FAQ

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Since our cookie mix contains exclusively upcycled barley flour, it can be a little tricky to make on the first go. Here are a few tips you can try.

Use a Kitchen Aid mixer to really work the batter. Doing this will allow the high fibre grains to better absorb the moisture from the butter and egg (or your plant-based substitutes). You can also try beating by hand really vigorously for a longer amount of time if you’re after a good workout before getting to enjoy your cookies!

Add a bit more butter or oil. This will generally help especially if you live in a dryer climate… baking truly is a science!

Our favorite trick (at least it’s Marc’s favorite), especially if you like a softer cookie: add 1-2 tablespoons of your favorite nut or seed butter. This truly is a game changer. It boosts the healthy fat and protein content too!

Most importantly have fun, and know that even if they don’t turn out the prettiest on the first attempt, they will still be delicious and nutritious.

Recipe creation is a major priority for us in 2023. We have some of our own recipes that are currently being shared on our blog and our socials. We have also started reaching out to chefs, bakers, dietitians and our keen at-home bakers to build this out quickly. If you are an avid baker and would like to get involved, reach out to us at hello@susgrainable.ca.

No. While barley is a low-gluten alternative it still contains some gluten. Keep checking back in though! We have plans to upcycle different by-products, some of which will be gluten free. Sign up for our newsletter below to be kept in the loop for when that day arrives!

The cookie mix makes 12 large cookies. These aren’t your ordinary cookies though. One is often enough to keep you fueled for a few hours and will have you feeling way more full than your typical cookie. Because of this, many of our customers have mentioned that they make between 18-24 smaller cookies (you may want to reduce the bake time by 1-2 minutes if you choose to go this route).

We get this question a lot! No. There is no beer or alcohol in our products. The first step to making beer is steeping out the sugars from the malted barley grain. This results in 2 products: the first is the sugary liquid that goes on to be fermented creating the alcohol content in beer. The second product, spent grain, is referred to as the by-product in this process and is made up of protein, fibre and minerals. We like to refer to this as beer’s healthier half and think it deserves a much better fate than being a by-product! That is why we rapidly create our shelf stable Upcycled Barley Flour from this by-product so you can take advantage of its nutrient content in your baking. So, no you will not be able to get drunk off any of our products and its safe and healthy for both kids and adults to consume.

Not yet, but it is something we are working on for the future. Going organic is a lengthy certification process and we need to encourage more barley farmers and breweries to switch to organic. As we continue to grow, we plan to further partner with breweries that source organic grains. For now, we work with smaller craft breweries who typically source higher quality grains, some of which have relationships directly with the farmers.

Fairtrade is another certification we will look into. This certification initially was created for industries where workers in developing countries were being severely underpaid and mistreated. Since the barley we use typically comes from the Canadian grain belt in the prairies, this certification may not be one that we pursue. Instead we will most likely go after B Corp certification which is more comprehensive. Our goal is to provide transparency throughout our supply chain once we’re able to launch our own facility within the next 2 years, sharing stories from the farms and breweries we work with. The circular economy only works when we know everyone (including Mother Earth) is treated fairly. That is our goal!

Great question and one we did not jump into lightly. We actually spent the first two years of the business package-free to make sure we could learn as much as possible before making the right decision. Our packaging is type 2 plastic and is recyclable where facilities exist. Facilities are currently much more equipped to deal with this type of packaging over others. The problem with most compostable and biodegradable packaging is twofold: the end-of-life systems (think recycling/composting facilities) are not yet equipped to deal with this type of packaging at scale. There are also countless stories about compostable packaging leading to further food waste (product recalls due to shelf-life being shorter than anticipated) and the amount of land that is now being diverted to growing crops for packaging instead of actual food for people. With the amount of food insecurity in the world, we believe this needs to be addressed before we put our products into compostable packaging. Until these problems are solved, we will remain with the packaging that creates the least damage. Having said that, we also partner with zero-waste retailers to make our product available package-free – which is the best option of all. So if you’re ready to make that next step, please visit one of those partners!

We aim to have orders processed within 24 hours although it can take up to 2 business days to process an order. We typically deliver using Canada Post so you will receive a tracking number once the order is processed. Typically most customers within BC receive their order in 3 days or less, while outside of BC it can sometimes take up to one week.

We are rapidly growing our retailers in 2023. Please visit our store locator page to find a store near you. If there aren’t any yet, feel free to mention Susgrainable to them, whether that’s in person or on social media… it all helps. You can also send us an email with the store's name (and address so we get the right one) and we’ll reach out to them to see if they are interested. Doing both provides us with the best chance to make our products more convenient for you and take an even bigger bite out of food waste.

Tasty High Fibre, Low Sugar Baking Mixes and Treats

Did we forget to mention their good for you and the planet too!