What is Intuitive cooking?
We came across an article recently about “intuitive cooking” and thought what does that actually mean?
Research suggests that in the current climate, intuitive cooking might be a smart and interesting approach as to how we cook and bake when at home.
Supply Chain Challenges and food.
Energy price hikes, rises in interest rates, rapid inflation, the war in Europe, and the Middle East are various challenges that affect supply chain. These are everyday headlines. The list is endless as to the daily tests that we are all encountering in one format or another and we at Cameler Spice Co are no different. Spices are one of the oldest commodities in the world, often transported through routes like the Suez and Panama canal and across our largest oceans. The Panama canal is fed with fresh water from Lake Gatun currently facing a drought where water levels are at an all time low. On the opposite side of the planet we have a proxy trauma in the Red sea where various vessels use this historical water way to get from the Red sea to the Mediterranean sea and vice versa. It is understood for these reasons that retailers are having to order stock earlier than ever due to anxiety in the political world.
Energy prices and inflation are still ongoing and volatile. By the end of 2022, wheat crop prices were historically high due to short supply. Although Ukraine is the bread basket of Europe, most recipients of wheat are Middle Eastern countries, North Africa and South East Asia. However in 2024 wheat prices have returned to normal. But it is not just grain. When we think about the chemical compound Co2 it is in everything from carbonated drinks to fertiliser. It also has had volatile fluctuations these past few years. Everything has a domino effect in various supply chains as a whole for the future. Then we come onto spices. Staying in our lane, spices are also on an upward trajectory.
Why are there rising costs for spices?
Supply chain encompasses factors for the afore mentioned. However, if we double down on research and statics there are other reasons. An increase in consumer demand for more exotic flavours has demonstrated upward trends. Vanilla, is currently more expensive than silver ounce for ounce. Saffron is also on a race to historical highs. Turmeric is another spice that has skyrocketed because of its superfood status. Then other factors that play a role are climate change, unpredictable weathers, crop failures, lower yields and of course political turmoil in countries leading to a problematic supply chain with many kinks.
According to "Hus Farm" and price forecasting in agriculture, there are some really interesting factors that truly make you reflect. If we look at Madagascar and their export of vanilla, (80% of the worlds supply) the increase in consumer demand, has led to a windfall in profits but not without new challenges. Pretty much like avocados in Mexico, farmers have had to deal with theft of crops due to the higher than ever market prices. However, this has led to crops been harvested earlier with poorer yield quality. Moreso these are challenging issues for the farmer than the consumer as such, albeit farmer and consumer end up paying the price.
Adulterated spices
However if we look at the negative effects on consumers, there is a growing trend in spice adulteration. This might be because of climate change, or increased consumer demand. One thing that often takes our customers by surprise is evidence and research by a Professor Chris Elliott (Scientist) at Queens University Belfast. He published research advising that 70% of Oregano that his team tested was full of adulterated rubbish. Every year we are hearing more horror stories with turmeric and cardamon having their negative press recently with attention grabbing headlines from the economist "how to stop turmeric from killing people". It should be noted that the adulteration of turmeric with lead chromate has not entered the European food chain albeit that does not make it right.
What does all this have to do with intuitive cooking you might ask?
Intuitive cooking is an exercise that is built upon 3 simple principles.
- The well-stocked pantry
- Changing the strategy as to how you might cook and bake in the kitchen.
- Batch cooking rather than the meal prep approach.
At we speak olive oil has increased 48% in the last couple of years, all down to climate change and the resulting low yields and high demands.
Nevertheless, as much as intuitive cooking might allow you to be more spontaneous and creative in the kitchen when it comes to cooking for yourself and the family, it also instils a disciple of mindfulness. However, this does not mean we should follow the latest trend on TikTok.
There is a reason why black pepper or our Baharat Gulf of Arabia might go with a strawberry and lime cheesecake but "pickle cocktails" are, well........... something that should have been left in the gherkin jar.
You might be staring into your kitchen cupboard with a good excuse to use up ingredients, rather than letting ingredients go out of date. It might be a simple approach to eating fruit, vegetables and fish or meat that is in season, or locally sourced. All with the added benefit of being more sustainable and a carbon footprint reduction. Of course, we do realise that this is not always pragmatic, but its good to keep an open mind.
Seasonings, Rubs and Marinades.
If you want to enhance your creativity when it comes to cooking and baking then check out our wonderful seasonings, rubs and marinades from our heritage spice collection that stretches from the silk road into the Horn of Africa and back into Europe.
We all have the ability to create dishes for all occasions and whether it be following a recipe or experimenting, it can be fun and satisfying. Get to know your ingredients and value them and use them to create that fiesta of flavours. It can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be, when it comes to your own kitchen.
Fundamentally good quality cooking spices should be one of those pantry staples to get you inspired when you might want to recreate your favourite restaurant experience. Or that "fakeaway". You can have lots of fun when it comes to bringing some of your recipe creations to life or you can also get inspiration from our recipe section here.
