Nutritional Yeast in India: The Power of Nooch

Upon my relocation to India back in 2018, nutritional yeast was my most frequented word. Even though I had purchased it initially as a substitute for the cheesy flavor that I had read it would provide to the dishes, I was also curious to find out this mysterious ingredient’s superpowers. How different is it from active yeast? How and where did it originate? What can it be used for? What are the flavors that it enhances? What are its actual superpowers that so many people have been vouching for it? These were few of the many questions that I had in my mind and I decided to read along those lines – one at a time.

What is nutritional yeast

The history of yeast consumption dates back to the ancient Egyptians. Even though yeast in general would refer to the yeast that is used to leaven bread or ferment batters, nutritional yeast is entirely different because it is inactive. Nutritional yeast, made from Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, also nicknamed as ‘Hippie Dust,’ ‘Yeshi,’ and ‘Nooch,’ is derived from yeast that is grown on wood pulp, sugarcane, or molasses. It is then harvested, washed, and heat dried, which deactivates it. This means that the yeast isn’t alive or active anymore. These are grown specifically for human consumption. Nutritional yeast is often found in two forms – nutritional yeast powder and nutritional yeast flakes.

What is Nooch good for, its benefits

All the myths around this distinctive ingredient began to unfold gradually, the more I began to read along. Nutritional Yeast is a superfood with plenty of superpowers! It is extremely rich in all the B vitamins and other vitamins, chromium (that aids with weight loss), amino acids for muscle building, and minerals including calcium, iron, and phosphorus. The B vitamins perform many essential roles in our body including energy production, brain function, rebuilding of hair, fat burning, healthy sleep, and more.

The only vitamin in the spectrum of B vitamins, B12, isn’t found in any plant sources, naturally. Even though Hippie Dust is rich in B vitamins, and due to yeast’s incapability to produce Vitamin B12, at the end of the process, they are fortified with B12. As a vegan, the presence of B12 makes nutritional yeast an inevitable ingredient in most of my meals.

Another particularity of Nooch is that it is rich in proteins as well. Nooch is special because it is truly rich in proteins, low in fat and carbohydrates, and easily digestible.

Are nutritional yeast and Brewer’s yeast the same

One of its counterparts – the Brewer’s yeast, is another deactivated yeast from the same strain of yeast and often these two are interchangeably used. Brewer’s yeast is a live active yeast that is used for making beer. Brewer’s yeast is heated to deactivate it, and turned into a dietary supplement. On the other hand, nutritional yeast is solely grown for its nutritional purposes.

How to use Nooch

Now coming to its usage. The most common (and my personal favorite) is to simply sprinkle it on popcorn. It can also be sprinkled on pasta, vegetables, mashed potatoes, or salads. It will add a sharp cheesy and nutty flavor to cheese, creams, and spreads as well. It goes well with most savoury dishes. It is also widely used as a substitute to Parmesan cheese in all dairy-free dishes like mac and cheese, scrambled tofu, any roasted nuts, and risotto, to name a few.

Where to buy nutritional yeast in India

Once a rare ingredient in India, nutritional yeast can now be purchased from any vegan shop or online through Amazon, VeganDukan, Urban Platter, Sattvic Foods, AltMart, etc. Now Foods Nutritional Yeast flakes, fortified with B12 and imported from the United States, is what I have been using so far. Urban Platter’s Nutritional Yeast flakes also have some good reviews.

About the author, Lekshmi Mohan

“I became a vegan in 2016, the day I realized that I was contributing to speciesism. I was confident that I had taken the right decision despite all the scornful remarks. The journey so far has been an exhilarating and eye-opening one. Besides spending time with animals, I also love to travel, photograph moments and nature, read books, grow plants and write occasionally. I can be reached at @the_roving_drifter.”

Cover image: Photo by form PxHere.