There are a lot of nut butters on the market, but if you’re looking for the best, Artisana Nut Butters should be on your radar. They are certified organic, raw, and made simply with nuts. Artisana doesn’t add oils, sweeteners, salt, or any other additives. As a result, they taste purely like good quality nuts!
Artisana Nut Butters are Raw, Organic, Dairy-Free Goodness
Over the years, I’ve splurged on this quality brand a few times. Artisana Nut Butters don’t fit in my regular budget, but they do work with my “I deserve this” budget, which happens once in a blue moon. Below are some tasting notes from my purchases.
Raw Almond Butter
This is similar to my Holy Grail, Trader Joe’s Raw Almond Butter. Both have a deep color with a slightly coarse consistency, which I mentally associate with “really raw.”
Artisana’s version has sweet and bitter notes that truly emulate the taste of whole almonds, skin and all. I loved the complex flavor and pure creamy texture with little bits of interest throughout. It adds nice contrast to jams and honey and probably dates, but I can see its purpose in savory also. Though I would hesitate to bake or cook with it, lest it lose those natural essences.
While I enjoyed the Artisana Almond Butter with my rice cakes and honey, I did find it a bit on the bitter side sans honey or other sweetener. Especially compared to TJ’s. Yet, it was certainly top quality, as you can only imagine when you see labels like this …
Raw Cashew Butter
This was the richest, creamiest, naturally sweetest cashew butter I have every melted atop my taste buds. I used it for everything. In fact, I just kept using it, and using it, and using it, failing to remember to take notes or photos (okay, perhaps I just didn’t want to take a break from inhaling it).
I did slow down for a brief moment to take a picture of the Artisana Raw Cashew Butter on one of my favorite treat mediums … a cinnamon graham cracker. The dairy-free chocolate chips aren’t required, but they are recommended.
Though you could add sweetener to the cashew butter for a rich, frosting-like treat, I truly enjoyed its natural sweetness. Beyond snacking, it offers a wonderfully light sweetness and richness to salad dressings. I also threw together a “cheesy” sauce using this and tahini, and it was literally one of the best I have ever had. Simply put, I can’t recommend this product enough.
Raw Pecan Butter
Since this was my first foray into pecan butter, I have no other brand with which to compare it, but I can attest that Artisana’s Pecan Butter is simply unreal. It was not chunky in the traditional sense, but not smooth either. The entire texture was riddled with tiny bits of nutty goodness adding even more “raw” appeal.
The flavor was so pure that any pecan lover would surely swoon. It maximizes the creamy nature and slight sweetness of the pecan for a spread that I truly enjoyed as is, but when paired with a touch of maple syrup, sweet indulgence was the result.
I had some fun with this nut butter, making it a part of my autumn breakfasts with leftover canned pumpkin puree. I would hesitate to bake with this nut butter, lest some of its deliciousness get lost in the finished product. However, for spreading and making “raw” goodies and sauces, Artisana’s Pecan Butter is a real treat.
Raw Walnut Butter
Like their Pecan Butter, I was amazed at the pure taste of Artisana’s Walnut Butter. Enjoying a spoonful was akin to eating a handful of the sweetest, freshest walnuts you could get your hands on, but with the added richness that comes from pureeing the nuts and releasing their oils.
The jar is what I call half-size, so I didn’t want to waste a single dollop in recipes. We used it solely for topping rice cakes and apples. Although, it would make a delicious spread for toast. For my husband I added just a drizzle of honey, and for myself, a generous sprinkling of cinnamon. Delicious!
Raw Tahini
One thing I’ve learned is that I am not a big tahini fan. At least not in the “just spread some tahini on that” or “how about some tahini-rich dressing” kind of ways. However, I do recognize tahini‘s ability to transform sauces, dips, and dressings into a magical blend of flavors.
That said, this was the third brand of tahini I have tried, and I can honestly say that Artisana’s Tahini is a superior product. When tasted off the spoon it is strong and bitter. But when I whipped up a cheesy sauce with Artisana’s tahini and cashew butter, WOW, it was sensational.
Beyond the cheesy sauce, the tahini worked beautifully in homemade hummus and it even adds a bold punch of flavor and thickness to salad dressings.
The Facts on Artisana Nut Butters
Availability: Artisana Nut Butters are sold at Whole Foods and in natural food stores. You can also order them online from Amazon.
Certifications: Artisana Nut Butters are Non-GMO Verified and Certified Organic.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Artisana Nut Butters are dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan / plant-based, vegetarian, raw, and paleo-friendly.*
For More Product Information: Visit the Artisana website at artisanaorganics.com.
*Always read the ingredient and nutrition statement prior to consumption. Ingredients, processes, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company or product. Contact the company to discuss their manufacturing processes if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. No food product can be guaranteed “safe” for every individual’s needs. You should never rely on ingredient and allergen statements alone if dealing with a severe food allergy.
