Ceremonial Cacao has recently grown in popularity. Is it just the latest trend or is there more to it? We talked to Seleno Health to get the low down on authentically produced Ceremonial Cacao.  Seleno Health's Uturunku (jaguar) cacao is a mellow, calming blend that promotes relaxation, embodiment and satisfaction Ceremonial Cacao and Chocolate  When people think of cacao they most often think of chocolate, the product made from the seeds of the cacao fruit that have been fermented, dried, roasted, milled and combined with sugar and milk solids. However before the Europeans discove ..read more

Commonsense chooses Phenol-free receipt paper In 2012 we discovered that our receipts contained Bisphenol A (BPA), which is an endocrine disruptor.  We were concerned by the dangers of having these chemicals in something that was being handled daily by staff and customers alike so we started using BPA-free receipts. In 2021 we discovered that the suppliers of BPA-free receipts had not in fact resolved the problem but had cynically replaced the BPA with BPS - a chemical that was just as bad. This caused a much bigger problem for us as we were now looking for a thermal receipt that was ..read more

This is one of the tastiest, quickest hot snacks loved by all - but especially vegans.  All you need is 2 ingredients, 5 minutes, and a frying pan! These delicious, hot little savoury morsels are great on their own as a snack with your favourite dipping sauce - try mixing hot sauce with some vegan mayo - or as boost of flavour and protein to meals such as salads, sprinkled over ramen broth, or included in stir-fries.   Even if you don't consider yourself a tempeh fan, give it a go - we had some hard-line tempeh dislikers try this and they're hooked!     Ingredients 1 pack ..read more

Salads should never be that difficult, so here’s some inspiration for an incredibly simple, flavourful Spring salad, incorporating our latest in-season star – Asparagus.  Ingredients: 100g Red Quinoa 2 x Portobello/field mushrooms 1 bunch organic asparagus 100g Commonsense Organic Salad Mix ½ organic carrot ¼ organic red onion ¼ packet Feta  ¼ packet of Alamir Bakery Pita Chips (we used Garlic and Coriander flavour) Olive oil, Apple Cider Vinegar (or your favourite salad dressing).  Method: Rinse the quinoa well under cold water. Tip it into a pan on medium heat and add doubl ..read more

Bursting with essential nutrients, plant-based protein, and the rich goodness of walnuts, these vegetarian meatballs are a harmonious blend of the finest fresh, organic ingredients resulting in a satisfying meal for two which can be easily scaled up to feed a group. We've adapted our recipe from one of our walnut suppliers, Tricket's Grove, which showcased their recipe on Country Calendar in 2022. Serves 2  Ingredients  1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 cup minced onion 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped 1/4 cup cooked bulgar wheat (or you could ..read more

Within the last 20 years there has been an explosion in the choice of cooking oils - no doubt for the betterment of both our health and our palette - but it does lead to some confusion about which oil to use. Here’s what you need to know about the edible oils we sell and how to work out which one to use. Extraction and refining The first thing we consider at Commonsense is how the oil was extracted.  Most mass market oils are extracted using a chemical solvent – usually hexane.  At Commonsense we avoid chemicals and instead opt for mechanical extraction which is called expeller ..read more

Creamy mushrooms on toast is a classic option that is hard to go past when out for weekend brunch and now it's easy to recreate this savoury dish at home too! We've made it café style here but you can also pair it with thick cut noodles, rice or potatoes and you've got yourself a mushroom stroganoff. Whichever meal occasion you opt for the result is the same - thick and creamy deliciousness! Ingredients 2 tbsp vegetable oil 1 onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed ¼ tsp smoked paprika ¼ tsp paprika 1T butter 600-700g mixed mushrooms, thickly sliced 200ml white wine ½ tbsp Dijon mustard 200m ..read more

    For the past 20 years The Organic Farm Butchery (previously Ti Kouka Farm Organic Meats) has worked hard to grow beyond a one-farm-story, and now have a total of 8 certified organic farms within the East Coast and central North Island supplying their butchery (including some familiar brands such as BioFarm and Sentry Hill). This network gives The Organic Farm excellent resilience against inclement weather patterns and logistical challenges, and a steady supply of high-quality meat 365 days a year. Earlier this year when Cyclone Gabrielle hit The Hawkes B ..read more

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