FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Products
Yes, starting in late March 2023, all Yishi pouches will be made with cane sugar, instead of the combination of stevia and erythritol that was previously used.
New flavor oatmeal cups will be made using cane sugar. Existing flavor Oatmeal cups will be transitioned from stevia and erythritol to cane sugar in Summer/Fall 2023.
Product pages on our website will reflect the ingredients list of the version currently for sale. And if you have any more questions, feel free to reach out to customerservice@yishifoods.com
1. It tastes better. We are a small oatmeal brand trying to gain market share in a market dominated by a Goliath. In this environment, we can’t afford to have anything but the best tasting product. No matter what we did, we couldn’t make a version with stevia taste as good as one without.
2. First capture the big market, then capture the smaller ones. Our plan is to grow bigger with a mass-market (cane sugar) product, then when we have the ability, expand to product lines for specific needs (like zero added sugar). If we stick with zero-added-sugar, we may never grow big enough to make multiple lines.
3. Focus on flavors (and new products!). Reviews and surveys tell us that what people like most about Yishi are the unique, delicious, Asian-inspired flavors. As a majority-Asian and dessert-loving team, we think we do this well! In-house we can come up with fun new flavors, and even new products that use those flavors. (Helmed by our one-woman R&D team, Elena!) Trying to also formulate for zero added sugar is harder, and it takes resources away from what we do best, which is fun flavors in breakfast (and beyond!).
4. We’ll still be healthy. Our oatmeals are still made with whole grains and seeds, no artificial ingredients, and with a good dose of protein and fiber. And we’ll continue being vegan and gluten-free. We use less added sugar than other oatmeals on the shelf because ingredients like coconut, mango, and taro offer natural sweetness. Hopefully a little added sugar is okay in comparison to all the other benefits our products can provide.
Yes and yes!
All Yishi products are vegan, as well as non-GMO and free of most allergens (check packaging).
Additionally, all of our oats are certified Gluten-Free and processed in a certified Gluten-Free facility so that you can enjoy purposeful food and peace of mind.
Toasted Black Sesame contains soy, sesame, and walnuts. Taro Bubble Tea, Matcha Latte, Mango & Cream and Chocolate Chili contain coconut.
Additionally, all Yishi products are certified Gluten-Free and vegan, and therefore do not include ingredients like wheat, eggs, or dairy.
Please be sure to carefully review the ingredients and nutritional information for any Yishi product before consuming. Detailed ingredient lists and nutritional value information can be found on the appropriate product page for each Yishi product.
We recommend preparing Yishi oats with hot water, but you can also microwave or use them to make overnight oats!
• To prepare Yishi oats with hot water, simply remove the lid and add 1/3 cup of hot water (or 1/4 cup water for a 1/3 cup pouch serving). Stir well and replace the lid. Let stand for 3-4 minutes before eating and then enjoy!
• To microwave Yishi oats, remove the plastic lid entirely. Add 1/3 cup of cold water and microwave for 30-45 seconds (times may vary depending on microwave used). Caution, oats may be hot! Let cool for 3-4 minutes before enjoying.
• For overnight Yishi oats, simply remove the lid, add 1/3 cup water, and stir. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight!
Want to mix things up? Try preparing Yishi oats with any of the above methods using plant-based milk instead of water!
Matcha Latte contains 11-17 mg of caffeine per serving (about 1/6th cup of coffee), and Taro Bubble Tea contains 47 mg (about ½ cup of coffee). Chocolate chili contains traces amounts of caffeine.
We initially chose to use stevia and erythritol to support those customers who are looking to limit their sugar intake for health reasons like diabetes.
However, given customer feedback, we are transitioning our products away from those ingredients. Starting late March 2023, all pouches will be made with cane sugar instead. New flavor oatmeal cups will also be made with cane sugar. Existing flavor oatmeal cups will be transitioned from stevia and erythritol to cane sugar in Summer/Fall 2023.
Our current products with no added sugar are our oatmeal cups for flavors Taro Bubble Tea, Matcha Latte, and Toasted Black Sesame. In those products we use stevia and erythritol for a lightly sweetened taste without any spike to blood sugar.
We do not currently have any products that are completely unsweetened.
Detailed ingredient lists and nutritional value information can be found on the appropriate product page for each Yishi product.
Our products are all manufactured in the United States. We source as many of our ingredients domestically as possible, over 70%.
Those that cannot be sourced domestically, like Taro and Matcha, are responsibly sourced from their home countries in order to ensure freshness and quality. In fact, we are one of only a few companies to use real taro powder (most boba shops use artificial taro, for ease of sourcing and cost reasons.)
Yishi packaging is made from at least 35% post-consumer fiber, the most sustainable packaging material that we can source domestically! Unfortunately, due to the material required for hot food cups (a combination of plastic and paper), our packaging is not backyard compostable or recyclable in most communities.
General
Yishi is the only Asian-inspired oatmeal brand on the market! Our flavors are delicious, unique, and packed with high-quality gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO ingredients in order to provide you with a nutritious breakfast.
Both our name and our food philosophy come from our Asian heritage and the traditional Chinese practice of food as medicine. We believe that what you eat really matters, and have carefully selected ingredients for our oats that provide real, wholesome nutrition, without compromising bold, Asian-inspired flavor.
Toasted Black Sesame: rich, nutty black sesame, hearty like peanut butter Taro Bubble Tea: earthy taro and sweet black tea, along with creamy coconut Matcha Latte: sweet, grassy matcha and creamy coconut
Yishi products are currently sold at Whole Foods, as well as many local retailers across the United States, including Von's, Jewel Osco, Mariano's, Safeway in SoCal, and more. Check out our store locator to find the store nearest to you! Can’t find your preferred store? Reach out to our team directly at sales@yishifoods.com with your preferred store’s name and address and we’ll do our best to bring Yishi to you!
Reach out to our team directly at sales@yishifoods.com with you preferred store’s name and address and we’ll do our best to bring Yishi to you!
Be sure to sign-up for our email newsletter at the bottom of this page to stay in the know about any special promotions or deals.
We also publish promotions and Yishi giveaways on our social media channels. Like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok @yishifoods to stay in the loop!
Please reach out to our sales team at sales@yishifoods.com. We’ll be in touch soon!
Thank you for your interest! Please reach out directly to our team at hello@yishifoods.com with your best contact information, why you're interested in Yishi, and your media kit. We will follow up if it seems like a good fit!
Shipping, Orders, Refunds, Contact and Policies
To modify or cancel your Yishi subscription, simply login with your account at yishifoods.com/account to make your desired changes.
Don’t have an account? Register on our website to manage your existing orders and subscriptions!
Please note: When registering, you MUST use the email you used for your subscription order.
To cancel an online order after it has been placed, please reach out directly to our team at customerservice@yishifoods.com with your Name and Order Number, as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate your request, but may not be able to cancel if your order has already been fulfilled.
When your order is ready to ship, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with a tracking number. Most orders are shipped within 2 business days of placing your order (Monday through Friday) and arrive within 2-6 business days of shipping.
For easier access, Login or Sign-Up at yishifoods.com/account to manage existing orders and see tracking information!
Please note that it may take up to 24 hours for tracking numbers to become active. Some circumstances (payment issues, incorrect shipping address, stock) may cause your delivery to be delayed. In these circumstances, we will notify you of the delay!
Unfortunately shipping costs have gone up greatly since we launched in June 2021. This has made it impossible for us to profitably ship orders outside of the U.S.
For Alaska and Hawaii, we need to pass shipping costs on to customers or it would be prohibitively expensive for us to ship there.
We encourage Hawaii and Alaska customers to check our store locator to see if products are available at a store near them - we are adding more stores every month! And we are always evaluating new shipping options so hopefully someday we can open up free shipping to more customers!
Oh no! Please reach out directly to our team at customerservice@yishifoods.com with your Name and Order Number and we will do our best to address this issue.
Please note that in order to receive a refund or replacement, you are required to provide proof of purchase in the form of an Order Number / Receipt. Gift cards cannot be replaced or refunded. We will update you on the status of your request once we have reviewed it. Any refunds will be automatically returned to the original purchase method.
We’re sorry that things didn’t work out. Because of COVID-19, all consumable products (whether or not they have been opened) are final sale and cannot be returned. Please reach out directly to our team at customerservice@yishifoods.com with your Name and Order Number to inquire about a refund.
We offer refunds for the following:
• Damaged, defective, or incorrect items
• Products that are expired when you receive them
• Products with damaged packaging or evidence of tampering
Please note that in order to receive a refund or replacement, you are required to provide proof of purchase in the form of an Order Number / Receipt. Gift cards cannot be returned or refunded. We will update you on the status of your request once we have reviewed it. Any refunds will be automatically returned to the original purchase method.
We love hearing from you! If you would like to give us feedback about your experiences with Yishi, please email us at customerservice@yishifoods.com. We’re looking forward to reading it!