Note: For a more current taste review on a tweaked bag design, open up Pan’s Mushroom Jerky – Original Mushroom Jerky (Recipe #1).
The first review on Pan’s Mushroom Jerky will focus on a 2.5 ounce/70 gram bag of their original flavored shiitake mushroom jerky. This original flavor is described as being a family recipe made decades ago, using shiitake mushrooms, and not containing any meat, soy, or tofu. The jerky bag was kindly submitted for review by the Owner, Michael Pan.
Pan’s Mushroom Jerky is distributed by Panco Foods LLC, and is located in Vancouver, Washington. It all started out with Michael visiting family in Borneo, Malaysia in 2007. Little did Michael know that there was a recipe in his family for over 30 years. Michael’s family in Malaysia were vegetarian Buddhists, and found mushroom jerky to be the perfect alternative to meat, with its meaty like texture. Michael knew that his family had something special that had to be shared with the rest of the world. After a lot of testing, Pan’s Mushroom Jerky was officially launched in 2008.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Mushroom Stalk, Egg Whites, Brown Cane Sugar, Palm Oil, Salt, Spices.
These non-organic shiitake mushroom stalks are a good source of protein, fiber, antioxidants, and are cholesterol free. They contain vitamin D, and are high on the minerals iron and selenium. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Very Good (9/10) rating.
Egg whites are packed full of protein. Although our view is that cholesterol in eggs are part of a healthy diet, almost all of the cholesterol is found in the egg yolk.
The sugar level is high at 6 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar or less per 28 grams of jerky. Mushrooms contain small amounts of healthy natural sugars. The salt level is on the low side at 240mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky qualifies to have no sodium nitrite, or any other similar unhealthy preservative. Instead, salt is the main preservative used. With more kudos to Pan’s Mushroom Jerky, this jerky has no MSG added.
Good (8/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
Written by guest jerky reviewer Stéphane Leclerc
This is a fantastic mushroom jerky; I was somewhat skeptical and expected something more fibrous in nature due to the fact that Shiitake stems are used in creating this jerky.
However, this is not the case here. This jerky is packed with wholesome and tasty mushroom flavor. These small mushroom bits and pieces have a pleasantly and easily chewable texture. They are flavorful and delicious and a great alternative for jerky lovers and mushroom aficionados alike.
Their fragrant aroma and texture are pleasant and earthy. The mushroom taste is unmistakable and mildly accentuated by notes of saltiness and sweetness. This is followed with a slight bite of spiciness on the finish. These flavors are really well balanced and not overpowering each other in anyway. They all come together perfectly with the common goal of putting the great taste of mushroom at the forefront. These flavors are simple, clean and unpretentious and add much enjoyment to the experience.
I thoroughly enjoy this jerky. I feel a lot of attention and care is paid in keeping this jerky simple and flavorful. It is a great snack and alternative to traditional jerky. This simple mushroom jerky could easily be sprinkled on many appetizers, soups and dishes to successfully add a fun and tasty twist to our favorite dishes.
I recommend and feel comfortable in awarding 10/10 rating to this tasty jerky, as it achieves its goal of been true to its mushroom flavor while preserving its desirable and inviting aroma and texture.
A 2.5 ounce/70 gram bag sells online for $8.00. That works out to $3.20 an ounce, which rates as an expensive price. The price gets cheaper if you order larger quantities.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This plastic non-resalable bag has everything imprinted on the bag itself, both on the front and back, with no labels affixed. Not surprisingly there is an illustration of some mushrooms on the front.
A slogan printed on this bag is “Grab a Bag of Pan’s Mushroom Jerky Today!” Some facts printed on the bag are “100% Meatless Product”, “No Artificial Ingredients”, “Naturally Cholesterol Free”, “No Preservatives”, “All Natural”, “Good Source of Fiber”, and “Thank You For Choosing Pan’s Mushroom Jerky!”
The only bag category not covered is that jerky with more than 2 ounces should have a resealable bag. There is a very good blurb printed on the back explaining Pan’s Mushroom Jerky. The @mushroomjerky social media handle is provided for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. To the credit of Pan’s Mushroom Jerky, an email address is provided for customer inquiries.
Order their jerky online: www.mushroomjerky.com
Leave a Comment