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How is Linseed Used in Baking? Linseeds are popularly used in baking as an oil alternative and binding agent.  Linseed is able to replace all of the fat called for in a recipe due to its high oil content. If a recipe calls for 1/3 cup of butter, oil or other fat then the use of 1 cup of ground linseed is advised as a replacement. Generally, use a 3:1 substitution ratio. Vegan bakers often substitute eggs for a linseed mixture in baking recipes like muffins, cookies, and even pancakes! Baked goods made with linseed have a chewier, slightly gummier texture compared to those using eggs. Another aspect of linseed baked goods is the decreased volume in these pastries. As the texture of the baked goods will differ depending on the ingredients used, testing the recipe with the alternatives first to determine its quality beforehand is advised.     Please note that flax eggs are not a one for all. Flax eggs won’t have the same effect on recipes which require whipped egg whites for the purpose of creating lift and structure. These include angel food cake or cloud bread. The same is true of flourless recipes, such as flourless chocolate cake or flourless cookies. Flax eggs work best for binding however, they won’t be able to star as the main ingredient themselves. A general rule of thumb for flax eggs is they work best in recipes that call for 1 or 2 eggs. As opposed to recipes where more eggs are needed. The attractive, vegan approved alternative to egg is known as a ...

What is Linseed and where does it come from? Linseed is a small, reddish-brown or golden-yellow seed from the common flax plant, linum usitatissimum . This same plant has been used to grow the fibre from which linen has been made for thousands of years. Linseed was first cultivated for food in the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia. Located in the Middle East over nine thousand years ago. However, there is evidence that suggests that it was woven into fabric as long as 30,000 years ago.  It was important to successive empires, especially the Egyptians and Romans. The biggest producers of linseed today include Kazakhstan, Canada, Russia and China. Linum usitatissimum , is an annual plant. Cultivated flax plants grow to have tall, slender stems. The leaves are green, with a slender lance-o-lated shape. Linum usitatissimum has flowers of a  pure pale blue. The fruit growing on the plant is a round, dry capsule that contains several glossy brown seeds. It is shaped like an apple pip.  How did Linseed become popular? Then The use of Linseed first came into popularity for being cultivated extensively in ancient Egypt, where mummies were embalmed using linen. Egyptian temple walls had paintings of flowering flax. The earliest evidence of humans utilisation of wild flax was as a textile. It comes from the present-day Republic of Georgia, where knotted and dyed w...

Linseed Twisty Sticks an easy-to-make, delicious and savoury snack. 

A healthy, quick to cook, chock full of fiber breakfast

The original flax egg recipe!

A hearty black bean burger with lots of flavour. 

A quick and easy veggie burger recipe. Packing a punch with whole food goodness, protein and flavour.

The best homemade vegan burger patty recipe with brown rice and protein loaded TVP crumbles.

No nasties cleaning! The best at home recipe for making an easy eco-friendly toilet cleanser

Disinfect, descale, decimate soap scum and sparkle. Our Citric Acid Tile Paste is a dream come true.

  What is Citric Acid Citric Acid (CA) is a white powder typically used as an additive in foodstuffs to preserve freshness and prolong shelf life. It does so by increasing the acidity of products and killing the bacteria that cause food spoilage as the increased acidity prevents the bacteria from growing. This is also why CA is established as a powerful cleaning agent. Citric Acid is also known for its use in dietary supplements as our bodies are able to absorb minerals more efficiently if these are attached to Citric Acid.  How is Citric Acid Made? There are two types of Citric Acid out there. The first is derived from — drum roll — citrus fruits! Things like oranges, lemons and limes. CA can also be found (albeit in smaller quantities) in tomatoes and berries. Citric Acid is a compound found naturally in citrus fruits. However, extracting Citric Acid from citrus fruits is very costly. The demand for CA is greater than the available supply of citrus fruits.    The second type of Citric Acid is one that is procured from microbial fermentation, aka fungus. The fungus in question is a type of Aspergillus , very common fungi commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry. Aspergillus is fed with sugar which it metabolises into a liquid solution. In time Aspergillus spores germinate and cover the liquid creating a mat of mould. Some days later, the Citric Acid starts being produced.   Sugars used for the creation of Citric Acid can be derived from wheat, cane sugar, or corn. Citric Acid is often derived from corn in the US since it is a very cheap, heavily subsidised...

Come Rye with us and enjoy the most refreshing rye emulating mocktail.

Strike the right balance between the bitter, sweet & sour flavours. Essential in cocktail making for this summer and all summers thereafter!  

The perfect strawberry mocktail made with fresh berries and delicious tonic water, start your summer in high spritz.

Meat Alternatives What are Meat alternatives? A meat alternative, substitute or analogue is a food that may have a similar taste, texture, or appearance to that of meat but does not contain meat. People may eat meat substitutes for several reasons, a new diet such as going veggie or vegan or one for health concerns there’s something for everyone. Whatever the reason for choosing a meat substitute may be, it is vital to know which ones can provide the essential nutrients a person needs. Most meat-like substances are made from vegan or vegetarian ingredients. Other common terms for meat alternatives are plant-based meat, vegan meat, mock meat, meat alternative, imitation meat, or vegetarian meat.  The Different Meat Alternatives The most popular forms of plant-based meat are Tofu, Seitan, Tempeh and TVP. Tofu Tofu is a form of curdled soy milk, also known as bean curd. It is a food prepared by coagulating soy milk, then pressing all the resulting soy curds into solid blocks. These blocks vary in softness from extra soft, silken, soft, and firm to super firm or extra firm. Further to these specifications on texture, there are many more varieties of tofu.  Tofu, also known as bean curd, is a food prepared by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into solid white blocks of varying softness; it can be silken, soft, firm, extra firm or super firm. Beyond these broad textural categories, there are many varieties of tofu amongst them seasoned and smoked.  <img src="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/f...

Seed Cycling What is Seed Cycling?   Seed Cycling is an alternative medicine practice believed to aid in regulating reproductive hormones. The regulated hormones would be estrogen in the first half of the menstrual cycle and the hormone progesterone in the second half. Although there isn’t much evidence about whether or not seed cycling is actually helpful, the practice has been around for thousands of years. Its health benefits include helping regulate periods, easing symptoms of menopause,  reducing acne, endometriosis, treating polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), infertility, fatigue, and mood swings. Some online sources also claim it can improve thyroid hormone levels, hair health, and weight loss. Seeds are rich in essential nutrients and fatty acids such as selenium and zinc which are vital for the creation of healthy hormones. How Does Seed Cycling Work? Seed Cycling: Stage One Stage one instructs the partaker to ingest 1 tablespoon of raw pumpkin seeds and 1 tablespoon of raw flax seeds. This must be done every day until the day before ovulation.  The stage begins on the first day you get your period in your cycle, known as the follicular phase. During this phase of the cycle estrogen levels start to increase as an egg is beginning to mature in preparation for ovulation. By consuming these seeds the usual low levels of progesterone are boosted.   Pumpkin seeds provide a high content of the nutrient zinc. Zinc has an impact on several different areas in your body. This includes the ovaries and your pituitary gland and is essential in the production of progesterone. Zinc increases the production of FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone). T...

How to Make DIY Non-Toxic Insecticide Using Diatomaceous Earth Why Diatomaceous Earth? The best and safest way to rid your household of any troublesome pests. Too good to be true? Apparently not. Diatomaceous earth, also known as DE is a powdery compound made up from the ground-up bodies of prehistoric diatomic algae fossils known as diatoms . When DE is ground up the tiny skeletal diatomic pieces become very sharp (at a microscopic level). They produce the same effect many microscopic razors would, cutting into lung tissue, mucous membranes and breathing holes in insects or bugs. These microscopic cuts in bugs help leech out their moisture, drying them out. DE is also effective against snails and slugs, drying them up as well as worms, mites, fleas, beetles, and almost any spider or insect. Diatomaceous earth is also safer around other wildlife, children and pets (as long as DE dust is not inhaled) as it is 100% natural and does not contain any nasty chemicals or poisons.  Indoor Uses Similar to other home solutions DE is something you can mix in with water and simply spritz. However, there are many accounts that state Diatomaceous earth works best when it is dry. This can be a relief for many as DE can simply be vacuumed up when used in the home. DE can be sprinkled on carpets, regular bedding, as well as pet bedding and any corner of concern in the house. Allow for a minimum of 12 hours for the DE to sit on the fabric and do its job before vacuuming up. Additionally, diatomaceous earth can also be used on your pets! It's incredibly helpful in keeping any unwanted pests away including fleas, worms and lice. Diatomaceous Earth Spray Recipe (Preferabl...

Diatomaceous Earth Using Diatomaceous Earth to store dry goods is not a novel concept. Several ancient cultures used to mix DE into their grain stores to protect them from insects. This ancient practice is still carried on in agricultural practices today where farmers and warehouses mix DE into their grain and animal feed. Diatomaceous Earth can also be used to help preserve food storage items such as flour, legumes, rice, pulses, or any other dry foods. Not only can DE deter and exterminate any unwanted insects, but Diatomaceous Earth is also great at absorbing moisture, keeping the food dry and mold-free. It also serves as a flow aid and anti-caking agent. This is especially helpful with any feeds and products that experience any difficulty with flowing and pouring. This is particularly helpful with any wet feeds or feeds abundant in molasses. Diatomaceous Earth helps to coat it, break it up and keep them from sticking together. Use food-grade DE in your cereal, oatmeal, pasta and other shelf items. You can even cook your DE treated items without having to worry about it hindering its taste, as DE is tasteless. The very best part, DE is entirely natural, helping to eliminate any need for artificial preservatives or nasty chemicals! Freezing Another popular food preservation method used is freezing. Ideal for increasing longevity, zero chance of finding any pests or mold (assuming your freezer is functioning properly). While a couple of these claims may be true, this is not so for longevity increase. This is because after some time the taste and quality of the product decrease due to the cold. The amount of time your grains remain fresh at home largely depends on how much of their shelf life has already been used up during shipping, at the warehouse and in the shop, before bringing them home. Here are some guidelines that may help you with your grain storage journey. <span style="font-w...

DIY face masks can be cheaper than store-bought, it helps the environment by reducing plastic packaging and are easy enough to make.  

Making your own body scrub is one of the best ways to ensure you know exactly what you are putting on your skin.

Diatomaceous earth can be used to improve dental hygiene while still keeping your brushing routine short.

DE has natural moisture-absorbing and odour-eliminating properties...

  Making your own deodorant is one of the best ways to ensure you know exactly what you are putting on your body  

We’ve got bran flakes and muesli a-plenty, we’ve got coarse and fine oats galore. You want the jumbo size? Sure! We’ve got everything.  A common concern when buying various oat products is ‘How do these differ from one another?’. Not to fear, for we are here to clear up any apprehension you might have about whether or not some of these products are the same and why not. How Oats Are Made Origin  Let's start from the beginning. Oats come from a plant known as Avena Sativa, a type of grass grown specifically for its cereal grain seed. When the plant is mature and ready to be harvested the seeds of the Avena Sativa plant are collected and this is where the oat journey begins. Harvest &amp; Processing At this point in time, the seeds are known as ‘Oat florets’. After the florets have been harvested they are gathered, loaded onto trays and spray washed with a high-intensity water spray. This helps remove any foreign debris that may be present in the harvest, this process may be repeated a few times. Once the florets have been adequately cleansed they are put through a large separator. This helps sort the florets by size. The larger florets are used for oatmeal and other food products whilst the ones of smaller size are diverted for use in animal feed. Next, the oat florets are graded based on density and size. To perform this graders judge the oat florets by width and are then put through a second separator composed of perforated cylinders. <span style="font-weight:...