Fifth Taste Foods
Beyond the basic flavors of sour, sweet, bitter, and salty, there’s an elusive, savory fifth taste called “umami.” To find it, CEO Mark Engel G95 WG95 drew on his experience traversing the back alleys of Taiwan via motorbike as a young man. After launching a line of internationally inspired chile crisps called Oo’mäme — selected as a Best New Condiment finalist by NEXTY, a natural products industry award, in 2020 — Engel has expanded to plant-based protein. His latest product, Harvest Shreds, captures the hearty texture of shredded meat without the GMO guesswork. The company’s mission, says Engel, is to improve the health of both people and the planet, “one great meal at a time.”
