Friday, October 16, 2009

Flavor As An Ingredient Is Great for Flavored Waters, Drinks, And Food

By George Napoli

Im a Food Network nut, looking for my next great recipe or the ultimate pot pie. When it comes to flavoring and ingredients, these pros use a spectrum of flavors that cross the continent, from the most elementary flavors and spices to the most wild.

One thing is certain. The term flavoring as an ingredient is used routinely and growing among people looking for restaurant tastes, right at home. The last show for one of my favorite chefs- on the Food Network was Michael Chiarello. This Chef is right on the money when it comes to recipes that deliver that type of flavoring.

Next time I saw an episode, he was making a ham and bean soup, almost like pasta fagiloi, except with the ham. Point is, he added 12 cloves of garlic to the oil and looked up at the camera smiling and said-"this is using garlic flavoring as an ingredient." I should say so!

There are many examples highlighting this hot fad and culinary footnote for both foods and beverages. For foods, you see most of the best chefs in the world using 8 ozs of cilantro and claiming flavoring as an ingredient, including the likes of parsley by the fistful.

When we look at beverages, the best examples come from flavoring additives and flavoring concentrates. Flavoring additives have been around forever. The FDA classifies a flavor additive as something that is not consumed directly, but is added to another product to deliver flavoring.

Flavoring concentrates are new to the industry and bring a unfamiliar approach in taste experiences. Flavor concentrates are not consumed directly and are as unique as the flavoring suppliers that produce them. The following elements either stand by themselves or combine to make a flavor concentrate: 1.Flavored Oils 2. Flavored Extracts 3. Natural flavorings of citrus, berry or fruits 4. Essence of natural flavorings

When it comes to using natural flavoring concentrates, its most important to look at the nutrient lfacts. We look at nutrient facts for many different reasons. But, whatever our reasons, everyone needs to understand how to use this information more effectively and wisely.

To begin, you have to look at the flavoring description. Have you ever seen the a description natural flavor listed on a beverage or food label? Make sure you know what comes with natural flavoring such as calories, salt and carbs. Candy is a food example of a product that delivers the entire flavor experience, including all of the sugar.

What you really want when it comes to flavoring concentrates is to find products on the opposite end of sugar and carb spectrum. What you should look for is all of the flavor and 0 calories, 0 carbs and 0 fats. Bottled flavored water is an example of using flavoring as an ingredient in beverages, as is true for flavored coffees and flavored tea as well. Flavored bottled water typically carries anywhere from 0 calories and up, so make sure you read the label.

Flavor is the key to the cooking kingdom and quickly earnings its place in the beverage industry. Next time you are looking to save all of the calories but none of the taste, try a natural flavoring concentrate with 0 calories. Natural flavor concentrates come in berry, fruit, citrus and gourmet flavors. They are great to add to shakes, desserts or dairy products. If you love the taste low calorie concentrates deliver to your water, tea or coffee, you will always come back for more.

In closing, your taste buds will jump for joy and your nose will literally sniff its way to the heavens when you use flavoring as an ingredient. In the end, it will rule what you drink or eat. Think of flavoring as an ingredient to boost the taste of your next favorite recipe, food or favorite beverages.

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