Dear community,
Ingest this good information about one of our favorite sweeteners at Cafe Gratitude: dates!
Phoenix dactylifera is the date palm family where dates come from, from the greek daktulos which translates as "fingers". Dates come in thousands of varieties different in color, shape, taste, seasonality, and more. Dates are a type of fruit and what a blessing they are. Since they are fruits they are almost 100% fructose or simple carbohydrates that the body quickly & through easy enzymatic reaction turns into pure dynamite energy. Next Bay to Breakers marathon, chew on dates instead of that plastic pre-packaged/who-knows-what’s-inside-it energy bar.
Cafe Gratitude recipes (especially bakery items) mostly use dates in them as sweeteners; there are several factors why we went with them aside from so many other sweetener options out there:
- Dates are almost local! Yes, almost is just that; almost. they come from Mecca, California (South of Los Angeles) from the most beautiful hard working family, look at the pictures!
- Dates are pure fructose, no added nothing. They just take the pits out and chop them to create a paste
- Organic! This is a committed family, really.
- Although they are not emulsifiers chemically, they work like that! Dates makes food smooth & pasty, they contain very little (muy poquito) fat and their flavor is honey-like delicious. Chop nuts and add whipped date paste and you will see the perfect pie/cake crust every time.
Tagged in: Vendors of Cafe Gratitude , toasted sesame seed oil , tamari , snack , sauce recipe , rice vinegar , red pepper , raw education , produce , ice cream , dessert , date , cilantro , cashews , cafe gratitude vendor , almond butter