Artificial Sophont Flavor

A product of the Scolopendran megacorporation TME Industries that reportedly tastes identical to a particular kind of sentient being.

Reasoning

It was created in response to the modern rise of civil-rights-based cannibalism and requisite sophont consumption, as well as the opening of Triumvirate markets to nations such as Sakkra (and even Scolopendra) with large populations of predatory sentient species such as Sakkrans and Kzin not altogether averse to consuming other sophonts.

Production and Content

Artificial Sophont Flavor is artificially synthesized via standard biochemical means and is based off of information gleaned from both genome analysis and taste-tests comparing previous versions of ASF to either vat-cultured muscle tissue (the taste-testers were usually Kzin due to their better sense of taste) or medical surplus authorized via next-of-kin (quickly discarded because, as the Kzin said, "It just doesn't taste quite right."). In its pure form, ASF is a fine crystalline powder that ranges from pure white through shades of pink to deep brown-red depending on what species it attempts to emulate.

This powder is usually placed in solution and then used to flavor soy or other vegetable strata cultured to have the consistency of real meat. All of the ASF products offered by TME Industries are completely vegan in nature, which has lead to some rather interesting studies on the eating habits of radical vegetarians.

Public Reaction and Flavors

When TME Industries introduced ASF, there was some controversy initially until fears of cannibalism and such were calmed. Now ASF has stable markets in at least Cetaganda and Scolopendra and niche markets in many other nations.

TME Industries produces these flavors, available for export:

• Ylf (Elf [usually described as a light red meat, like a more delicate beef])
• Hyooman (Human [red meat])
• Sackran (Sakkran [reptilian white meat, tastes like rattlesnake or chicken])
• Dwaagon (Dragon [reptilian reddish meat, somewhere between rattlesnake and beef])
• Fawxgurl and Katgurl (Various Neko [red meat, a little more acidic if predatory variety])
• Oark (Orc [red meat, somewhat bitter and acidic])
• Gawblyn (Goblin [red meat, somewhat sulfrous taste])
• Oompuh Loompuh(Oompa Loompa, non-sophont, produced in association with Vrak)
• Hawrnswagglah (Hornswaggler, non-sophont, produced in association with Vrak)

References

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