Americans are discovering delicious gourmet oils from cultures around the world, such as: hemp seed oil from the prairies of Canada; Macadamia oil from Australia; Mediterranean region oils made from almonds, avocado, olives, walnuts and hazelnuts; and argan oil from North Africa. These specialty oils add distinct flavor profiles to recipes, and usually offer an attractive color and distinctive texture. The good news is that the cadre of emerging specialty gourmet oils not only taste great - they are good for you too.
How the oil will be used is a key consideration when choosing a specialty oil. Consumer interest is growing for both "cooking oils" such as Macadamia Nut, Rice Bran and Hazelnut, and nutritious low-temperature salad, pasta and smoothie oils such as hemp seed and walnut. There are also healthy supplement specialty oils such as flax seed, borage and primrose that offer excellent nutrition - but generally don't offer a favorable flavor or shelf-life for culinary pursuits. The best specialty oil choice depends on what the food preparer or health seeker is using it for. For example, one important aspect of specialty oils is the "smoke point" of the oil - the temperature at which important characteristics such as nutrition and flavor become compromised.
Hemp seed oil is a rising star in the low-temperature specialty oil arena, with sales of hemp foods growing 66% from 2003 to 2004. Now that a key legal dispute was resolved earlier this year in favor of the hemp food industry, the explosive growth of the category is expected to continue (see recipes below and at www, manitobaharvst. com). "Hemp seed oil is a delicious and healthy addition to salad dressings, pasta, veggies, sauces and dips - and it is a form of sustainable agriculture that is good for the planet," says Nora Pouillon, chef and founder of Restaurant Nora in Washington, D.C., the first certified organic restaurant in the U.S. (www.noras.com ).
HEALTHY SPECIALTY OILS - GOOD FATS
Now that the "Fat-Free" diet craze in America has subsided and been debunked, people are learning to love fats - and therefore, they are embracing gourmet oils which are essentially 100% liquid fat. Nutrition savvy shoppers know that fatslike those contained in natural gourmet vegetable oils can be very good for you. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are the good fats that humans need, but are not produced by the body and must be obtained through the diet. It is estimated that 90% of Americans do not consume enough EFAs —particularly omega-3 EFAs—in part because modern diets have been depleted of EFAs by modern food processing methods. Specialty oils are an important source of EFAs, and the content and type of EFAs vary from oil to oil. "Paying attention to vegetable oils is an easy and delicious way to ensure optimum nutrition," says Mike Fata of Manitoba Harvest, the largest integrated manufacturer of hemp seed oil in North America.
Studies link many common ailments to an imbalance or deficiency of EFAs in the typical western diet. Most Americans consume insufficient amounts of EFAs, or too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3. Hempseed oil contains the most EFAs of any nut or seed oil, with the omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs in the nutritionally optimal 1:3 ratio. In his respected book Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill, nutrition expert Udo Erasmus sums it up nicely: "The best-balanced plant source of EFAs is hemp seed oil."
"Hemp seed oil is one of the few vegetable oils that contain significant quantities of alpha-linolenic acid (20%), an important Omega-3 EFA," says Fata. "Hempseed oil is also the source of a rare powerful Omega-3 EFA called stearidonic acid that is easy for the body to process," he adds. Although Omega-6 EFAs are found in common vegetable oils like corn, • soy and sunflower, many of these oils are not fresh, are full of unhealthy Trans Fatty Acids, and many people are unable to properly digest their fats because their body's production of enzymes needed to metabolize these oils are hampered by stress, environmental toxicity or aging. "Fresh cold pressed Hemp seed oil contains no Trans Fats and is a unique plant source of the rare and valuable super Omega-6 EFA called Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) that is easy for the body to process," adds Fata. "GLA bypasses the enzymatic blocks to allow proper Omega-6 utilization."
SPECIALTY OILS HIGH IN EFAS ARE A HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE TO TOXIN-TAINTED FISH
Although medical and nutrition experts espouse the many benefits of eating fish, in large part due to the impressive profile of EFAs, a growing number of reports and government warnings are raising concerns about toxic levels of mercury and other environmental contaminants in fish. "There are a variety of specialty vegetable oils that contain impressive concentrations of EFAs and other key nutrients recommended by leading medical experts," notes Fata. "Hemp seed oil's EFA profile is closer to fish oil than any other vegetable oil," he adds. One tablespoon of hemp seed oil in a shake, salad or sauce offers a whopping 3 grams of omega-3, more than the 2 grams recommended by the US National Institute of Health.
SPECIALTY OILS THAT ARE FRESH "FROM SEED TO SHELF"
Specialty oil companies like Manitoba Harvest™ demonstrate a commitment to quality "From Seed to Shelf," by growing, preparing and packaging all of their products. To create Manitoba Harvest™ Organic Hemp Seed Oil, hemp seeds are freshly cold pressed to ensure that valuable enzymes are not destroyed and nutrients such as chlorophyll and vitamin E remain intact. The emerald green color of the oil is due to the rich content of chlorophyll, a powerful antioxidant. Unlike standard oil refining processes, their "FRESH PRESSED™" process does not subject the oil to poisonous chemicals or destructive heat and the exclusion of oxygen and light during manufacturing helps to prevent oxidation and rancidity. All Manitoba Harvest™ products are packaged in containers that are impermeable to light and oxygen and are flushed with an inert gas to seal in the freshness. Manitoba Harvest's innovative "Packaged On" and "Best Before" windows of freshness are found on every product.
"Organic" is a growing niche in the specialty oil market. Manitoba Harvest™ has become certified by the Organic Producers Association of Manitoba (OP AM) as a USD A accredited organic processing facility and they offer a Certified Organic, Cold Pressed Hemp Seed Oil Founded in 1998, Manitoba Harvest™ offers healthy staple hemp food products including nutritious Hemp Seed Oil, Hemp Seed Oil Capsules, Hemp Seed Nut (shelled hemp seed), Hemp Seed Nut Butter and Hemp Protein Powder. Manitoba Harvest™ products are offered nationwide by more than 1,500 natural food retailers, including Whole Foods Markets. For more information, please visit www.manitobaharvest.com or call 1-800-665-HEMP (4367).