Gluten free grocer - Anybody used before?

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Finch

2851 posts

Uber Geek

#153799 8-Oct-2014 11:37

Hi.

I am looking to buy some Almond flour and came across this website which apparently has a store as well in Auckland. Has anybody bought from them before either online or at their store? Are they going to take my money if I buy online and not ship the goods?

There is a few reviews online, which are positive, but thought I would ask anyway.

www.glutenfreegrocer.co.nz

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773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1149815 8-Oct-2014 11:41

They have been around for long enough. Used the retail store a few times. Have a decent range of stuff. Although not too sure if I could be bothered buying almond flour from them seeing as it is readily available in most supermarkets....have not checked the site so they might have an amazing deal on it :)

Finch

2851 posts

Uber Geek

#1149816 8-Oct-2014 11:42

E3xtc: They have been around for long enough. Used the retail store a few times. Have a decent range of stuff. Although not too sure if I could be bothered buying almond flour from them seeing as it is readily available in most supermarkets....have not checked the site so they might have an amazing deal on it :)

Fair enough thanks for that.

My local supermarket didn't have Almond flour sadly.

robjg63

4099 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1149886 8-Oct-2014 12:36

The Gluten Free grocer used to have a shop at the top of Mt Eden Road (in Auckland) - They then moved to just online a year or so back.
They are legit.

I found that Countdown have Almond flour - think its this one:
http://shop.countdown.co.nz/Shop/ProductDetails?Stockcode=710481&name=freshlife-almonds-ground-meal

I thought they also had a finer grind in the same brand that was marked flour - the meal has some of the almond skin ground up - so more like a wholemeal almond flour.
My wife makes me nice cakes etc from time to time with this. :-)
Importantly it seems to be coeliac safe - ie not 'packed in a facility that processes gluten'

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1150396 9-Oct-2014 08:07

robjg63 points out a valid concept - sometimes it is not called Almond "Flour", rather Almond Meal or Ground Almonds...if there is a technical difference between them all I don't care, they all end up making super cakes (wife is Coeliac)...just a shame the stuff is so damn expensive!!

robjg63

4099 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1150401 9-Oct-2014 08:23

I checked when I got home. The almond meal is in fact straight almond flour.
This brand is ok for coeliacs and makes great cakes/biscuits.

The challenge at the moment is to find some dessicated coconut that is coeliac safe. It all seems to be packed on the same production lines as gluten products.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

E3xtc

773 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1150535 9-Oct-2014 10:52

if you want the coconut flavour; then substitute some of the other flour (if the recipe has flours) with some coconut flour...have done this with remarkable success! Coconut flour FTW! :P

Finch

2851 posts

Uber Geek

#1150539 9-Oct-2014 11:00

E3xtc: if you want the coconut flavour; then substitute some of the other flour (if the recipe has flours) with some coconut flour...have done this with remarkable success! Coconut flour FTW! :P

I tried to use coconut flour instead of Almond flour yesterday in a recipe and it was a complete failure, it didn't mix together or anything it was just like bread crumbs. You are right when you say "Some of the flour", definitely don't substitute 100%

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Hammerer

2476 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1150548 9-Oct-2014 11:07

E3xtc: robjg63 points out a valid concept - sometimes it is not called Almond "Flour", rather Almond Meal or Ground Almonds...if there is a technical difference between them all I don't care, they all end up making super cakes (wife is Coeliac)...just a shame the stuff is so damn expensive!!

Technically, meal is a coarser grind and the term can even be used for the grains before they are ground. So corn flour is finer than corn meal. With almonds the flour is usually made with no skins (using blanched almonds) and the meal includes the skin.

Hammerer

2476 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1150562 9-Oct-2014 11:19

Finch:
E3xtc: if you want the coconut flavour; then substitute some of the other flour (if the recipe has flours) with some coconut flour...have done this with remarkable success! Coconut flour FTW! :P

I tried to use coconut flour instead of Almond flour yesterday in a recipe and it was a complete failure, it didn't mix together or anything it was just like bread crumbs. You are right when you say "Some of the flour", definitely don't substitute 100%

Coconut flour is really high in fibre (about 30-40% or more) so it absorbs water. It is common to use less than the recipe says, as low as a quarter, and add something to bind it such as egg. The fat content is saturated so it is more stable at higher temperatures, ie. above 200C.

macuser

2120 posts

Uber Geek

#1150564 9-Oct-2014 11:22

You'll find a lot of this stuff on Trademe!

Have a look!

Finch

2851 posts

Uber Geek

#1150700 9-Oct-2014 13:28

Went to the supermarket again today, even checked the gluten free section but no almond flour :( - New World you need to get some Almond flour onto your shelves.

Well I just bought

http://www.glutenfreegrocer.co.nz/categories/glutenfreegrocer--products/gluten-free-grocer-almond-meal

Will report back once I have received it.

robjg63

4099 posts

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Subscriber

#1150705 9-Oct-2014 13:34

Finch:
E3xtc: if you want the coconut flavour; then substitute some of the other flour (if the recipe has flours) with some coconut flour...have done this with remarkable success! Coconut flour FTW! :P

I tried to use coconut flour instead of Almond flour yesterday in a recipe and it was a complete failure, it didn't mix together or anything it was just like bread crumbs. You are right when you say "Some of the flour", definitely don't substitute 100%

Are you doing this for Gluten free reasons? I am assuming so.

Baking GF can be pretty tricky - you cant easily replace wheat flour with just one GF flour as a rule.
All flours have different characteristics so you usually need a mixture.
You also have to measure them quite carefully - ordinary wheat based recipes have quite a lot of tolerance compared to GF baking.

Of course you also dont have any gluten in the GF flours - so you have to either use gums or eggs to bind the ingredients.
In the case of some cakes, scones and small muffins for example this might not be much of an issue - you wouldnt mix a wheat based recipe so much that the gluten gets activated too much or it would be too chewy. Obviously breads need extra products (gums/egg white) added to them to try and replicate some of the effects of Gluten.

What were you trying to make?
What recipe?

Dont know where you are but these guys sell plenty of GF flours - they have the Coeliac certification as well.
http://www.glutenfreestore.co.nz/
I buy stuff from them from time to time - very reliable.

Also this site is worth joining up for access to their recipes if this GF thing is new to you: http://www.gfme.co.nz/
Lots of recipes and advice - NZ based as well.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Finch

2851 posts

Uber Geek

#1150715 9-Oct-2014 13:46

@Rob

I started on the Paleo/caveman diet a week ago, not for losing weight but trying to get better skin, trying to get rid of my acne.

I was looking at making

http://paleoleap.com/herb-scones/

and

http://paleogrubs.com/chocolate-chip-cookie-bars

I tried to cookie bars yesterday with coconut flour as mentioned above, but ended up throwing the mixture out because it was just breadcrumbs.

I've spent 2-3 times as much on shopping the past week as I normally do. The initial purchase of buying different oils, more fruit + veges etc. I just spend $18.80 on buying that Almond flour (Includes $7 delivery) Living like this is pretty dam expensive. Its frustrating when my local supermarket doesn't have what I am after, will try and send them an email and maybe they can stock some almond flour. My skin isn't getting any better (Well it hasn't the week I have been on this diet) so kind of thinking about just giving up. Would end up saving money.

robjg63

4099 posts

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#1150727 9-Oct-2014 13:58

Almond flour is one of the more expensive GF flours.
I am a Coeliac - so have to have a strict GF diet - a crumb or two in a day is enough to trigger the auto-immune response and cause gut damage.
A strict Gluten Free diet can cost a bit extra as well if you try and substitute all the Gluten containing products with GF store bought alternatives.
GF bread $7 per loaf. Pasta $6-7 per 500g bag etc etc.
You usually end up eating different things instead and reducing the above items in your diet.
Of course you dont eat out much because you dont trust people preparing your food - so I suppose that saves a bit.

There are some gluten free baking mixes - healtheries sell one - havent seen a supermarket yet that doesnt sell it - dont know if this suits the paleo thing though. Likewise I understand Edmonds are soon to launch a GF baking mix.

If you are having issues with acne do you need to see a doctor? I understand that persistant and bad acne can require quite a long course of antibiotic treatment to stop it. Its not a trvial thing and not necessarily caused by diet.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Finch

2851 posts

Uber Geek

#1150823 9-Oct-2014 16:32

Cheers mate for all the info.

I had two eat some "normal" bread this morning after my visit to the Supermarket didn't yield much, had Avocado on it though so not all bad.

I might look into shopping at another supermarket, would mean something that is further away though so maybe a once a month thing.

I probably should see a skin doctor. I have tried no wheat, no dairy, no gluten, recently just noticed corn flour can cause it as well so trying my best to eliminate everything however nothing really seems to work. Trying now the paleo/caveman diet, has been good for one week but as posted earlier, hasn't made much of a difference. As you say it might not be food, could be hormonal disorder haha don't really know anymore. Im not very active, probably spend 6-8 hours per day sitting around on my laptop, so might need to get more active.

But anyway don't want to make the thread about acne...

Will post when I receive the almond flour from glutenfreegrocer and maybe even some pictures of the baked goods! (If they turn out good)

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