Bonnie: Lucky me. Extra-special products often are just dropped at my doorstep. Stewart & Jasper Orchards Dark Chocolate Almonds arrived in a gift basket from another food company. One bite and I was hooked as the rich, dark chocolate melted in my mouth to uncover a farm-fresh almond.
I had to get in touch with the company to find out more. Was this their on
ly delicious product? Were the others as good? Were they available across the country?
I Googled, reached out to and chatted with Jason Jasper, whose family’s been in the almond business for 53 years. They grow almonds, selling most of them wholesale. Luckily for almond lovers like me, Stewart & Jasper offers some retail, too — with more to come. The chocolate toffee is equally as delicious as the dark chocolate covered ones, with these two my favorites. Stewart & Jasper offers many other flavored almonds, too.
And Steward & Jasper’s plain almonds are equally as delicious, as they’re truly fresh from the farm.
Bryan: Almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews… You can almost run through the entire alphabet naming nuts if you really try. You can also just park yourself at ‘A’ and enjoy the star of the category, the almond (nobody picks the acorn ;).
If you’re talking almonds, you just have to consider Stewart & Jasper. These guys have been in the almond business since 1958, when two poultry farmers decided to diversify by planting more than 100 acres of California almonds. By the 1960’s, no more chickens and lots more nuts!
Though Stewart & Jasper dabbles in more than just the almond (you’ll find dried fruits, nut butters, baking products, honey, oils, vinegars, etc.), almonds are clearly the focus. You can take them plain, and they’re a good source of nutrition, especially for those who are allergic to gluten. Almonds contain about 26 percent carbohydrates (12 percent dietary fiber) and can be made into flour for baking, a popular ingredient in place of wheat.
Why turn them into flour, though, when you can top them in deliciousness? Stewart & Jasper have rolled out a plethora of delightful flavors to turn your everyday snacking into a taste experience. Try some Almond Jewels (dipped in dark chocolate then coated with a shiny candy finish), Almondolas (coated in layers of spiced chocolate and hazelnut, and rolled in confectionery sugar), Cappuccino Almonds (covered with a blend of chocolate and ground espresso, and misted with white chocolate), Coffee & Creme Almonds (covered in rich dark chocolate, drenched in white chocolate and ground coffee), Milk Chocolate Almonds, Mint Chocolate Almonds, Dark Chocolate Almonds, Dark Chocolate Chipotle Almonds, Jordan Almonds, Yogurt Almonds and even Tiramisu Almonds! Heck, there are even sugar-free versions of the Milk and Dark Chocolate Almonds.
There is literally something for everybody at Stewart & Jaspers. Leave your nut allergies at the door. Otherwise, have a great time!
Eric: Almonds + Chocolate = Deliciousness (I wish math were always that easy). Stewart & Jasper has slowly worked its way into my heart as one of my favorite almond companies (and no, it’s not because we’re reviewing them). The Stewart & Jasper almond is consistently fresh, perfectly seasoned and sourced “locally” (in California). There’s simply not a bad nut in the can.
Now, imagine taking that particular nut and covering it with smooth, rich, dark chocolate. There are plenty of companies out there that produce similar items, but not many that rely on the quality of their products to take them to another level. Stewart & Jasper lets the almonds speak for themselves, and, after tasting them, you’ll soon be singing their praises. (Pssst… try the chocolate toffee as well, simply mouth-wateringly delicious).
Glad you like Jason and his family’s products. It is a terrific company. We visited their farm orchard where they have a fun farm store. Right now you can still order fresh green almonds from them, a seasonal treat.
What are green almonds and what do you do with them?
Green almonds are the immature pods of the almonds, the first little buds to appear in March and April after the lovely bloom season. You can salt them and eat them right off the tree as they do in the Middle East. A symbolic food as it is the first fruit to appear in spring. And chefs are getting more creative with them, slicing them in salads and as garnish in sweet and savory dishes. Here is something I wrote about them a while back: http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/almonds
Very interesting. Thank you so much for sharing!