Goldenberries are one of the most fascinating organic superfoods that we offer. One of our favorite things is to observe a person's first 'Golden experience.' Whether it's at a store demo, music festival, food event, or at our office or home kitchen, there is never a dull reaction. These little superfruits have a hearty golden-orange-carotene appearance, and release a medly of intense flavors as they are being chewed - ranging from sweet to delightfully sour. They truly create a tangy flavor concert in your mouth, and they add their robust flavor to a wide variety of recipes. To share and celebrate this golden taste sensation, our organic Goldenberries are on sale for 30% off this week.
These superfruits are native to South America where they grow on a small, hardy bush. Each goldenberry is surrounded by a delicate husk that is similar to the paper-like casing of a tomatillo found in gardens across North America. The tomatillo is a closely related species.
Navitas Naturals Goldenberries are hand-picked in central Columbia at small family farms that we have partnered with for several years. Only the finest vine-ripened berries are selected for harvest. The fruit is low temperature dried to a moisture of 15% to retain a soft and chewy texture. Our pure goldenberries are certified organic, kosher, vegan and raw.
Perhaps most notable from a nutrition standpoint, Goldenberries contain an abundance of carotene and bioflavonoids. If you peel open the skin, it is easy to observe the intense nutrition represented by the many tiny yellow seeds contained in the soft orange meat of the berry. Goldenberries are an excellent source of vitamin A and a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, protein and other phytonutrients.
In addition to being a tasty snack right out of the bag, Goldenberries provide a delicious flavor contrast in sweet dessert recipes. Due to their complex flavor, they also are an invigorating substitute for raisins or other dried fruit in cookies, oatmeal or other grain-based dishes. Goldenberries complement many vegetables, so a favorite recipe idea is to toss them in a salad to create a surprising gourmet treat.
Be to check out our Goldenberry recipes.
We admire our Team Navitas members for their courage to challenge the limits of human performance. In the case of this month's Team Navitas column, our friends are pushing the limits of endurance and the body's and mind's ability to cope with extreme environmental conditions. Navitas Naturals is supplying an expedition to Antarctica this month with nutritious superfoods that will help give them the energy and strength to achieve their ambitious goals. Scott Grischow and his father Don will be attempting to reach the summit of Vinson Massif as the final chapter of their quest to climb the highest peak on all 7 continents. Read more about the expedition.
Mic LeBel, Navitas Naturals (NN): Can you tell our readers about the story behind your Antarctica expedition?
Scott Grischow (SC): The primary goal of the expedition to Antarctica is to climb the Vinson Massif which is the highest point on the continent (located about 750 miles from the South Pole). The peak is part of the famed Seven Summits which are the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. My dad Don and I set out to climb each of these 8 years ago and this is the final one.
Scott and Don Grischow on the summit of Mt. Elbrus in Russia
NN: What is the typical daily food menu that you are planning for your trek?
SC: We will be carrying all of our food during the expedition; therefore, we will make every attempt to keep it fairly simple. Unfortunately, given the climate we will be climbing in we will need to sacrifice some of our favorite items for more simple and easy to prepare foodstuffs. Oatmeal or porridge for breakfast and nuts/chocolate/sandwich for lunch is pretty normal. The heartiest meal of the day is usually dinner where we can enjoy semi-prepared items like pasta, fish and pizza. Once you get higher on the mountain dinner usually comes in the form of a freeze dried meal though.
NN: Is minimizing the weight of gear and supplies a key strategy for the journey, and if so, how much total weight is allotted for food provisions?
SC: You definitely want to minimize the weight which will be carried on our backs (via a backpack) and on a sled that each of us will have to pull. We will use a cache system on the mountain whereby we will actually climb parts of the mountain twice to ferry up food to the next camp before we actually move up to sleep there. While this may seem silly, it certainly lightens the loads. I would estimate that at the beginning of the climb the food (and related items like gas stoves and cooking materials) is probably >50% of the total weight with this percentage decreasing as we move up the mountain.
NN: What kind of weather are you preparing for and what kind of outdoor clothing and gear is most important to you for this purpose?
SC: Without a doubt this will be the coldest and most unforgiving environment I have ever been to. We will have the benefit of climbing during the Antarctic Summer (24 hours of sunlight each day) so we will never really have to worry about the sun going down which is always the low point of a day on other climbs (as the temperature drops more than 30 degrees in a matter of minutes!!). By and large, the most critical pieces of equipment will be my mountaineering boots, mittens/gloves and sunglasses/goggles. I actually bring two of each of these (except the boots) in the event I or one of my teammates was to lose one of them (which would mean certain frostbite or snow blindness).
Scott and the team experience harsh conditions on the Summit Ridge of Denali.
NN: How did you train for this campaign, and is there a particular food and/or drink that is part of the regimen?
SC: Technical training is something I really do not have the opportunity to do very often in Houston so I really rely on experiences from past climbs for this. However, this is only part of the equation. I think it is critical that you have a solid cardiovascular training regimen as that will give you the greatest chance for success on the mountain. You cannot really control if you get sick or injured but if you put the miles in while at sea level you will certainly notice it once you get on the mountain. I really do not have a particular food that is part of my regimen I generally have what I like to call a Super Smoothie for breakfast which is a hodgepodge of several of the Navitas Naturals powders along with fruit and yogurt. Outside of that, I like to eat a fairly balanced diet for lunch/dinner.
NN: What Navitas Naturals products are you most glad to have in your trek supplies?
SC: For this expedition, I think the Navitas Cashews, Cacao Beans, trail mixes and dried berries will be the most beneficial. The powders were key during the training and preparation, now it is time for the simpler items to take over!
NN: What do you expect to be the biggest challenge on this expedition?
SC: Honestly, I think the biggest challenge for me will be to actually enjoy my time on The Last Continent. As I said before,the primary reason for going down there will be to climb a mountain but I will also have to step back from time to time and tell myself to soak it all in and enjoy a place most people only read about and few people ever get to visit.
Did you know the founder of Navitas Naturals, Zach Adelman, is a Native of Toronto, Ontario? That is one extra reason why we're excited to be re-launching our product line and it's beautiful new packaging throughout Canada. Our friend Meghan Telpner, an energetic Toronto-based nutritionist, helped Canadians get to know Navitas Naturals better in this fun cooking segment on CTV's popular Marilyn Denis show. Meghan offers some great tips for making your own healthy dark chocolate treats beginning at the 4-minute mark.
Maca has been a hot topic in the news lately. This feature article about maca in Herb Companion Magazine is full of interesting information about this superfood root.
Since it's holiday season, we thought we would share some healthy gift ideas from some of our favorite media outlets. Have a runner on your holiday list? Here are some great ideas in the Active.com 2011 Holiday Gift Guide for runners. Navitas Power Snacks are an "Editor's Pick" and a nutritious stocking stuffer, indeed.
Delicious Living magazine suggests 6 Natural Gifts for The Superfoodie including Superfood Cuisine by Navitas Naturals Chef Julie Morris.
