Chili Plum Powder

Very easy way to add a little mushroom flavor to just about anything, especially if you want to mimic a beefy flavor. Good way for vegetarians and vegans to add that flavor profile, especially since it also contains yeast extract. This product contains monosodium l-glutamate. Because I don't have a sensitivity to that, and I like the way it makes things taste, I have no problem whatsoever with that. In fact, there have been a couple of studies that suggest the addition of MSG helps you to feel full so you don't eat as much. I also have no problem that this product is made in Taiwan, because Taiwan has more strict regulations in place for food safety than many other places. As you can see on the box, it's only 36 calories per serving, and this box contains 15 servings at 10 gm each.

When I saw this product available on VINE for review, I was eager to try it. I'm the daily cook in our household and have a long-running tension with my wife over mushrooms. I love mushrooms! She enjoys the taste of some mushrooms, but does not like pieces of mushroom in her foods. It's just a personal taste and, so, I've adapted to that over the years. I thought this product might be a great solution for us. However, I hadn't counted on way this powder is processed. First, I have to say: For my personal tastes, I would give this product 5 stars, but I'm almost never the only one who eats my food. I'm a cook thinking of others and, just as much as my wife doesn't want mushroom pieces in her food, she has a bias against MSG. I know. This is a hot-button topic for millions of people. I'm a journalist and I've read a lot of the literature on MSG and I've found that, for me, it's not a problem. I would use this product for myself and enjoy it. But, again, I'm cooking for others. Second, I also have say: For a product that proclaims itself "Mushroom Powder," it's also a bit disconcerting to learn that the biggest ingredient is general food starch, aka Maltodextrin. Helpful tip: Over the years, my own solution to this family dilemma has been buying dried mushrooms and simply putting them through my food processor myself to make mushroom powder. In fact, though, I rarely do this because it's one more mess in the kitchen, one more piece of equipment to clean, etc. But, if you're looking for mushroom powder, you can make it yourself. I've done it. I was hoping this might be a simple off-the-shelf solution to our mushroom issues, but it turns out: It's not.

I like this dried mushrooms powder. I thought this product is only made of mushrooms. However it does contain MSG, salt and other ingredients. The reason for me to like this product is very simple, low sodium. I cook a lot at home. Sometimes I use some chicken powder. Just to give the food, especially stir fried vegetables a little bit more flavor. But the chicken powder contains high amount of sodium, 200mg per gram. And this mushroom powder only has 20mg per 10 gram. This is really a healthier way to make delicious food. And I like its flavor. It has a unique mushroom flavor but not super strong. It doesn’t taste artificial, it feels pretty natural. And it is not salty at all so won’t make the food over salty. Worth trying!

A product of Taiwan this dried shiitake powder has an excellent aroma but and mild but very good flavor that adds umami to many dishes like soups, stews, stir fries, ramen or sprinkled on a baked potato or in a dressing, marinade or dip. It should be added closer to the end of cooking rather than the beginning for optimal intensity. Tasting it right out of the 5.29 ounce pouch the powder is very good with a simple and appealing flavor but it is not just a dehydrated mushroom powder it includes many additional ingredients like artificial flavoring and caramel coloring—and for people with sensitivities—monosodium glutamate. No preservatives are used and the powder is stated to be vegetarian-friendly. The complete ingredient list is maltodextrin, shiitake powder, shiitake extract powder (maltodextrin, shiitake extract powder salt, monosodium-L glutamate), mushroom powder, yeast extract, artificial flavoring, silicon dioxide, mushroom flavor powder (maltodextrin, salt, shiitake extract powder, monosodium-L glutamate, caramel color, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate). The powder is very finely ground and a small cloud of it wafted out of the re-sealable foil pouch upon opening so it is wise to plan where and how to open. To estimate shelf-life at the time of this review in October 2021 the expiration date is 19 months in the future but dates will vary. Also, I suspect flavor will fade quickly if not stored tightly sealed. Very good tasting.

If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you for mushroom powder, this is a good alternative. MSG is not inherently bad but if you eat cheese or use tomato sauce, you’re consuming MSG. Anyway this product is a nice additive for that something missing everytime you cook something but can’t quite pinpoint what it is. I’ve added it to noodles and rice since we eat those more often. The three stars is because the first ingredient isn’t mushroom related but that may be because to keep it shelf stable? I still prefer TJ version for its more pronounced and stronger but this is a good alternative

Boiling Point Fresh Dried Shiitake Bouillon Powder is vegan and works reasonably well as a bouillon substitute. It is lower in sodium than the other bouillon powders I have found but it is also much less flavorful. I have used it as a base for different soups (kimchi stew, soba, etc) but find that I add other items to supplement the flavor. It's a good starting point for making a vegan soup.