My random notes on vegan foods mostly from the refrigerated section of German supermarkets (and as you see by the stubborn hard-to-remove stickers, what I try when they are discounted to sell before the expiration date).
Ingredients: rehydrated soy protein 47.8% (water, soy protein concentrate 20,2%), water, vegetable oil (rapeseed, coconut), cider vinegar, flavors, stabilizers (methylcellulose, cornstarch, vegetable concentrate (apples, beetroot, carrots, hibiscus), salt, powdered barley malt extract.
Flavorful (but neutral) and clean-tasting patty; quite succulent, very tender (almost verging on mushy but thankfully still a slight resistance). Not bad at all. Would probably get again -- one of the better burger-wannabes.
Besides having the most consistent frozen peas (see my survey of frozen peas), Iglo started a line of frozen vegan pea-protein foods that started filling the frozen section of supermarkets in DE in 2020. The range is excellent in flavor (flavorful, clean, not overly salty or sweet, not too processed tasting) and texture
Charboiled, umami-packed veggie burger with wonderful textural resistance
Flatter, a bit more cardboard tasting than their other products and almost mushy (not quite..soft), but tastes clean although leaves a papery-beany aftertaste
"made from non-GMO soy beans"
Ingredients: water, curry sauce (water, saccharose, tomato paste, wine vinegar, thickening agent (agar-agar, carob gum), spices, salt, preservatives: calcium sorbate, 10% soy protein concentrate, coconut oil, edible skin (water, coating agent: calcium calcium alginate, flavors), sunflower seed oil, thickener: methyl-cellulose, potato flakes, flax seeds, salt, natural flavors, spices, seasonings, spice extracts, dextrose.Tastes like....British Madras curry sauce that you get with your 3-a.m. bag of chips. Most successful imitation of sausage casing I have tried which becomes papery thin blisters when grilled. Decent overall in texture and flavors but does taste a bit too processed.
Made in Taiwan. Available in the frozen section in Asian supermarkets in DE.
Flavorful, rich and dark flavors with no processed taste or after taste. Fibrous chewy texture.
Made in Taiwan. Available In the frozen section in Asian supermarkets.
Flavorful, classic black pepper sauce with no processed taste or after taste. Fibrous chewy texture.
Made in Taiwan. Available In the frozen section in Asian supermarkets.
Clean, umami flavors that can stand on their own but not overpower whatever dish they are used in. Juicy, meaty resistance with initial crunch, nicely balanced with occasional crunch of water chestnuts.
Made in Taiwan. Available In the frozen section in Asian supermarkets.
Very smoky. Many layers of tofu skins wrapped around veggies. Not a meat substitute as it is a tofu roll.
Made in Taiwan. Available In the frozen section in Asian supermarkets.
Somehow clean and neutral taste of konjac but packed with umami -- wonderful flavor carrier while enriching flavor profiles. Initial crunch-bite and slight natural sweetness characteristic of konjac and suggestive of shrimp.
"Typical Italian Style: The fruity aromtic tomato sauce on a crispy thin crust, baked on Sicilian lava stone. Typical vegan stye: Succulent spinach, delicious melted pizza topping and our savory white sacue made with natural ingredients. That's how different tradition can taste."
"Vegan pizza topped with spinach, sieved tomatoes, grated coconut oil based pizza topping and cauliflower sauce, quick frozen."
So this does taste like a frozen pizza and dominantly like cauliflower sauce. Nothing to write home about. Cheesy it is not, succulent as well not.
"source of protein, lactose-free, no palm oil"
Unlike with Wheaty's grill mix, I would not eat this cold unless you like mush (texture and flavors are much better cooked). Once cooked, texture is not bad and flavors are clean, but the BBQ marinade is a bit too sweet without a good salty counterbalance. It is pleasantly only lightly but adequately salted for a ready-made product, but inordinately sweetened for so little salt.
"source of protein, lactose-free, no palm oil"
Like the grill mix with BBQ marinade, this has a clean taste, lightly salted but quite sweet -- and mushy unless you cook it (then it's still a bit mushy but at least you will have a browned, crusty exterior.
I have not tried a Wheaty product that I have not liked -- products mostly made from seitan, they have wonderful texture/bite but also wonderful balances of flavors (flavorful without being too artificial tasting, umami flavors). This goes for the sausages, cold slices, Veganer Brat mix (haven't tried the cheeses, steaks or burgers yet, though). I eat them all cold out of the packet or grilled. One of my favorite vegan food brands.
This is my go-to Wheaty snack stand-by that I would have in my bag all the time (does not need to be fridged). I can eat a dozen of these in one sitting. Smoky. Whole hemp seeds and whole spices. Umami explosion!
The spicier, also smoky, Spanish version of the Spacebar Hanf.
A little greasier, though.
Another available in the summer, this is hands-down the best vegan BBQ/grill mix (smoky marjoram sausages, chorizo sausage, pepper steak). Everything is already a bit smoked -- with me, it might not make it to the grill.