As a planet we are increasingly aware of the need for more sustainable practices, especially when it comes to food. At White’s Oats we want you to know exactly where our porridge oats come from and how they get to your bowl. As such, we are proud to support local farmers and source our oats from across Ireland and the UK.

Feedback from our customers lets us know that not only do they love the taste of our oats but they also appreciate knowing where they come from. It got us thinking, do porridge oats taste better when you know where they come from?

There is evidence to suggest that knowing where your food comes from really does make it taste better! A study by the University of Copenhagen found that the more we know about where a food comes from and how it is made, the more likely we are to enjoy it.

Does knowing where your food comes from really make it taste better?

The research took place in Indonesia and involved both modernised and traditional versions of tempe, a traditional Indonesian snack made up of fermented soybeans. The study asked participants to rate the taste of five modern versions of tempe and four more traditional tempe recipes on two separate occasions.

First time, participants were given no information on how the food was prepared, but the second time around they were supplied with insight into the types of ingredients used, whether they were local or imported, and whether or not the food had been produced using traditional methods.

During the first tasting session, the study participants overwhelmingly preferred the more modern version of tempe that was more familiar to them. However, interestingly, after being provided with information and background on all the different types of tempe, participants reported liking the traditional versions more.

Why do we like knowing where our food comes from?

This isn’t the only study to find that being presented with more information and background on a food can influence how we perceive its taste. However, researchers observed that the participants enjoyed the traditional tempe more after learning of its strong ties to their cultural heritage and local ingredients. That’s an interesting and noteworthy finding, and the first of its kind.

Researcher Michael Bom Frøst concludes “Much more than taste and how much we like what we eat affects our behaviour. Here it was clear that other elements of the experience, such as the pride of eating food made from local produce and using traditional production methods, significantly changed the perception of the food. There are a lot of feelings about food that are connected to where it comes from,”.

Now that we know that food really can taste better when you know more about it, why not take the time to learn more about White’s Oats.

Where do our porridge oats come from?

Time and care goes into selecting only the finest quality grain to deliver the distinctively creamy porridge taste and texture of White's Oats. Our oats are traditionally milled 100% wholegrain oats bursting with nutritional goodness.

We source all of our conventional (non-organic) oats from within 60 miles of our mill. We work with over 100 Irish farmers across the Island of Ireland with over 35 NI growers producing wholesome Irish oats. By doing this we aim to keep our supply chain short and our oat quality high.

Check out the “Meet Our Growers” series to meet some more of our local growers, and discover their passion for growing only the best oats.

What types of oats do we use?

Oats are great as a daily part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Whole grain porridge oats in any of the below forms, may help reduce the risk of heart disease. All oats begin as groats, or kernels of grain that are later processed into different varieties. The variations in processing determine the type of oat that results.

Rolled oats

Rolled Oats like our famous Jumbo Organic Oats, have a milder flavour and softer texture than other varieties of oats. To make rolled oats the grains are steamed and then pressed flat with steel rollers. As this partially cooks the oat this shortens cooking time later.

Quick oats

Quick oats, like our Speedicook Porridge Oats, are rolled oats that go through further processing to decrease the cooking time. Like rolled oats they’re partially cooked by steaming, rolled even thinner than regular rolled oats and then cut using steel cutters.

These oats cook within a few minutes and have a mild flavour. Like instant oats these oats have a softer, mushy texture in comparison to the other oat varieties.

Unlike some instant oat varieties, quick oats don’t contain other ingredients like skim milk powder, sugar and other flavourings.

Instant oats

Most instant oats are steamed for longer, rolled and cut even finer for a quick cooking bowl of porridge. Retaining the texture and creaminess of traditional rolled oats can be more difficult. Our Quick & Oaty Instant Oats are made from a blend of fine cut oats and oat bran to deliver the same creaminess and texture as rolled oats but with the added convenience of being able to be cooked in over 2 minutes.

Instant oats can be cooked in minutes on the stove or for added convenience, in the microwave in 2 - 2.5 minutes.

Rolled oats can be used as a substitute for instant oats though they will require more time to cook and will add more texture to the final dish.

What happens to oats at the mill?

At the mill the oats are steamed and rolled.. They are then sifted, sorted and we then select the best oats to be twice steamed and extra slowly kilned. Nothing added, nothing taken away, this time honoured process creates the perfect flake.

The oats are then packaged in fully sustainable packaging and are ready to be sent to a store for you to buy and enjoy a bowl of healthy porridge oats.

Now that you know more about our oats, in theory they will taste even better! Want to learn some more about White’s Oats? Check out our sustainability page to read about White's journey towards our target of absolute net zero emissions by 2040.