Photo Gallery: Editors' Choice food & beverage awards, Expo West 2012

Kelsey Blackwell and Elisa Bosley, newhope360

Mar. 14, 2012

Bhakti Chai

This spicy, truly Indian-style chai was love at first taste; they launched big-time at Expo West so now the secret is out. Made with loads of freshly pressed (not powdered) organic ginger, it lives up to its reputation as a “chai to get you high” (in a good way). And we love that the company donates 10 percent—yes, you read that right—to nonprofits that focus on women, children, and the environment.
Blue Print Juice

The Blue Print line offers raw cleansing juices with six levels to customize a detox plan. But we really love the new single-bottle flavors such as lemon and cayenne, cashew and cinnamon, and celery-cucumber-spinach-ginger; every one of them is an innovative, refreshing, and nutritious way to get more fruits and veggies.
Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Bakery

This gluten-free lineup has built up a cult following, and with their Expo West launch we predict they’re going to make a lot of GF families happy. Made in a dedicated GF facility with non-GMO whole grains, the products have artisan flavor and fabulous texture—still no easy feat with GF foods. The breads, foccacia, muffins, and hamburger buns are also free of dairy, soy, and nuts.
The Chia Co.

This beautiful raw seed is sustainably grown and processed by a fourth-generation Australian farmer, ensuring quality control and full traceability (we like that kind of micromanagement). All of their seeds are black or white—not brown, which they say isn’t fully ripe (“like a green banana”). And their product line is nifty and varied: plain, see-through bags of seed, chia shots, chia oil, and a forthcoming chia smoothie for kids.
Nature's Path Love Crunch

We did a happy dance when we heard that Nature’s Path was bringing back this incredibly tasty premium granola (with three new flavors in addition to the original), first introduced last year as a charitable one-off in honor of the founder’s son’s nuptials. Longtime champions of the organic and non-GMO movements, Nature’s Path takes this granola a step further: For every purchased bag, the company will donate the equivalent in cash or organic food to food banks. Good taste, good works—unbeatable.
New York Superfoods Be Kind Nut Butters

From the Chia Chargers line come these peanut butters enhanced with crunchy and nutritious chia (there it is again!). Six vegan flavors include paprika, coffee, chocolate, and agave; and each one supports a charity chosen by the athlete who names the butter, such as Matt Walsh’s Gator Grit (benefitting Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Research) and Laurel Wassner’s Manhattan Mud (benefitting the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults). Better butter, indeed.
Noosa Yoghurt

Once you’ve tasted this thick, creamy yogurt, there’s no going back; it’s simply the best-tasting yogurt we know (it also won the Best of West press award). Named for the Australian province from which the recipe hails, it’s now produced in Colorado with rBGH-free, locally sourced milk, honey, and fruit. This stuff is addictive. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
NurturMe Baby Food

File this under “why didn’t someone think of this sooner?” These organic, superlight dehydrated baby foods cut way down on traditional baby foods’ carbon footprint (no heavy jars or squeeze pouches), while capturing fruits’ and veggies’ nutrients. The powders, made from peas, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, bananas, and apples, do double-duty stirred into toddler foods (think sweet potato powder added to mac ‘n’ cheese). And they’re tasty as all get-out.
Organic America Microgreens

Check out those colors! These beautiful, certified-organic microgreens, tiny versions of vegetables such as red amaranth and golden pea shoots, liven up dishes and provide concentrated nutrients (often more than their grown-up versions). Perfect for chefs or home cooks who want a little somethin’ special for their finished dish. We love, love, love the fresh and unusual tastes of these fun-to-eat garnishes; reportedly kids love ‘em too.
Soothie Suckers

When children have a sore throat, why not sneak in some herbal support? These clever ice pops (labeled as a dietary supplement) are made with natural colors and flavors, sweetened with agave and up-and-coming zero-calorie monkfruit, and infused with safe and gentle herbal remedies to ease a cold, sore throat, or weak immunity. A neat treat for under-the-weather kids.
Three Twins Ice Cream

Every single person on the NewHope360 team who tasted this ice cream came away wowed. All ten flavors are certified organic and made with local ingredients—but more than anything, they just taste unbelievably delicious. The strawberry flavor includes a hint of balsamic vinegar, the lemon features chunks of vanilla crème cookies, the coffee has bits of real chocolate (not wax) … we could go on and on, but right now we need to find a spoon.

After tasting and sipping our way around the Natural Products Expo West 2012 show floor, we chose 11 products as this year's favorites. From gluten-free bread to functional juices and blow-your-mind ice cream, these got our nod for best of show.

Discuss this Gallery 2

Anonymous (not verified)

on Mar 15, 2012

Congrats to NY Superfoods!

Anonymous (not verified)

on Mar 28, 2012

It would have been helpful if you had provided links to these products so a reader could find them on-line...

Editors' Choice food & beverage awards, Expo West 2012

Bhakti Chai

Blue Print Juice

Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Bakery

The Chia Co.

Nature's Path Love Crunch

New York Superfoods Be Kind Nut Butters

Noosa Yoghurt

NurturMe Baby Food

Organic America Microgreens

Soothie Suckers

Three Twins Ice Cream

Discuss this Gallery 2

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Editors' Choice food & beverage awards, Expo West 2012

Bhakti Chai

Blue Print Juice

Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Bakery

The Chia Co.

Nature's Path Love Crunch

New York Superfoods Be Kind Nut Butters

Noosa Yoghurt

NurturMe Baby Food

Organic America Microgreens

Soothie Suckers

Three Twins Ice Cream

Related Media

Discuss this Gallery 2

Post new comment

NewHope360.com

Site Features

New Hope Natural Media

Follow Us

Search NewHope360.com

New Hope 360 Sources

New Hope 360 In Person