I’ve been sipping a cup of this every morning for the past couple weeks, and I really like it!  Some organic coffees (and conventional) can taste entirely acidic, but all flavors from this brand are pleasing to my palate.  If I’m going to drink coffee at all, I only take it black because I know add-ins can add on the pounds.  Because of this, I’m pretty picky about how my coffee tastes because nothing else is going to give it flavor.  According to Caffe Sanora, their coffee is different because they claim it has the ability to offer even more antioxidants than most green teas.  This pure, 100% Arabic shade-grown coffee is certified by both USDA National Organic Program and by Rainforest Alliance.  If you’re trying to ween yourself from pesticide-sprayed coffee plants, or aren’t happy with your current organic drip, be sure to check out Caffe Sanora’s selection.

Caffee Sanora describes their HealthyRoasting process:

“For centuries coffee beans have been prized for their medicinal value — and for good reason. Research has shown that coffee beans in their natural state are an excellent source of antioxidants, just like fruits and vegetables. Yet conventional roasting processes have typically destroyed these beneficial compounds. Until now.

By specially handling our beans, in the field and during each step of our patented roasting process, Caffe Sanora is able to retain 100% of our coffee’s natural antioxidants — and the important health-sustaining properties that go with them.

The result is pure, rich coffee with no additives or added caffeine, just great taste with all the benefits nature intended.”

Two days ago Starbucks confirmed that by the end of this month, they plan to nix high fructose corn syrup, artificial dyes and colors from their bakery menu items.  With a new target market in mind, the health conscious consumer, they’ll also offer more salad selections.  The transition has been gradual, most recently adding healthier alternatives like oatmeal for breakfast.  With this announcement, I can’t help but wonder if they’ll ever go organic.  And I’m not alone; the Organic Consumer Association has been calling on Starbucks to make the change for years.  They even have a sample script online for consumers who want to call and urge the chain to make such changes. 

One month ago, Starbucks launched their new ”No Compromises Coffee Values” campaign in response to McDonald’s and Dunkin Donuts cheaper coffee offerings and loss of sales due to consumers counting pennies.  The campaign urges consumers to consider the quality of Starbucks coffee and how they treat their workers.  I say, if they really want to make a difference, it’s time for them to consider sourcing organically grown and fairly traded beans.  Afterall, the peddler and purveyor of all things coffee revolutionalized how and where people enjoy coffee.  Starbucks could have a big impact on the industry and truly set themselves apart from their competition while substantially  contributing towards the reduction of pesticides used on conventionally grown coffee beans, which is apparently one of the most heavily sprayed crops (up there with cotton).

If you’re trying to save money by brewing your own at home and won’t settle than anything less than organic, Newman’s Own Organics Coffee or Green Mountain Fair Trade Organic Coffee are great choices. 

Image credit: Keija on flickr

Word is Eminem, rapper with a rather (read: very) dirty mouth is a huge fan of Dr. Bronner’s Organic Soap.  Apparently he can’t believe that he can brush his teeth with the very same soap he uses to wash his body with.  Dr. Bronner’s has a huge cult following and it’s no secret why.  The versatile and totally affordable soap has at least 18 different uses and I personally have used it as a body soap, hand soap, laundry soap, dog washing soap and dish soap (I’ve tried brushing my teeth with it, but no thank you).  It’s so very concentrated that a bottle lasts a very long time and everyone from hippies to celebrity makeup artists (i.e. Bobbi Brown) are fans.  (Read that Drew Barrymore and Sandra Bullock are too).  It may be hard to pinpoint exactly what draws people to it ~ it’s versatality, affordability or the crazy ramblings on the side of the bottle.  I tend to think it’s all of the above. 

Dr. Bronner’s Pure Magic All~One Soap has been around for a whopping 60 years!  They fight hard for organic personal care standards and are committed to supporting fair trade initiatives.  The majority of their products are USDA and/or Fair Trade certified.  This is what Dr. Bronner’s says when curious consumers ask a question I hear (and I’m asked) all the time:

What is “Organic” and why is it so great?

The term “organic” refers to both sustainable farming practices and to products ecologically made from materials produced on certified organic farms. According to federal standards, such products have to be at least 70% organic by non-water, non-salt weight. Organic products not only support sustainable farming, but also farm worker health and ecological processing methods.

Unfortunately, the hollow market-driven needs of some “natural” body care companies are making a mockery of organic principles. Underneath fluffy, feel-good “organic” floral waters and infusions, many “organic” body care products are really just composed of the same synthetic cleansers, conditioners and preservatives found in mainstream products, often in part or wholly derived from petroleum. Culprit companies are inflating organic content by counting ordinary distilled water in “floral water” as organic, a practice which is not allowed under the National Organic Program.