The Search for Soybeans: The Untold Story

I'm one of those bloggers who says I'm going to write a follow-up article, and heck, I mean it!  Previously I wrote about soy milk makers and I said I would source some soybeans once I ran out.  Well, I've had to replenish my soybean supplies three times now and I finally found a bulk supplier, after many hours of research.

Can I tell you how giddy with happiness I was when the nice boy at Famous Foods helped me carry my gigantic brown paper 50 pound bag of soybeans to my bicycle trailer for me (and refused a tip)?  The cashier even gave me my 2013 calendar with pictures of seniors on the cover, a free gift with purchase!  Okay, so it wasn't as fun as I imagined it would be riding my bicycle with 50 pounds of soybeans in the trailer back home from 25th and Kingsway in the pouring rain, but I did get some awesome exercise and fresh air labouring up the hills.  I would have bought the 3 pounds of organic Fuji applies for $4 but I was afraid I might succumb to the elements if my bicycle trailer was too heavy.

Yeah, that's the big bag pictured above, with my claw in the picture for scale.  Keep in mind that I have huge hands for someone my height (you know what that means--I've got a huge penis, well I would if I was a man), and yup, I'm wearing my PJs.  Like the plaid pattern?  My husband bought them for me last Christmas.  Heh heh heh.  I haven't opened the bag up yet because I'm still finishing my Dan D Market organics that I bought a month ago, so I can't speak as to quality of the beans and taste, but I'm not a soybean snob, so I'm sure they'll be fine.  So far, I haven't been able to tell the difference between a designer "Lara Bean" from the US and the humble soybeans from Choices that are mostly the same light creamy tan colour but have misshapen dark brown beans scattered in there.

Where to Buy Yer Beans

Here are some places to buy organic soybeans locally in the Vancouver area, from least to most expensive.  I threw in one non-organic price there so you know generally the difference in cost between organic and non-organic:

• $2.63/kg, organic: Famous Foods, 50 pound bag = 22.7 kg, for $60. Call (604) 872-3010 to order.  From US, non GMO US certified organic.
• $4.00/kg, non-organic: Kea Foods at Main and 10th.  $1.82/lb or $4.00/kg for bulk non-organic soybeans.
• $5.71/kg, organic: Choices Kitsilano, 11.34 kg (25 pounds) for $64.71
• $5.90/kg, organic: Whole Foods, Cambie at 8th.  They seem to be chronically out of stock in their bulk section, so call ahead.
• $5.95/kg, organic: Kitsilano Natural Foods, Dan D Market brand, 2696 West Broadway.  $5.95/kg.  The non-organic soybeans are much less expensive.

You know, I have to wonder whether I'm shooting myself in the foot writing about my great find in this blog.  I hope the prices don't go up as demand goes up because you know, it should have the opposite effect, that the more people buy, the bigger quantities they buy and then the price should go down, not up.

I read in another blog that I could buy directly from local farmers.  I could not make THAT dream a reality.  I sure as heck tried, though.

Where Else I Tried (And Failed)

Avafina Foods on Vancouver Island was very kind to me, but they only sell 20 metric tonnes as a minimum order (!!!).  He helpfully directed me to Dan D Foods, which does not sell directly to individual customers, IP Agrifina (also sells megatonnes, not to individuals), and the sweet lady who answered the phone at Soy Superior Products in Vancouver found me amusing when I called them, as they do not sell to individuals either.  I am not being sarcastic, as he really was trying to be helpful giving me three other possible suppliers that might sell to individuals.  Through my own research, I found the website of Sunblest.ca, which no longer carries soybeans, so they told me when I wanted to make an order.  I was like, kind of fooled by the pictures of soybeans and excitedly called for pricing.

I got really ambitious and called the Canadian Soybean Exporter's Association.  The President kindly called me back.  He said they "are dealing by the tonne, in Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec, (and there is) so little grown in BC for the local market place."  They are "containerizing and moving to the export market.  Part of it is who your local markets are supplied from.  Field Farms Marketing in Ontario handles organic soybeans.  The challenge is that we don't deal with 50 pound lots but 10-20 tonne units.  But if a distributor wants to access them (they can).  Non-GMO is certainly a market opportunity you  could get yourself into (if you wanted to start up your own supply company)."

Now that's a thought.

Happy soybean acquiring to you.

Soy Milk Machines: Pioneer Woman Rides Again!

I've been having possible hot flashes lately. I say possible because I'm not sure if they really are hot flashes, and my internal factory still turns out eggs as regularly as always. It was the newspaper article that finally spurred me to make my own soy milk and put on my Pioneer Woman hat again. Heck, I grow my own vegetables, make my own bread. Might as well make ma own soy milk! Yeeha!


Why Soy Milk?

In a nutshell, I intend to drink a ton of soy milk to help with my hot flashes. Here is an excerpt from the influential article in the Globe and Mail (now I print excerpts because the articles disappear from the internet over time):

"...according to the most comprehensive study to date, eating two servings of soy foods a day may help reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes. ...The interest in soy for hot flashes began when researchers noticed only about 10 per cent of Asian women experience menopausal symptoms. It’s been speculated that Asian women are less likely to have hot flashes due to their high soy consumption.


Soy protein contains isoflavones, natural compounds that can bind weakly to certain estrogen receptors in the body. In so doing, soy isoflavones might help compensate for declining estrogen levels that accompany menopause and offer some relief for hot flashes.

Until now, the evidence for soy has been inconclusive, with some studies showing benefit and others finding no effect.

The current report, published online in Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Association, reviewed 19 randomized controlled trials that enrolled more than 1,200 women taking soy isoflavone extracts (not soy foods) or placebos.


When all studies were combined, there was a clear and consistent positive effect for isoflavones.

Compared to taking placebos, consuming at least 54 milligrams daily for six weeks to a year reduced hot flash frequency by 20 per cent and the severity by 26 per cent.

Women who took isoflavones for at least 12 weeks experienced a threefold greater reduction in hot flashes than women who consumed isoflavones for a shorter duration.

Isoflavone supplements with higher levels of genistein – one of the two main types of isoflavones in soybeans – were the most effective at easing hot flashes.

Genistein is the primary isoflavone found in soy foods as well as soybeans, suggesting that adding soy to your diet, or using supplements made from whole soybeans, may work better than synthetic isoflavone supplements.

The fact that isoflavones act like a weak form of estrogen in the body concerns some women, particularly those at high risk for breast cancer. That’s because certain risk factors for breast cancer are related to the length of time breast cells are exposed to the body’s own circulating estrogen. It’s thought that estrogen can promote the growth of breast cancer cells.

However, studies suggest that consuming soy reduces breast cancer risk in Asian populations. In Western women, soy has not been shown to increase or decrease risk. (Western women may not consume enough soy isoflavones to lower breast cancer risk.) Recent studies have also linked a higher intake of soy foods such as tofu, soy beverages and soy flour with a lower risk of breast cancer recurrence.

Soybeans are worth adding to your diet even if you don’t have hot flashes. They’re high in protein, low in saturated fat and offer fibre, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants."


How Much Soy Do I Need Every Day?


The article cites 54 mg daily for at least 12 weeks to reduce hot flashes. According to another article by Dr. Weil, one cup of soy milk contains four to 10 grams of soy protein, and 20 to 40 mg of isoflavones. Penn State University cites 10 mg per 100 mL or 25 mg per 250 mL (1 cup) of soy milk. Since soy milk is made of water and soy beans, likely the variance is due to the dilution.

Roughly, I should drink two cups (500 mL) and a bit a day. Of course, the soy can be taken in other forms such as tofu or edamame. But drinking soy milk is fairly easy to do.

Penn State University cautions against too much soy: Isoflavones are weak estrogens. More is not better. Scientists are worried that these could have bad effects if eaten in large amounts for long periods of time. The safe range of intake is 35–55 milligrams a day. Some suggest an upper limit of 100 milligrams per day.


Why Make Soy Milk at Home?

Dr. Weil's article says this:

"Soy milk provides all the benefits of cow's milk, without the milk protein (casein), which can increase mucus production and irritate the immune system in some people, and milk sugar (lactose), which can cause digestive distress if you lack the enzyme that breaks it down.

Soy milk is made by soaking dried beans in water, grinding them, heating them in water, pressing them, and straining the milk. Soy milk makers for home use are widely available, and people who use them say fresh, homemade soy milk is much better tasting than packaged products. And it will have no additives."

These are the reasons as I see them:

1. It tastes better;
2. There are no additives;
3. It is better for the environment avoiding packaging and transport of the heavy liquid to your grocery store and home; and
4. It is cheaper.

Let's look at reasons 2 and 4.


There are No Additives

So Nice organic unsweetened fortified "soy beverage" has the following ingredients, other than water and soybeans:

• tricalcium phosphate: Likely added as a Calcium supplement.
• natural flavour: Huh? What natural flavour is this referring to?
• salt
• carrageenan: Derived from seaweed, a thickening gel agent.
• sodium bicarbonate: Um, baking soda. Yum!
• zinc gluconate: Usually a dietary supplement (Zinc). 
• ascorbic acid: Vitamin C. An antioxidant food additive.
• niacin: Vitamin B3
• pantothenate: Vitamin B5
• riboflavin: Vitamin B2
• vitamin B6
• vitamin A palmitate
• thiamine: Vitamin B1
• folacin: Vitamin B9, folic acid
• vitamin D2
• vitamin B12

This is like having soy milk plus a vitamin pill. If that's what you want, great, but I read that vitamins taken as supplements have dubious benefits. Like this?

From the article: Women taking multivitamins don’t live longer than those who get their nutrients from food alone, according to a U.S. study that found they in fact appear to have slightly higher death rates... “There is very little evidence showing that common dietary supplements would be beneficial in prevention of major chronic diseases,” said Jaakko Mursu of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, who worked on the study.

“Unless you are deficient, there is hardly any reason to take them,” he told Reuters Health.


It is Cheaper

I bought non-GMO organic soybeans for about $2.63/kg or $1.19/pound. This works out to $0.20 for each batch, a batch being 1400 mL of finished soymilk. This is $0.14/L.

The machine which I purchased based on reviews and recommendations was the SoyaPower Plus. Reviews here, here, and here. I bought it for $110 (all inclusive) from SanLinx through Amazon, because Amazon offered $10 off and a 2 year warranty. Based on online reviews, I can expect it to last for around 5 years of regular use. Yearly cost is $22, not counting electricity.

I need to make 540 mL to get 54 mg recommended isoflavones per day, so each batch of 1400 mL lasts me 2.6 days. So, I would need to use the machine at least twice a week, lowering the cost per batch for the machine. Each year I need 140 batches, so the machine cost per batch is $0.16.

Total cost is $0.30/L. $2.69 for 946 mL for organic unsweetened enriched soy milk, brand Natur-A, which is $2.84/L. Not sure whether it is worth the premium for the "enrichment.".


What About My Time?  Time is Money!


It takes very little time.  Making a batch involves:

Measuring dry soybeans, rinsing and soaking them in water to rehydrate them;
Waiting 8-10 hours (overnight) for rehydration;
Filling the machine with water;
Pouring out the excess water from the rinsed beans and pouring beans into the machine;
Pressing a button and waiting 15 minutes for cycle to end; and
Cleaning the machine and sieve (8 minutes);
Waiting for the soy milk to cool and pouring into containers.

Active preparation and cleanup time is about 20 minutes for a novice. Maybe you can beat my time?


Where to Buy Soybeans?

I searched in vain for a Canadian supplier of organic soybeans. If you know of one, please comment below. There are many growers in Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba, but I could not find any in BC. None of the growers online appeared to retail to the Canadian public, but cater to overseas sales, particularly Japan.

Canadians can buy from US online supplier laurabeans.com, $60 for 20 pounds, which includes postage. That is $3/pound, which is cheaper than my local supplier (Choices) at $3.17/pound!!! The beans are different even visually, but I will leave the blind taste test for another post.

I will post another article on where to buy soybeans when I run out of my current $6 supply, which according to my calculations, should be in 26 days! For reference, I actually measured out the soybeans I bought using the supplied measuring cup from my machine and figured out that it takes 78 g to make one batch (1400 mL) of soymilk.

Searching for the Elusive Chia

Remember Chia pets? Those terracota animal figurines that you plant chia seeds in, and the sprouts look like green fur? Well, it turns out that you can eat another version of the chia seed, and it is extremely healthy, full of Omega 3s, calcium and magnesium. For a description of its benefits, you can look here. One of my friends has become vegan, and reported that she had chia pudding. Chia seeds come in various shades of white and black/grey, with black indicating the wild version, and white chia seeds occurring naturally and being cultivated to increase the percentage of white seeds. There is a designer white seed sold under the brand name "Salba." Virtually the same nutritionally, but if you're into style and not substance, you might be inclined to spend the big bucks and spring for designer Salba!

These seeds don't have much taste, and they have an interesting gel type form when they meet water. They're used as egg substitutes in vegan cooking, for thickening, and in baking, among many uses. If you eat a seed, it becomes gel like--pretty cool.

Apparently, you only need about 360g (0.8lb) for a month's supply. The other touted characteristic of chia is that it has a long shelf life, so it is safe to buy in bulk. You should grind it yourself instead of buying it ground, if you want it in that form. The white seeds seem to be more expensive than the black seeds--more of an aesthetic than nutritional concern.

As always, it was easy to find cheap sources of chia seeds in the U.S. online. The lowest price I found for chia seed was at Natural Remi-Teas, for $5/lb ($25 for 5 lbs). Shipping is $37.50 for 10 lbs, so total cost is $8.75/lb. The white seed is also available at the site for $5.50/lb. Swanson Vitamins, a company I have purchased from before with great success, sells their house brand "premium" (!) white chia seed for $10/lb. Shipping to Canada amounts to $25 for 10 lbs, so total cost is $12.50/lb.

As for Canada, Cureself sells Natural Traditions white chia seed for $12/lb (free shipping over $100), and Aviva sells a 3 lb bag of black for $35 ($11.67/lb), free shipping for over $100. Superseeds sells the black chia, $67 for 5lb, shipping included, for $13.40/lb. Upaya Naturals sells 10lb (2x5lb) of black for $10.92/lb ($17 shipping included).

Salba from SourceSalba sells 360g for $20, which works to $25/lb. You can buy Salba in local health food stores like Choices Market in Vancouver for around $24 for the 360g package. Currently, Whole Foods does not carry chia seed in B.C. Bulk Barns in eastern Canada sells Salba in bulk. Costco carries Webber Naturals brand which sold in the past for $14/lb. Donald’s Market (2279 Commercial Drive and 2342 East Hastings Street) also carries chia for $9-10 for 330g, or about $13.74/lb

There is a recipe for chia seed pudding here, a possible breakfast food! Here's one for Blueberry Chia Seed Pudding. Bon appetit!

(Where to buy chia seeds in Canada)