Fall is setting in, and nothing pairs better with crisp autumn weather and changing leaves than a cup of piping hot tea and a roaring fire. We have a wide selection of herbal and natural teas that are perfect for soothing a sore throat, unwinding after a busy day or getting ready for a restful night of sleep.

In addition to being delicious, many teas also offer health benefits, such as lower blood pressure, better digestion and improved cholesterol! Check out a few of our favorite selections.

4 Natural Teas to Try

Spearmint Tea

Both soothing and refreshing, caffeine-free spearmint tea is an excellent after-dinner drink or a natural remedy for a stomachache. Buy the tea ready to use or add dried spearmint leaves to your favorite tea for your own custom blend.

Hibiscus Tea

Hibiscus plants grow in warm, tropical regions around the world, and their fresh, bright red flowers may remind you of your relaxing Hawaiian vacation. Hibiscus tea, made from the dried flowers of the plant, is equally rejuvenating. Studies have shown that it may be beneficial for people suffering from high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and its antioxidants may help reduce damage from free radicals.

Steep the petals in hot water and drink plain or add a little sugar, honey or cinnamon for extra sweetness. The flowers have a powerful flavor and can be used multiple times until the pink color begins to fade.

Sage Tea

Dried sage is often used in cooking, but it also makes a distinctive and aromatic tea. Steep the leaves in hot water, then add fresh lemon juice, lemon zest and sugar for a sweet and savory treat.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile has been a trusted home remedy for generations for everything from insomnia and anxiety to headaches and digestion problems. A hot cup of chamomile tea, mixed with a little honey and lemon, will lull you into a peaceful sleep at the end of a long day.

What are your favorite natural teas?

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Yesterday we celebrated National Peanut Day, but we aren’t ready to stop now! Let’s keep the party going into the weekend with some of our favorite peanutty treats.

Chocolate Peanuts

These tasty morsels let you be indulgent without the guilt. We cover freshly roasted peanuts in sugar-free chocolate for the perfect sweet-and-salty snack. Serve chocolate peanuts in a bowl as a game-day appetizer or sprinkle over ice cream or yogurt for dessert.

Peanut Butter Chips

Give your favorite cookies or brownies an extra kick of flavor with a generous helping of peanut butter chips instead of (or in addition to!) chocolate chips. They are also great in sundaes or smoothies, or simply plain by the handful.

Cajun Peanuts

Make sure your taste buds are awake with these Cajun-spiced roasted peanuts (watch out, they’re hot!). One bite will have you tapping your toes to a funky Zydeco beat.

Peanut Flour

This flour is gluten-free, high in protein and ideal for baking. Replace regular flour with peanut flour the next time you make chocolate cupcakes, and enjoy the subtle nutty flavor it adds.

Peanuts are delicious and bursting with nutritional value. They are a good source of antioxidants, which improve cardiovascular health, plus they also protect against risk of stroke, cancer, obesity and Alzheimer’s disease.

Happy National Peanut Day to all!

What’s your favorite dish that includes peanuts? Share in the comments.

Healthy food doesn’t have to be bland in order to be good for you. On the contrary, adding dry spices to your cooking boosts flavor and tickles your taste buds without loading meals with extra salt, sugar or fat. Try these easy ways to perk up your palate!

Spice Rub or Marinade

Take advantage of the lingering warm days, and fire up the grill for ribs, steaks, chicken or pork. For a dry rub, mix 2 tbsp. dry rosemary, 1 tbsp. dry oregano, 1 tbsp. dry basil, 1 tbsp. dry sage and a dash of salt and pepper in a small bowl. Rub the spice blend evenly into the meat and let sit 30 to 60 minutes before grilling. For a marinade perfect for meat or veggies, blend ⅓ cup olive oil, 3 tbsp. lemon juice or red wine vinegar, 1 tbsp. dry rosemary and two garlic cloves, finely chopped. Place the meat or vegetables in a shallow glass dish, spread with the marinade, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour before cooking.

Butter-Sage Pasta Sauce

Make your pasta taste just like Nonna’s by whipping up a simple sauce full of flavor. Cook a package of pasta until very al dente, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water before you drain it. In a saucepan over medium heat, place 2 tbsp. butter and a generous handful of dry sage. Cook until the butter is a nutty brown, then pour the cooked pasta into the sage-butter sauce and add ½ to ¾ cup of water to form a soupy mixture. Cook for another minute until some of the water has been absorbed. Mix in ½ cup to 1 cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese, making a creamy sauce, Add more water if necessary, plus salt and pepper to taste.

Salad Dressing

Dry spices turn a blah salad into a delicious side dish. Instead of using a store-bought salad dressing, make your own in a snap by whisking together 1 cup olive oil, ½ cup white wine vinegar, 2 tbsp. dry basil, 1 tbsp. honey and 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard. Toss the dressing with your favorite salad.

What are your favorite ways to use dry spices?

Almonds are such a versatile nut! We love to snack on chocolate-covered almonds and hickory smoked almonds, sprinkle our casseroles with slivered almonds, and spread organic almond butter on sandwiches. One of our most favorite ways to eat almonds is in the form of almond paste.

Almond paste is the lightly sweet treat that you’ll find inside chocolates and pastries such as almond croissants. Our high-quality almond paste is made with 67% select grade almonds. Use it to add a delicate richness to almond cookies, fruit tarts, or even wedding cakes!

Marzipan is the sweeter cousin of almond paste. You can make your own marzipan by combining equal parts confectioner’s sugar and almond paste and adding a touch of light corn syrup. Bakers love marzipan because it can be easily molded into a variety of colorful creations. Using our almond paste, Roberta Rhodes-Beeson at The Marzipan Pig made these gorgeous candies (pictured) in the shapes of fruits and vegetables!

Even though almond paste is sweet and rich in flavor, it is also nutritious! More than 60% of fats in almonds are monounsaturated fats. According to the American Heart Association, these fats help lower harmful cholesterol levels as effectively as pharmaceutical drugs can.

Did you know that 1 oz of almonds has more protein than a whole egg? An egg contains 5.5 grams of protein, while 1 oz. of almonds has 7.6 grams! This protein maintains healthy muscle growth in your body. In that same 1 oz. of almonds, you’ll also find as much calcium as 1/4 cup of milk for strong bones.

If you won’t use all of your almond paste right away, don’t worry. You can freeze it for up to one year!

What is your favorite way to enjoy almond paste? Tell us in the comments!

We simply adore popcorn! We enjoy it so much that we offer nearly a dozen unique varieties, from huge and fluffy mushroom popcorn kernels, to all-natural blue popcorn kernels, to petite ladyfinger popcorn kernels.

When popping up a batch of popcorn, we love to use organic coconut oil to give our snack a little something special. Popping corn in organic coconut oil gives the popcorn a rich, delicious flavor that’s similar to movie theater popcorn. Additionally, organic coconut oil is packed with healthy vitamins, minerals and fats, and it’s free of cholesterol and trans fats.

To start, heat a large saucepan on the stove  over medium heat. Add 1 to 2 tbsp. of organic coconut oil to the pan, and allow the oil to melt completely. Place one kernel of unpopped popcorn in the saucepan and cover the pan.

When the kernel of popcorn pops, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels to the saucepan and replace the lid. Shake the saucepan gently over the burner, and wait for the popcorn to pop. When the popping sounds slow and there’s about five seconds between each pop, remove the popcorn from the heat.

Pour the popped popcorn in a bowl and, if desired, toss the popcorn with an additional tablespoon of organic coconut oil. Salt the popcorn lightly and serve it immediately.

What are some of your favorite ways to make popcorn?

Our Health Nut and Registered Dietitian, Molly Morgan, answers our customers’ most pressing health and nutrition questions!

If you’d like Molly to answer one of your questions in a future blog post, please email your question to health@nuts.com. If we feature your question in The Nutty Scoop, we will also send you a pound of your favorite Nuts.com product.

I’ve chosen to follow a whole food plant-based diet.  I’m sure you are aware of the need to find vital nutrients outside of the realm of animal fats.  I know that nuts can be a great source of nutrients and “healthy fats.”  Would you share your insights about how to avoid being over-fed and undernourished on a plant-based diet, and suggest how some Nuts.com products might help to keep that healthy balance in our diets?  Thanks! – Tom

Plant-based diets that are well planned can be nutritionally adequate and provide many health benefits. Plus, research has found that these diets can play a role in preventing and treating certain diseases. For example, vegetarians tend to have lower blood pressure, lower rates of type 2 diabetes, and lower bad (LDL) cholesterol levels compared to non-vegetarians. While there are many variations of vegetarian or vegan eating, generally the tips below are geared to your question specifically to vegan nutrition.

Some of the key nutrients on which you need to focus with a vegan lifestyle include adequate protein, omega-3 fats, and vitamin B12.

Protein

When it comes to protein, an eating routine that includes an assortment of plant foods consumed throughout the day can provide all essential amino acids in healthy adults.  Unlike previously thought, complementary protein sources (e.g. rice and beans) do not all need to be consumed at the same meal.

A few plant-based complete protein sources to consider adding to your diet include:

• Quinoa: Technically, quinoa is a seed, but it tastes and feels more like a grain.  Try using it in place of brown rice in stir-fries.
• Spirulina: A protein packed blue-green algae.  Try adding a teaspoon to guacamole.
• Sacha Inchi: These nuts are also known as Inca Peanuts.  Try adding these to trail mix or to salads

Omega-3

Adequate intake of all healthy fats is essential for vegans and omega-3 fats are especially important.  Omega-3 is a polyunsaturated fat that plays an important role in heart health, and eye and brain development. Plant sources provide omega-3 in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is then converted to the essential fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).  Including plant sources of omega-3 in your daily routine will help to maintain blood level.

Flax seed, soy flour, chia seeds, and hemp seeds will add omega-3 to your diet.

• Flax seed: Keep ground flax seed on hand and sprinkle it on cooked cereals.
• Soy flour: Use soy flour as a substitute for wheat flour.  Try baking with 1 part soy flour to 3 parts all-purpose flour.
• Chia seeds: Keep a batch of chia seed pudding on hand.
• Hemp seeds: Snack on them throughout the day or add as a topping to salads.

We’re nuts for gluten-free products at Nuts.com. Our high-quality gluten-free flour is perfect for cooking and baking, and our huge selection of gluten-free snacks, ingredients and baking mixes can’t be beat.

In fact, our gluten-free products are so fantastic that we were recently approved by the Gluten Free Consumer!

If you’re a gluten-free baker, you can’t do better than our gluten-free flour. We love baking with favorites like almond flour and coconut flour, as well as experimenting with flours such as chickpea flour and potato flour. Trying out a variety of flours is a great way to find your favorite gluten-free flour.

We now offer an amazing new product that’s perfect, whether you’re new to gluten-free baking or open to experimenting with new flours and recipes. Our Gluten-Free Flour Bundle includes 1 lb. each of our fabulous almond flour, coconut flour and millet flour. It also includes a copy of the book, “The Essential Gluten-Free Baking Guide: Part 1.” This wonderful cookbook makes it easy to get started baking mouthwatering gluten-free desserts.

Check out all our fantastic gluten-free choices, including our Gluten-Free Flour Bundle, in the gluten-free section of Nuts.com, and see for yourself just how delicious certified gluten-free products can be! We’re committed to providing our gluten-free customers with products that are incredibly delicious and safe to consume. The result is simply scrumptious!

If you’re looking to take your smoothies or juices to the next level, algae powders may be just the thing! Nutrient-rich and packed with protein, chlorella and spirulina are true superfoods. We highly recommend both to give your breakfast a boost!

Chlorella is an emerald green, single-celled freshwater algae that grows naturally in lakes and ponds. We absolutely love it! It’s packed with nearly 10 times the healthy chlorophyll of similar greens like wheat grass, barley and alfalfa. Chlorophyll is a fantastic body cleanser and a natural detoxifying agent.

Our chlorella powder is top-notch, and is at least 60 percent crude protein. It’s also a complete protein. The nutritional benefits of chlorella include healthy doses of iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C and vitamin E. Best of all, it’s versatile and very easy to work into your diet! Just stir 1 to 2 tsp. of chlorella into juice, smoothies, salad dressing or guacamole.

Spirulina is also a treat for your body. This vivid blue-green algae is grown in freshwater lakes and ponds. Also a complete protein, spirulina’s protein is 85 percent to 95 percent digestible because of its thin cell walls. In fact, spirulina‘s protein is much more digestible than other rich sources of protein such as red meat and soy products.

Spirulina is naturally loaded with iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C and vitamin E. Though it has a distinct, mild seaweed flavor, you’ll find that 1 to 2 tsp. of spirulina also blends easily into juices, smoothies and dips. We especially like to sprinkle it onto salads!

Chlorella and spirulina are two great algae powders. Check each of the product pages for recipe ideas, additional nutrition information and more!

Even when it’s hot outside, we love to kick up our snacks with a little spice. Spicy nuts are just the thing to provide a bit of delicious heat to your snacking routine. We have many different varieties of spicy nuts from which to choose, and they’re all simply scrumptious!

If you love peanuts, you’re in luck! Our spicy peanuts are the best we’ve ever tasted. They’re all so fresh and delicious that it’s downright impossible for us to choose a favorite! Cajun peanuts and Cajun roasted peanuts both contain the perfect amount of hot Cajun seasoning. Sing Bhujia, also known as masala peanuts, are a traditional, spicy Indian treat made with graham flour and mango powder. Buffalo peanuts are perfect for those who enjoy the the sweet and spicy flavor of buffalo chicken wing sauce. Wasabi peanuts are definitely one of our hottest items, with a kick that’ll knock your socks off.

When it comes to spicy nuts, we don’t stop with peanuts. We also offer a fantastic array of spicy pistachios that you’re sure to love. Habanero pistachios are the best-tasting, hottest pistachios we have ever tasted. Chili lemon pistachios are a bit milder, with a refreshing lemon flavor. Sweet and spicy chipotle pistachios are coated in a trio of red chilies, with a kick of cumin and other seasonings. This rich, spicy snack is soaked overnight, activating enzymes that allow the nuts to be more easily digested. Delicious!

If you can’t get enough, we suggest you sample our special wasabi cashews and spicy BBQ soy beans. They’re the perfect spicy nuts to top off a delicious snack!

What are some of your favorite spicy nuts from Nuts.com?

July is National Blueberry Month, and we’re sure thrilled! Blueberries are one of our favorite fruits. We especially love the intense, sweet flavor of dried blueberries. They’re great in muffins, breads, cookies and trail mix, but our favorite way to eat them is by the handful!

Our sweet dried blueberries are a great source of all the good stuff that blueberries have to offer, including antioxidants and vitamin C. Blueberries have also been shown to improve vision, clear arteries, strengthen blood vessels, enhance memory, stop urinary tract infections, reverse age-related physical and mental decline, and promote weight control.

Our regular dried blueberries contain added sugar, but we also offer sugar-free freeze dried blueberries that are just as sweet. Our crunchy and delicious freeze dried blueberries have the delicious flavor of fresh-picked blueberries. Our freeze dried blueberries are free of added sugar and preservatives.

We love our organic wild blueberries, which are picked at the peak of the season and sweetened with just a touch of organic cane sugar. These organic wild blueberries, certified by the CCOF, are perfect for sprinkling on salads and mixing into homemade trail mix for an easy, delicious snack.

Our natural dried blueberries really are something special. Sweetened with all-natural apple juice, rather than sugar or corn syrup, natural dried blueberries are the perfect treat for snackers of all ages. Try mixing a serving of natural dried blueberries with a handful of walnuts or pistachio nuts for an extra-special snack. You’ll be happy you gave it a try!

What are some of your favorite ways to enjoy blueberries?