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How Hurricane Katrina led to a new gluten-free grain mix
Wirth and Erdem didn’t know each other pre-Katrina, but a mutual friend introduced them and before long, they were creating a line of gluten-free grains for their new company World Wise Grains.
The first product, Arzu, a mix of quinoa, buckwheat and legumes, was released at the end of 2008. Erdem says they were inspired to create a nutrient-packed grain mix because of the lack of healthy food choices in schools and hospitals. “We designed it to be a healthy food,” Wirth says. “We knew what we wanted in the nutrition panel and we worked backward from there.”
High in protein and fiber, Arzu can be made into a simple breakfast similar to oatmeal, but Wirth and Erdem say people are using it in cookies or with vegetables and meat. Look for a new product called Tasfa, which will include the Ethiopian supergrain teff, early next year. Arzu is available at People’s Pharmacy and in several shops inside Dell Children’s Hospital and Cedar Park Regional Hospital.
Wirth and Erdem will be hosting a tasting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday at the People’s Pharmacy at U.S. 183 and RM 620. You can also order online ($2.50 per 1⁄2 cup package, or $68 for a bulk order of 31 packages).
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