingen, Bucknell, Shropshire SY7 0EE.
Closing Date June 30 2015.
All correct entries will be entered into the prize draw.
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Last issue’s £50 voucher WINNER is: Mrs Alison Page, Tunbridge Wells.
The ten runners-up (each to receive a £5 voucher) are Daniel Burford,
West Midlands; Eleanor Davies, Middlesex; Mrs De La Mare, Cambridge;
Mrs Pask-Bailey, Lancashire; Mr Neil Showell, Derbyshire; Ann Martin,
Worcestershire; Mrs. Mullett, Cumbria; Mrs Clark, Suffolk; Scarlet Reading,
Southampton; Mrs Retzlaft, East Sussex. The hidden words were: Jelly Babies,
Monkey Nuts, Omega Mix, Pineapple, Hemp Seeds, Lexia Raisins, Quinoa, Trail Mix,
Basil, Dried Figs, Aniseed Balls, Mixed Spice.
Name:
Having found your recipe in the Autumn/Winter
edition of Grapevine I made my Christmas cake in
November (using ingredients from Grape Tree) and
then wrapped it up as directed. Because I replaced
the booze suggested in the recipe with cold tea I was
just a tad apprehensive when I unwrapped it again
on Christmas Day. But it was a triumph.
Not only did it taste delicious it actually kept my
husband and I going in fruit cake until the beginning
of February. Thank you so much. I’m already looking
forward to Christmas!
Mrs T Cross, Herefordshire.
I cannot explain how delighted I am that you are
in business again. Myself and all my friends have
missed Julian Graves so much. I am just hoping
that you may in the not too distant future open up a
Grape Tree shop in Rowsley, Derbyshire. Till then I
will continue to make the trip to Buxton.
Heather G Cartwright (Mrs), Lancashire.
I have visited your new outlet in Dalton Park, County
Durham six or seven times now. One of the delights
of shopping there is Alison the manager who
previously worked with Julian Graves. Every visit is a
pleasure. I do hope your new company thrives.
Dorothy Veitch, County Durham.
Dear Grapevine,
We now have a lovely Grape Tree shop in Exmouth
and I shop there every week. Thank you.
A Scott, Exmouth.
Address:
Have your say about Grape Tree
Email:
*Terms and conditions apply, see in store or online for more information.
pe Tree shopping
If you any thoughts about the Gra
ism Grapevine would
critic
even
or
experience, suggestions
you happen to have
if
be delighted to hear from you. And
ide a store we’d
outs
or
e
insid
self
your
a “selfie” photo of
.uk or write to
e.co
etre
grap
at
love to see that too. Email us
m, Deerfold,
Far
Tree
the
of
ss
Cro
ine,
Grapev
SY7 0EE .
Lingen, Bucknell, Shropshire
JG Foods Ltd, Units 3 & 4, Dandy Bank Road, The Pensnett Estate, Kingswinford, DY6 7TD.
All information and product prices correct at date of printing March 2015.