Review of 'Turtle Island Foods' Marinated Tempeh (Smoky Maple Meatless Bacon)

Turtle Island Foods -- Marinated Tempeh (Smoky Maple Meatless Bacon) (vegan)
Overall Rating: 4/5
Summary: this tempeh has a really delicious smoky flavour and the aroma is very strong -- it fills the house! It has that characteristic tempeh texture that's hearty and tender. You really get a big sense of that sweet maple taste, but there is also that subtle bitterness that balances it out nicely. It's actually very filling and a good portion. I did find them a bit on the salty side, though. Another concern is the controversy over the 'autolyzed yeast extract'. You can read more about it here and here. I wouldn't be it again until I was more certain about this ingredient.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Real Canadian Superstore

Ingredients: organic soybeans, water, shoyu soy sauce (water, soybeans, wheat, salt, bacterial culture), molasses, maple syrup, natural smoke flavour, autolyzed yeast extract, salt, organic apple cider vinegar, bacterial culture (Rhizopus oliogsporus).

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 7 slices
Calories: 130
Fat: 1g
     Saturated: .5g
     Trans: 0g
Sodium: 300g
Potassium: 350mg
Carbohydrate: 17g
     Fibre: 5g
     Sugars: 3g
Protein: 12g
Vitamin C: 2%
Calcium: 8%
Iron: 10%

I'm kinda bummed after reading about the potential harmfulness of 'autolyzed yeast extract' and its links to MSG...there isn't as much information on it as there is on MSG, but that should change in the coming year. By then, I'll know how just great Tofurky (Turtle Island Foods) products are. Gosh, they're so yummy, though! Anyway, I'm sure that when the evidence is conclusive, they'd do the right thing and revise their ingredients, right? Right!?

The nutritionals are fanastic -- these tempeh strips are super low-calorie and very high in fibre and protein. I really would have added less salt, though. And I'm sure it would have been just as delicious.

Other Tempeh products (all vegan):

• Sesame Garlic Marinated Tempeh (reviewed here)
• Coconut Curry Marinated Tempeh 
• Lemon Pepper Marinated Tempeh Strips

Brand (quoted from tofurky.com):

• Non-GMO
• "We make our vegetarian products in small batches using only the finest organic and natural ingredients."
• No preservatives, MSG or other artificial ingredients.
• Kosher, vegan, and made with organic soybeans and/or organic tofu.
• Family owned and operated company.
• "Since our founding in 1980 Turtle Island Foods has strived to create delicious, nutritious, vegan soy meat alternatives that are lightly processed using traditional methods."