What is Granola?

Granola is a type of cold cereal which is popular among health concious people like vegans and macrobiotic dieters mainly in the U.S. and Europe.

It consists of rolled oats, corns, nuts, honey, and sometimes puffed rice, that is usually baked until crisp. During the baking process the mixture is stirred to maintain a loose, breakfast cereal-type consistency. Dried fruits, such as raisins and dates, are sometimes added.

Oatmeals were usually served as Western type of breakfast for Emperor Showa (Hirohito). According to the movie "The Longest Day in Japan", the Emperor had oatmeal for his breakfast on August 15th, 1945.

Oatmeal as health food.

The embryo bud of oat is unrefined whole grain, so it has so much more vitamins, minerals and fibers than any other refined grains. A 100-gram serving offers approximately 10 grams of total fiber. 

The rich soluble fiber content in oatmeal is beneficial for your heart. Soluble fiber attracts liquid in your intestinal tract, forming a slow-moving gel. As the gel travels through your gut, it binds with some of the low-density lipoprotein in your body. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol, hardens arteries, leading to increased blood pressure. Oat is a rich source of the water-soluble fibre β-glucan. β-glucans are notable for their ability to modulate the immune system.

Who Made the first Granola?
-Dr. John Harvey Kellog!

The person who invented Granola is Dr. John Harvey kellog, a Michigan man, who is famous as the founder of Kellog company.  He was eagerly studying books of popular health reformers who advocated temperance, vegetarianism, and the use of natural remedies. He himself invented the system of “biologic living”, which advocated vegetarianism, regular exercise, plenty of fresh air and sunshine, drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water a day, and abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, tea, and coffee.

Dr. John Kellogg’s focus was on health and medicine—and inventing. He invented the first flaked breakfast cereal, made from wheat, in 1889, and a few years later invented flaked corn, better known as Corn Flakes, which really took off and made Battle Creek the world capital of breakfast cereal. In 1901, he created the Sanitarium Food Company as a subsidiary of the Battle Creek Sanitarium; in 1908 it became the Kellogg Food Company. His brother, William Kellogg, was the business head but the two brothers did not get along. In 1920 the brothers formally parted ways; the rights to manufacture cereal and the commercial use of the Kellogg name went to William, who established the W.K. Kellogg Company. 

Granola was long off the menu by then, having been replaced by more palatable breakfast cereals. It remained a product known to a limited circle of “health food faddists” and Seventh Day Adventists until the hippie-spawned health food movement of the 1960s. But hippies revived the rolled oats-based granola cereal and name, added dried fruits and nuts, and began to get visibility for the product (which in some circles earned jeers of derision for the “granola heads,” as the benefits of “healthy eating” were not widely recognized at the time.

Nuts and Dried Fruit for your Health and Beauty

★Nuts

Nuts contain significant amounts of essential micronutrients that are associated with an improved health status, such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, and they also contain lots of fibers. It's concidered to be able to rejuvinate our cells, because of its antioxidant effect. Vitamin E in nuts are said to be good for revitalization of our brains.

★Dried Fruit

Dried fruit is popular health food especially among health concious women, as it has condensed benefitial nutrition. It has well-balanced soluble and insoluble fiber, condensed minerals, and high antioxidant effect.  Also studies show that the antioxidant phytochemicals found in dried fruits can reach our bloodstream and have a high antioxidant effect. Perfect food for your anti-aging recipe!

Ways to Eat Granola

Granola can be eaten as a crunchy snack on its own, or as a healthy bowl of cereal with milk or soy milk. Also it makes a wonderful desert with ice cream and yogurt. When soaked in milk or yogurt for overnight in the fridge, you can enjoy the perfect mixture of all the flavors.

Sprinkle over cream cheese and enjoy it with wine or other kinds of drinks.

Put in a filling of sandwich.

Use as a topping of your salad.

Put in your smoothies.

Use as a creative ingredient when you cook.

Tips to enjoy our Homemade Granola

● Banana Granola
Baked with ripe bananas which work as the sause. Very satisfying and perfect for snacks on its own. Also goes well with yogurt.

● Cocoa Granola
You can fully enjoy the nuts! Pecan nuts and almonds. One pleasant scoop for your coffe time snack. Goes well with dairies too, like yogurt and cream cheese.

● Coconut Granola
Very mildly sweetened so that you can fully appreciate the taste of coconut and dried fruit. Try this granola with soy milk!

● Fruit Granla
The delicate sweetness of Mascobado sugar and the dried fruit we proudly selected go perfectly well with milk, yogurt, or soy milk.

● Orange Granola
The diced orange peels have refreshing sour flavor. Enjoy it with something rich and creamy, like yogurt or cheese.

● Rich Maple Granola
Mild sweetness of maple syrup and maple sugar goes well with soy milk or milk.

● Salt & Pepper Granola
The only savory granola spiced up with black pepper. Sprinkle it over your salad, soup, steamed vegetables, curry or chilled tofu as delicious topping. Wiith warm soy milk or milk, it becomes hearty soup. Can also be a good munch on its own when you drink.