Teddie All Natural Smooth Peanut Butter Review

Hello and welcome fellow vegans (and wanna-be vegans). This is going to be my first product review under a new category called “Diet Staples”. Every diet, whether vegan or not, has its staple foods. My most important vegan staple is peanut butter. I stock peanut butter in my pantry, I have it in the car, it’s at work in multiple hiding spots, and I take it with me on every trip. I’m not kidding when I say that I don’t leave home without peanut butter, because I don’t. I love peanut butter because it’s nutritious, calorically dense, shelf stable, gluten-free, low in sugar (when you buy the right kind), full of protein, and most importantly, vegan.

As a vegan dietitian, I also like peanut butter because it’s a great transition food for people converting to veganism. I’ve seen many new vegans struggle with what to eat or get burnt out by the constant checking of ingredients. Knowing you can always fall back to peanut butter relieves the stress of figuring out your next meal or snack, and because peanut butter is so calorie-dense, you know your hunger will be satisfied. Peanut butter is a newbie vegan’s best friend.

Okay, enough of this long winded intro, let’s move on and talk about my FAVORITE peanut butter on planet Earth: Teddie Peanut Butter.

Teddie Peanut Butter is the best selling natural peanut butter in New England, but if you live elsewhere, you’ve probably never heard of it. The Teddie Peanut Butter Company was started in 1925 by the Hintlian family who emigrated from Armenia and settled in the Boston area. The family initially sold candy and nuts but then started making peanut butter during the Great Depression because it was an affordable source of protein. People loved Teddie’s peanut butter so much that Teddie’s decided to drop the candy business and solely focus on selling peanuts and producing peanut butter.

Today, Teddie Peanut Butter is still a family owned and operated company with a commitment to producing high quality peanut butter. Teddie’s also gives back to local communities through its partnership with Best Buddies. Best Buddies is an organization that supports people with intellectual disabilities such as Down’s Syndrome. Every jar of Teddie Peanut Butter sold helps support Best Buddies. What I love about Teddie’s is that I’m not only doing something really great for my body with nourishing peanut butter, but I’m also helping others. That’s what I get really jazzed about! I mean, buying peanut butter from a major producer to save a few pennies means very little to me.  I’d rather help people, which is why I like to write these plant-based product reviews. People need a place to go to find honest and valuable feedback on vegan products.

Alrighty then, with all of that said, let me find my spoon here and get this taste testing going!

Taste Experience

Before we start, you should know that natural peanut butters will have separation. The oil in the peanuts will separate from the peanut solids and rise to the top of the jar. Separation is natural, so do not be concerned when you see natural peanut butters with a layer of oil at the top of the jar. Separation is a good thing. To fix separation we’re going to have to do a little work by stirring the jar up to get everything mixed back together. Didn’t know you were going to get a workout, eh? Hahaha. Mixing the jar is also good because the added salt sometimes settles to the bottom, so mixing it back up gets the salt mixed properly too.

Okay, now that we have it all mixed up, put your nose to the jar and take in that wonderful aroma of natural peanut butter. You’re not going to get that aroma with Jiff or Skippy. Teddie’s smells just like freshly ground peanut butter you can get at those fancy (expensive) grocery stores. Upon hitting your tongue, Teddie’s is an explosion of dry roasted peanut flavor. With only two ingredients, dry roasted peanuts and salt, it has to be the quality and sourcing of Teddie’s peanuts that make their peanut butter taste so freaking awesome. As a vegan, I’ve had years of experience taste testing every peanut butter on the market and I can honestly say Teddie Peanut Butter is the best one. The smooth consistency isn’t like the commercially prepared smooth peanut butters. You’ll still get a smidgen of the peanut grittiness and the peanut skins, just like you would if you made peanut butter at home or used a grinder at a health food store. I also feel like Teddie’s dry roasting process is different or longer compared to other peanut butters because Teddie’s has a drier, less oily texture. I really enjoy this texture and find it to be the PERFECT for PB&J sandwiches, mixed into an Asian sauce, or a swirled into decadent dessert.

Good stuff, right? If you want to get some of your own Teddie’s, you can get it on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Nutrition

Natural peanut butter is hands down one of the most economical sources of plant-based protein. Peanut butter only becomes unhealthy once manufacturers add non-peanut oils, sugars, or other additives. Those “extras” really aren’t extra at all. They provide unnecessary calories that promote inflammation and hide the natural goodness of peanuts. Manufacturers add these fillers and sugars as a way to cut cost, but in reality they’re cutting into your health. Teddie’s contains no added sugar, oils, or other junk. Teddie’s is gluten-free, non-gmo, USA grown (whoop, whoop), and kosher.

Teddie’s Peanut Butter does offer both salted and non-salted varieties. The salted smooth Teddie Peanut Butter has 125mg of sodium in two tablespoons. This is comparable to most mainstream peanut butters. I prefer the salted version but if you have high blood pressure and need to limit your sodium intake, I would suggest the unsalted version. Or you may just prefer the non-salted one (like my husband). Either way, it’s great to have the choice. Remember that the salt tends to settle to the bottom, so stir well and often!

Peanut Butter is my go-to protein source when I’m traveling, on-the-go, limited on time, or just need a quick dab of delish. With the same amount of protein as an egg (eight grams of protein in two tablespoons), peanut butter is great for any vegan or omnivore looking for more plant based proteins. The protein and healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats in peanut butter will help keep you satisfied longer. Peanut butter also has Vitamin E, which is a vitamin lacking in most vegan diets. Peanut butter is my main source of this powerful antioxidant. Vitamin E protects the eyes, heart, and helps give you that healthy glow. If you’re ready to buy some Teddie’s for yourself, you can get it delivered to your house from Amazon by clicking HERE.

Now let’s see what my pain in the butt husband has to say. Note: the opinions expressed below are solely of the non-vegan husband and we vegan sprinklers neither condemn nor condone his statements.

The Non-Vegan Review

Thank you baby Jesus lord almighty for making peanut butter possible. Without it, our mixed relationship, vegan and carnivore, would not work. Peanut butter has saved my ass so many times. The wife is hangry (irritable due to hunger) and there’s nothing in the fridge, feed her peanut butter. The wife is hangry and she doesn’t know what she wants to eat, feed her peanut butter. The wife is hangry and she doesn’t like anything on the menu, feed her peanut butter. The wife is hangry and there are no vegan-friendly restaurants, feed her peanut butter. The wife is talking too much, feed her peanut butter. Peanut butter is the juice box for vegans. It fixes all.

As for Teddie’s, I agree with my plant-killing wife. It tastes just like the expensive natural peanut butter you get at those hippie grocery stores. Great dry roasted flavor with a nice smooth but slightly gritty texture. I especially like that my wife can order Teddie’s direct from Amazon and she can get a three-pack of it. Non-vegan husband out.

Parting Thoughts

The fastest and easiest way to better health is to eat more plants and plant protein. Peanut butter is an easy peasy economical way to do that, but so many have extra oils and sugars added. Teddie’s peanut butter is simple, wholesome, and delicious. It’s the only peanut butter I recommend to my friends, family members, and clients. Use it in all of your favorite recipes or keep it simple as a snack with carrots. You will not be disappointed. In fact, you’ll go through it faster than you ever thought possible!

If you liked my review, consider buying Teddie Peanut Butter on Amazon by clicking HERE.