August 22, 2011

Crackerbread! The Wheat & Gluten Free Alternative to Bread

I have loved crackerbread since I can remember. I’m not sure what it is exactly that makes me so addicted to this strange crispy something that consistently sticks in my teeth but I just can’t stop myself from going back for more. The original crackerbreads are made with wheat and/or corn which treats an alternative to bread as a luxury as opposed to a necessity. Luckily for the Gluten Free Food Allergy market a variety of labels have jumped on the crackerbread bandwagon and have created a whole rake of food allergy friendly alternatives ranging from extra Fibrous, Sugar Free, sugar filled, Organic, Nut Free, Kosher, and plain old Gluten Free, to name but a few... In my opinion, the Buckwheat varieties are a bit similar to cardboard, Le Pain is the silver spoon of crackerbread and Orgran is the most versatile when it comes to being ‘Free From'.
I have listed a few of the most available brands and flavours below with corresponding price range, ingredients and basic attributes... but I think it might be a matter of trial and error to find the crackerbread that suits you and your diet best. My personal all-time favourite is the Le Pain Chestnut. It’s sugar free, as well as being free from everything else, has a wonderful caramel flavour, is a softer crunch, is significantly less like cardboard than some brands and keeps me coming back again and again without even taking the trouble to spread anything on top!


ORGRAN
The most popular brand and easily found in many locations around town. Orgran has the largest range of flavours and the most allergy-free attributes.







Orgran Fibre Cripsibread
Ingredients: Brown Rice flour, Wholegrain Sorghum, Psyllium, Rice Bran, Salt
Available at: Down to Earth, ecodirect.ie
Price: approx. 3.70
- wheat free
- gluten free
- corn free
- nut free
- soy free
- yeast free
- dairy free
- egg free
- kosher parve
- sugar free
- potato free
- vegetarian
- vegan

Orgran Corn Crispibread
Ingreadients: Maize, Rice, Salt, Monoglycerides from Vegetable
Available at: Down to Earth, Health Matters
Price: €2.95 - €3.20
- wheat free
- gluten free
- dairy free
- nut free
- soy free
- egg free
- yeast free
- potato free
- vegetarian
- vegan
- kosher parve

Orgran Quinoa Crispibread
Ingredients: Brown Rice, Wholegrain Sorghum, Wholegrain Quinoa, Rice Bran, Salt
Available at: Down to Earth, Health Matters
Price: €3.45 - €3.80
- wheat free
- gluten free
- soy free
- nut free
- egg free
- yeast free
- potato free
- corn free
- dairy free
- vegetarian
- vegan
- kosher parve

Orgran Buckwheat Crispibread
Ingredients: Buckwheat, Rice, Salt
Available at: Down to Earth, Health Matters
Price: approx 3.15
- wheat free
- gluten free
- soy free
- nut free
- egg free
- yeast free
- potato free
- corn free
- dairy free
- vegetarian
- vegan
- kosher parve


LE PAIN DES FLEURS
The knee of the bee for crackerbreads. Organic. Softer in texture. Sweet to taste (even the very tasty chestnut flavour which has no added sugar). Also has a more appetizing colour of brown!





Le Pain des Fleurs Chestnut Tartines Craquantes (pictured in title shot)
Ingredients: Rice flour, Chestnut flour
Available at: Nourish, Nolan’s Food Fare, Organic Supermarket
Price: approx. €3.99
- organic
- wheat free
- gluten free
- dairy free
- corn free
- sugar free,
- potato free
- soy free
- egg free
- vegetarian
- vegan
- no added yeast

Le Pain des Fleurs Quinoa Tartines Craquantes
Ingredients: Quinoa, Raw Cane Sugar
Available at: Down to Earth, Nourish, Nolan’s Food Fare, Health Matters, Organic Supermarket
Price: €3.30 - €3.60
- organic
- wheat free
- gluten free
- dairy free
- egg free
- soy free
- corn free
- potato free
- vegetarian
- vegan
- no added yeast

Le Pain des Fleurs Buckwheat Tartines Craquantes
Ingredients: Buckwheat flour
Available at: Down to Earth, Nourish, Health Matters, Organic Supermarket
Price: €2.90 - 3.50
- organic
- wheat free
- gluten free
- rice free
- dairy free
- corn free
- sugar free
- potato free
- soy free
- egg free
- vegetarian
- vegan
- no added yeast


AMISA
The buckwheat flavour is similar to cardboard in taste and texture but depending on your personal food allergies and diet it might prove a good option if you are in a bind.





Amisa Buckwheat
Ingredients: Wholemeal Buckwheat flour, Sea Salt Note: May contain traces of nuts, soy and sesame
Available at: Down to Earth, Organic Supermarket
Price: €2.39 - €3.20
- organic
- wheat free
- gluten free
- corn free
- dairy free
- potato free
- soy free (note: may contain warning)
- rice free
- vegetarian
- vegan

Amisa Rice & Corn
Ingredients: Corn flour, Rice flour, Sea Salt
Available at: Down to Earth, ecodirect.ie, Organic Supermarket
Price: €2.39 - €2.80
- organic
- wheat free
- gluten free
- yeast free
- dairy free
- sugar free
- potato free
- soy free (note: may contain warning)
- vegetarian
- vegan


CRISPY CRACKERS
Very white in appearance and possibly a bit 'tangy' or 'vinegary' in taste for the lack of a better word but still slightly addictive all the same. Also a bit 'hard' in texture but I did eat the whole pack!








Rice & Rice Crispy Crackers (pictured below)
Ingredients: Rice flour, Sea Salt Note: May contain traces of soy, sesame, milk
Available at: Dublin Food Co-op
Price: approx €.15
- organic
- wheat free
- corn free
- dairy free (note: may contain warning)
- sugar free
- potato free
- gluten free
- soy free (note: may contain warning)
- vegetarian
- vegan

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree - i especially love the chesnut pain des fleurs too, especially with peanut butter on it as i don't normally like peanut butter, but love it on these. The other ones are great delivery devices for humous and pesto!

Lynn

Aurea@Survival Guide said...

yyyuuuuummmmm.. that sounds SO good! I don't eat peanuts but now I'm thinking of sunflower or cashew nut butter on them with a drizzle of honey....YUM!