47 Three hot new ingredients

Three hot new ingredients

The latest ingredients hitting pantries in 2022 are good for the body and the planet.

Kernza

This climate-friendly grain, a sustainable, domesticated form of wheatgrass developed and trademarked by the Land Institute, is making its way into everything from beer to cereal. Unlike traditional wheat, which yields a single harvest and needs to be replanted every year, Kernza is perennial—meaning that a single seed will provide grain for years. It also nourishes the soil, reducing the need for fertilizer for surrounding plants, and is a natural carbon capturer.

In September 2021, Patagonia Provisions released its third beer made with Kernza, in partnership with the Hopworks Urban Brewery based in Portland, Oregon. And General Mills-owned Cascadian Farm uses Kernza in its honey toasted Kernza cereal.

Peruvian gooseberry

Aguaymanto, also known as the Cape gooseberry or goldenberry, is a berry native to the Andes with a bittersweet flavor. The fruit is gaining popularity for its health benefits, which include a high content of antioxidants, vitamins A and C, and minerals. Most recently, the berry has made its way onto the menu at the Freehand hotel’s newest Latin American restaurant, Comodo, which opened in New York City in October 2021.

Tea seed oil

Tea seed oil, which has been cultivated and used for centuries in Asia, is the latest cooking oil to hit Western shelves. It is known as “the olive oil of the East” thanks to its neutral flavor profile and high smoke point. Made from the seeds of Camellia oleifera, a flowering plant native to East Asia, tea seed oil is packed with antioxidants, omega-3s, minerals, and vitamins E, A, & B. Yóu Yóu, a new brand launched in October 2021, is bringing the oil to the United States—while preserving its heritage. Cofounder Anthony Chen told Well & Good that it takes eight years to make one bottle of Yóu Yóu tea seed oil. “We’re working with producers in the Hunan region who have literally been doing this for generations.”