In her latest tests, this Real Turmat Reindeer Soup came out on top for Gemma Palmer. Find out why.

With this well-like brand, I expected a flavour profile as close to home cooking as you can get from a rehydrated meal, and, new to Reindeer meat, I was particularly excited to try the Real Turmat Reindeer Soup.

Gemma Palmer highly recommends

The moreish seasoning meant I didn’t even need to reach for my salt or hot sauce!
Pros
  • superior texture
  • rapid rehydration
Cons
  • cost for low calories
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Quick specs
Price: £7.99 (available from Base Camp Food)
Weight: 72g
Pros: Perfect as a starter. Superior texture. Rapid rehydration. Cons: Cost for a low-calorie meal.
Calories: 246 kcal
Calories/100g: 67 kcal
Calories/£1: 31 kcal
Time to hydrate: 8 mins
Vegetarian/vegan: No
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I was anticipating a gamey flavour, but surprisingly, the meat doesn’t overwhelm the palate. Instead, savoury depth comes from a well-balanced blend of leek, onion, soy sauce, and game bouillon. It thickens beautifully, giving me that comforting, homemade feel I crave when it’s cold. I enjoyed this and the moreish seasoning meant I didn’t even need to reach for my salt or hot sauce!

Impressively, the potato, carrot, and meat rehydrated fully within the stated time. Its smaller size makes it perfect for a lunch or a starter – so, I’ll be carrying these to top up my calories on harder days! Aside from the taste, the nutritional profile of reindeer is a win on the endurance front. It is packed with high-quality protein and boasts a fatty acid structure closer to fish than red meat. It’s loaded with Omega-3 and Omega-6, which are both essential for managing inflammation. It also functions as a natural mineral supplement, with twice the amount of iron as beef, to keep oxygen levels topped up, alongside generous doses of B12, Zinc, and Selenium.

Overall, this dish is a winner and best in test for its reliable rehydration and flavour, as well as for introducing a more unusual high-performance meat source to the adventure menu!

How we tested

Gemma prioritises flavour over calorie-density. She tested in autumn and early winter, in temperatures between 4-15°C, from the breezy viewpoints of the Cambridgeshire hills to relaxing in a van by the banks of the Great Ouse.

This review was first published in the March 2026 issue of The Great Outdoors. You can compare it with others in our guide to the best backpacking meals.