21st Century Revamped Trail Mix ~ The Superfruits

The Superfruits
(Spicy & Smoky Energy Mix recipe below!)

Back on the topic of exciting new trail mix, we’ve decided raisins need to be kicked to the curb. But don’t worry, there are lots of worthy replacements; we’ve come to the best part, the superfruits.

Here is a list of the latest and greatest dried superfruits which will give your trail mix a nutritional wallop:

  • Golden Berries (aka. gooseberries when they’re fresh):
    This dried fruit looks like the posh cousin of the homely raisin. It has a sweet / tangy / sour flavour, kinda like nature’s sour patches but with a much better nutritional profile: They are high in protein, beta-carotene, and have tons of bioflavonoids which act like little miracle workers providing anti-carcinogenic, and antioxidant effects in our bodies. They are also the perfect food to consume during allergy season because of their natural antihistamines. I was lucky enough to find them fresh at my local grocery store this week!
  • Goji Berries (aka. Wolfberry):
    These guys are powerhouses with over 20 vitamins and minerals, and tons of antioxidants. You can also drop a teaspoon of the dried berries into a cup of boiling water for a light, fruity, immune boosting tea to combat the nasty Spring colds which are about to pop up.
  • Mulberries:
    Mulberries have a unique flavour which is similar to a fig, but with a drier texture. They’re rich in the antioxidant resveratrol which is the heart-healthy polyphenol found in red wine, grapes, cranberries and blueberries.
  • Coconut Chips:
    Say Whhhhh?! Many companies are doing weird and wonderful things with coconut that is simply delicious.  You can now find coconut chips in your local health food store in all kinds of flavours, from chocolate coated, to caramel, to bacon flavoured (very popular with the vegans!). Coconut chips are in larger pieces than shredded coconut so are easier to eat in a trail mix (think pencil sharpenings size). You’ll get a unique flavour with the added bonus of a healthy fat which actually encourages your body to burn excess body fat! Can’t argue with that!
  • Longan Fruit:
    This Asian superfruit is a relative of lychee. It tastes like a slightly smokey mango which makes it an awesome addition to savoury trail mixes. It’s very high in vitamin C, iron and copper.
  • You can also add in other chopped up dried fruit such as papaya, mango, apricots, pineapple, peach, apple, etc.. But make sure you’re purchasing unsulphured dried fruit because fruit which has the preservative sulphur added can cause allergic reactions such as a stuffy nose and sneezing. (Ever notice that you get stuffed-up or red-faced while drinking red wine? Well that is the naturally occurring, and often times added, sulphites.)

Dried Fruit Final


Spicy & Smoky Energy Mix

¼ cup    Cashews
¼ cup    Savi Seeds
¼ cup    Longan Fruit
2 tbsp    Goji Berries
¼ cup    Mulberries
¼ cup    Spicy Pumpkin Seeds
¼ cup    Tamari Almonds

Combine all in a jar, shake up and try not to eat in one sitting!

Spicy & Smoky Mix

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