When Cooking Light magazine sampled firm tofu brands for its 2010 Taste Test Awards, two organic products achieved top honors:

1. Melissa’s Organic took the grand prize for its “slight nuttiness” and “meaty consistency.”
2. Nasoya Organic placed second for its softer texture, which “still stands up to wok-browning.”

Los Angeles-based Melissa’s makes three types of organic tofu: Soft, Firm and Extra Firm.

Now, normally you’ll find them frozen in the natural foods section of any supermarket. So you’d assume you’re buying a natural, earthy-friendly food, right?

Not always. A new report claims many natural soybeans and soy foods are actually processed with a toxic chemical, but still labeled as natural.

Beyond the Bean: The Heroes and Charlatans of the Natural and Organic Soy Foods Industry, released by the The Cornucopia Institute, found a chemical solvent called hexane is almost always used in conventional soy protein ingredients and oils. Hexane separates soy oil from soy protein and fiber.

Hexane is a neurotoxin and poses serious risk to workers, the environment and anyone consuming foods contaminated with it. Luckily, hexane is not allowed during the processing of organic foods.

Via SustainableBusiness.com.

The company’s certified-organic nondairy Peppermint Chocolate soy beverage is ideal for seasonal entertaining, as well as a special kick-off-your-shoes afternoon treat. Free of dairy, lactose and gluten, it has no cholesterol.

Peppermint Chocolate, combining the sweetness of premium chocolate with refreshing mint, may be served warm or chilled. An 8-oz. serving has 140 calories and 4 g protein. Geared toward health-conscious consumers, it’s a great alternative for those who are lactose-intolerant, vegan or unwilling to indulge in high-fat drinks.

According to Vitasoy Senior Marketing Manager Jayne Minigell, Peppermint Chocolate is a “premium, organic nondairy alternative with extended appeal from fall through winter.” You’ll find it in the shelf-stable (nonrefrigerated) soymilk aisle, beginning this month, at your local natural and organic food store.

And if you haven’t checked out Vitasoy’s Green Tea Soymilk, you’re missing out on a unique product. Rich and creamy, it’s made from organic soybeans blended with premium Japanese green tea.