Sunday, February 15, 2009

Hooray for Zukay!

The super-awesome folks over at Zukay Live Foods sent me a sample package of their new vegan probiotic salsas and relishes last week. I'm a huge fan of live cultures, and I couldn't wait to get home from work on Thursday to crack open a jar.

I used to have some gassy issues after eating certain foods, so I began taking a daily probiotic supplement several months ago to straighten out my digestive tract. I rarely have any problems now, and I've become quite probiotic-obsessed.

I started with the Mild Salsa Viva and the Garlic Dill Relish:

When I opened the salsa, the mixture began fizzing and bubbling and almost raised out of the jar! But since the salsa contains live active cultures, that's totally normal. See, just read this label from the top of each jar:

Taste-wise, the mild salsa couldn't be better. It has a bit of a fizzy mouthfeel (thanks to those live cultures) that reminds of the carbonation in soda. Since I don't drink soda anymore, but still miss the fizziness, I found the salsa to be a nice healthier stand-in.

The garlic relish is less fizzy in texture, but the taste is spot-on. The garlic isn't overpowering and it complements the salty pickled cucumbers perfectly. Unlike some commercially-available jarred relishes, this stuff tastes as fresh as if you'd just home-canned it yourself. I ate some of the relish on a Lifelife Jumbo Smart Dog on an Ezekial Bread Bun for dinner tonight:

Here' s the whole plate — Veggie Dog, Salt & Pepper Tortilla Chips with the mild Zukay salsa, and a small side salad with sesame shitake dressing:

Next up, I'm gonna try the Zukay Horseradish Dill Relish and Hot Salsa Viva. I'll let ya'll know that goes after I finish the jars I already have open.

Since Zukay is still pretty new, the products aren't available in some cities yet, including Memphis. But there is a store locator on their website, so ya'll should click over there and check the availability in your neck of the woods. If Zukay isn't for sale in your area yet, the products are available for purchase on their website too.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cool! I've never heard of Zukay products, but I will have to check it out. Sounds healthy and yummy!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Love their salsas!!

Chelsea said...

Yum! I don't drink soda, either, but I think the fizziness is why I love kombucha so much! I'll have to watch out for this stuff!

Anonymous said...

I'm so jealous, I've been dying to try this salsa!

Love your dinner, so healthy with the zukay salsa and ezekiel bun. YUM!

Jenn said...

I just got some, too, and I've already polshed off a jar and a half of salsa! Thanks for the review.

The Voracious Vegan said...

Wow! I wish they had that here. The idea is wonderful and the flavors sound amazing. Garlic/dill relish? YES PLEASE!

My hubby lllooovvvees salsa and raw foods, so I would love to get my hands on some of this for him. Maybe next time we head back to the states.

Let me know how the other flavors are.

Tara said...

Those sound like great products! I wonder when they will get to Alaska??

Anonymous said...

I want me your plate complete with veggie dog & chips! Yum.

Sal - AlienOnToast said...

They sound really good - the veggie dog is making me really hungry!

Lisa said...

Thanks for the info! And great presentation on the Smart Dog, it looks so good!

MeloMeals said...

looks like a great dinner!

Anonymous said...

I'm so jealous! I want fizzy live relish. :)

jessy said...

ooooh! that's so cool they sent you some zukay yummies to test out, Bianca! i found these at my local natural foods store & gave the garlic relish a try! it's amazing! glad you're enjoying them too - and thanks for the review! i'm gonna head back soon & try some of their salsas! mmmmmmmmm!

p.s. - your veggie dog + relish has me drool'n! ;)

Theresa said...

The thought of salsa as a substitute for soda makes me giggle :)

River (Wing-It Vegan) said...

I love those jumbo dogs! Damn, your whole plate looks so good.

Mike K said...

Who knew veggie dogs could look so tasty! I've never seen Zukay products around here, but they sound really good - lots of variety.

Hungry Hungry Dancer said...

seriously probiotics have changed my life!! i take a pill to get them... but i am def going to check this product out!! thanks for the tip!

Jen said...

hey bianca,

i've had some serious ketchupin' to do with reading blogs. all that shit looks gooooood, even those whoopie pies that you claim to look bad. whatever...get in mah belleh!

how do you get companies to send you samples? i would love to do that and write reviews.

xo jen

Jen said...

hey bianca,

i've had some serious ketchupin' to do with reading blogs. all that shit looks gooooood, even those whoopie pies that you claim to look bad. whatever...get in mah belleh!

how do you get companies to send you samples? i would love to do that and write reviews.

xo jen

Veggie said...

These sound so neat, I hope they come to Canada.

Anonymous said...

What a fancy fun dinny!!! You made the jumbo dog look so glamorous! Mmmm... I look forward to more reviews.

And yes, you did see Tim squat down on the floor in our video, although he wasn't picking anything up, just resting. I swear, he's glued to that spot in the kitchen!