Stocking A Pantry Without Borders

Cooking at home is easier if you stock your pantry with basic staples that can be used in many recipes.

Items like canned tomatoes, pasta and rice, good quality oil and vinegar, and spices like parsley and pepper are all considered pantry staples. But have you heard about the new trend hitting pantries? “Pantry without borders” is a concept that the Specialty Food Association named a 2023 Food Trend.

Here’s a look at what it means to have a pantry without borders, and how African Bronze Honey is ideal for basic pantries and those embracing this new trend.

What is Pantry Without Borders?

Stocking your shelves with a few new items can open the (cupboard) door to some new taste experiences. Globally inspired condiments, sauces, oils, and seasonings enable you to cook different cuisine than the standard meat and potatoes fare that many of us ate growing up. That doesn’t mean it has to be difficult to cook either.

Chef and food writer Robin Robertson explains that the spices, herbs, and other seasonings of particular regions are what makes each type of cuisine distinctive. 

She goes on to use an example of a simple pot of rice and beans. Depending how you season them, you explore a different region of the world:

• Mediterranean: seasoned with garlic, oregano, basil, and olive oil.
• Asian: cooked with ginger, sesame oil, and soy sauce.
• Indian: simmered in a curry sauce.
• Eastern European: mixed with paprika, sour cream, and onions.
• Middle East: seasoned with tahini, lemon juice, and za'atar spices.

That’s a simplistic example, but you get the idea. The Specialty Food Association goes a little farther, explaining that the influence and heritage of immigrants has added a new wave of texture and flavour: “Think Sichuan fried chile crisp, West African shito sauce, Mexican salsa macha, Spanish romesco, Indian achaar, and Filipino adobo.”

The concept means that you can experience regional food as a kitchen staple, rather than only getting a taste out of the ordinary at a restaurant or friend’s home. That can include condiments all the way to main dishes. At the 2023 Winter Fancy Food Show, it also included snacks, cookies, beverages, and other grocery staples. 

Many of the products highlighted at the show also represented another trend: farm to table, family-run small businesses with use of superior ingredients.

Add African Bronze Honey To Your Pantry

African Bronze Honey Company’s Forest Honey was mentioned in another food trend for 2023, that “Honey is Hot.” The nuanced heat of our hot honey hits the mark, but our honey is also part of a pantry without borders movement.

Here’s why.

African Bronze Honey is natural, wild honey that comes from the remote, pristine forests of Africa. The origins of our Wild Honeydew Forest Honey, for example, give it a full-flavoured floral taste that will transport your taste buds to the tropical forests of Africa. You can use it the “traditional” way, by spreading it on toast, but you can also expand its use as a marinade or in a sauce. 

Unique flavour offerings also include Cacao & Honey, Miombo Blossom Honey, and Cinnamon and Honey. Or try a salad dressing made with Honey Vinegar. 

If you want to start your international cooking journey with something that feels close to home, how about the French tradition of crepes? These thin pancakes can be sweet or savory, and served for breakfast, lunch or supper. Many of us have tried them before, and they don’t have to be fancy. Something simple like crepes with a ricotta and honey filling will satisfy any palate. Or embrace Italy by enjoying the Italian cheese gorgonzola with pears and honey.

Snacks and drinks without borders are delicious to try, too. Try a savory African tradition by making African Bronze Piri Piri Honey Nuts. Or whip up Chile’s national drink, ​​the Pisco Sour. We have an easy recipe for a Chilean Pisco Sour made with honey simple syrup. And don’t forget to embrace our home country of Canada with a twist on our national cocktail, the hot honey Caesar.

Good for You—and the Planet

Sustainability and health in balance are other top trend themes, and African Bronze Honey hits the mark on those movements too. Our honey is good for you, because it’s raw and unpasteurized. That means it contains the highest concentrations of honey’s natural benefits and nutritional value. 

It’s good for the planet and its people too. The production of our honey sustains entire communities while employing environmentally-friendly regenerative harvesting practices. It also provides sustainable income for more than 10,000 beekeepers, and is good for the environment because it helps to preserve pristine forests in south-central Africa. 

The beekeepers behind African Bronze Honey have helped forests that were previously under intense pressure from rampant deforestation, which results in marginalized people without income. Instead, our beekeepers provide an alternative to deforestation, while combating climate change and providing their livelihood.

The source of our honey is Africa, but we’re a Canadian company. Here’s what else you need to know about African Bronze Honey:

• We are a B Corp, which is a business that passes a rigorous process of evaluation, reviewing how we do business and ranking our performance. 
• We have been named Best For The World Changemakers three years in a row.
• Our honey is certified organic by EcoCert, meaning you’re earring pure, high-quality, ethically sourced honey without any pesticides or chemicals.  
• Our business is proud to be a member of the Fair Trade Federation, and our values and products are regenerative, sustainable, good for the environment, and empower local communities. 

Cross the Border Next Time You Cook 

If you’re looking to expand your cooking repertoire, or just want to try a new recipe, look for non-traditional ingredients for your own pantry. Maybe that’s as simple as some cilantro or cumin for a Mexican flavour, or the red and green chili and turmeric popular in Thai cooking. 

Or use one of our wild forest honey products in your recipe, to replace sweetener or the grocery store version of honey. We believe in food that restores the planet instead of damaging it, creates sustainable jobs for marginalized remote communities, and protects forests from deforestation.