A thermostable TAL enzyme was identified from the fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, which has high activity at temperatures of 40.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C. The enzyme was produced in engineered cells and used for production of para-hydroxycinnamic acid (pHCA) from tyrosine. When the pHCA production reaction was run at high temperature, the enzyme was more active and pHCA was produced more rapidly, making the reaction more efficient.