Ingredients A-L | Ingredients M-Z | Rachel's Flowers
Ingredients A-L
Açai - A small, deep purple berry from Amazon palm trees, açai fruit is noted for its high concentration of antioxidants. For centuries, many have looked to açai as a natural energy booster and stamina builder. The flavor is sometimes compared to wild raspberries with a hint of raisins or a combination of ripe berries and bittersweet chocolate.
Agar - Agar comes from the Malay word agar-agar (meaning jelly). Derived from aquatic plants, agar becomes gelatinous when dissolved in hot water and cooled. It's a common vegetarian gelatin substitute and often used as a thickener for soups, in jellies and in ice cream and yogurt.
Annatto extract - (for color) Annatto is a natural colorant made from the seeds of the Bixa orellana or achiote tree, also known as "lipstick tree," native to the tropics in the Americas. It's been used for hundreds of years for food, dying clothes and for ceremonial body paint. North American Indians used the color to represent fire and the sun.
Black Currants - Sweet, sharp and astringent, black currants lend their lively flavor to all manner of teas, yogurts, jams, juices, wine and liqueur. Native to Northern Europe, the glossy, dark purple berries grow on bushes and are harvested during the summer. The leaves, juice and bark are used in a variety of folk remedies.
Blackberries - Dark, succulent blackberries grow wild across most of North America and throughout the world. The blackberry is an ancient fruit, used as medicine by the Greeks, mentioned in the Bible and written about in folklore. The blue-black, tasty berries are delicious as well as nutritious. Native Americans surrounded their encampments with the thorny bushes for protection against predators.
Blueberries - Tiny, tender blueberries are one of the few fruits native to North America. Naturally sweet with just a hint of tartness, the berries impart their vivid purple hue to everything they touch. In Northeast Indian folklore, blueberries were known as "star berries" due to their star-shaped stem or calyx. Legend has it they were sent by Great Spirit to relieve hunger during a famine.
Carrageenan - Derived from aquatic plants, carrageenan is a common vegetarian gelatin subsititute.
Chai - Chai by definition is a spiced tea; the word "chai" means "tea" in Hindi. Originating in India, the stimulating combination of black tea, milk and spices is savored for its rich, complex flavors. Spices vary from kitchen to kitchen but most common are ginger, cardamom, coriander, cinnamon, black pepper and calendula. Many feel chai produces a warming, soothing effect and a serene sense of well-being. One cup is usually followed by another.
Cherries - Deliciously sweet and unbelievably juicy, pleasantly plump cherries have been savored since the Stone Age; archeologists have found pits in Stone Age caves in Europe. Although the fruit has always been popular for dessert and culinary purposes, cherries were also used during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries for their healing properties. Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream associates cherries with love and romance. "O, how ripe in show Thy lips, those kissing cherries, tempting grow!" In Japan, cherry blossoms (sakura) symbolize the ephemeral nature of life. In China, cherry blossom is the symbol of feminine dominance, female beauty and sexuality.
Cranberry - Refreshingly tangy and tart cranberries are one of the few fruits indigenous to the US. Native Americans used the bright berries as food, medicine and to dye fabric a rich red. Some say cranberries were once known as "crane" berries because they are a favorite snack for those birds. The tiny fruits are also called "bounce berries" due to their bounce-ability when ripe.
Cucumber - Crisp, refreshing cucumbers are largely made of water but also contain vitamin C and caffeic acid, both of which help reduce swelling and soothe the skin. The internal temperature of a cucumber can be up to 20 degrees cooler than the air outside! In folk medicine, cucumbers were used in elixirs for healing and fertility.
DHA algal oil - Beneficial Omega-3 DHA fatty acids are most commonly derived from coldwater fish such as mackerel and salmon. Researchers looking for a vegetarian source of DHA established that the fish actually obtain these important Omega-3 fatty acids from a diet of algae. The result? Scientists are now able to obtain rich, nutritional DHA directly from aquatic plants. The life'sDHA™ algal oil used in Rachel's yogurt is a 100% vegetarian and sustainable source of Omega-3 DHA fatty acids.
Dill - Traces of this ancient herb have been discovered everywhere from prehistoric caves to Egyptian tombs. The word dill comes from the Norse "dylle" meaning to "calm, sooth or lull," and folk medicine suggests dill as a cure for insomnia. Throughout history, dill has also been a key ingredient in love potions.
Evaporated cane juice - Evaporated cane juice is made from sugarcane. This natural source of sweetness undergoes very little refining, so it retains more of the nutrients found in sugarcane including vitamins and minerals.
Grapefruit - Aromatherapists value the bright smell of grapefruit for its refreshing qualities. The delightfully juicy and tart fruit was given its name because it grows in clusters, like grapes. In folk medicine, grapefruit oil was purported to create a relaxed and happy environment and to balance the emotions.
Green Tea - Gently exhilarating green tea is known as a "true tea" because it has undergone little oxidation or fermentation as opposed to black and oolong teas. Green tea has been consumed for almost 5,000 years, and has had myriad applications in traditional medicine in India, China, Japan and Thailand. More recent research has found that green tea contains antioxidants, which have been linked to a number of health benefits.
Honey - Honeybees create sparkling, golden honey from the nectar of flowers. One of the oldest foods in existence, honey is remarkable in that it never spoils. Edible honey was even found during the excavation of the tomb of King Tut.
Kiwi - Brown, fuzzy, egg-shaped kiwifruit open to reveal vibrant, emerald green flesh centered with a starburst of tiny black seeds. The flavor is a mixture of peaches, strawberries and melon with a soft and juicy texture. While kiwi is also the name of both New Zealand's national bird and a slang term for a New Zealander, kiwifruit are actually native to China and is that country's national fruit. Its Chinese name translates into everything from "wonder fruit" to "goat peach."
Lavender - The heady, unmistakable fragrance of lavender is traditionally used in aromatherapy for relaxation. Lavender derives its name from the Latin 'lavare' meaning 'to wash'. In ancient Rome, lavender was recognized for its healing and antiseptic qualities, and was used as a ritual-bathing herb. Throughout history, lavender has been associated with love. In fact, its subtle purple flowers were baked into pastries used for courting.
Lemon Verbena - A fragrant herb native to South America, lemon verbena has a soothing and refreshing lemon flavor. Its wonderful citrus notes are often used in teas and other culinary applications as well as in essential oils and bath products. The lemon verbena plant has long, delicate green leaves and is also known as the "herb of grace."
Lime - Puckery limes are the fruit of a tropical evergreen tree, which might explain their distinct piney, zesty flavor. Limes are the most acidic of the citrus fruits, making them a perfect flavor enhancer. Packed with vitamin C, the sour little fruits were a necessity on long-haul ships in the 18th century to ward off the dreaded scurvy. If left to ripen on the tree, limes turn from green to yellow.
Live and active cultures - Also known as probiotics, live and active cultures are essential for healthy digestion and overall intestinal vitality. Rachel's contains five distinct probiotic strains: L. bulgaricus, S. thermophilus, L. acidophilus, Bifidobacerium longum and L. casei.
Locust bean gum - This natural thickening agent is extracted from the seeds of the carob tree. Used since ancient times, locust bean gum was first used by the Egyptians. Carob seeds are uniform in size and were used by jewelers as a standard weight during the middle ages - it's from this that the word "carat" was born.
Lychee - A wonderful source of vitamin C, the lychee fruit bursts with luscious natural sweetness. The Chinese consider the red, heart-shaped lychee a symbol of romance and love.