2016 Update! Though you rarely hear about it, Zen Organic Pudding Cups are a dairy-free original. And they still pop up in natural food stores and conventional grocers.
It used to be called Zensoy Organic Soy Pudding. But since they’ve added a “made with Almond Milk” variety, it has changed to just “Zen” brand. Hannah previously reviewed the soy-based flavors for us, and her notes below still ring true. However, the Banana has been discontinued, so we removed that portion of the review.
Tasting Notes for ZenSoy
ZenSoy is a lovely company that makes a point to source only organic raw materials.Their puddings come four to the pack, and at least the chocolate can be found in most natural food stores. I’ve found it difficult to locate the other flavors.
When I first dipped my spoon into the Chocolate Soy-Based variety, I discovered that this pudding was extremely viscous. In fact, my spoon stood upright in the center of the container for a good few seconds before slowly slumping to the side. It was so velvety smooth, too, and truly reminded me of a chocolate mousse! I’ll bet that if you put it in an ice cream maker, it would make for one heck of a frozen treat.
But what really struck me was how Zen Organic Pudding really sticks to the natural flavors that they’re trying to portray. Instead of being super sweet, the chocolate was a very refined dark cocoa sort of flavor. Yet, it was in no way chalky or one dimensional as some natural products can be. It had such a lovely full, rounded flavor. I can’t quite describe how impressive I really thought it was.
I can only hope that another random stroke of luck will allow me to encounter the other flavors of Zen Organic Pudding, and the Almond-Based variety. If you ever happen to find these pudding cups in your local grocery store waiting to find a loving home, don’t hesitate to snatch them up! I promise you won’t regret this purchase.
The Facts on Zen Organic Pudding Cups
Certifications: Zen Pudding Cups are Certified Kosher Parve, Certified Vegan, and Certified Organic.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Zen Pudding Cups dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, peanut-free, vegan / plant-based, vegetarian. The soy-based varieties are made without nuts. Nonetheless, always read the ingredient statement and check with the company on their manufacturing processes for all varieties if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. Processes and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company / product.
For More Product Information: Visit the ZenSoy website at zensoy.com.
4 Comments
I just found your Almond Milk chocolate pudding in my health food store and was very excited. My allergies are soy, dairy and gluten which the pudding doesn’t have and I read the ingredients very carefully and I use almond milk all the time. When I started eating the pudding I started having that strange tingling feeling in my mouth and throat, so I had to throw it away. I’m very disappointed that I can’t eat the pudding as I thought it was very good. I should have been able to have it, so I can’t say what the problem is with the product.
I have to add that I found the vanilla flavor. That one wasn’t very good. It could have been the batch, but I don’t think so. The oil separates and doesn’t reintegrate. The remaining flavor and texture isn’t very good. The chocolate doesn’t do that. If the oil separates in the chocolate pudding, it reintegrates. The chocolate rules!
I have tried both of this brand’s almond milk and soymilk puddings in the chocolate. The banana doesn’t seem to be available where I live. I love it. I was so excited when I found it.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Stephanie! I hope you find the banana one eventually, too.