Europe, meet Trail Butter

Americans have a long love affair with peanut butter. Europeans know this.

When you come from Italy, or France, or Spain, or even Germany and Switzerland, you come from cultures that appreciate fine food. Real food. Thanks to the likes of corn dogs, Twinkies, fried everything, spray can cheese, spaghetti-O’s, and jello, Europeans are not impressed by American cuisine. In fact, there is a certain level of suspicion.

I’m not sure why, but peanut butter is on that list. Perhaps it’s because of peanut butter and jelly on white bread sandwiches, which in the mind of a European, should not be consumed by anyone over the age of 6. To the horror of bystanders, Americans in Europe, from 6-60, are regularly seen pulling ziplocks out of their packs and devouring sticky PB&J’s.

A trail runner’s version of a TB&J, Trail Butter with wild, trail side fresh raspberries.

This might be a part of peanut butter’s image problem. In addition, nearly every peanut butter jar for sale in Europe has a gaudy American flag, bald eagle or Uncle Sam on it.

“Thank you, no… I’ll stick with my Nutella.”

I’m taking it upon myself to help improve the image of peanut butter, and nut butter in general. But more specifically, Trail Butter.

Why? Because my friend Jeff Boggess, owner of Trail Butter, informed me that he’d like to begin European distribution for his wildly successful (not just in the US, but in Japan, where apparently they’re cool with PB&J’s) product.

True, I eat the occasional PB&J, PB & Honey, even PB & Banana sandwiches. But I eat even more Trail Butter, which is a whole lot more than just nuts. They’ve added coffee, chocolate, maple syrup, fruits, sea salt and a variety of different nuts. As an athlete, it works for me, perfectly. I appreciate that it’s real food and not super sweet chemistry. Which is exactly why I know it will be appreciated by Europeans. That, and the fact that every European friend I’ve had try it has, with eyes bulging, immediately asked, “Wow, how do I get this?”

My friend David Göttler, a great alpinist with six 8000 meter peaks notched on his belt, all without supplemental oxygen, regularly uses nut butters and reports, “On long days out in the mountains, or on trails, I prefer to eat as natural as possible. Trail Butter balances salty and sweet with enough energy to give me plenty of endurance.”

So, let’s introduce why Trail Butter is so great, and why you, as a mountain athlete, will especially appreciate and benefit from what it’s all about.

• PB&J becomes TB&J.
• If you have bread along, you’re always sandwich ready.
• Like Nutella, but with options. And, it’s available in a squeeze pack.
  

  That little 128 gram squeeze tube packs 800 calories, 68 grams of fat and 20 grams of protein – what you need for big days in the mountains.

• At home, add it to your muesli with yogurt, honey and fresh fruit for extra protein and heart-healthy fats.
• In Europe, Studentenfutter is a popular snack. TB takes Studentenfutter one step further by adding the option of chocolate and coffee to nuts and dried fruits. But, all blended up into a rich cream.
• Fellow Trail Butter Ambassador, and two-time UTMB winner Krissy Moehl, packs Medjool dates with Trail Butter for a slow-burn/quick-burn combo on her ultras and long trail adventures.
• You’ll be carrying around a spread that has the potential to make most any food, even in Europe, better.
• Thanks to an optimal balance of healthy fats, protein, antioxidants and fiber, plus being easy to digest, Athletes benefit from eating nuts. They are a slow burning energy source that when combined with carbohydrates, make for great fuel. Combine Trail Butter with a favorite cookie or fruit and you’ll have simple sugars as the quick fuel while the fats and protein are utilized over a longer period of time. The thing I notice… no sugar high, and better still, no sugar low. As a true fuel source, nut butters keep you going and balanced over a long period of time.
• At the end of the day… what do we enjoy with a beer? Nuts, right? Well that little bowl of nuts just gets replaced with a nut butter that also does all of the above.
• Finally, Trail Butter does not contain peanuts! It’s not peanut butter, instead, it’s a mix of nuts including the far more sophisticated almond.

Yes, clearly I’m a huge fan of Trail Butter and am now broadcasting this to more than just my friends while on a trail run or at a belay. Trail Butter comes in three packaging options; a single serve 32 gram pack for sport, a 128 gram squeeze tube for all purpose, and a 454 gram jar for devouring with a spoon at home. You’ll get all the info at their website, TrailButter.com

By Dan Patitucci

After a big day trail running in the Himalaya (see this Story)… You know it’s been a good day out when you have a pile of Trail Butter wrappers to show for it.

Sure, it’s a set up shot, but not that smile. This is one of those times where we hear, “Wow, where do I get some of this?”

For vegetarians and vegans (seen here) – travel with protein at the ready. Trail Butter and Nepali pancakes.

Trail Butter works, and it’s been fun to share why! If you’re a European reading this, I hope you find some in your local shop, soon!