Top 5 Organic Foods I've Actually Bought and Will Definitely Buy Again! ✨🌿
Hello! I'm Haruka, and I share tips on incorporating a relaxed, additive-free lifestyle.
Did you read my previous article, "Is Organic Food a Luxury for the Rich? Smart Ways to Incorporate It Without Stress"? I've received so many happy comments saying, "Learning about how to choose supermarkets and the option of iHerb has really opened up my world!" and I'm so happy to hear that.
Now, as you gain knowledge about additive-free and organic products, shopping changes from just a
"chore" to a "treasure hunt."
"It's safe because it doesn't contain pesticides or additives" is, of course, the main premise, but the biggest reason I love organic food is that "the ingredients are so rich in flavor that it's movingly delicious!"
This time, I'd like to introduce my "Top 5 Seriously Delicious Organic Foods I Can't Let Go Of," which I've actually bought repeatedly with my own money at supermarkets, Kaldi, and iHerb.
I've gathered items that will get you excited just by looking at them, so please use this as a reference for your next shopping trip!
1st Place: Alce Nero "Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil"
The undisputed 1st place is the divine oil that I can never let run out in my kitchen: Alce Nero's organic olive oil.
🌿 Recommended Points This is authentic olive oil made by cold-pressing olives grown by organic farmers in Italy without applying heat. Cheap olive oil sold at regular supermarkets can have an oily smell or lack flavor, but this one is in a league of its own! A fresh, fruity aroma like green apples or grass spreads out, and even though it's oil, it doesn't feel heavy on the stomach at all.
🛒 How I Enjoy It It's too good to use for stir-frying, so I use it raw! Just put some of this oil and a little natural salt on a plate and dip torn baguette (French bread) in it, and it becomes a high-end Italian appetizer. Drizzling it over warm tofu with a little salt also makes for a fantastic snack. The fact that you can easily buy it at Kaldi or larger supermarkets (like Aeon) is also a plus.
2nd Place: People Tree "Fair Trade & Organic Chocolate"
2nd place goes to organic chocolate that you can only find in the autumn and winter seasons, and the packaging is also super cute.
🌿 Recommended Points While typical Japanese chocolate uses "vegetable fats" and "emulsifiers" to keep it from melting, this People Tree chocolate is "100% cocoa butter." It's a carefully crafted masterpiece that is only sold during the cool autumn and winter seasons to achieve the ultimate melt-in-your-mouth texture that dissolves at body temperature. All ingredients are organically grown, and it's also a fair trade product that supports people in developing countries where it's made.
🛒 How I Enjoy It I enjoy just one or two pieces at the end of the day, letting them melt slowly in my mouth along with a cup of hot black coffee. There are many flavors like milk, hazelnut, and matcha, so whenever I find the cute packaging at a variety store, I end up stocking up on several bars.
3rd Place: Alishan "Organic Peanut Butter (Crunchy)"
3rd place is a 100% pure peanut butter that shocked me, making me think,
"What on earth was the peanut cream I had been eating until now!?"
🌿 Recommended Points The peanut cream often seen in Japanese supermarkets is packed with sugar and vegetable oils, making it extremely sweet. However, the ingredients in this Alishan peanut butter are just "organic peanuts"! It contains absolutely no sugar, salt, or oil. When you open the lid, a rich peanut aroma hits you, and it's packed with chunky crushed peanuts, giving it an excellent texture.
🛒 How I Enjoy Eating It My ultimate happiness is spreading a generous amount of this on lightly toasted additive-free bread and drizzling honey over the top. Also, since it's not sweet, it's great for cooking! Just by thinning it out with soy sauce, vinegar, and a little sugar, you can make an exquisite "Bang Bang Chicken (sesame sauce) base" or a "dipping sauce for cold shabu-shabu."
No. 4: Yogi Tea "Organic Herbal Tea"
Coming in at number 4 is Yogi Tea, which I mentioned briefly in my previous article and can be bought at iHerb or Kaldi.
🌿 Recommended Points This tea is based on the teachings of Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine) and is a blend of many organic spices and herbs. The flavor I repeat most often is "Bedtime." It's a blend of chamomile, lavender, licorice, and more, and when I drink it before bed, it helps release my pent-up nerves and leads me into a deep, relaxing sleep.
🛒 How I Enjoy Eating It I put the tea bag in a mug, pour in hot water, and let it steep thoroughly for about 7 minutes. The scent of the spices fills the room, making you feel as if you are receiving a treatment at a luxury spa.
No. 5: Nisshoku "Organic Pure Oatmeal"
The last item I'd like to introduce is a savior that rescues you during busy mornings: organic oatmeal.
🌿 Recommended Points Oatmeal (oats) is the ultimate gut-health food, containing about 20 times the dietary fiber of white rice. Because it's a staple food I eat every day, I choose products with the "Organic JAS Mark" so I don't have to worry about pesticides. Nisshoku's organic oatmeal is made by a manufacturer in Hokkaido, so it suits the Japanese palate well, has no strange aftertaste, and is truly delicious. It is highly likely to be found in the cereal section of regular supermarkets.
🛒 How I Enjoy Eating It There's no need to boil it in a pot! Just put the oatmeal and water (or soy milk) in a bowl until covered, and microwave it for a minute and a half. Adding ochazuke seasoning or additive-free powdered dashi to make it "porridge-style" is my go-to breakfast. It's very filling, and I don't feel hungry at all until lunch!
Summary: Because it's delicious, it's easy to keep up
What did you think of my "Top 5 Organic Foods" that I repeat over and over?
Alce Nero "Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil"
People Tree "Fair Trade & Organic Chocolate"
Alishan "Organic Peanut Butter (Crunchy)"
Yogi Tea "Organic Herbal Tea"
Nisshoku "Organic Pure Oatmeal"
The best trick to sticking with additive-free or organic products is not to grit your teeth and endure it because "it's for my health!" but rather to choose them for positive reasons like
"This one tastes better! It makes me feel great!"choosing them for positive reasons like "This one tastes better! It makes me feel great!".
Everything I introduced today is something I'm confident you'll be impressed by, realizing "real ingredients are this delicious" after just one bite. Please try looking for them on your next shopping trip or
online!🌿
Well then, next time I will share the most important story on my note. The title is, "[My Failure Story] The past when I was exhausted by strict additive-free living. A recommendation for the '80% rule' where I even eat McDonald's sometimes."
Actually, there was a time in the past when I became almost neurotic from being too obsessed with organic products. I will talk candidly about how I arrived at the comfortable stance of "relaxed additive-free living." This is an article I definitely want those who feel like they might get exhausted by perfectionism to read.
If you thought this article looked "delicious!" or "I'll try buying this!", please let me know by pressing the "Like (♡)" button on the bottom right!✨