Organic Original Rice Nectar

A gift box arrived at my home several weeks ago, origin unknown until my partner came staggering through the door, trying to balance the behemoth shipment he’d fetched from the post office. “It’s from Jaimie and Sabrina!” My kind, thoughtful acupuncturist and psychiatrist back in Boston—who share an office space, an affinity for holistic treatment, and unending support for my international move—had sent a care package after receiving a card from us. I nearly cried.

Instead, after removing our curious cat from atop the parcel, I tore into the massive cardboard container, revealing one of the most outstanding vegan supply kits of our modern age. In Copenhagen, among people—Danes—who generally see vegetarianism as a “those people who only eat fish” and who almost never know what a vegan is, replenishing my supply of dairy substitutes and meat-free options is a constant struggle. Team Brittany, as I think of my healers back home, had read my discouraged words, and despite their history of acting with diligence and speed on my behalf, had gone the extra kilometer. If you need needles for your qi or pharmaceuticals for your mind and live in the Commonwealth, I will be happy to provide a referral.

Among the many indispensable nonperishable products within my basket—vegan chili base, a canister of fake Parmesan, and even an organic materials squeaky catnip mousie for said curious cat—was Suzanne’s Organic Rice Nectar, in honey and chocolate flavors. Not a vegan who spends my days fraught with anxiety over the so-called honey debate, I was nevertheless thrilled to have a cruelty-free substitute for the sticky stuff.

Faux sweeteners can be used as just about anything, from a tea compliment to a cake batter ingredient replacement. Suzanne’s rice nectar is also the very best thing to hit my oatmeal since brown sugar, with a satisfying sweetness sans the chemical aftertaste.

Suzanne’s Specialties is the purveyor of many vegan, organic, gluten-free, and all-natural sweeteners and dessert toppings. A comparative substitute list is available on their website should you wonder how much one cup of rice nectar equals in molasses, maple syrup, or fruit juice. The first to make a marshmallow substitute—Ricemellow Crème—the company’s products are available at a variety of independent and chain grocery and health food stores across the U.S.

A few questions for the general public, not affiliated with Suzanne: Why must we call alternative but necessary food items “specialty?” Is it really so hard to consider the need for additional honey-type options, if for no other reason than we’re running out of bees? Could it be that we forced them into extinction through mandated labor so we might enjoy luxurious breakfast toast? Wouldn’t be the first time humankind has made such a critical error.

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