Zen Garden Zest Trio

As camping enthusiasts, we are always looking for healthy snacks that don't need refrigeration. Lion's Mane Mushrooms are always something we like to consume and this product claims 1/2 of a head in each package. The bites offer a complete protein and fiber snack for enjoyable and healthy snacking out in the woods.

Both the texture and flavor are pretty convincing, enough where my wife thought that it was actually beef when I had her try it. It has a crumbly type of texture that reminds me of beef jerky that is just across the grain instead of along the muscle. While I appreciate the mimicry, I can't say that I find this crave-able. It's good, especially when you think of what it's actually made of, but I think the flavors need more work to make it something that is delicious instead of pretty good or interesting.

Each of these 2-oz packages contain two 1-oz servings, each with 99 calories, 4 g of fiber, and 8 grams of protein. Each package contains 14 bites, so 7 bites per serving, with each bite containing about 14 calories and 1 g. protein. Not bad. If you are a vegan missing your beef jerky, these might get you 80% of the way there, which is pretty good. They aren't quite as juicy, but I appreciate they don't have as much added oil as that might require. If you've been eating real jerky regularly, it might feel more like 60% there. The spices are well balanced - flavorful, but not extreme. I also tried them as a meat replacement in a rice dish -- I cooked them with some rice and mushrooms. They held together and made very tender steaky slices. I consider them especially good for this use, even better than snacking.