13 new products that merge gourmet and healthy

Walk along New York City’s Highline in late June and you might see something peculiar: scores of well-dressed folks wearing badges and carrying bags laden with individually-packed samples of Vermont-made cheese, salami, Italian olive oil and mini bags of granola.

Who are these carriers of gourmet food? They’re retailers, buyers, media, brokers, manufacturers and more who work in the food industry, and they’re in New York City to attend the Summer Fancy Food Show. Held at the Javits Center, the show features hundreds of exhibitors from around the world that dish up gourmet foods and beverages. This year, Delicious Living attended the show with the goal of identifying products that were tasty and healthy—food qualities that are the bedrock of what Delicious Living stands for.

Here were a few of our fave new crave-worthy (but also good for you!) products spotted at the Summer Fancy Food Show we think you’ll love.

Ajiri Tea Organic Green Tea

Ajiri translates “to employ” in Swahili, and that’s exactly what this conscious tea company does in Kenya. Every label (which now pops out of the box into a keepsake card) is made by women in western Kenya, which provides a steady source of employment. All of Ajiri’s profits go to the Ajiri Foundation, which invests in education for orphans in western Kenya. The organic tea makes a great cuppa, too. 

Alexia Mashed Cauliflower with Sea Salt

Mashed potatoes? So 2014. Mashed cauliflower? That’s more like it! Alexia’s frozen, lightly salted mashed cauliflower makes low-carb eating a cinch. Add a pat of butter or coconut oil to the hot mash and you’ve got a beautiful, nutrient-dense side dish.

Little Red Dot Bakkwa Eggplant Baconess

Little Red Dot branches out of the meat-based traditional Singaporean snack bak kwa to embrace a vegan alternative made from dried sliced eggplants heavily spiced with smoked paprika, rice wine, gluten-free tamari, soybean oil, brown sugar, garlic powder, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, star anise, chili pepper, liquid smoke and green tea extract. Yum! Just 40 calories per bag.

Beyond Better Original Cashew Sauce

A vegan, better-for-you cheese alternative mix made with organic cashews, nutritional yeast, organic tapioca, sea salt, organic herbs and spices, organic onion, yellow mustard, cayenne and more. To use, whisk a ½ cup of the mix and 1 cup of water; stir over high heat and drizzle over broccoli, baked potatoes and more. You can also use this paleo-friendly sauce as a dip for corn chips.

Holi Aioli Holi Truffle Aioli Dip + Spread

A flavorful aioli packaged in a handy squeeze bottle, this vegan sauce (and dip!) is made with organic sunflower protein, sunflower oil, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, garlic oil and truffle oil for a gourmet touch. Best French fry accouterment ever? You bet.

Justea Purple Rain

What’s Kenyan purple tea, you ask? It’s a beautiful new tea varietal from Kenya that has a distinctive crimson color, thanks to the ample healthy compounds called anthocyanins. We love how Justea’s version is blended with organic lemongrass, hibiscus, apple pieces, rosehips and more.

Lark Ellen Farm Cumin Crunch Trail Mix

Grain-free granola with a savory twist, this paleo-friendly snack features ample sprouted nuts and seeds infused with fragrant spices. A refreshing break from the overly sweet granolas out there.

Mina Shakshuka Moroccan Tomato Sauce

Chances are that you’ve seen beautiful images of shakshuka even if you’ve never had this traditional Moroccan dish. Simmer this gorgeous sauce, made with tomatoes, roasted red peppers, onion, extra virgin olive oil, cilantro, parsley and more, in a wide pan. Make a few divots in the sauce and gently crack an egg into each hollow. Cook until set, and serve with crusty bread spears.

Mud Coconut Mousse Sweetened with Dates

Delicious coconut-based mousse made with just five high-quality ingredients, this refrigerated light, airy mousse is super addictive. Also available in Chocolate and Coffee flavors, the Vanilla flavor is made with a craveable blend of organic coconut cream, organic dates, organic raw cashews, vanilla extract and Madagaascar vanilla bean sourced from a small, sustainable farm.

Runa Energy Drink Blood Orange Unsweetened

While most energy beverages are loaded with sugar, Runa’s unsweetened option is an effervescent sipper made with USDA Organic guayusa, pear juice concentrate, lemon juice and natural flavors. 

Sap! Maple Seltzer

What a tasty product! Pure maple sap (also called maple water in the biz) is carbonated, producing a slightly sweet, nuanced bubbly beverage—with no added sugar.

Spindrift Sparkling Water & Real Squeezed Fruit

The best-tasting flavored sparkling water ever, thanks to real strawberry puree, fresh lime juice and the absence of "natural flavors."

Watermelon Road Dried Fruit Jerky Smoky Balsamic Eggplant

More eggplant jerky from a brand new company called Watermelon Road. Interestingly, this brand was also displaying watermelon jerky—essentially dried fruit!