Veggie Bits
Creamy spoonfuls of silky coconut milk pudding are inside these dainty glass jars. Petit Pots offer decadent and smooth vegan puddings in Dark Chocolate Pot De Creme, Mango Passion Fruit Rice Pudding, and Traditional Vanilla Rice Pudding. These little indulgent desserts, made in French style, are elegant enough to grace any table, and handy enough to pack and take to the park. Testers were very impressed that the vegan rice pudding was as dreamy as any dairy version — the group favorite! Don't overlook those luscious flecks of real vanilla bean, too. All flavors are gluten-free. Available at Harris Teeter, Walmart, Whole Foods Markets, and other major retailers, or buy online. www.petitpot.com
Rissa Miller, Senior Editor
Texas Knows Vegan Jerky
It's Jerky Y'all truly stands out in the exploding vegan-meat snack market. The
Texas brand's non-GMO, soy-based jerky — available in Black Pepper & Sea Salt,
Prickly Pear Chipotle, and Prickly Pear Teriyaki — are all irresistible. Their
marinades start with Lone Star State prickly pear, which is the fruit of a cactus.
It creates a very unique, standout flavor profile, and the texture is chewy without
being tough or dense. Each tender bite of this jerky left testers hankering for
more. The Chipotle was a little spicier than the others, and Teriyaki was an instant
favorite. All varieties are gluten-free and certified kosher. Check map for sales
location or buy online: www.itsjerkyyall.com/locations.
Rissa Miller, Senior Editor
Fresh Catch of Green Noodles
Seaweed has meshed with whole wheat to make noodles! Blue Evolution created a
vibrant green pasta with almost no seaweedy flavor. The penne and rotini worked in
all regular pasta recipes. I made a simple vegan pesto with fresh basil, cashews,
lemon juice, and olive oil, and it was fantastic on the rotini spirals. Toss the
penne with veggies and a vinaigrette for an impressive pasta salad. Basically,
anytime you want pasta, this neutral-tasting but seaweed-rich noodle is the box to
reach for! www.blueevolution.com
Emily Carter, VRG Intern
Do Good, Drink Coffee
What kind of morning can you have without a hot cup of aromatic coffee? Why not make
it a cup of Brewing Good Coffee? Based in Maryland, Brewing Good is a craft roaster
of organic, fair trade, Rainforest Alliance, and bird-friendly coffee. Offering
light, medium, and dark roasts plus decaf, there are 20 options. We sampled Bali,
Honduras, and Take Flight. Each kind had an excellent balance of acidity,
bitterness, and sweetness with none of the burned taste like many commercial
coffees. Brewing Good's Honduras was exceptionally smooth with flowery notes, and
the Take Flight blend had a hypnotic caramel finish. The bird-friendly label on the
Take Flight coffee fascinated testers. Rather than coffee beans grown on huge,
clear-cut farms, bird-friendly means forest habitats are preserved, with coffee
grown under the Latin American canopy. Brewing Good Coffee is available online and
at independent shops and markets. www.brewinggoodcoffeecompany.com
Rissa Miller, Senior Editor
Crispy Rinds, No Pigs Harmed
Crunchy, puffy, and savory-delicious, Snacklins are vegan pork rinds. Each bag is a
good-sized 28 gram portion made of yuca, mushrooms, and onions — clocking in at
only 80 or 90 calories! Snacklins are available in Barbeque, Chesapeake Bay, Miso
Ginger, and Nacho varieties. Testers went wild for the Barbeque, some even saying it
was the best vegan meat-snack ever. If you like cheesy, then stock up on Nacho
Snacklins — they're all decked out in cheddar goodness. Chesapeake Bay will
bring back memories for those who love Mid-Atlantic flavor, and Miso Ginger is
subtle and balanced. All varieties are gluten-free, non-GMO, and certified kosher.
Buy nationwide at Whole Foods Markets and select 7-Eleven shops, or order online, www.snacklins.com.
Rissa Miller, Senior Editor
Umami Splash
Southeast Asian cooking often features the complex flavor of fish sauce, made from
the liquid run off of fermented fish. Ocean's Halo recently introduced a kelp-based
vegan version of the condiment. Fans of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine know this sauce
from Pad Thai, but it can add savory, salty depth to many dishes. Add a splash to
tofu marinades, soups, or salad dressing. Testers loved it in vegan Caesar dressing
and on saut?ed mushrooms. A dash goes a long way, and by the time you finish the
bottle, you'll wonder how you cooked without it! Gluten-free, organic, soy-free.
Available nationally at The Fresh Market, Kroger, Whole Foods Market, and online. www.oceanshalo.com
Rissa Miller, Senior Editor
Baked for All to Enjoy!
With Abe's allergen-free muffins and cakes, snack time has never been so inclusive!
Choose from eight mini-muffin flavors: apple cider, carrot cake, chocolate chip,
coconut, cranberry orange zest, devil's food, lemon poppy, golden cornbread, pumpkin
spice, and wild blueberry smash. Chocolate chip, with plentiful and evenly dispersed
chips, was a tester favorite. Abe's cornbread muffins paired well with chili. To
fuel those cozy, homey dessert feelings, Abe's also sells cakes: coffee cake, dark
chocolate, fruit cake, ginger spice cake, pound cake, or ultimate lemon. Nut- and
soy-free. At retailers nationwide. www.abesmuffins.com
Emily Carter, VRG Intern
Aloha, OHi Bars
Stop by the refrigerated section to find OHi Bars, a fresh, on-the-go snack.
Available in Almond Crunch, Coconut Macadamia, Double Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and
Super Green, the bars are soft, chewy, and tender. Testers of all ages devoured
them, with the standouts being Double Chocolate and Peanut Butter. OHi bars are
unique in the snack-bar market because they taste so fresh; it's like they were just
made. They would be great on the road, after a workout, or for a satisfying snack at
work or school. Based in Hawaii, OHi bars are handcrafted in small batches and are
gluten-free, non-GMO, and soy-free with no gums, fillers, or additives. Check
website for sales locations or buy online: www.ohifoodco.com.
Rissa Miller, Senior Editor
