Dried cranberries with no added sugar, a fascinating innovation

I like dried cranberries. They always add that little irresistible hint of tartness. My daughter Antoinette just loves them. But… I’ve always been disappointed and baffled by the amount of added sugar in dried cranberry products. Have you ever checked the list of ingredients on the back of your bag of dried cranberries?

Although bewildered by the amount of added sugar (it’s an issue with a lot of dried fruit), I’d still add them to my recipes, but when I wanted a little sweet snack before training, I’d grab that good old handful of raisins.

But that was before.
Before I discovered organic cranberries sweetened with apple juice made by Patience Fruit & Co., the very first organic cranberries with no added sugar on the market. A product that’s pure magic for the taste buds. Just when I felt it couldn’t get any better with their innovative cranberries (and I can confirm that those are the cranberries I use in my energy cookies and muffins sold in grocery stores), the Quebec company set the standard even higher when they came out with a brand new product: SWEET ORGANIC CRANBERRIES WITH NO ADDED SUGAR. Bang! WHAM! WOWSKI!

What? Pardon me?
Yes, you read right. And their new product is incredibly delicious. Slightly tart, these cranberries contain only 2 g of sugar per 40 g (1/4 cup) serving. They have a nice soft texture and they taste simply perfect. How do they do it? To get that wonderful soft texture, they add tapioca dextrin fibre and edible glycerin that comes from flaxseed oil, two ingredients of plant origin.

There are many things to love about this new product:

• There’s NO ADDED SUGAR
• It’s delicious
• It’s a very high source of fibre
• It helps bring changes to the food industry and reduces the consumption of refined sugar
• It’s made in a peanut-free facility.

Personally, I’m head over heels in love with this product. I think I might just have to exchange my handful of raisins for this amazing new product.

I raise my wooden spoon to Patience Fruit & Co., a Quebec-based family business that has continued and cherished its values over generations. If you’re in the habit of taking Highway 20 (in Quebec), you’ll pass the Fruit d’Or. company headquarters. Fruit d’Or is the business behind the inspirational brand Patience Fruit & Co. Their mission is to push back the limits of uses for cranberries by offering innovative products that complement a healthy diet. BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!

What does nutritionist Isabelle Morin have to say about the product?

Nutritionally, this product certainly has benefits. First of all, it is interesting to note that no refined sugar has been added to the cranberries. The company decided instead to use the soluble fibre dextrin found in tapioca to tone down the product’s taste. Plain cranberries tend to have a somewhat tart and astringent taste. Therefore, if they didn’t contain a sweetening agent, there’s a good chance you wouldn’t like the taste of them.

Strictly speaking, tapioca dextrin soluble fibre is not a sugar, it’s a type of carbohydrate which is resistant to the digestion process. As such, it is instead considered as dietary fibre. This fibre doesn’t have the same benefits on intestinal regularity and satiety as the fibre found in whole grains and vegetables, but it’s a soluble fibre that can act as a prebiotic, that is to say that it plays a role in the health of our intestinal microbiota. It should also be noted that cranberries are naturally rich in antioxidants, another important point in their favour! The last positive aspect of this product is the fact that the cranberries are organic, certified GMO-free, gluten-free and peanut-free. More little extras to feel happy about!

Have a craving for dried cranberries? How about making the most popular apple and cranberry dessert of the season? It’s affectionately called: The Apple of My Eye.

Mériane aka Madame
xxx