Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter
August 29, 2016
If I asked you about chocolate hazelnut butter, Ferrero’s Nutella would probably come to mind. It is a well-known product around the globe. Nutella and I go way back, and I’ve never tried any other brand.
So, when I recently found Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter in my local grocery shop, I had to give it a try.
About Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter
According to www.justins.com, the story began when Justin Gold starting creating nut butters in his kitchen in order to have a high protein food to help energize him on his long bike rides.
He created different varieties of nut butter that eventually moved out of his kitchen and into the local Farmer’s Market. His original flavors were: Heavenly Honey Peanut Butter, Sinfully Cinnamon Peanut Butter, Honey Almond Butter and Pumpkin Pie Peanut Butter.
Today, you can find Justin’s in many different stores and co-ops. Justin’s has a variety of nut butters, but the only chocolate one at the moment is the Chocolate Hazelnut Butter. Though I should point out that this is a blend and also contains almonds. (They used to offer a separate Chocolate Almond Butter too, but it appears they don't sell it any more.)
Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut butter is thick like a soft fudge, smooth and spreadable. The flavor impact of the hazelnut is very strong. That’s no surprise since the first ingredient is Dry Roasted Hazelnuts. The sweetness level is low, allowing for the nuttiness to shine.
Sugar is the first ingredient for Nutella. Justin’s has 7 grams of sugar per serving (2 tablespoons) compared to 21 grams for Nutella.
What Is Palm Oil?
Both nut butter brands use Palm Oil. I’ve noticed palm oil appearing a lot more on labels these days. Since I’m not very familiar with Palm Oil nutrition, I felt the need to look it up.
Palm oil is a non-hydrogenated vegetable oil made from the reddish pulp of the fruit of an African oil palm. It has a natural reddish color because of high beta-carotene (antioxidant) levels.
There is some evidence that suggests Palm oil can be used to lose weight and increase metabolism.
Palm oil is used in nut butters to stabilize and reduce oil separation. Those are useful features.
It’s worth noting that the increased use of palm oil has attracted the attention of some environmental groups because the widespread cultivation leads to the destruction of forests in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. These forests are home to the orangutan, which is endangered.
Justin’s is a great way to get protein your body needs. Actually, it’s more than that. It’s a TASTY way to get the protein your body needs.
Here's the link to Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter on Amazon.
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