Nut Blend was founded by Gabriella in September 2015 after she struggled to find a naturally flavoured food product on the market with no added sugar – including “healthy” sugars and those from dried fruit.
After some experimentation with pure ingredients and natural nut combinations – the product was born. Her mission is to change the way people think about sugar, as well as providing a product which ‘gives instant energy and guilt-free satisfaction’ …her driving factors for the business.
Rating:
Appeals To:
Nutella lovers (this stuff is better)
People looking for a new toast spread, smoothie addition, twist to their morning porridge, different type of macron/cake filling
Vegans and those who choose a dairy-free diet
Health food and clean eating enthusiasts
Just about anyone else without a nut allergy
Price:
All of the full-sized jars on the website are £6.50. A mini-jar taster pack with all of the flavours is £11.
Products:
Gabriella’s gorgeous website is bursting with colourful, glossy photos, all depicting ways you can use these butter alternatives. The blog and recipes give the products personality and an insight into Gabriella, her passion and belief in the product. While the main ingredients are nuts, the flavours vary wonderfully, with four different types that are versatile in all sorts of dishes.
The butters have a velvety texture, which is emphasised when they are stirred so that the natural oils of the nuts really folds into the mixture. This is a happy medium for those who like smooth peanut butter but still want a bit of graininess.
Praline Nut Butter is the newest flavour and while it tastes very much like praline, it has none of the cloying sweetness that some versions of the confection can have. Instead, the natural sweetness of pecans shines through and gives this spread a lingering caramel taste. The maca root addition is a natural energy booster, making this blend a great one to start the day with.
Indulgent Nut Butter has the richest flavour out of all the blends due to the addition of nibs of cacao which give the slightest crunch and a nice bitter note. This spread is for those who love chocolate and is finely balanced with coconut, cashew and sunflower seeds making it rich in nutrients as well. It works marvellously when mixed with chocolate, where it gives a real depth, or on toast where it can sing by itself.
Golden Nut Butter is a superb blend of macadamia nuts, coconut and almonds with a smooth, rich taste that is reminiscent of sunshine. The colour of a wintery sun, this spread really does taste as golden as it looks. I made a buttery frosting out of it for a cake and which elevated the flavour of the natural ingredients but this is equally just as delicious on its own.
Perfect Nut Butter is the closest to a classic Nutella spread but so much more multifaceted. The flavour comes in waves, first the sweetness of hazelnuts and then savoury smoothness of almonds, finally pulsating with a gentle cinnamon heat at the back of the tongue. This is a wonderful seasonal flavour which could work just as well to bolster a gamey stuffing but also in a sweet dish or a breakfast.
The Verdict:
Nut Blend has managed to create a product which sings in its simplicity. While is it a great sugar and dairy-free alternative, it is also a valuable addition to plenty of dishes, lifting them to further heights of complexity and I think it is this versatility that really makes it something special.
The Details:
@nut_blend
Stockists
LLS Café, London
Modern Baker, Oxford
High Mood Food, London
Jusu Brothers’ Menu, London
Alive, Geneva, Switzerland
Glowing Café, Paris, France