Essential Trading is a Bristol worker co-operative established in 1971. At Essential we strive towards creating a truly ethical company, and believe this has a positive impact along the entire food chain. We wholesale, manufacture and distribute sustainable organic wholefoods across the UK and beyond. Over 6000 lines of healthy options, quality nutrition and products that all make a real difference.

Chili pepper (also spelt, chilli pepper, chilli, chili, and chile) is the fruit of the plants from the genus Capsicum, members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Some botanists consider the plant a berry bush. Depending on flavour intensity and fleshiness, their culinary use varies from use as a vegetable (eg. Bell pepper) to use as a spice (eg. Cayenne pepper). It is the fruit of the plant that is harvested. Chili peppers originated in the Americas; and their growers are now grown around the world, because they are widely used as food and as medicine. Chilli peppers are being researched as a treatment for alleviating chronic pain.

Essential Trading is a Bristol worker co-operative established in 1971. At Essential we strive towards creating a truly ethical company, and believe this has a positive impact along the entire food chain. We wholesale, manufacture and distribute sustainable organic wholefoods across the UK and beyond. Over 6000 lines of healthy options, quality nutrition and products that all make a real difference.

Essential Trading is a Bristol worker co-operative established in 1971. At Essential we strive towards creating a truly ethical company, and believe this has a positive impact along the entire food chain. We wholesale, manufacture and distribute sustainable organic wholefoods across the UK and beyond. Over 6000 lines of healthy options, quality nutrition and products that all make a real difference.

The peanut, or groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), is a species in the legume family (Fabaceae) native to South America, Mexico and Central America. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing to 30-50cm tall. The leaves are opposite, pinnate with four leaflets (two opposite pairs; no terminal leaflet), each leaflet 1-7cm long and 1-3cm broad. The flowers are a typical peaflower in shape, 2-4cm across, yellow with reddish veining. After pollination, the fruit develops into a legume 3-7cm long, containing 1-4 seeds, which forces its way underground to mature. Peanuts are a rich source of protein (roughly 30 grams per cup after roasting). Prior to 1990 the PER method of protein evaluation considered peanut protein along with soy protein an incomplete protein, containing relatively low amounts of the essential amino acids cysteine and methionine (but high in lysine), and it was advised to be sure that a diet or meal with peanuts as a staple also include complementary foods such as whole grains like corn and wheat, which are adequate in methionine but limited by lysine. Protein combining has been largely discredited. Since 1990 the gold standard for measuring protein quality is the Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) and by this criterion peanut protein and other legume proteins such as soy protein is the nutritional equivalent of meat and eggs for human growth and health. Peanut oil is a mainly monounsaturated fat (50%), much of which (97%) is oleic acid. Saturated fatty acids compose 13% of peanut fat, where palmitic acid is the most present (74%) followed by stearic acid (16%). Some say peanuts are an unbalanced source of fat because they have only trace amounts of required Omega-3 fats. Some brands of peanut butter are fortified with Omega-3 in the form of linseed oil to balance the ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6. Peanuts are a good source of niacin and thus contribute to brain health, brain circulation and blood flow.

Essential Trading is a Bristol worker co-operative established in 1971. At Essential we strive towards creating a truly ethical company, and believe this has a positive impact along the entire food chain. We wholesale, manufacture and distribute sustainable organic wholefoods across the UK and beyond. Over 6000 lines of healthy options, quality nutrition and products that all make a real difference.

The peanut, or groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), is a species in the legume family (Fabaceae) native to South America, Mexico and Central America. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing to 30-50cm tall. The leaves are opposite, pinnate with four leaflets (two opposite pairs; no terminal leaflet), each leaflet 1-7cm long and 1-3cm broad. The flowers are a typical peaflower in shape, 2-4cm across, yellow with reddish veining. After pollination, the fruit develops into a legume 3-7cm long, containing 1-4 seeds, which forces its way underground to mature. Peanuts are a rich source of protein (roughly 30 grams per cup after roasting). Prior to 1990 the PER method of protein evaluation considered peanut protein along with soy protein an incomplete protein, containing relatively low amounts of the essential amino acids cysteine and methionine (but high in lysine), and it was advised to be sure that a diet or meal with peanuts as a staple also include complementary foods such as whole grains like corn and wheat, which are adequate in methionine but limited by lysine. Protein combining has been largely discredited. Since 1990 the gold standard for measuring protein quality is the Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) and by this criterion peanut protein and other legume proteins such as soy protein is the nutritional equivalent of meat and eggs for human growth and health. Peanut oil is a mainly monounsaturated fat (50%), much of which (97%) is oleic acid. Saturated fatty acids compose 13% of peanut fat, where palmitic acid is the most present (74%) followed by stearic acid (16%). Some say peanuts are an unbalanced source of fat because they have only trace amounts of required Omega-3 fats. Some brands of peanut butter are fortified with Omega-3 in the form of linseed oil to balance the ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6. Peanuts are a good source of niacin and thus contribute to brain health, brain circulation and blood flow.

Quinoa, a species of goosefoot (Chenopodium), is a grain-like crop grown primarily for its edible seeds. It is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal, or grain, as it is not a grass. As a chenopod, quinoa is closely related to species such as beets, spinach and tumbleweeds. Its leaves are also eaten as a leaf vegetable, much like amaranth, but the commercial availability of quinoa greens is currently limited. Quinoa was of great nutritional importance in pre-Columbian Andean civilisations, being secondary only to the potato, and was followed in importance by maize. In contemporary times, this crop has become highly appreciated for its nutritional value, as its protein content is very high (12%-18%), making it a healthy choice for vegetarians and vegans. Unlike wheat or rice (which are low in lysine), quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete protein source. It is a good source of dietary fibre and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten-free and considered easy to digest. Because of all these characteristics, quinoa is being considered a possible crop in NASA's Controlled Ecological Life Support System for long-duration manned spaceflights. Quinoa has a light, fluffy texture when cooked, and its mild, slightly nutty flavour makes it an alternative to white rice or couscous. The first step in preparing quinoa is to remove the saponins, a process that requires soaking the grain in water for a few hours, then changing the water and resoaking, or rinsing it in ample running water either in a fine strainer or in cheesecloth. Removal of the saponin helps with digestion; the soapy nature of the compound makes it act as a laxative. A common cooking method is to treat quinoa much like rice, bringing two cups of water to a boil with one cup of grain, covering at a low simmer and cooking for 14-18 minutes or until the germ separates from the seed. The cooked germ looks like a tiny curl and should have a slight bite to it (like al dente pasta).

Essential Trading is a Bristol worker co-operative established in 1971. At Essential we strive towards creating a truly ethical company, and believe this has a positive impact along the entire food chain. We wholesale, manufacture and distribute sustainable organic wholefoods across the UK and beyond. Over 6000 lines of healthy options, quality nutrition and products that all make a real difference.

Essential Trading is a Bristol worker co-operative established in 1971. At Essential we strive towards creating a truly ethical company, and believe this has a positive impact along the entire food chain. We wholesale, manufacture and distribute sustainable organic wholefoods across the UK and beyond. Over 6000 lines of healthy options, quality nutrition and products that all make a real difference.

Essential Trading is a Bristol worker co-operative established in 1971. At Essential we strive towards creating a truly ethical company, and believe this has a positive impact along the entire food chain. We wholesale, manufacture and distribute sustainable organic wholefoods across the UK and beyond. Over 6000 lines of healthy options, quality nutrition and products that all make a real difference.