But there's one "secret weapon" umami ingredient that can richly deepen the flavor intensity of your soup: shiitake mushroom powder. You don't even need fresh shiitake mushrooms to get the job done.

Mushroom powder can be made from a wide variety of mushrooms, each offering its unique flavor profile and health benefits.

Japan is one of the leading producers of shiitake mushrooms. These mushrooms are notoriously difficult to cultivate on a commercial scale — especially when using the 1,000-year-old Japanese ...