The best plant-based meats give you the flavours and textures you've come to expect from these kinds of foods.

Over the weekend, I was thinking of article ideas and my previous discussion of vegan cheeses came to my mind. Although I love writing my versions of recipes I've come across and had to alter for my own purposes, I got a real kick out of doing that cheese review. So I think it's time for another food review!

Earlier this year, Tofurky came to Woolworths!

Previous to this tasting, I've tried two of the four Tofurky products we can now (finally!!!) purchase in Australia. There are two types of hotdogs, chicken-style strips and the ham-style deli slices.

I have to say, I am immensely grateful for the many people involved in all these wonderful products that we just so easily take for granted. Seth Tibbott, the founder of Tofurky (Turtle Island Foods) in Hood River, Oregon even came out to Australia to check out the products on Woolworthe shelves. It's not a huge surprise here, as Australia is apparently the fastest growing vegan market in the world.

I found out last week that one of the parents at school is also vegan!

So what did I do?

Get into an extended bonding session with her and her husband while the kids were sitting in the backseat being ever so patient with us! They were telling me how they loved the sticker on my car which reads;

MEAT = EMISSIONS. GO VEGAN.

We talked for ten minutes, shared the docos that we had watched, and of course, I gave her my leftover vegan scones that I had brought in for morning tea! I got a message this morning from her telling me she wants the recipe and how generous I was. I have to say, if you're vegan, you do get special treatment in my book. I think fellow vegans just get each other.

Tofurky tasting time!

Much like last time, my palate wasn't exactly clean. I had made myself a turmeric latte (recipe to come!) and had already taken a few sips. While I didn't rinse my mouth out, I gave myself a minute before trying the deli slices.

The slices come in a vacuum sealed plastic wrapper within a cardboard box. It's a small box but because the slices are nice and thin, you get quite a lot. This sized pack retails for $7 and would easily make four decent sized sandwiches. You'd get many more if you only used one or two slices on each sandwich.

I first tried a piece of a slice on some of the leftover crackers from my cheese tasting sesh. One of the first things I thought of was that these slices, some Sprout and Kernel cheese, crackers and olives would be perfect picnic food.

The first thing that came to mind when I smelled the slices was just how smokey they smell. The rich aroma of the slices is very appealing. It actually took me right back to my childhood when I used to eat smoked oysters from the tin on Jatz crackers. Funnily enough, Hayley used to do the same thing! If you're familiar with smoked oysters, this is the immediate flavour you get.

I would say that the colour is a reflection of the herbs and spices used in the manufacturing process that give the product its distinct orange colour. I'm not sure it's the most appealing colour, but if you're using orange pigments, then that's the trade off. And I'm ok with it.

If you're looking for a robust faux deli slice, tofurky ham-style slices are just that. The consistency is excellent. The slices are thin, yet the they retain their form and are 'tearable' much the same way you can tear a slice of ham. I suppose it's in the plant proteins and binding that allows this.

Considering the nature of plant-based meats and their engineered flavour (herbs and spices added throughout the product), it's far easier to fine tune the flavour and have it permeate throughout the slice. This you cannot do with meat. You can add things to the outside of it, but essentially, you're just eating a slice of a pig leg and not a careful selection of plant protein interspersed and infused with subtle flavours that are ready to hit your tastebuds no matter where you bite into it.

So far I've enjoyed all of the Tofurky products I've bought. This is no exception. The product is of high quality, and represents value for a person looking to treat themselves to some A-grade, cruelty-free smokey goodness (maybe on a cracker or a sandwich).

I will mention that although I was happy eating the slices on their own, I think they are at their best when on something else to impart that delightful smokey flavour onto.

Are you a Tofurky gobbler? What other faux meat products have you tried? I'd love to hear about them.

All the best,

Nick.

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