Luster, Shine & Color

Chemical-based hair products can be damaging and drying for hair. Especially in the summer, when the sun is out and sizzling hot, your hair can really show the wear and tear from years of chemical processing.

eSutras has created some organic, natural, effective and chemical-free herbal hair products that will nourish, condition and improve the strength of your hair, while adding color and depth. They're easy-to-use and can be prepared from the comfort of your own home. There are some definite up-sides to home hair dying with natural herbs and botanicals, like more variety of color range (and the chance for you to play around with mixing colors), better smell (adding essential oils and fragrances make your dyes smell yummy!) and of course, herbs aren't as abrasive on your hair and scalp as chemical dyes.

Dying your hair with eSutras is easy! Chamomile Tea for adding sheen to blond locks. Rosemary for lightening. Cloves and Henna Powder for darkening. Brahmi Hair Oil for moisturizing your scalp and roots. Rose Hips for reddening your mane and Aloe Lavender Shampoo for a refreshing clean.

You can use different herbs - many of which can be found on the eSutras website - to condition any hair type, dye any hair color, de-frizz, voluminize, you name it really. Try elder flowers for dry hair; lemongrass for oily hair; nettle leaf for dandruff; or burdock root for managing frizzy hair!

Elder Flowers from eSutras Organics

As for natural hair dyes, eSutras Chamomile Tea combined with lemon juice will create amazingly bright blonde highlights. If used daily, effective results can be seen in just a few weeks! This may seem like a long time - a very time intensive process - but if you think about all those times you've used boxed, chemical dyes, you'll understand the appeal of a longer, gentler process. Remember that chemical dye in your scalp and under your fingernails for days? The acidic fumes of chemical dye? The burning on your scalp during the process? The mess? We promise, slow and steady wins the race!

Chamomile Flowers from eSutras Organics

eSutras Henna Powder and Indigo Leaves, mixed with lemon juice, will give a naturally lush and vivid dark brown or black color, with hints of violet. This was Cleopatra's favorite!

For natural red coloring, try eSutras fresh-cut rosehips or whole cloves mixed with beetroot or carrot juice. If you're looking for red highlights, boil 1/3 cup of crushed marigold flowers in 2 cups of water. Strain and add 1 cup of red wine. Massage into hair and leave in for 30 minutes. Shampoo lightly and voila!

Cloves from eSutras Organics

Marigold Flowers from eSutras Organics

There's a lot more information out there that I don't have the time to include in this post. Read up and get educated before starting this process. Even though these products are natural, they may not always react well with the individual. Always patch test and make sure you're not allergic to anything. Happy Hair Coloring, everybody!

Recipes for the Summer Spice Trio!

Recipes for the Summer Spice Trio

Leslie Loves Veggies Loves eSutras!

Want some free goodies from eSutras? We bet you do!

Leslie Loves Veggies - the notable interactive blog that offers awesome daily giveaways of organic, gourmet, trendy, great, yummy, you-name-it products - is offering an eSutras Prize Package giveaway! We're so excited to be a part of Leslie's blog!

Want to know how you can win? Visit the giveaway page for details!

Leslie says, HERE'S HOW TO WIN:

1. YOU MUST DO THIS FIRST or all other entries will be DELETED! Please visit eSutras Organics shop around then tell me something you learned about eSutras Organics or a product you would LoVe to try! (1 entry)

BONUS ENTRIES

2. Subscribe by Email and Confirm that Subscription (1 entry)

3. Subscribe to Leslie Loves Veggies in a Reader (1 entry)

4. Follow Me on Blogger (1 entry)

5. Like Leslie Loves Veggies on Facebook (2 separate entries)

6. Follow ME on Twitter (1 entry)

7. Follow eSutras on Twitter (1 entry)

8. Leave a Tweet and the direct link to that tweet (1 entry) You can do this Daily

9. Like eSutras on Facebook (1 entry)

10. FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Blog about this giveaway, with a link to my blog and come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.

11. Add my button to your sidebar (if it's already there, let me know that! Leave link to your blog.) (1 entry)

12. Add Leslie Loves Veggies to your blogroll (using my URL), with a link back to me! (1 entry)

Survivin' the Summer with eSutras

Chill Out 

It's hot out there. But don't sweat it. Cool down and chill out with eSutras Herbal Teas. Mix 'em, match 'em, put 'em on ice and serve 'em up!

Picnic Time

Organic spices & culinary oils for dipping, bruschetta for spreading, teas for sipping and chocolates for munching!

Sun Survival

Beat the heat with help from eSutras! Soothing tinctures, healing essential oils and relaxing spa products for your summer survival needs.

April Showers, Summer Flowers

Stop and smell the roses! With eSutras fragrant, fresh-dried botanicals, pure essential oils and custom-blend elixirs, it's easy to bring aromatherapy home. Enjoy the little things.

Summer Spice Trio

The days are getting longer, it's definitely hotter and we're all feeling a little lazy as summertime strikes. I know when I start to feel that heat-induced ennui that it's time for some fresh food, a new recipe and a refreshing meal. eSutras has made a new Summer Spice Trio - find it here - for just these moods. Exotic and revitalizing spices to complement sunny days, picnics, sandy beaches and summer ennui.

Summer Spice Trio by eSutras Organics

CORIANDER SEED +++

Today I discovered that coriander seed grows into a plant otherwise known as cilantro. Who knew!? Coriander always seemed so Mediterranean or Middle Eastern, so foreign, but cilantro? I grow it in my backyard! That's the great thing about eSutras Organics Coriander Seed: it can be all those things. It's easy to cultivate in a tiny kitchen planter, the leaves are fantastic in tons of dishes and the seeds - when ground and used as a spice - are sweet, unusual and distinct.

CELERY SEED +++

These little buggers are the best for pickling. You may have tasted their sharp and refreshing flavor in sauerkraut. I know you've all got lots of time with these extra hours of summer sunlight, so why not take the time to pickle something? Green beans, cabbage - for that celery seed sauerkraut! - or radishes are really complemented by celery seed's full-bodied flavors.

BROWN MUSTARD SEED +++

Mustard seed is a regular jack-of-all-trades. It's good-eatin' to be sure, and can used as a pickling spice too. They can be roasted until they pop and stir-fried with vegetables. Eat them however you like. Ground them up and mix them with a carrier oil - in the winter, brown mustard seeds are soothingly warm on the skin and provide your body with the moisture it's lacking. Cool!

Organic, Vegan Amaranth Grits

Amaranth, flowering

Wondering what you can do with all those delicious items you bought from eSutras over the weekend at the Green Festival in Chicago? Well, we've done some experimenting with the food kits we made for the occasion and this is one of the results! Our Vegan Amaranth Grits are easy, exotic, taste bud-bending and mouthwatering. They incorporate the essentials of the food kits, and can be made with either the Pan-Asian or New American kit.

Pan-Asian Epicurean Food Kit by eSutras Organics

Be forewarned: Amaranth can be tricky. The wrong consistency will give you brittle, gritty kernels, but with a little patience and focus, Amaranth can be seriously delicious. Follow our instructions carefully, add adjustments if you think they're necessary, depending on your knowledge of your kitchen equipment and remember that your hard work will pay off! Amaranth is not only savory, but one of the world's more serious super grains, chock full of protein and vitamins.

Toasted Sesame Oil, Curry Chili Salt & Loose Cumin Seed

VEGAN AMARANTH GRITS by eSutras Organics
1 cup eSutras Organics Amaranth
2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped
3 cups water, or vegetable stock
2 T. eSutras Organics Toasted Sesame Seed Oil
2 t. eSutras Organics Cumin Seed, finely ground
eSutras Organics Curry Chili Salt, to taste
Hot Sauce, to taste (optional)
Garnish: 2 plum tomatoes, sliced; 1 spring onion, chopped

Combine the amaranth, garlic, onion and water in a 2-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until most of the liquid has been absorbed (about 20-25 minutes).

Add the Heart Healthy Oil. Stir well and combine. If the mixture is too thin or the amaranth not quite tender (crunchy, not gritty!), boil gently while stirring constantly until thickened (about 1 minute). Add Cumin Seed powder, and Curry Chili Salt to taste.

Stir in a few drops of hot sauce, if desired, and garnish with chopped tomatoes and spring onion.

Et voila! A hearty, healthy, animal-friendly meal!

Organic Cumin Seed

Loose Curry Chili Salt

Organic Amaranth

Green Festival, Chicago

Look for eSutras Organics at the Green Festival in Chicago, IL - THIS WEEKEND! May 22nd and 23rd, we'll be on Navy Pier strutting our stuff. We made some really unique, festive kits for the occasion. Pictures are below :

All products by eSutras Organics (left to right): 

Curry Chili Salt, Amaranth, Brown Flax Seeds, Sesame Seed Oil, Chinese 5-Spice, Spicy Rose Sugar & Cumin Seed

100% USDA Certified Organic

Epicurean Food Kit - Asian Flavor

All products by eSutras Organics (left to right): 

Citrus Salt, Amaranth, Golden Flax Seeds, Heart Healthy 5-Oil Blend, Cajun Seasoning, Cocoa Vanilla Sugar & Fennel Seed

100% USDA Certified Organic

Epicurean Food Kit - European Flavor

All products by eSutras Organics (left to right): 

Botanical Wood Protector, Ready-to-use Orange Cleaner, Concentrates of: Bio Degreaser, Orange Cleaner, Pot and Pan Cleaner, Window Cleaner, Floor Cleaner & Furniture and Floor Polish

100% USDA Certified Organic

All-Natural Home Cleaning Kit

By the way, did we mention we've redesigned our website? Find it here: eSutras Organics. 

More from Louisville, KY

We're just so excited about the many opportunities we've been given this past year. Here are more pictures of us from Ferdinand's Ball at the Kentucky Derby, just a week ago. Photos courtesy of courier-journal.com. Check them all out - they're stunning!

There's our Epicurean Gift Basket in the foreground.

Fantastic place settings: eSutras goodie bags on display!

Dustin watches over his fruit & chocolate creations.

Kenny wines and dines patrons at Ferdinand's Ball.

There's A'isha, our boss, at the gala!

Great Success

The mint juleps are gone. Super Saver took home the gold. eSutras Organics participated in the highly anticipated gala - Ferdinand's Ball, to support racehorse retirement at the Old Friends center - and was a real hit. All in all, we'd say the Kentucky Derby of 2010 has been a real success. Here's the play-by-play of our exciting weekend.

RTfuzzykiwiman - via Twitter for eSutras [11:09 AM, April 29th]: 

Rolling down I65 on the way to #FerdinandsBall. Soul on the radio and Kenny at the wheel. LOUISVILLE OR BUST!

Indiana Windmills, the 1-65

Kenny at the wheel, Louisville in the background

RTfuzzykiwiman - via Twitter for eSutras [1:47 PM, April 29th]: 

@FerdinandsBall @eSutrasOrganics is looking at Louisville. Checking in at our hotel. Happy to be in town for #FerdinandsBall

What a beautiful weekend for the races!

RTfuzzykiwiman - via Twitter for eSutras [3:01 PM, April 29th]: 

@eSutrasOrganics Eating at Bearno's by the Bridge. Come on in and meet the eSutras team!

Smile, Kenny! Welcome to Bearno's Pizza.

RTfuzzykiwiman - via Twitter for eSutras [3:41 PM, April 29th]: 

@Ferdinandsball @eSutrasOrganics On our way to the Frazier Museum to set up for #FerdinandsBall

Inside the Frazier Museum, Ferdinand's Ball

Fruit, eSutras Organics Chocolate & Gourmet Sugar

Delicious!

RTfuzzykiwiman - via Twitter for eSutras [8:31 PM, April 29th]: 

@eSutrasorganics #ferdinandsball is being very receptive and adventurous with our products.

The band, Ferdinand's Ball

eSutras Organics Chocolate, melted into a 

decadent fondue pot. Yum yum!

Our sincere thanks to everyone for their support and encouragement.

This one was for Ferdinand.

New Year, New Look; Same Great Quality

You've probably heard, but we're designing a new website! It's classy, cute, original, spunky, fresh and functional (if I do say so myself).

Here's a little taste of some of our new promotional material. Eye-catching new designs, bright colors and thoughtfully-composed images. But, as always, the same great products at affordable prices!

Happy Earth Day!

For Ferdinand

LOUISVILLE, KY -- Find eSutras Organics at the Kentucky Derby on April 29th for Ferdinand's Ball, the kickoff gala to benefit Old Friends, the Kentucky non-profit thoroughbred retirement facility for racehorses, and to promote awareness and the eventual end to racehorse abuse.

eSutras is donating our products - really lovely gift baskets - for the gala's silent auction and offering samples of some of our delicious food items for patrons and guests. We don't need to tell you this, but just to reiterate: eSutras will always be cruelty-free, vegetarian, small-batch and traditionally handcrafted in the United States. Putting an end to the needless slaughtering of our majestic, prized thoroughbreds is something we really care about!

The gala is named in honor of Ferdinand, the 1987 winner of the Kentucky Derby. Sent to a breeding facility in Japan in the mid-nineties, it was later discovered that Ferdinand had been slaughtered, and to the surprise of his previous owners, who were never told of his fate. 15% of all horses slaughtered in the United States every year are former thoroughbred racehorses. Can you believe we treat these majestic animals (and not to mention expensive investments and prized possessions) so carelessly? What a waste of beautiful life!

So you can imagine that we're really excited to be present at the event to show our support. It will be hosted by NBC's Access Hollywood anchor, Maria Menounos, and catered by chef Kathy Cary of Lilly's Restaurant in Louisville. Lilly's is known for its deliciously authentic Kentucky cuisine, and for always using the best, most local, organic and natural products on the market. We're honored to be in such admirable company!

We'll be starting a countdown and displaying some of the amazing things we'll be bringing with us to the Derby in the coming weeks. 

TGIF, everybody. Have a great weekend.

We're Really Proud of ....

... our new eSutras Organics Gourmet Spices line. Just launched today, and with astounding results! We've only got three spices right now, but they're strange, enticing and delicious. Find them - as usual - at the Dill Pickle Co-op in Logan Square, Chicago (3039 W. Fullerton Ave.).

Pomegranate Peel Powder, Fenugreek Seed & Lemongrass

Wondering what you can do with said strange, yet enticing gourmet spices? Here's what we think:

Pomegranate Peel Powder: Pomegranate Peel isn't a flavoring agent, but it is jam-packed with nutrients, which is why we suggest you use it as an herbal supplement. Add just a little bit of eSutras Organics Pomegranate Peel Powder to your morning smoothie, yogurt, cereal or to soups and stews. According to studies in nutrition and food science, Pomegranate Peel offers you double the amount of vitamin C and antioxidants than is found in the pulp or juice of the fruit.

eSutras Organics Pomegranate Peel Powder, Loose

Fenugreek Seed: Fenugreek is a Middle Eastern spice, used in traditional pickling processes and curry powders and pastes. It has a delicious maple syrup-esque flavor, which is probably why it's commonly used as a lower cost substitute for syrup. We recommend adding eSutras Organics Fenugreek Seed to rice and vegetable dishes, potatoes, leafy greens, curries and stir-fries. 

eSutras Organics Fenugreek Seed, Loose

Lemongrass: Lemongrass is most commonly used fresh in curries and soups, but the dried version that we sell still has that fresh, citrus flavor perfect for seasoning veggies, rice, curries, soups and more. In African and Latin American countries, Lemongrass is often steeped to make a healing tea (we haven't tried this, but it sounds pretty darn good). Lemongrass has purportedly powerful anti-fungal and anti-cancer properties.

eSutras Organics Lemongrass, Loose

Enjoy, everybody. Don't forget you can e-mail marketing@esutras.com for more details, comments, suggestions and questions. And if you're interested in any of the products we feature on this blog, shoot us an e-mail about that, too, because readers can receive 10% off any of these delicious items!

Berberé, Panch Phoran, Quatre-Epices, Vindaloo

Can you guess what all these words have in common? No? Well, we'll just tell you because we're about to burst with excitement . All our new eSutras Organics spice blends are now available at the Dill Pickle Co-op in Logan Square, Chicago!

We've got new packaging, a new look and a bunch of amazing, unusual blends that you'd be hard-pressed to find at other Chicago grocery stores. Here's a little taste of our fantastic new design: 4 oz. of eSutras Cajun Spice seasoning, traditional Bayou Goodness.

Find the Dill Pickle here:

View Larger Map

Wondering what exactly Panch Phoran, Berberé or Vindaloo spice blends are? Check the blog in the next few weeks to find recipes and uses for some of our more exotic varieties.

eSutras Organics Chinese Five-Spice Blend

For now, here's a little bit about eSutras Organics Quatre-Epices Spice Blend:

"Quatre-Epices" literally means "Four-Spice" in French (It's a blend made of four spices, eh? Ours includes Black Peppercorn, Clove, Nutmeg and Ginger). It is used in a variety of traditional French dishes, but it's also found in lots of Middle Eastern cuisine, too. Use eSutras Quatre-Epices spice blend if you want to add peppery heat to soups, stews and vegetables. Season pasta and sauces with a red wine base with Quatre-Epices. Delicieux!

eSutras Organics Quatre-Epices Spice Blend

We're excited to get creative with lots of our products. Have suggestions for improvements or things you'd like to see? Feel free to e-mail marketing@esutras.com with ideas!

Exciting News

Dear Readers,

Find us, as of yesterday, on the shelves of your local Chicago co-op, The Dill Pickle. We've got some of your favorites, including chocolates, agave nectar, teas and our amazing spice blends.

Visit the Dill Pickle at 3039 W. Fullerton Ave.

eSutras Organics Toasted Sesame Seed Oil - the best in the business!

eSutras Organics Espresso Energy Chocolate Blend - our Vegan and Espresso chocolates. 

100% Vegan!

eSutras Organics Defense Tea - made with astralagus, amla, hoodia, rosehip, ginger root, schizandra berry, hibiscus petal, licorice root, neem leaf, stevia leaf, ashwagandha root, goldenseal, rosemary and our special proprietary blend of spices. Fights colds and tastes delicious!

Or visit the Dill Pickle's website, found here: http://dillpicklefoodcoop.org/.

The New Green Drink for St. Paddy's Day

Forget green beer, green rivers, green eggs this St. Patrick's Day. We've got a new green drink for you this holiday! Use the coupon code at the bottom of this post for 10% off eSutras Organics' Absinthe Kit and party with the green fairy this holiday (which, as you may have noticed, is already 25% off!).

Enjoy the world's notorious alcoholic spirit, made traditionally and organically!

Absinthe was first popularized in 19th-century France and has been enjoyed through the years by the likes of Edgar Degas, Toulouse Lautrec, Picasso, Oscar Wilde & Ernest Hemingway.

The oldest technique for making absinthe is simply to steep wormwood and other spices like star anise, anise seed, fennel, hyssop, angelica root, coriander or peppermint in an alcoholic drink like beer, wine or a neutral spirit (we're talking the serious stuff: grain alcohols like vodka). Our kit provides the ingredients to make your own traditional, steeped recipes!

 

The kit also provides you information on different recipes, rituals and traditions from all over the world for making and drinking your delicious homemade absinthe.

Use this code - ESBLOG - at esutras.com for an extra 10% off our organic Absinthe Kit.

Happy Holidays!