Newman’s Own Organics – Products worth reviewing

Who would’ve thought that Nell Newman, the daughter of famous screen legend, philanthropist, and race car enthusiast Paul Newman would end up developing her own line of organic products? Established in 1993, it started out as a branch from Newman’s Own (the company which her father built) and later became an independant company in 2001. The company’s slogan is, “great tasting products that happen to be organic” – how modest is that saying as it perfectly complements the company’s humble background as well.

I was fortunate enough to try out many of their core products ranging from their soy crisps to “Newman-O’s” to chocolate (and boy were those chocolates mouth-watering!). All of their products are made with certified organic ingredients and carries the USDA Organic label. Their coffee are fair trade organic coffee and their chocolates are also Rainforest Alliance certified. They do everything possible to help consumers have more choices in organic food – from their original pretzels to olive oil and basamic vinegar to mints. They even have a new organic pet food line specially formulated for cats and dogs – the same quality ingredients and care goes into the production of their pet food.  But the most prominant aspect of this expansive organic company is their charitable spirit. Under the philanthropic guidelines of Paul Newman, profits from Newman’s Own Organics has been generously added to the Newman’s Own Foundation – an organization that donates money to educational and charitable organizations.

Newman’s Own Organics (www.newmansownorganics.com) isn’t just a company dedicated in giving consumers high-quality organic food; they’re also a company with a lot of heart. However that did not distract me from doing an honest review of their organic snacks. So here is a detailed list of what I received and tasted:

Barbeque Soy Crisps – these soy crisps are made with Organic Low Fat Soy Flour and Organic Rice Flour and has a nice delicate barbeque flavor with a hint of spice. It’s not too spicy and not very salty and it has a great crunch to it.  If  you’ve never tried soy crisps or any kind of chips made from soy and rice, then you have to give these bbq soy crisps a try. Soy has a distinct flavor but since I grew up eating soy products, it had a very satisfying flavor and since it’s baked, it doesn’t leave you with greasy fingers. They are also gluten-free.

Traditional Thin Pretzels– I love pretzels. They are great snacks to enjoy with basically anything. They are a healthier alternative to chips (although there are healthy chips out there) and they are easier to carry around in your hand.  Newman’s Own Organic pretzels are made with organic unbleached wheat flour and organic rye flour and has a nice crunch to it. Since they are “thin”, it’s hard not to eat more than a handful.

Alphabet Cookies in Arrowroot – these are not your regular alphabet cookies that you find at your kids school; they’re perfect for both kids and adults. Now some of you may not have heard of Arrowroot or what it tastes like, but it doesn’t have a very strong flavor and it’s usually used in place of wheat in a regular recipe. But in this instance, arrowroot is used as a flavor enhancer and can add texture to any product. The alphabet cookies were delicate and also fun to eat!

Champion Cookies with Chocolate Chips – the story behind these Champion Cookies is really endearing. You’ll have to read the bag to find out the whole story but I’ll give you a brief description. Champion Cookies got their name a long time ago from grandma who entered the cookie sling race. When she didn’t take the gold due to her “secret” additive of chocolate chips in the cookies, she then took her cookies to a neighboring cookie contest and won first prize because of the chocolates.  The Champion Cookies are a bit bigger than your regular bite-sized cookies and they pack an immense amount of flavor. And since they are not too sweet you don’t feel that sugary overdose even after a few cookies.

Fig Newmans (Fat Free) –  I love it when companies use cute names for their products and Fig Newman’s are not only memorable in taste, but you can’t help but chuckle at the cleverness of the name. I don’t usually buy fat free food food since I try to limit my fat intake as it as, but you really can’t tell that these Fig Newmans are “fat free”. Fig Newmans are made with organic unbleached wheat flour, organic sugar, and organic figs and they are soft in texture like the fig newtons and once again not overly sweet.

Cinnamon Mints –  I used to enjoy mints when I was in college because it helped me study better ( I think the peppermint helped me concentrate better) but I don’t believe I’ve ever tried cinnamon-flavored mints before so I was quite pleasantly surprised at Newman’s Own Organics mints. It has a uniquely fresh flavor and with a strong hint of cinnamon so you can taste it immediately. Their mints come in a handy reusable tin and four roll packs. Flavors include Cinnamon, Ginger, Peppermint, and Wintergreen.

Dark Chocolate Bar – I humbly admit that I am a chocolate snob. My preferences in chocolate run with the extravagant and any old chocolate bar usually doesn’t satisfy. And when it comes to organic chocolate and chocolate that contains more than 50% of cocoa beans, that’s all the better! Newman’s Own Organics chocolates uses the finest ingredients possible because chocolate in essence, is one of the most richest form of food on earth so really great chocolate requires exceptional cocoa beans. I tasted the 54% Dark Chocolate Bar and let the flavor savor in my mouth and the aftertaste of rich cocoa beans ignited my taste buds. I can definitely tell that real cocoa beans were used instead of artificial flavoring. They also use 100% organic ingredients in the Dark Chocolate bar. These chocolates are also made from cocoa beans grown on Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms. The Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal guarantees that the cocoa in their Signature Series were grown on farms that meet comprehensive standards for sustainable farming, protecting soil, waterways and wildlife habitat as well as the rights and welfare of workers, their families and communities.

Prunes – What ingredient(s) are found in Newman’s Own Organics Dried Prunes? – simply, well, prunes. Some companies add sugar or sulfites to their dried prunes, but in reality, dried prunes like most dried fruit has a very long shelf life and already has nature’s own built in sweetener so sugar really isn’t necessary. I really enjoy prunes as an occassional snack so I definitely had to try Newman’s Own Organics Prunes. They were moist and dense and had just a bit of sweetness to them without being overpowering. Going forward, I’m going to try making cookies with NOO’s dried prunes in them.

Newman-O’s in Chocolate – Who doesn’t like a good creme-filled cookie? They’re great as a stand alone snack or dessert or you can eat the whole bag as a meal (although I don’t recommend doing that). Newman – O’s are simply rich cream filling nestled between two crunchy cookies. The chocolate variety was rich and satisfying with the chocolate cookies yielding a not-too-sweet flavor and the cream center moist and creamy.

Hermits Ginger Soft Cookies – I used to enjoy ginger cookies because I love the taste of ginger and it also holds great health benefits. But then I ate too much of them and stopped for awhile. So when I opened the package of Newman’s Own Organics Ginger Soft Cookies, the aroma instantly reminded me of why I loved ginger cookies so much. They’re made with organic unbleached wheat  flour and adds a bit of organic raisins to give it a slight edge over other ginger cookies. And because they’re soft and chewy, these were a great option for me when I wanted a softer cookie on occassion.

Licorice in Pomegranate – I have to admit I’m not much of a licorice fan and outside of eating “Red Vines” at the theater some time ago, I don’t know much about licorice. But when I took a bite of NOO’s Pomegranate the first word out of my mouth was “YUM”! The texture was soft and chewy but not rubbery (like Red Vines) and it had a slight hint of pomegranate flavor. It wasn’t too sweet (which was nice) and it smelled delicious! You didn’t think licorice could smell pretty good, did you? The main ingredients are Organic Wheat Flour, Organic Sugar, Corn Syrup, Organic Tapioca Syrup, Vegetable Glycerin, Sunflower Oil, Elderberry Extract, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Pomegranate Juice Concentrate, and Licorice Root Extract. All natural flavors and it still tastes better than any licorice twists with artificial flavoring. Beat that, Red Vines!

Newman’s Own Organics became an organic only food company because they realized the concerns of  their customers and wanted their customers to know exactly what goes into their products. Their ingredients come from certified organic farms without the use of artificial fertilizers or pesticides and most of the recipes were passed down from previous generations. The company makes every stride possible in ensuring that the ingredients used in their products come from environmentally-conscious farms and organizations. They also prohibit the use of preservatives in their products. Their devotion in providing high-quality products not only goes into their products but is noticeable in their packaging as well. All of their packages bear the distinctive image of American Gothic “Pa” Newman and daughter Nell with exception of  their chocolates and tea.

To find out more about Newman’s Own Organics, please visit their website: http://www.newmansownorganics.com/. They also offer coupons and recipes that are hard to pass on. You can find Newman’s Own Organics in most health food stores and mass market supermarkets.

I honestly enjoyed trying all of these delicious products from Newman’s Own Organics. The cookies were not overly sweet, the chocolates were luscious, and the chips were delicate and flavorful. But try it out for yourselves and you’ll taste the difference between conventional food to organic food made with high-quality, ingredients.

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

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