Soy Garden / Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spreads – NON-DAIRY

Earth BalanceI gave up dairy products three months ago. I have Crohn’s and it really has made a difference. I feel better, I have less difficulties (nice euphemism) and I have lost a couple of pounds. The problem is, I like butter. I grew up in Ireland, so everything good is creamy and buttery.

Earth Balance, used to be only available in health food stores and it was always in short supply. Now it’s in the local supermarkets in sticks for baking and tubs for spreading.

There are two varieties – Soy Garden Natural Buttery Spread and Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread.

I did a scientific taste test. I put them on a bagel this morning and then tried them “straight” on a spoon as well. The difference is small. Soy Garden contains crushed defatted soybeans and Earth Balance has soy protein instead on the list of ingredients. The first, in the white tub tastes like margarine. The second, in the yellow tub, tastes almost like I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. Earth Balance is a bit saltier and more like butter. That’s good in my book. The firmer consistency doesn’t bother me, it makes it even more butter like.

I like the yellow tub Earth Balance better. The Soy Garden is OK too. Both contain no frankenfoods, nothing genetically modified and ingredients that I can recognize without a degree in chemistry. The sticks are very good for baking and my daughter, an expert baker, will now use nothing else.

I still crave real salted butter made from real cream. This is a good alternative, especially when you remember that dairy products are made from milk that was never intended for people. On our evolving scale, an overall score of 4 out of 5.

3 thoughts on “Soy Garden / Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spreads – NON-DAIRY”

  1. I have been using Soy Garden for more than a year. I love it. I live in NYand this week not Pathmark, A & P or Stop & Shop had this product. I am at a loss because I am Lacose intolerant and don’t know what else you make that I can eat. Can you please help? Fran

  2. Hi,Can anyone tell me if Earth Balance is available in the UK please and if so, where?Donna

Comments are closed.

Scroll to Top