While some food trends have their day in the sun and then fade (hello, jello salads), the trend toward more plant-based and whole foods has only grown in recent years. Renewed interest in nutritional yeast fits neatly into this movement.
How It’s Made
Nutritional yeast, or “nooch,” is a deactivated yeast used as a condiment and supplement. It is made from the same type of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) used to make bread or brew beer, but using a very different process.Nutritional yeast is grown on a glucose-rich medium such as molasses. Once fermentation is complete, the yeast is washed, pasteurized, and heat-dried, causing both the deactivation (death) of the yeast cells and the release of certain amino acids, including glutamic acid. Glutamic acid gives nutritional yeast the characteristic umami flavor for which it is known.
