About Us
Harvest Shreds® is an umami-laden plant protein that clears the hurdles challenging the alt-meat protein category—taste, texture, and a clean label—leading the way to Plant Based 3.0. The shredded form provides a satisfying hearty texture that rivals the meat-eating experience and is one step closer to whole muscle, providing a wide range of versatility.
Harvest Shreds is a fully-cooked (sous vide) vegan plant protein made from non-GMO soy and seasoned with shiitake mushrooms and red miso, creating a craveable umami canvas.This entrée boasts 16g protein (3 oz portion) with a clean, low-fat label. It contains NO methyl cellulose!
Mastering Umami
Fifth Taste Foods takes a design approach to every product we create. The Fifth Taste itself—umami—plays a pivotal role in all our product development and we have mastered its application.
The magic behind umami is that it amplifies the other four tastes—sweet, sour, salty and bitter. Imagine that umami is the conductor that brings all the instruments together in perfect harmony, rhythm, and balance, making the sum greater than all its parts.
Our proprietary umami seasoning, including red miso and shiitake mushrooms, takes the guesswork out of craveable cuisine and provides two solutions:
Our Naked, Subtly Seasoned—a delicious ready-to-use plant protein
OR
A blank umami canvas that will amplify any chef-added seasoning, allowing the creation of signature dishes
Umami has the ability to spread across the tongue and bind to taste receptors, giving you that I-want-more-ish sensation. Its presence anywhere amplifies the experience and makes for a memorable meal.
Harvest Shreds delivers umami from several ingredients, among them a seasoning blend of shiitake mushrooms and red miso. This brings immense depth of flavor without adding salt. Chefs can explode the flavor of our Naked, Subtly Seasoned product with just a dash of any global spice blend. The ability to layer wide-ranging flavors on one plant protein is a core strength of Harvest Shreds, making it incredibly versatile. This single protein can span all global cuisines and menu day parts, resulting in dishes from tacos to a bulgogi bowl to Texas BBQ
One Ingredient, Endless Possibilities
A unique feature of Harvest Shreds relative to other plant protein options on the market is its shredded form. Unlike patties and nuggets that have extremely limited applications, a shredded product—closer to whole muscle—provides incredible versatility in its menu options and day parts. Couple the texture versatility with that of added global flavors and the menu possibilities are endless.
Since Harvest Shreds is fully cooked, yield is very high (little to no shrinkage), prep is minimal (just break apart and sauté) and food safety risk is minimized. All that translates into cost and labor savings for the operator.
Storage & Prep
- Keep Harvest Shreds frozen until ready to use.
- Slack overnight in the refrigerator.
- Break into chunks or shreds, using hands, two forks or a paddle attachment.
- Cook on a hot surface coated with oil, until water has released and fronds are crispy with a bit of char.
- Use within seven days of thawing and the Use By Date on package. Do not refreeze.
Ingredients:
Water, Non-GMO Structured Vegetable Protein Product (Isolated Soy Protein, Wheat Gluten, Wheat Starch), High-oleic Sunflower Oil, Vegan Flavor (Yeast Extract, Natural Flavor, Salt, Spices), Red Miso Powder (Soybeans, Rice, Salt, Aspergillus Oryzae), Shiitake Mushrooms, Caramel Color.
Our Story
Mark Engel, the visionary founder of Fifth Taste Foods, is transforming the future of food with sustainability, inclusivity, and health at the forefront. With over 30 years of global experience—from General Mills to COO of a Chinese food company—Mark combines innovation and strategy to tackle critical challenges in the food industry.
Fifth Taste Foods leads the way in sustainable culinary solutions. Its flagship product, Harvest Shreds, is a plant-based protein rivaling meat in flavor and texture, crafted with clean, simple ingredients. This breakthrough innovation, leading the way to Plant Based 3.0, reflects the company’s mission to prioritize environmental sustainability, accessibility, and taste.
Fifth Taste Foods founders Mark and MK Engel – Circa 1992, Taichung, Taiwan.
Mark’s early fascination with Asia took him to Taiwan at 24, where he immersed himself in a rural village in local culture and traditions, cultivating resilience and adaptability—skills that now define his leadership. He later earned a master’s in Chinese Studies from the Lauder Institute and an MBA from Wharton, blending cultural fluency with sharp business acumen. He has a Ph.D. in Thriving through Ambiguity.
Fifth Taste Foods embodies Mark’s three-decade journey to transform food systems. With a proven track record in marketing and operations, he collaborates with a diverse network of cross-functional experts to bring groundbreaking ideas to life. The company’s origins lie in oo’mämē®, a line of award-winning global chile crisps highlighting its mastery of umami. Harvest Shreds continues this legacy, delivering exceptional taste and texture while championing sustainability. Through such innovations, Fifth Taste Foods is committed to repairing the planet—one plant-based meal at a time.
Fifth Taste Foods Family of Products
Fifth Taste Foods launched with oo’mämē, a line of award winning global chile crisps, celebrating the flavors of Szechuan, China; Oaxaca, Mexico; Fez, Morocco; and Kerala, India. This collection of globally flavored chile crisps gives cooks the chance to explore hidden corners of the world and expand their repertoire by adding new flavors to old favorites. We do the heavy lifting – and so much chopping – to enable you to cook with confidence and ease.
Our Umami Heat celebrates the Japanese Shichimi Togarashi and deserves to be sprinkled on EVERTHING!
