Baking

For cooking:

Arrowroot powder is made from tropical tubers. This white-coloured neutral-flavoured powder is very easy to digest, and is used as a gluten-free alternative to cornstarch.

It is most commonly used as a thickener, in making jellies and fruit fillings, getting that crispy outside to proteins, and adding a glossy finish to foods. It doesn't change the colour of dishes and even stay intact when mixing with acidic ingredients. 

Gluten-free, vegan + paleo friendly

Want another reason to use this? - It has a very long shelf-life of 3-4 years!

Top tip: When using as a thickener, it is best added in towards the end of cooking over lower temperatures. 

Substitute in cooking for: cornstarch, tapioca flour, potato starch, rice flour

Other uses:

Commonly used in natural cosmetics. Some examples in what it can be used in includes: dry shampoo, a deodorant ingredient, as a talcum and baby powder substitute, homemade makeup ingredient

Baking powder is a dry raising agent used to increase the volume and lighten the texture of baked goods. It works by releasing carbon dioxide gas into a batter or dough through an acid-base reaction, causing bubbles in the wet mixture to expand.

Allergens: gluten

• Beetroot powder is rich in antioxidants, dietary fiber, calcium, iron, potassium, folate and manganese, along with other nutrients. Perhaps most remarkably, beets are naturally rich in nitrate, compounds that can improve blood flow and lower blood pressure, leading to notable health benefits. 

Add to your smoothies for an added nutrient kick!

Bicarbonate of soda, or baking soda, has a multitude of uses, with the most common including home baking and household cleaning.  

For cooking:

It has leavening properties, best used to raise soda breads, muffins, cookies and cakes, leaving a light and fluffy texture.

'Bicarb' is a store cupboard essential and one of the best (and cheapest) cleaning ingredients out there. It is a great 'natural' cleaner, deodouriser and mild abrasive.

Allergens: no allergens

Top tip: An acid (as well as moisture) activates it best, so combine it with cream of tartar, yoghurt, or milk. 

Other uses:

This versitile product has so many uses, some of which we have listed. At the end we have included some recipes for some of these uses.

Uses include dental (mouthwash replacement and teeth whitener), deoderant, fridge odour neutraliser, air freshener, whitening agent in laundry, kitchen/bathroom cleaner, garbage odour eliminator, carpet stain remover, pesticide remover in fruit and vegetables, silverware polisher, pot cleaner, weed killer, shoe odour neutraliser.

Make your own:

Mouthwash - Add 1/2 tsp bicarb soda to 120ml (1/2 glass) warm water, gargle, spit out

Teeth whitener - Add onto your toothbrush, and brush as normal after brushing. Not to be used as an alternative to toothpaste/toothpaste tabs, but as an addition. 

Kitchen/bathroom cleaner - Make a paste by mixing baking soda with equal amount of lemon juice and a bit of water. Apply the paste to the desired surface, and scrub/wipe with a cloth as normal

Carpet stain remover - Cover the carpet stain with a thin layer of baking soda. Fill a spray bottle with a 1-to-1 mixture of vinegar and water, and spray some over the stained area. Wait up to an hour or until the surface dries. Scrub the baking soda loose with a brush and vacuum up the reside, and here you have a clean carpet! If there's any residue left from the baking soda, wipe it with a clean damp towel.

Inactive brewer's yeast is an ingredient used in the production of beer and bread, made from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

It's a great source of B vitamins, and a rich source of protein, selenium, iron, potassium, zinc, magnesium and chromium. 

Allergens: yeast allergies

Consult your doctor before taking if pregnant or breastfeeding, have Crohn's disease, or are prone to yeast infections.

Buckwheat flour is a nutritious and traditional wholegrain gluten-free flour with very distinctive earthy taste. Buckwheat flour is ground from Buckwheat, a herb related to rhubarb and sorrel, and is commonly referred to as a pseudo-grain. 

It is a carbohydrate, but contains a high level of protein and fibre, aiding in digestion. It is also thought to contain anti-oxidants, which can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. 

Due to its lack in gluten, it should not be used in a 1:1 swap with wheat flour, however better results can occur if in use with a starchy flour. It additionally doesn't rise well, therefore is best suited to pancakes, biscuits or in pastry.

Top tip: If using it in a cake, combine it with a starchy flour, which as sweet rice flour, tapioca flour or nut flour, to produce a light and fluffy bake.

Common traditional uses include buckwheat blinis, galettes and soba noodles. 

Pairs well with: chocolate, coffee, caramel, nuts and spices. 

Cacao nibs are small pieces of crushed cacao beans — or cocoa beans — that have a bitter, chocolatey flavour. They are substantially lower in sugar than other chocolate products, making them a great healthy alternative to chocolate.

They’re produced from beans derived from the cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao). Cocoa beans are dried after harvesting, then fermented and cracked to produce small, dark bits — or cacao nibs.

They are rich in minerals, including iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese and copper. On top of this, there are also packed with anti-oxidants. 

Please note: cocoa beans naturally contain caffeine and theobromine, so please keep in mind if pregnant or breastfeeding, and consult your healthcare provider. 

Add a touch of artisanal charm to your kitchen with these handmade salt pigs, crafted for Lemon and Jinja by Charlotte Manser Ceramics. Each piece is stamped with the CMC logo on the bottom alongside our Lemon and Jinja logo, making it a true one-of-a-kind addition to your home.

Dimensions:

• Approximately 10cm tall

How It’s Made:
Every salt pig is lovingly handmade in a pottery studio in Berkshire, UK. The process combines traditional craftsmanship with a contemporary aesthetic, resulting in stunning pieces that are as functional as they are beautiful.

1. Small Batches: Created in limited runs of around 30 pieces, each salt pig is formed over two days and dried for a week.
2. Firing: The first firing heats the clay to 1000°C, followed by glazing using hand-mixed powders to create unique, eye-catching patterns. The final firing at 1260°C ensures durability and a perfect finish.
3. Sustainability: Renewable materials and eco-conscious practices minimize environmental impact, supporting ethical craftsmanship.

Care Instructions:

• Microwave and dishwasher safe.
• Embrace the uniqueness: variations in glaze patterns make each piece truly special.

By choosing these salt pigs, you’re supporting sustainable, small-batch production and bringing a centuries-old art form into your daily life. Perfect for your kitchen or as a thoughtful gift!

Plain chocolate chips to provide all the chocolately loveliness to you.

Either use in baking, as a sweet snack, or getting creative with your main dishes. 

Ingredients: sugar, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, non-hydrogenated vegetable fat (sustainable palm oil blend*), emulsifier (soya lecithin)

Ingredients are vegan, but may contain traces of milk protein

* Sustainable palm oil blend with exotic fats: palm oil with one or more exotic fats (Illipe butter, sal fat, shea butter, kokum fat, or mango kernel oil)

Want some recipe inspiration??

Try Tin and Thyme's chocolate falafel, with a mixed salad in tahini dressing, drizzled with a chocolate balsamic vinegar

Coconut palm sugar is a natural brown granulated sugar becoming increasingly popular, made from coconut palm sap (from the coconut palm tree, this sugar is not the same as palm sugar). 

It retains some of the nutrients of the coconut palm, including small amounts of iron, zinc, calcium and potassium, along with antioxidants. Therefore is considered of higher nutritional value than regular refined sugar. But still use sparingly as even though its not as processed, it is still similar to regular sugar. 

Mixed peel is a mixture of orange and lemon peel that has been candied to preserve it - the peel is soaked in sugar syrup until the sugar replaces the moisture in the peel to extend its keeping qualities.

Used for fruit cakes, puddings, biscuits and bakes.

Ingredients: 80% orange peel, 20% lemon peel, glucose-frutctose-syrup, salt, E330

Muscovado sugar (also known as Barbados sugar, khandsari or khanda) is an unrefined sugar. It still contains molasses, giving it a dark brown colour.

Muscovado sugar adds a dark caramel flavour to baked goods, marinades, glazes or it can even be melted into your coffee. 

Desiccated coconut is dried and grated coconut flesh.

Add this in as a healthy sprinkle to your granola bowl, cereal, smoothie, or as part of your trail mix. It's bright white colour looks great in contrast to a dark chocolate dish for those picture perfect desserts. 

Dessicated coconut is also a rich source of fibre, manganese and copper, as well as in phosphorus, iron, zinc and potassium. 

Ingredients: 100% coconut

Ingredients: strawberries (freeze dried)

Perfect for baking, adding to cereals and topping onto cakes! 

Glacé cherries, or candied cherries, are fresh cherries that have been reduced in a sugar syrup until they are 'candied'.  Candied fruits have been around since the 14th century, and it's no wonder the tradition is still popular today. The end result of glacé cherries is a concentrated sweet version of the original fruit. They are very sweet with a slight hint of bitterness.

Want some tasty sweet treats? Why not try these delicious recipes to impress...

Sweet polenta cake with a cherry sauce by Deniz Kilic from OneGreenPlanet

No-bake cherry bakewell cheesecake by Holly Jade from OneGreenPlanet