REAL Turmat Tomato Soup Review

Overview

REAL Turmat (Tomatsuppe in Norwegian) is made in Tromsø by Drytech, a company that has supplied field rations to the Norwegian Armed Forces since 1989.

That military lineage matters:

these are freeze-dried meals developed and tested in arctic conditions — light to pack, quick to prepare, reliable where it counts.

The Tomato Soup is one of the lighter entries in the lineup — a vegan, herb-seasoned soup built around tomatoes, pasta, and soy protein. It’s aimed squarely at hikers who want something warm, familiar, and easy on the stomach at lunchtime or during a mid-day break.

Key Specs

Spec	Value
Net Weight (dry)	62 g
Package Weight	150 g
Prepared Weight	370 g
Calories	286 kcal
Calorie Density (dry)	~4.6 kcal/g
Protein Source	Soy
Allergens	Gluten, Soy
Vegan	Yes
Shelf Life	5 years
Water Required	~310 ml hot
Rehydration Time	10 min
Comparison	See how Tomato Soup compares to similar gear

Performance

Flavor & Texture

The soup is made with tomatoes, pasta, and onions, seasoned with a blend of mild herbs

— think classic Norwegian home cooking rather than anything bold or exotic.

The tomato base feels familiar and close to a classic Norwegian home-cooked soup.

That’s either reassuring or underwhelming depending on what you’re after on the trail.

REAL Turmat meals are freeze-dried, which means ingredients retain their shape and structure better than other forms of dehydration — the end result is meals that taste a bit more like real meals and often have better texture and mouthfeel.

That reputation holds here: the pasta rehydrates properly rather than turning to mush, and the soup has an honest broth character rather than a thin, powdery aftertaste.

Soy protein gives the meal more substance without making it heavy

— it’s a sensible way to keep the dish vegan while adding a bit of staying power. Don’t expect a thick, creamy consistency though. This is a brothy soup. Expect it to behave like one.

Preparation

Tear open the package at the top and add approximately 310 ml of hot water up to the marked line, stir well, close the packet, and let it stand for 10 minutes. Open and stir well before eating.

That’s genuinely it. No separate pot required, no guesswork on water volume thanks to the external fill line.

The packaging is well considered, with a clear volume marking so you know exactly how much water to add, a resealable top for while the meal is rehydrating, and a second tear-off level for easier eating out of the packet.

After years of fighting with foil pouches in the dark, I appreciate that Drytech actually thought through the eating experience. A long-handled spoon helps — the pouch is tall and narrow before you tear down to the second notch.

Calories: The Honest Conversation

This is where you need to calibrate expectations. 286 kcal from a 62 g dry serving is actually solid calorie density — roughly 4.6 kcal/g, better than most bars. But 286 kcal total is a light lunch at best. For context, REAL Turmat’s own main-course Field Meals clock in around 700 kcal. The soup is lighter than the well-known stews in the range, which makes it ideal for midday breaks — and that’s exactly how I’d use it. Treat it as a warm, restorative mid-hike fuel stop, not a standalone dinner.

If you’re running a tight calorie budget on a long day, pair it with a tortilla or some olive oil and nuts. It can be enjoyed on its own or used as a base for adding other ingredients, allowing you to customize your meal according to your taste and nutritional requirements — and that’s a practical tip worth taking seriously.

Packaging & Shelf Life

One thing REAL Turmat does that most other brands don’t: the packages are vacuum packed. This has two benefits — pack size is smaller, and no oxygen absorber is needed.

When vacuum-sealed, these meals can last a long time — up to over 5 years, even without the use of preservatives.

That makes them a legitimate emergency food option as well as a trail staple.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Freeze-dried quality: honest texture, proper rehydration, no powdery off-notes
• Vacuum-packed pouch is genuinely compact and well-designed
• Fully vegan, no artificial preservatives
• Military-grade provenance — tested in conditions far worse than most of us will see
• Easy on the digestive system; good for high-output days
• 5-year shelf life with no oxygen absorber needed

Cons

• 286 kcal is too low for a standalone dinner or even a substantial lunch on a hard day
• Contains both gluten and soy — limits its use for those with dietary sensitivities
• Mild, familiar seasoning won’t excite anyone looking for bold trail flavors
• REAL Turmat is well known for being expensive — and for a sub-300 kcal meal, the cost-per-calorie is unfavorable compared to heavier-hitting options in the lineup
• Brothy consistency means it won’t keep you warm or full for long in cold conditions

Who Should Buy This

This soup works best for hikers who want a vegan, easy-to-digest warm option for lunch breaks, or as a light starter before a more calorie-dense dinner. It’s a natural fit for plant-based backpackers who already know the REAL Turmat range and trust the brand’s quality. It also earns a place in a longer trip food kit as a lower-effort meal on rest days or short-mileage days when you don’t need 600+ kcal from a single pouch. If your primary goal is maximum calories per gram, look to the Field Meal range instead.

Verdict

The REAL Turmat Tomato Soup is a well-made, honest freeze-dried soup that delivers on flavor and convenience — just don’t confuse it with a full meal. The brand’s freeze-drying pedigree and thoughtful packaging design are genuine differentiators, and the vegan, herb-forward profile is a welcome change from the meat-heavy norm. At 286 kcal, it earns its place in a trip menu as a purposeful midday warmup, not a calorie anchor — plan accordingly and it won’t let you down.