The balance of sweet to savory is an important part of every nut butter or bar we make. For each new recipe we create, the choice of natural sweetener is dependent upon the desired texture and taste. Certain nut butters, like our Crunchy Peanut Butter, are best with a dark, malty touch of sweetness found in sorghum. Like all our ingredients, we looked for the very best, and found it in Muddy Pond Sorghum. Grown, harvested, and processed by the Guenther family in MuddyPond, TN, the beautiful syrup offers the touch of sweetness we are looking for and is loaded with unsaturated fats, protein, fiber, and minerals like phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and iron. It also has more antioxidants than blueberries and pomegranates.
The Guenthers live and breathe sorghum and it is evident in the rich flavor and consistent quality of their syrup. The grain is grown over four months, harvested in September and October, and processed on equipment custom built by the Guenthers themselves (see the process from start to finish here). Each step, from juicing the grain and boiling it down to a thick syrup, to jarring and packaging, is completed by a member of the tight-knit Mennonite family. They currently have three generations working together to grow their operation while keeping it true to their roots. As a few elements of modernity have been added, they’ve maintained a horse drawn mill that processes the sorghum the old-fashioned way, and the elder Guenthers still harvest using horse drawn buggies. The Guenther's farm is certainly worth a visit if you're every in the area! Photo credits: Tennessee Home & Farm & Southern Living