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Noodles are the fast food of Asia. They’re inexpensive, taste great and come in varieties too numerous to mention. In fact, the number of countries that have adopted them as an important, and in some cases defining, part of their national cuisine is astounding. And, unlike most Western fast food options - which tend to be overburdened with saturated fat, salt and sugar – noodles, when thoughtfully prepared, have the capacity to be used as the foundation for many nutritionally balanced meals. With a young family, that’s an important consideration for me. So, it’s with some considerable interest that I’ve noted the rise of some outstanding noodle options available for today’s organic consumer. Before going further, I have to confess...

There’s a body of anecdotal opinion to suggest organic foods taste superior to conventionally grown alternatives. Unfortunately, the taste experiments conducted with human subjects have generally failed to provide conclusive evidence in favour of organically grown food. Scientists puzzle over this since there is sufficient evidence to confirm that many varieties of fresh organic produce contain higher quantities of flavour compounds (phytochemicals) compared to the conventional ones. It’s possible that many of the human subjects were less capable of detecting taste differences than researchers had anticipated. Many species of animal are recognised for their ability to detect subtle differences in taste. In the wild this may be an...

According to longstanding tradition, beer is made from four natural ingredients. These are pure water, barley malt, hops, and yeast. In Germany, the standard is upheld through the purity law (Reinheitsgebot), which prevents brewers using additional or alternative ingredients in any product marketed as a beer. Outside Germany, there are plenty of beers containing mixed cereals, added sugar, flavouring compounds, and chemicals to increase storage capacity, creaminess, and clarity. Making organic beer Organic beer is made in the traditional manner, with pure, healthy ingredients. No chemical additives or genetically modified substances are used and the production facilities are routinely inspected to ensure compliance with organic certification...

Grain can be defined as the edible seeds from a wide variety of grass-like plants. Complex whole grains are a natural source of digestible carbohydrates, protein, essential oils, in addition to minerals and the fibrous material of their external husks and bran layer. When raised in healthy, unpolluted soils, they provide the foundation for an optimally balanced diet and active lifestyle. Throughout history, most societies depended upon one or more of these foods to provide their basic nutritional requirements. The unique characteristics of the grains combined with their manner of processing assumed a significant role in the development of many cultural practices and traditions. Increased consumer choice Unlike earlier periods in history, the...