The Delicious Organic Coffee Bean

An organic coffee bean means that only 100% natural flavorings (fruit & nut extracts) are used to produce flavored organic coffees. With the millions of coffee drinkers worldwide there is a rise in demand for not only organic coffee but also for organic flavored coffee. Many coffee growers have discovered alternative and safe ways to improve the growing process. They now use organic fertilizer and other earth friendly ideas to enhance and protect their plants.

Certified organic coffees must be grown, harvested, and processed without chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Farms that grow the certified organic coffee bean are tested for chemicals by an independent certification agency for three consecutive years.

Natural and organic are not interchangeable. Other truthful claims, such as free-range, hormone-free, and natural, can still appear on food labels. However, don't confuse these terms with " organic " Only food labeled "organic" has been certified as meeting USDA organic standards.

Why buy organic flavored coffee that may be a little more expensive? By buying organic you are taking into consideration it's growth and production and how it has a great effect on the Earth's ecology. Coffee is one of the world's most heavily traded commodities, second only to oil. It is the world's largest agricultural commodity. A beverage enjoyed by people the world-round,

By using medium roasted beans this allows the coffees' distinct, delicate flavorings to blossom on the tongue. You will enjoy the perfect meld of rich organic coffee accentuated by the delicious whisper of soft flavors of Dutch chocolate, hazelnut, Macadamia nut and vanilla .

Organic coffee growers in other countries are free from the dangers associated with working and living in chemically polluted regions. In organic farming cooperatives, streams and underground water supplies are not polluted with chemical fertilizers. Coffee growers do not suffer from chemical poisoning - an all too real side effect of growing coffee the traditional way.

If you study the history of coffee production you will discover farming methods that were used before modern insecticides and chemical fertilizers. These methods are gentle to the Earth and its people. By purchasing the organic coffee bean you demonstrate your commitment to protecting the environment and the people who are dependent on the coffee industry: the growers and their families.

Most of organic coffee growers are registered as rain forest alliance coops. Most of organic coffee beans are also shade grown. It is important to read the label to insure that you are purchasing organic coffee beans that are grown and purchased under fair trade conditions which means the farmers receive more of the revenues for themselves; this makes growing more profitable for them and they're less likely to grow elicit crops.

A Mouthwatering Organic Food Recipe - Organic Navy Beans with Sun Dried Tomatoes

This is a quick, easy organic food recipe that’s great for any season.

The navy beans provide a big serving of protein, so this can serve as the entrée. The sun dried tomatoes pack a lot of flavor and satisfying, chewy texture.

The specific organic food Ingredients

2 15 oz. cans organic navy beans

½ 4 oz. package organic sun dried tomatoes (already sliced, if possible)

6 cloves organic garlic

½ organic onion

3 tablespoons organic olive oil

2 pinches sage

Fresh ground salt and pepper to taste

Place the sun-dried tomatoes in one cup of hot water and let them soak; this rehydrates the tomatoes to a small degree and coaxes out more flavor. Meanwhile, dice onion and crush garlic in garlic press.

Add olive oil to large skillet over medium heat. Saute onions and garlic until they are translucent.

Meanwhile, remove sun-dried tomatoes and slice them into fourths, if they are not already sliced. Reserve the sun-dried tomato water; don’t pour it out!

Drain the beans.

Add sun-dried tomatoes and beans to aromatic garlic and onion mixture. If your family’s not hovering yet to see what fragrant dish you’re cooking up for dinner, they will be any minute!

Add all of sun-dried tomato water, two pinches of sage and salt and pepper to taste. Cook over medium heat, uncovered, until water thickens and becomes gravy-like, stirring occasionally--at least 20 minutes.

This dish serves two. It’s very nice served with an organic food salad of romaine hearts, slivered almonds and shredded carrot with a tomato-based vinaigrette.

Enjoy!

Your Guide to Organic Food

Organic food options have come a long way. Usually exclusively sold in backyards and stalls, they've gone commercial and has long been introduced to the bigger markets.

But what's the deal? Why pay more for the same products compared to the commercial brands that prevail in markets? What exactly can you eat?

Myth: Organic food has been closely associated to being "natural" or "grown" that its easy to assume that we're exclusively talking about food that grows from the ground.

Fact: Organic food not only includes fruits, vegetables, poultry and meat.

Benefits of going organic include: it being a legally defined standard, there are high standards before it gets stamped with approval as "true" organic food, it operates in the highest level of animal welfare, no fertilizers / pesticides for grown products and there are no drugs, growth hormones and additives fed to the animals.

But why is it so expensive? Industrial farming relies on crop monocultures, plantings of a single crop over a span of thousands of acres of land. Monocultures are vulnerable to pest and disease, requiring large quantities of fertilizers and pesticides on the land. While organic farms boast greater diversity when it comes to crops, they often go through a process of natural growth, lessening the input and output from the farmers, and the costs for maintaining organic farming outweighs the price of commercial industrial growth, meaning, to make their farming even remotely viable, they have to raise prices for the superiority of their organic products. When buying your organic food, remember to look for certification seals, as they have standards to keep you from eating bacteria-laden, unclean organic food.

Health Benefits from organic food consumption: (From The Atlas of Food)

* Soluble fiber content of oats - reduces LDL (harmful!) cholesterol.
* Lycopene in tomatoes - helps reduce the chances of caner.
* Cranberry juice - helps prevent UTI. (Urinary Tract Infection)
* Soy protein - Promotes heart health.
* Antioxidant vitamins - (A, C and E) help prevent heart disease.

So what exactly can you eat? If you're wondering about the taste, here's a couple of organic food samples, and the lowdown on 'em:

Apples - Everyone loves apples! (Remember Eve?) According to a 2001 Washington Apple study, they found that organic apples are sweeter, have a richer taste, and better over-all texture compared to the more commercial, conventionally-grown ones.

Tomatoes - Aside from the lycopene mentioned above, a 10-year study on tomato comparison has proven that organic tomatoes have higher levels of flavonoids, which protects against cardiovascular disease.

Organic Meat - Animals are fed 100-percent organic feed, without the ground-up animal parts - this safeguards from such threats as mad cow disease. Also, they aren't holed up in pens, and instead, are allowed to free-range and graze. Not only is this a more humane way to treat animals, but also, it allows them to eat up more grass and bugs and whatnot that they probably won't find in a cage - leading to healthier meat.

Beer! - Not only is beer probably the oldest alcoholic drink, it's also a remarkable testament to using only nature's ingredients. There are refineries that are dedicated to using only the purest, and finest, ingredients in their brew. Who says organic food means no fun?