Thursday, November 30, 2017

What Is An Organic Chebe Product

By Donald Long


Chebe is a seed from a shrub that grows all over Africa. An organic Chebe product, however, is one of a line of grain-free, gluten-free food mixes. The mixes are based on manioc flour and starch. Manioc is also known as yucca and cassava. A more familiar name for the starch from this plant is tapioca.

The folks who started the Chebe company stress that they weren't trying to market a wheat alternative line of products when they started. They simply wanted to let North America know about the wonderful bread they had eaten in Brazil. However, they received an overwhelming response from gluten-intolerant consumers who were tremendously thankful to find such a delicious gluten-free bread. The company founders realized they had found a market niche.

The manioc, or yucca, or cassava, or tapioca root was a primary source of food for the indigenous population of Brazil and surrounding regions. The tuber has a thick, rough, brown skin but a snow-white insides which yield a flour or a starch, depending on its processing. The root contains toxins and must be carefully pounded and washed to make it edible. Most consumers will want to buy a ready-to-use mix, although the root can be bought in some exotic-foods groceries.

To find Chebe products, look for the gluten-free section of your local grocery. You can also go online to the Chebe homepage and see all the mixes the company offers. The original bread mix is still popular, giving you a well-rounded loaf with pleasing texture and great taste.

Other mixes contain added ingredients, usually spices. Check the labels or the website to see if there is anything that you shouldn't have because of personal food sensitivities or allergies. Mixes are sold to make pizza crust, focaccia, cinnamon rolls, and breadsticks, to name a few.

People on a gluten-free diet often abandon breads or baked goods entirely because they simply don't find most substitute foods appealing. They complain of the lack of taste and especially texture and chewiness. However, the pain, cramping, and bloating that afflict many people with gluten intolerance makes them determined to avoid grains. There are many gluten-free products on the shelves, so it's hard to try them all.

It's really worth trying at least one of the mixes to see if this is what you've been looking for. Enjoy a great pizza again, or a loaf of bread hot from the oven. The mixes are affordable, too, which is nice since many alternative 'flours' are costly. If you create new recipes using the mixes, the company hopes you'll send them in for others to enjoy. The website likes to post encouragement and great recipes for those who are struggling with a new, gluten-free diet.

Organic is great, too, so you know that the food you're making isn't tainted with pesticides, herbicides, storage chemicals, or genetically-modified organisms. While protecting your health, you will be supporting sustainable agricultural practices. This makes it healthier for farm workers, too, who are not always protected in third world countries. All in all, using these and other organically-certified products is a good way to live green and stay healthy.




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