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"Quite simply, it's the best peanut butter we've tried, with a fresh roasted flavourand fantastically blended texture"
Growing up with a dad who was one of the founders of Foodtown, peanut butter producer Pic Picot thought there was nothing more boring than groceries. "But I've come full circle," he says.
And how did that happen? He's always loved peanut butter and one day, breakfasting with an American mate, he studied a jar that said "health style with reduced sugar". Later he noted local peanut butters started having added sugar. "There's no need for sugar in there," he thought and resolved to start making his own.
True to his keep-it-simple notion, his peanut butter contains nothing but peanuts and salt (he also makes an unsalted version, if you must). And as he uses high-oil content peanuts (from Australia since we don't grow them here), he doesn't need to add oil either.
This comes in "an amazingly returnable jar", as the label reads. If you return the glass jar to Pic at the Nelson Market, 50c goes to the Brooke Wildlife Sanctuary. And why are there pictures of lawnmowers on the jar? We asked Pic so you don't have to: "I just like lawnmowers. I'man outdoorsy, low-tech kind of a guy."
Which probably explains the stainless steel concrete mixer with a burner
under it he had built to dry-roast the nuts when he first started. He and partner, Sandy Francis, who is responsible for marketing and moral
support, have come a long way since then, but he still sells at the market,
urging passersby to try a sample. "I love it," says Pic. "I love making them try it at the market. And they're incredibly grateful. I know I'm doing them a favour."
He's done us all a favour. Quite simply, it's the best peanut butter we've tried, with a fresh roasted flavour and fantastically blended texture.
And now, moving right along two more weeks to:
The Sunday Star Times March 14, 2010
FOOD DETECTIVE
Annabel White goes beyond the major brands to dip into boutique peanut butters.
PEANUT BUTTER lovers know what they like; a fact that's been learned the hard way by some large commerciall local producers who have made changes to their product for the sake of cheaper price margins. Consumers know their favourite peanut butter and are unhappy with any changes.
Whether you like with or ithout salt or with or without sugar; smooth or crunchy; there is an emotional connection to what you enjoyed growing up.
Peanut butter makes a great addition to a dressing for an Asian-style spicy coleslaw for a crowd.
Pic's Really Good Peanut Butter * * * *
If you love peanut butter this will make you weep - it is that good.
You immediately see the great colour of top quality freshly roasted peanuts, imported from Australia. Not cheap but a jar will last for ages. Fresh roasted peanut aroma and huge peanut taste. The flavour or peanuts lasts and lingers for a very long time. Super texture. Made in Nelson. Warning: restraint needed to put the lid back on the jar-its very hard to resisit another taste. No added sugar. Worth the extra 60c per 100g Per 100g: sodium 0.5g,; sugar, 4.1g; total fat 49.9g.
Will buy again and give to friends
Kai Ora Organic Peanut Butter Crunchy. * *
From the same Napier factory as the Chantelle product, this peanut burrer looks like whole-seed mustard in the jar, being darker and more tectured than others. Some aroma of peanuts and good texture; ideal for multi-use. Taste unadulterated and clearly peanut but not as vibrant as the top product. Not a flawed product but after tase disappointed. Better than many mass-market commercial products but not in the league of the top product. Peanuts from China. Per 100g : sodium,209.74mg,; sugar, 9.17g; total fat, 50.1g;
Will not buy againas can do better
Chantelle Organic Classic Peanyr Butter * * 1/2
Paler colour and aroma of oil rather than roasted nuts. Much thinner consistency and very smooth; would be ideal for dressing recipe and sauces but not toast. Peanuts have lost some cibrancy and the aftertaste fors not linger. The orhanic peanuts in this product originate in China. The nuts are fresh roastd anthen de-skinned mechanically rather than blanched. Once they arte cooled the nuts are stone gtound in a water-colled mill but somehow the result does not insoire. Per 100g: sodium 209mg; sugar 9.2g; total fat 50.1g;
Will not buy again, can do better
And then, blow me down, two pages later in the very same edition of the paper:
FOOD - Pantry
(This should have beeb a picture of a newspaper cutting, but I lost it)
Pic's Really Good Peanut Butter
A finalist at the awards, this Nelson Product is seriously good with a rich taste of Queensland peanuts that are batch roasted and ground to perfection. It's a nutricious treat fort the kids too. Available at specialist food stores.
And Look - heres a couple of on-line articles I nearly forgot about ...
NBR online
www,foodheroes
And heres another peanut butter website you may or may not enjoy.. Its .... the incredible ....NUTMAN!!! yum yum yum!
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