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Vegansus 

In the modern world, we are seeing a lot of vegan alternatives, from vegan bacon to attempts to create a vegan egg. Many of these are controversial, with vegans often finding themselves on one side of the debate or the other. One of the biggest arguments against these vegan alternatives is that they are often nothing like the real thing. For example, ask many vegans and others cutting down on their animal products what they think of <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/vegan-artisan-cheese-worth-treating-yourself-to" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">vegan cheese</a>, and the answers will usually be far from positive. Cheese being wiped out by a delicious vegan alternative is certainly not going to happen in the near future.&nbsp; However, one vegan alternative that’s becoming increasingly commonplace that we think should be the only option going forward with immediate effect is… the ring doughnut! From <a href="https://www.krispykreme.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Krispy Kreme</a> to <a href="https://www.greggs.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Greggs</a>, many companies have started offering vegan alternatives to their range of sweet treats. But is there also really a need for a non-vegan ring doughnut once you offer a plant-based one? <h2>What makes a ring doughnut not vegan?</h2>A ring doughnut is typically not vegan due to the use of eggs. Much like with cake products, eggs are often used in commercial doughnut batter and it’s a relatively cheap ingredient.&nbsp; While some doughnuts may contain dairy products such as milk or butter, eggs are the main culprit in making these delicious baked goods not vegan-friendly. <h2>What are some egg replacement options?</h2>There are a number of ingredients that can replace eggs, depending on what you’re making. For example, in savoury dishes, <a href="https://www.elephantasticvegan.com/kala-namak/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">kala namak</a> can provide a egg-like flavour in savoury dishes. When it comes to sweet products, like cakes and doughnuts, a common ingredient used as an egg replacement is aquafaba. Aquafaba is a viscous liquid obtained from chickpeas. It serves as a versatile vegan egg substitute mainly due to its ability to mimic the properties of egg whites. It can be whipped into peaks, used as a binder, or added to recipes as a substitute for eggs in various culinary applications, including <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/the-5-best-vegan-doughnuts-from-across-the-uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">vegan doughnuts</a>. <h2>The future of ring doughnuts</h2>As one of the biggest reasons people may avoid a vegan alternative to their favourite food taste, it’s clear that there is no reason for all ring doughnuts not to be vegan. With over <a href="https://www.jellybeancreative.co.uk/2019/05/01/trade-pr-agency-the-history-of-doughnuts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">60 million doughnuts</a> sold in the UK, imagine the impact we could have if all ring doughnuts no longer contained animal products. From vegan alternatives to restaurant reviews and everything in between, why not take a look at our <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/category/food-and-drink" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">food &amp; drink</a> section?

Variety of multicoloured ring vegan doughnuts with a variety of toppings such as sprinkles and almonds

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Why all ring doughnuts should be vegan doughnuts

Podcasts are the perfect way to unwind. Whether you listen in the shower, in the car or on your lunch break, many of us listen to podcasts to learn more about our favourite topics. With so many vegan podcasts out there, there's a wealth of information about vegan news, lifestyle, nutrition and more. We have selected five of the best vegan podcasts that we'd love to share with you: <h2>The ChickPeeps Vegan Podcast</h2><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/31OhYo0najDNSIZteTbKk1?si=fk-M629BQZeLwAiToPkrOQ&amp;utm_source=copy-link" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The ChickPeeps Vegan Podcast</a> is one of our favourite vegan podcasts on Spotify. Hosted by Harry Potter actress <a href="https://instagram.com/evannalynch?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Evanna Lynch</a> and her co-hosts <a href="https://instagram.com/oh_momoko?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Momoko Hill</a>, <a href="https://instagram.com/robbjarvis?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Robbie Jarvis</a> and <a href="https://instagram.com/tylorstarr?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Tylor Starr</a>, this fun podcast discusses their philosophies, challenges and opinions on living the vegan lifestyle. Top pick: Listen to “<a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1pv6GlXKOl48zw0z4kbiTP?si=f5QbVuNfT72ExYOzf-h80w" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The Future of Fashion is Vegan</a><a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1pv6GlXKOl48zw0z4kbiTP?si=f5QbVuNfT72ExYOzf-h80w" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">” with Joshua Katcher</a>. <h2>The Disclosure Podcast</h2>One of the leading voices in vegan education, TEDx speaker and content creator Ed Winters, better known as <a href="https://instagram.com/earthlinged?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Earthling Ed</a>, hosts <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4O6snBhYYWQp90MVoBDSrq?si=MClZ5LCzQLCg99MdL-VYXQ&amp;utm_source=copy-link" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Disclosure</a>, a vegan podcast discussing veganism, morality, ethics, communication, the environment and current events. Top pick: Listen to episode one “<a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6HQCnXJHWg3umQfQ56AgHW?si=KpElVb0WQ6OKKv1OJLpFlQ&amp;utm_source=copy-link" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The Media Bias Against Veganism</a>” examining how veganism is portrayed in the media. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1684756834/E71601_C3_6_B66_4_C79_A465_7_DAED_6_E47221_ef443f2fdd.png" alt="Picture of Ed Winters (Earthling Ed) smiling with a dark background">Paul Vincent Photography <h2>The Minimalist Vegan Podcast</h2>Best-selling authors and bloggers Michael and Maša Ofei host <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/79LS5ueX3qE8CgKc5gJpIM?si=MjDdO8BrSO-4J5tv1feQsg&amp;utm_source=copy-link" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The Minimalist Vegan</a> podcast on Spotify, exploring veganism, minimalism and zero-waste lifestyle. Top pick: Listen to <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/06gGz4EeHCEXsQOyRwTfwq?si=hGR62E6oScuUIGa9GE4LIw&amp;utm_source=copy-link" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">their vegan origin story</a>. <h2>Vegan Body Coach Podcast</h2>Certified Nutritionist, PT and podcast host <a href="https://instagram.com/veganbody.coach?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Jaxon Burton</a>, aka <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/5RJ4FRxSjiTvOXO9YEBAZE?si=APqDC-JwQ2qZFOvye8SL2Q&amp;utm_source=copy-link" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Vegan Body Coach</a>, presents an evidence-based conversation with experts to bring you educational content about vegan fitness, nutrition and more. This is definitely one of the best vegan podcasts that covers all things health and fitness. Top pick: Listen to Jaxon talk about <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/4pZpxszcCvBQ5CSKEmYm6O?si=F1PzcCGGR_iJHGraMp-yig" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">weight stigma and intuitive eating</a> with Dr. Gabrielle Fundaro. <h2>The Bloody Vegans Podcast</h2><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0wc3vFWrFJUahZdVmAOnff?si=QHGNX88wQXO4ph7SNUWzXg&amp;utm_source=copy-link" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The Bloody Vegans</a> is a topical podcast, bringing you regular interviews with voices from across the vegan community. Top pick: Listen to a discussion with <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/7zSm37kxULkNQns1nWDhqe?si=Q6AXpt_4QsyLQlMmlur19A&amp;utm_source=copy-link" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Cruelty Free International CEO Michelle Thew</a>. Time to unwind after all that learning! If you still have your headphones on, why not discover some <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/vegan-music-legends" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">vegan music legends</a> which are well worth sticking on repeat.

Image of smiling woman (Evanna Lynch) holding a microphone

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5 captivating vegan podcasts worth tuning into

Here at V-Land UK we are constantly searching high and low to find you the best places to travel to, and on this occasion we have focused on the high, visiting this amazing little vegan B&amp;B in the Scottish Highlands. <h2>Welcome</h2><a href="https://instagram.com/greenstonelodge?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Greenstone Lodge</a> sits in the Bridge of Orchy in Argyll and Bute, and is on the famous 96 mile long hiking path of the West Highland Way. Many people arrive at this Highland B&amp;B on foot after a long day's walk and are lucky enough to be greeted with a slice of delicious homemade vegan cake - all of the food provided is fully vegan, they even request non-vegan products to not be brought on site. We travelled to Greenstone Lodge by car, with a parking space provided, and were very relieved to discover we still got the cake!&nbsp;<h2>Discovering the local area</h2>Once you’re loaded up on cake, it’s a good time to explore the stunning scenery on your doorstep. As you leave the front door you will immediately find yourself on the West Highland Way with possibilities of going in either direction. If you go right, over the Bridge that gives the village its name, you keep travelling uphill for around a mile and a half and are rewarded with the breath-taking sight of the surrounding Munros and the views down to Loch Tulla, you can then descend into nearby Inveroran and walk back past the loch and along the river Orchy. For the even more adventurous you can head left and within 3 minutes be at the foot of Beinn Dorain, a Munro measuring a height of 1076m, only 9 metres shy of Mount Snowdon. <h2>Dining at Greenstone Lodge</h2>Once you have built up your appetite it’s a perfect time to head back to the room, the rooms are quirky, stylish and cosy and come complete with their own personal dining area. We had chosen to eat there that evening, and it’s tricky not to immediately turn your attention to the menu board in the hallway to start trying to choose which dish to go for. Fortunately whilst we were deciding we were able to nibble on the homemade Scottish shortbread and slurp the Scottish roasted coffee provided in the room. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1684752013/Image_1_45_pic_2_9f3150b629.png" alt="Interior of a cosy B&amp;B room with a bed with pillows, wooden table and chairs, warm lighting and green walls">Greenstone Lodge The menu is always changing and offers plant-based takes on Scottish classics, such as haggis and white pudding bon bons, with whisky sauce and a raspberry chilli chutney, and also dishes from further afield such as the smoked tofu saganaki with lemon roast potatoes and a cucumber mint salad. You can choose either a two course meal at £25 per person, or three courses at £30. The dinners are hearty, wonderfully presented and taste marvellous: prepared by B&amp;B co-owner Chris, who was a head chef before opening Greenstone Lodge with Hayley. Almost every element of the food at Greenstone Lodge is homemade by the pair, which makes your stay at this cosy vegan B&amp;B even more of a unique experience.&nbsp;<h2>Breakfasts</h2>After a great night’s sleep you’ll need a solid breakfast to fuel your adventures, and the offerings won’t disappoint, with the option of going for the full Scottish: including haggis, Lorne sausage, and potato scone or the continental: featuring cinnamon buns, granola, fruits and plant-based charcuterie and cheese. There is also a constantly changing special, which whilst we were there was ‘Lorne Order’, two homemade Lorne sausage patties with melted cheese and brown sauce in a sourdough bun, which was as mouth-watering as it sounds. There is even a breakfast baguette available to take away for anyone who either wants to leave very early or who doesn’t do breakfast. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1684752209/Image_2_4_pic_3_4d4cb04c0d.png" alt="Vegan breakfast from Greenstone Lodge consisting of granola, apple, cherries, tomatoes, brioche and bread on a wooden board">Greenstone Lodge The food doesn’t necessarily need to stop at breakfast though, and for £15 you can order a packed lunch including even more homemade plant-based goodies such as pie, tart or calzone and a very generously sized slab of flapjack.&nbsp;<h2>Highland adventures</h2>Once your bellies are full and you head outside you’ll no doubt agree with us that The Bridge of Orchy is the perfect place to base yourself to explore this beautiful part of the world. Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak towering 1345m into the sky, is just 40 miles away, the same distance as Oban where you can catch a boat to various Scottish Islands or visit a whisky distillery. Just 12 miles away is the Glencoe Mountain Ski Resort, which is Scotland’s oldest, where you can ski, snowboard and sledge in the winter and mountain bike or go tubing in the summer. If you’re travelling without a car you can still easily get around as there’s a train station in the village with direct trains to Glasgow, Fort William, and Oban, or alternatively a bus which picks up and drops off at many of the tourist destinations. Although we were there in April and had fantastic weather, from previous experience Autumn is our favourite season to visit the Highlands with the seasonal foliage, and the rooms would feel cosier. Even if you get caught in a downpour, which can happen in this part of the world, rest assured that waiting for you back at your B&amp;B is your own personal outdoor clothes drying cabinet and some more of that amazing plant-based food. If you’re visiting Scotland check out <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/edinburgh-and-glasgow-s-best-vegan-food" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">our guide to Edinburgh and Glasgow’s best vegan food</a>.

Man walking over a bridge (Bridge of Orchy) in the Scottish Highlands with a B&B in the background nestled beneath the mountains, trees and clouds

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Greenstone Lodge: Cosy vegan B&B nestled in the Scottish Highlands

With Glastonbury looming and BBQ season in full swing, here at V-Land UK we have your back and can give our recommendations for the best festival drinks - both alcoholic and alcohol-free companions for those long summer evenings. Whether you’re in the back garden or away at a festival, here are the top five vegan beer (and cider!) offerings. (Please note that due to local minimum unit pricing laws, the price of alcoholic products may differ in Wales or Scotland, and all prices are correct at the point of publication.) <h2>Jubel (alcoholic and gluten-free)</h2>Starting off strongly, we have <a href="https://instagram.com/jubelbeer?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Jubel</a> which offers lager cut with peach, elderflower, blood orange, or grapefruit. This lager is gluten-free* and carbon-neutral; Jubel actively work towards a more <a href="https://jubelbeer.com/pages/sustainability" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">sustainable future</a>, demonstrating this by working with carbon removal projects such as enhanced weathering, biochar, soil sequestration, and reforestation. We previously tried their peach lager at the Allergen and Free From Show in 2022, and it became a staple for our festival endeavours. We have found that Jubel works perfectly as a session drink or as a great way to kick off a night of celebration. Available at: Sainsburys, Waitrose. Cost: Roughly £6.50 for a pack of four beers in supermarkets but you can buy cases of 12, 24, or 48 directly from the <a href="https://jubelbeer.com/products/can" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Jubel website</a>. Alcohol content: 4% <h2>Freestar (non-alcoholic and gluten-free)</h2><a href="https://instagram.com/freestar?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Freestar</a> are next on the list with an IPA brewed with Magnum, Mosaic, and Amarillo hops which provide a tantalisingly delicious juicy, bright beer which is dry, crisp, and full of flavour. It lacks the fruitiness of the Jubel and is more of a traditional IPA. Freestar are a completely alcohol and gluten-free brand also focusing on <a href="https://freestar.co/pages/beyond-beer-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">sustainability</a>. As they are alcohol-free, they don’t need to go through the de-alcoholisation process meaning they emit 50% less CO2, use 75% less water, 60% less energy, and create 40% less waste than traditional methods, and are the first alcohol-free beer to become B-Corp certified. Available at: Tesco, Sainsburys, Ocado, Amazon. Cost: Roughly £1.80 a bottle or 12 cans cost £24.95 on the <a href="https://freestar.co/products/extratimeipa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Freestar website</a>. Alcohol content: 0.5% <h2>Beavertown Neck Oil (alcoholic, gluten-containing)</h2><a href="https://instagram.com/beavertownbeer?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Beavertown</a> are a modern, trendy beer company offering IPA, APA, craft lager, low-alcohol, and no-alcohol but for the sake of this article, we will focus on the beer we would recommend for a session IPA - Neck Oil. Fondly named after Founder Logan’s grandfather, who would often refer to visiting the local watering hole as “oiling his neck”.&nbsp;With hops of Columbus, Centennial, Simcoe, Amarillo, Galaxy, Vic Secret, and Mosaic, it is a beautifully balanced IPA which is certainly perfect for oiling your neck! Available at: Most large supermarkets. Cost: Roughly £8 for a case of four lagers, or you can get cases of 12 or 24 from the <a href="https://beavertownbrewery.co.uk/products/neck-oil-session-ipa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Beavertown website</a>. Alcohol content: 4.3% <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1685296384/Whats_App_Image_2023_05_28_at_18_02_06_514926af89.jpg" alt="Colourful can on Beavertown Neck Oil IPA on a yellow background">Beavertown <h2>Brothers Festival Apple Cider (alcoholic and gluten-free)</h2><a href="https://instagram.com/brotherscider?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Brothers</a> have knocked it out of the park with their Festival Apple Cider. Officially the <a href="https://brotherscider.co.uk/collections/all-products/products/festival-apple-cider-440ml-20pk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Cider of Glastonbury Festival</a>, it’s not hard to taste why, for this is made with the juiciest, more bittersweet Somerset apples which are so incredibly full of flavour. It has a lighter apple taste than a standard cider, and compared to most ciders, it is incredibly soft on the palate making it very easy to drink. Every Brothers cider is certified as vegan by The Vegan Society and has rapidly become one of our choice of drinks, especially when paired with live music. Available at: Tesco, Asda, Morrisons. Cost: £20 for 20 cans from the <a href="https://brotherscider.co.uk/collections/all-products/products/festival-apple-cider-440ml-20pk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Brothers website</a>. Alcohol content: 5% <h2>Fungtn (non-alcoholic and listed as ‘gluten-free reduction’)</h2><a href="https://instagram.com/fungtn.brewing?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Fungtn</a> have created a range of mushroom beers using functional mushrooms: lion’s mane, shiitake and reishi. Quite simply, this is a non-alcoholic beer designed to improve cognitive function, and improve mind, body, and spirit. Mushrooms are used frequently in food, but they also have additional uses, especially when it comes to traditional medicine, wellness, and recreational purposes. The use of mushrooms in beer is something relatively new, and the mushrooms create a darker, earthier flavour, which when paired with the hops, creates a taste sensation. You aren’t able to taste the mushrooms, but you can definitely notice the dark, earthy undertones.&nbsp; Available at: <a href="https://www.fungtn.com/stockists" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Select independent stockists</a> and directly. Cost: £33.60 for 12 cans from the <a href="https://www.fungtn.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Fungtn website</a>. Alcohol content: 0.5% (or less) Whatever your plans are for the summer, we hope that we’ve helped you narrow down some of the best vegan, gluten-free, non-alcohol, and alcohol-containing drinks to get you through. We are covering Download Festival next week so keep your eyes peeled for more festival content! If you’re in need of more festival content, why not check out <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/the-vegan-guide-to-boomtown-festival" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">the vegan guide to Boomtown Festival</a>, and if you’re wondering what the astonishing health benefits of mushrooms are, check out our article on <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/fabulous-fungi-astonishing-health-benefits-of-mushrooms" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">fabulous fungi</a>. *Companies can use the term ‘gluten-free’ for foods that contain 20 parts per million (ppm) or less of gluten. This level has been <a href="https://www.coeliac.org.uk/information-and-support/living-gluten-free/the-gluten-free-diet/food-shopping/law-on-gluten-free/#:~:text=Only%20foods%20that%20contain%2020,can%20be%20labelled%20gluten%20free." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">deemed safe</a> for those with coeliac disease. However, those with severe allergies to gluten may need to be prudent as the products labelled gluten-free could intentionally include a gluten-containing ingredient and then reduce or eliminate the gluten particles to the ‘safe level’.

Six green and white cans of Brothers Festival Apple Cider

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The vegan guide to festival drinks

<a href="https://www.sunshinedelisheffield.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Sunshine Vegan Deli</a> first opened its doors in 2014 and has been serving a completely vegan menu since 2017. Mother and daughter team, Sarah and Leah, run the business from the head office in Sheffield. They create a variety of savoury vegan baked goods, meats and their exciting new vegan boiled eggs. In 2019, due to the global pandemic, the deli was forced to close its physical shop. This allowed them to transition into an online space, which has been their primary business since. They not only cater directly to online customers, but are also linked to 14 other online vegan businesses and regularly make appearances at vegan markets across England.&nbsp; The deli is not only built on the foundation of caring for animals, it is also environmentally conscious and everything it sells is packaged sustainably. Sunshine Vegan Deli also loves making connections with like-minded businesses and customers. Always open to feedback and new ideas, the owners love chatting with people who try their creations. When V-Land went to visit the head office in Sheffield we were fortunate enough to sample a selection of the <a href="https://www.veganchoiceawards.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Vegan Choice Award</a>-winning products on offer. <h2>Vegan pies and meats</h2>Firstly we sampled the <a href="https://www.sunshinedelisheffield.com/product-page/vegan-gyros-style-kebab-turkish-spiced" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Turkish spiced kebab</a>, this seitan based meat alternative was peppery and tender. We tasted it on its own with some veg, but we think it would also be delicious with a pita or in a wrap. Next up we had the opportunity to taste the <a href="https://www.sunshinedelisheffield.com/product-page/vegan-scotch-egg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">plant scotch egg</a> and the <a href="https://www.sunshinedelisheffield.com/product-page/vegan-plant-pork-pie-with-plant-bacon" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">plant pork pie</a> - these would both have been perfect snacks for a vegan picnic. Both faithfully replicated the textures and flavours associated with these treats. The plant pork pie had a light pastry to pair with the hearty filling, to add to this they added some tasty vegan bacon to give it a smoky flavour. The plant scotch egg had a flavoursome outside layer, but the star of the show was the vegan boiled egg in the centre which managed to capture both the texture and flavour of an egg!&nbsp; The deli also offers a range of meat substitutes, including a number of Christmas roasts in the winter which are especially popular.&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1684509942/Image_1_20_74cc3aecc5.png" alt="Sunshine Vegan Deli">Sunshine Vegan Deli <h2>Vegan boiled eggs</h2>The most exciting part of our visit was the chance to try the new <a href="https://www.sunshinedelisheffield.com/product-page/vegan-boiled-eggs-4-whole-eggs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">vegan boiled egg</a> the deli has created. As mentioned with the plant scotch egg, their vegan boiled eggs innovatively recreate the flavour and texture of boiled eggs as we remembered them. It is a very impressive recreation and if anyone is looking for a vegan boiled egg replacement this should absolutely be added to your lists! The team are very proud of what they have produced and are working towards making it more widely available and accessible. The V-Land team already thinks these vegan boiled eggs are a great deal! <h2>Where to find Sunshine Vegan Deli</h2>As well as via <a href="https://www.sunshinedelisheffield.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">their online store</a>, it is also possible to meet the wonderful Sunshine Vegan Deli team at a variety of vegan markets across the UK including those organised by <a href="https://www.farplace.org.uk/farplace-events/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Farplace Events</a> and <a href="https://www.veganeventsuk.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Vegan Events UK</a> as well as a number of smaller local markets in their resident Sheffield. If you get the chance it’s definitely worth visiting them at a market, as they will often bring along special treats including products not available on the website! If you're planning to take some Sunshine Vegan Deli products on a vegan picnic why not check out our <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/vegan-picnic-essentials-pack-the-perfect-vegan-picnic-hamper" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">vegan picnic essentials</a>. Or if you’re looking to have one of their vegan roasts at Christmas why not check out our <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/vegan-christmas-dinner-ideas-that-everyone-can-enjoy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">vegan Christmas ideas</a>!

Vegan meat slices from Sunshine Vegan Deli

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Sunshine Vegan Deli: Vegan eggs and plant meats made with love

Spring is debatably the most beautiful time of year in the UK. Across the nation, birds are tweeting, bees are buzzing, and an array of <a href="https://www.countrylife.co.uk/gardens/a-simple-guide-to-the-wildflowers-of-britain-71271" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 58);">British wildflowers</a> are beginning to bloom. Yet sadly, there is a rising trend spreading an eerie silence throughout the UK, one that not only restricts and harms wildlife but significantly contributes towards the climate crisis; the demand for artificial lawns. 21st-century living has presented humanity with a multitude of cheap, quick-fix options to suit modern-day life, from fast food to fast fashion. And now, anyone looking for a minimalist garden can add a ‘fast garden’ to the check-out, with a plastic carpet ready to be rolled out and installed from as little as twenty pounds per square metre. But, just as fast fashion and fast food may be cheap to purchase, fast grass comes with a multitude of more alarming costs attached. The most pressing issue is that artificial grass is made from polyethylene, a thermoplastic product. As warmer weather approaches, microplastic particles break down, polluting the soil and having devastating effects on any life that it comes into contact with. And it’s not just insect and plant life that is at risk. Artificial grass reaches significantly higher temperatures whilst absorbing radiation.&nbsp; Unlike gardens with natural<a href="https://extension.umn.edu/lawncare/environmental-benefits-healthy-lawns" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 58);"> carbon-absorbing grass</a>, artificial lawns overheat in hot weather, making them a <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6571873/A-gardener-reveals-shocking-truth-artificial-grass-summer.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 58);">health and safety hazard</a>, especially for families with young children and animals. Even more concerning is the list of carcinogenic materials in some plastic grasses used for industrial use. A recent report found the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/mar/10/phillies-ball-players-cancer-artifical-turf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 58);">deaths of six Phillies ball players potentially linked to astro turf</a>. Along with being detrimental to the environment, hazardous to our health, and dangerous for children and animals, an additional issue worth noting is that artificial turf can <a href="https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/garden/designs/a32090592/garden-features-devalue-property-value/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 58);">reduce the value of property</a> by up to 5%. And that’s before taking into account the added costs of maintaining an artificial lawn, many of which can be found in nature writer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jackwallingtonnature/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 58);">Jack Wallington</a>’s <a href="https://www.jackwallington.com/17-reasons-to-avoid-fake-lawns-how-bad-is-artificial-grass-for-the-environment/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 58);">17 reasons to avoid fake lawns</a>. Garden designer <a href="https://instagram.com/capabilitycharlottegardens?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 58);">Charlotte Howard</a> has seen first-hand how the demand for fake grass has grown and recently launched the <a href="https://capabilitycharlotte.com/artificial-grass" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 58);">#TimeForTurf campaign</a>, seeking to debunk the myth that an artificial lawn, is a low-maintenance one. "I specialise in designing gardens for inexperienced gardeners with busy lives, dogs and kids, and I understand how tempting it can be to believe the hype about plastic grass. Most of my clients live in new-build homes with small gardens, poor drainage and dreadful soil and think the only solution is to go plastic, but by covering your space in plastic, you are just replacing one problem with another.&nbsp; The solution lies in improving the overall soil quality. This can be done with topsoil and compost, and by planting trees, shrubs and plants. These will loosen the soil and absorb the water. If there was as much money invested into educating people on how to improve soil, as there is into promoting petrochemicals, then toxic grass would no longer be trendy. I want people to understand <a href="https://capabilitycharlotte.com/TimeForTurf%20Artificial%20Grass%20Report.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 58);">the dangers fake grass comes with</a> and hope that it becomes a thing of the past like asbestos." <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1684509616/Image_1_19_c872c1cd14.png" alt="Person cutting and fitting one of their artificial lawns ">FeelPic/Getty Images The overwhelming mass of life-harming plastic aside, preparation prior to laying artificial turf is greatly detrimental to nature, as natural grass, soil, and plant life are eradicated to make way for plastic grass. <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/04/attenborough-people-s-plan-nature-uk/#:~:text=The%20UK%20is%20one%20of%20the%20most%20nature%2Ddepleted%20countries,in%20the%20past%2050%20years." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 58); background-color: transparent;">The UK has recently been declared one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world</a>, with a quarter of mammals at risk of extinction and the <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/save-the-earth-the-biodiversity-crisis-nobody-is-talking-about" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 58); background-color: transparent;">biodiversity crisis</a> at an all-time high. Recent land use statistics show that the leading cause of our country's rapid decline in nature lies in agriculture, with a whopping <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/land-use-in-england-2022/land-use-statistics-england-2022#:~:text=As%20at%20April%202022%3A,Residential%20gardens'%20(4.9%25)." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 58); background-color: transparent;">63.1% of land used for agricultural use</a>. The increase in <a href="https://www.soilassociation.org/causes-campaigns/reducing-pesticides/the-pesticide-problem/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwr82iBhCuARIsAO0EAZwkNrxv0M4hJIQi-Q-O8SuVfYGqZ2iinYAfRFjqcT3kQK7J5mKdGHQaAiPgEALw_wcB" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 58); background-color: transparent;">pesticides</a> has also been of great detriment to pollinators, insect life, and nature as a whole, with the <a href="https://peoplesplanfornature.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/PPFN-Report-Final%20%282%29.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 58); background-color: transparent;">People’s Plan For Nature</a> calling for an urgent restructuring of how we grow and sustain food and the urgency to begin rewilding the UK. As a nation, the UK has lost 97% of wildflower meadows, leaving a mere 3% for pollinators. Insect life is in <a href="https://www.buglife.org.uk/our-work/b-lines/?gclid=CjwKCAjwjMiiBhA4EiwAZe6jQ-0Tkm5SFZ8QztJlHNKivHnGRVFB57gGaZBTjgLSQxvtq0-4R-1SaBoCzTMQAvD_BwE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 58); background-color: transparent;">major decline</a>, with the lack of natural grasslands and meadows also greatly affecting small mammals. Hedgehogs are facing a <a href="https://www.wwf.org.uk/future-of-uk-nature#:~:text=The%20UK%20is%20one%20of,than%2040%25%20are%20in%20decline." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 58); background-color: transparent;">population loss of 50%</a>, with many creatures we hold dear now suffering from <a href="https://policy.friendsoftheearth.uk/insight/how-well-are-uk-and-eu-protecting-nature" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 58); background-color: transparent;">severe habitat loss</a>. However, even with such dramatic wildlife devastation across the UK, there is hope, as a vast 4.9% of land is in the hands of the general public; in gardens and outdoor spaces. We have an unprecedented <a href="https://www.buglife.org.uk/our-work/b-lines/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 58);">opportunity to provide much needed safe havens for wildlife</a> complete with nutrients and shelter. And, by allowing grass to grow freely, resisting the urge to ‘weed’ and allowing wildflowers to bloom, we can provide urgently needed sustenance for wildlife across the country. And it’s not just flora and fauna that will benefit, humans can reap the rewards too.&nbsp; Grass boasts a multitude of pros, from filtering air, trapping and absorbing smoke, dust, and pollutants, to absorbing sound and reducing noise pollution. From a mental health perspective, natural spaces are proven to reduce stress and improve our general wellbeing too. In fact, <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/grounding#benefits" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 58);">grounding for just fifteen minutes a day</a> (standing barefoot on natural ground) may help improve symptoms of fatigue, chronic pain, anxiety and depression, sleep disorders and hypertension. With so many pros in grass’s favour, and the never-ending list of cons going against artificial lawns, the option to <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/welcome-wildlife-to-your-garden/?channel=paidsearch&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwr82iBhCuARIsAO0EAZx5BCaYHFLKIlr0x2hL-jBMezUmIQZojUXGhtDBEj2r6nq9mS2Yy5gaAiALEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 58);">rewild our gardens</a> is an exciting opportunity that everyone can benefit from. Embrace a little of Mother Nature’s wildness this spring and allow grass to grow. Better yet, go that step further and consider taking part in <a href="https://www.plantlife.org.uk/campaigns/nomowmay/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwr82iBhCuARIsAO0EAZxwfpqNoE3Mfg06PmjFSfz-ri88bmOG5shiyhaq_5KO4UqJCp1vjeYaAn6xEALw_wcB" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 58);">Plant Life</a>’s <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/no-mow-may-help-nature-this-earth-day-and-let-it-grow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 58);">no mow May</a>, to truly give wildlife a much-needed boost this spring. Join V-Land in welcoming wildlife back into our green spaces with open arms this year and every year to come. As <a href="https://www.instagram.com/davidattenborough/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 58); background-color: transparent;">Sir David Attenborough</a> so eloquently stated, “To restore stability to our planet we must restore biodiversity. The very thing we've removed. It's the only way out of this crisis we've created. We must rewild the world.” Now we’ve addressed the problems with artificial lawns, the next pressing issue is the state of our soil. To find out more on this important topic read: <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/save-the-earth-the-biodiversity-crisis-nobody-is-talking-about" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 58);">save the earth: the biodiversity crisis nobody is talking about</a>.

Garden bursting with a variety of different coloured plants and flowers 

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Is it time to ditch artificial lawns and let gardens rewild?

Pack your umbrella and get ready for a trip to the rainy city! V-Land UK are spending 72 hours in Manchester and we're taking you along with us. We hope this handy little vegan travel guide can provide you with lots of inspiration for things to do when you visit the capital of the North.&nbsp; <h2>Where to stay</h2>Manchester has plenty of options when it comes to vegan-friendly hotel stays to suit all budgets. <a href="https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/search.html?searchModel.searchTerm=Manchester,%20UK&amp;VIEW=2&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwnvOaBhDTARIsAJf8eVMPcsnujnH2ApVtz4KAF-R_Py0r7kavwV-yBTFMp1MEPxuWcXgxUT0aApgcEALw_wcB&amp;cid=KNC_Brn%7C_G_UK_UK_Eng_Enc_Brand-Destinations_LO_Greater-Manchester_EX&amp;mckv=sw6kRpjqF_dm%7Cpcrid%7C626315821349%7Ckword%7Cpremier%20inn%20manchester%7Cmatch%7Ce%7Cplid%7C%7Cpgrid%7C45371038979%7Cptaid%7Ckwd-302034880211%7C&amp;s_kwcid=AL!9693!3!626315821349!e!!g!!premier%20inn%20manchester!902402579!45371038979&amp;ef_id=Cj0KCQjwnvOaBhDTARIsAJf8eVMPcsnujnH2ApVtz4KAF-R_Py0r7kavwV-yBTFMp1MEPxuWcXgxUT0aApgcEALw_wcB:G:s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Premier Inn</a>’s famous all you can eat breakfast now has vegan options, including Garden Gourmet Cumberland sausages with their traditional hash browns, beans, cooked grilled tomatoes and mushrooms. <a href="https://www.millenniumhotels.com/en/manchester/copthorne-hotel-manchester/?cid=gplaces-copthorne-hotel-manchester#/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Copthorne Hotel</a> in <a href="https://www.visitmanchester.com/things-to-see-and-do/explore/the-quays" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Salford Quays</a> serves vegan options in their restaurant, including a sandwich, pasta dishes, a burger and dessert. <a href="https://www.themidlandhotel.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The Midland Hotel</a>, located near <a href="https://manchesterartgallery.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Manchester Art Gallery</a> and a short walk to the <a href="https://manchesterarndale.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Arndale Shopping Centre</a> offers a vegan afternoon tea starting at £30 per person. <h2>Breakfast options</h2>If your hotel doesn't have the breakfast options you'd like, don't skip the most important meal of the day! You'll notice it's very easy to find vegan food in Manchester. Make your first morning truly memorable by visiting <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hamptonandvouis/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">HAMPTON &amp; VOÚIS</a> for a stack of their vegan pancakes. Choose from Jammie Dodger, Lotus Biscuit, Biscoff and Bueno or Vegan Nutella and Bourbon Biscuit stacks. If sweet treats in the morning aren't for you they also make delicious avocado toast, housemade beans on toast or peanut butter, banana, apple and cinnamon porridge. If you fancy a fry-up, head to the <a href="https://northernquartermanchester.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Northern Quarter</a> and visit <a href="https://instagram.com/thekoffeepot?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Koffee Pot</a> for a hearty breakfast including tofu scramble and GoodLife vegan sausages with all the trimmings!&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1684509272/Image_1_18_3a22074245.png" alt="Vegan Jammie Dodger pancakes with ice cream and strawberries on a grey plate from HAMPTON &amp; VOÚIS"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/hamptonandvouis/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">HAMPTON &amp; VOÚIS</a> <h2>Day one</h2>On day one it's easy to find something to do in Manchester. We previously mentioned Manchester Art Gallery, which serves vegan food in their <a href="https://manchesterartgallery.org/the-gallery-cafe/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Café</a>. Manchester is also home to the <a href="https://www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Museum of Science and Industry</a> where you can browse exhibits and experiment in their <a href="https://www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/experiment" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">interactive gallery</a>. For shopping, visit <a href="https://instagram.com/afflecks_manchester?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Afflecks</a> in the Northern Quarter to find vintage clothing and slow fashion, vegan cosmetics from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/soapyjafflecks/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Soapy J</a> and more. <h2>Day two</h2>On day two if you're feeling adventurous, on a tram ride from Manchester to Didsbury, you will find <a href="http://www.fletchermossgardens.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Fletcher Moss Park &amp; Parsonage Gardens</a><a href="http://www.fletchermossgardens.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</a> The park is named after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletcher_Moss_Botanical_Garden" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Alderman Fletcher Moss</a>, who donated the park to the city of Manchester in 1915. Enjoy nature in all its splendour with free entry, and the <a href="https://www.chefandbrewer.com/pubs/lancashire/didsbury/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Didsbury</a> pub nearby has a large amount of vegan options on their menu, a thoughtfully selected variety including soup, curry, mushroom and ale pie, salad and a burger.&nbsp; Manchester's <a href="https://tfgm.com/public-transport/tram" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Metrolink</a> is easy to navigate and was named one of the best tram networks in the world in 2019. Perfect for vegan travel on your quest to find more restaurants outside of the city. Do your research; there are many! <h2>Day three</h2>On day three, if you're not too full after breakfast, we'd suggest checking out <a href="https://instagram.com/grubmcr?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Grub</a> a 15-20 minute walk from the city centre and not far from the Arena: a street food venue which holds <a href="https://www.grubmcr.com/plantpoweredsundays" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Plant Powered Sundays</a> each week with all-vegan food vendors (which is exactly how we discovered some of the best vegan food in Manchester!). If you're staying in Manchester city centre, particularly if you're going to a gig at <a href="https://ao-arena.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Manchester Arena</a>, visiting <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wholesomejunkies/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Wholesome Junkies</a>, located near Victoria Station is a must! Deep fried chick'n wings, messy burgers, loaded fries and a range of desserts including the best vegan cakes in the biz from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/teatimecollective/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Teatime Collective</a>, you can catch them at the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/northernquartermakersmarket/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Northern Quarter Makers Market</a> on the second Sunday of each month for vegan cakes, doughnuts, brownies and more. <a href="https://www.themakersmarket.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The Makers Market</a> usually has a couple of vegan food options and often has sustainable arts, crafts and vintage clothing. Getting your <a href="https://www.instagram.com/purezza/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Purezza</a> fix in the Northern Quarter or heading to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thevurgerco/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The Vurger Co</a>. are more delicious evening meal options. If you're looking for something a little more up-market, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/allotmentvegan/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The Allotment Vegan Eatery</a> offers vegan tasting menus, small and large plates with cocktails, a vegan drinks menu, and a wine list. <h2>What to do at night</h2>Manchester's nightlife is vibrant and there truly is something for everyone. Whether you decide to visit one of the city's theatres, take in some live music at a music venue large or small or head to a bar or club you'll never be without a place to go! We find most bars in the city are helpful when asked for help selecting vegan drinks and many bars have vegan small plates and bar snacks. We would recommend checking out what's on at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mattandphreds/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Matt &amp; Phreds</a> jazz club in the Northern Quarter, at happy hour if you buy two selected drinks (see the menu on their <a href="https://mattandphreds.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">website</a>) you get a free pizza which they can make vegan for you. <a href="https://dirtymartini.uk.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Dirty Martini</a> on Deansgate also have a great selection of vegan cocktails and snacks.&nbsp; Have we missed your favourite Manchester hangout? Comment on Instagram and tell us where to go next time! If you enjoyed our vegan travel guide to exploring Manchester, we think you'll love checking out <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/edinburgh-and-glasgow-s-best-vegan-food" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Edinburgh and Glasgow's best vegan food</a> and <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/animal-tourism-how-to-practice-it-ethically" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">animal tourism: how to practice it ethically</a>.

Vegan burger with vegan cheese, lettuce and onion rings in front of a Wholesome Junkies sign 

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Best way to spend 72 hours as a vegan in Manchester


Peter and Lizzie (husband and wife team) founded <a href="https://woovve.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">WOOVVE®</a> (The World of Organic, Vegetarian, Vegan and Eco) in 2022. It all started from a deep personal journey back in 2018 when Peter was sadly diagnosed with lymphoma cancer. Peter went through intensive chemotherapy and fought hard to beat his illness, which thankfully he did.&nbsp;As a result, we researched the causes of lymphoma and a lot of what we found was all about fertilisers and chemicals sprayed and added to the food we all eat. Whilst already being vegetarian, we immediately switched to an organic diet and lifestyle.&nbsp;In 2020, we were blessed with our baby girl and wanted to ensure she did not encounter any nasty chemicals. We began to research where to buy organic, chemical-free baby products including the cot, bedding, clothing, car seats, nappies, washing powder etc.&nbsp;&nbsp;After spending hours, days, weeks, and months researching products, we had the lightbulb moment and wanted to create a website to showcase and list these products and make it easy for people to shop organically and ethically without others spending the same time trying to find them too.&nbsp;Soon after WOOVVE was born!&nbsp;&nbsp;As we were both vegetarians, we decided to make that a baseline for our site, but we did go fully vegan for Veganuary 2022 and not looked back!&nbsp;&nbsp;Later that year, we launched our VIP Membership club, giving consumers discounts to brands that partner with us.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>The World of Organic, Vegetarian, Vegan and Eco&nbsp;</h2>WOOVVE is a specialised directory, we only list 100% vegetarian specialist organisations, with vegan, organic and eco businesses. Everyone that lists with us must be 100% fully vegetarian as a minimum.&nbsp;&nbsp;WOOVVE has been designed to help vegetarians, vegans and eco-conscious individuals who want to shop ethically and organically - helping you to find and support organisations who live by the same principles and to help those organisations find customers.&nbsp;We urge you to support your community and where possible choose a vegetarian and vegan business first to ensure their success. Supporting vegetarian or vegan businesses is a form of economic activism!&nbsp;<h2>Why support vegetarian and vegan organisations?</h2>We believe vegetarians are the future vegans. We showcase how easy it is to buy and live a vegan lifestyle with the brands we work with, which will hopefully encourage more individuals to choose vegan. It takes research and small changes to adopt a vegan lifestyle and at WOOVVE we are here to help you do that.&nbsp;Being vegetarian in a non-vegetarian world or a vegan in a non-vegan world can make it difficult to navigate what is vegetarian or vegan. It can involve spending lots of time investigating and researching products, food, drink, restaurants, hotels, clothing etc. and can often seem like hard work.&nbsp;If you spend money on a vegetarian or a vegan product from a non-vegetarian or non-vegan company, a proportion of your money may be contributing to an industry you don’t wish to support.&nbsp;&nbsp;Whilst it is good to see vegetarian or vegan products offered by non-vegetarian companies, for most companies a vegetarian and vegan product is either just accidental or a way to capture more market share to increase profits.&nbsp;&nbsp;Whereas 100% vegetarian and vegan companies are helping you to shop to your true ethical values and helping their customers to make buying choices without sacrificing their ethics and values, with the money spent going back into an industry you do want to support.&nbsp;<h2>Fighting climate change</h2>We are proud to showcase eco-conscious brands that take concrete steps to reduce their environmental footprint. With WOOVVE, you can discover and buy from brands that follow sustainable methods of production, sourcing, and waste disposal.&nbsp;Researchers with Loma Linda University in California found that vegans have the smallest carbon footprint, generating a 41.7 % smaller volume of greenhouse gases than meat-eaters do. If you choose to shop with our brands, you are contributing to climate change activism whether you are vegan or not! Please visit our <a href="https://woovve.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">site</a>, we hope you enjoy browsing our <a href="https://shop.woovve.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">shop</a>, join our <a href="https://member.woovve.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">VIP Membership club</a>, support your community and where possible choose a vegetarian / vegan business first to ensure their success.

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The story behind WOOVVE: A vegetarian and vegan business community

We’re always on the hunt for delicious plant-based treats, so we were thrilled to discover <a href="https://instagram.com/jostlebakers?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Jostle</a>. Their cookies are not only vegan, they’re also made with the highest quality ingredients including “Original Beans” craft chocolate, making them an unmissable indulgence. One of our favourite flavours from Jostle is the S’mores Cookie. It's the perfect combination of gooey marshmallow and rich chocolate flavour, creating a decadent treat that satisfies any sweet tooth. The texture is also perfect - soft and chewy, just like a good cookie should be. Another standout flavour is the Raspberry &amp; Pistachio Cookie. This cookie is bursting with fruity flavour, thanks to the addition of real raspberries. The pistachios add a nice hint of nuttiness and crunch that complements the sweet raspberry flavour perfectly. It's a unique combination that we haven't seen in other vegan cookies, and it sets Jostle apart from the competition. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1683830460/Image_1_17_6c1cd97fc5.png" alt="Vegan raspberry and pistachio cookie from Jostle Bakers cut in half">Jostle Bakers But let's not forget about the classic Double Chocolate Cookie. This cookie is a chocolate lover's dream, with a rich, chocolatey flavour and chunks of chocolate throughout. It's the perfect cookie to pair with a glass of non-dairy milk for a comforting and indulgent snack. What we appreciate most about Jostle Bakery is their commitment to using high-quality, natural ingredients. They don't use any artificial flavours, preservatives, or colours. Plus, the Original Beans craft chocolate they use, plant a tree for every bar sold, so you can feel good about what you're eating. The packaging is also eye-catching and environmentally friendly. The cookies come in a biodegradable box that is compostable, so you can enjoy your cookies without worrying about contributing to landfill waste. They also make bespoke vegan celebration cakes that look utterly deluxe and delicious. Overall, Jostle has won us over with their delicious and inventive flavours, high-quality ingredients, and commitment to sustainability. Whether you're a vegan or just a cookie lover, we highly recommend giving Jostle a try. You won't be disappointed. If you have a sweet tooth, check out <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/the-5-best-vegan-doughnuts-from-across-the-uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">5 best vegan doughnuts from across the UK</a> or <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/5-vegan-chocolate-bar-brands-to-add-to-your-shopping-list" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">5 vegan chocolate bars to add to your shopping list.</a>

Rich chocolate vegan cookie oozing with chocolate sauce from Jostle Bakers

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Jostle: Indulgent vegan cookies and brownies to die for

For most people within the vegan community, the terminology; Earthling, will have been heard in many a passing conversation, from the groundbreaking animal rights documentary <a href="http://www.nationearth.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Earthlings</a>, to animal rights activists such as <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/ed-winters-shares-why-he-s-compelled-to-champion-vegan-activism" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Earthling Ed</a>. And, another earthling to add to the list of advocates for animal rights through the arts, is none other than our in-house staff writer, <a href="http://www.instagram.com/raystarbooks" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Ray Star</a>, multi-award-winning author of the <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Earthlings-Beginning-1-Ray-Star/dp/191452912X" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Earthlings trilogy</a>. Her best-selling books have been dubbed the ‘<a href="https://unchainedtv.com/2023/01/11/vegan-trilogy-could-become-next-harry-potter/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">vegan Harry Potter</a>’, and are the story of a magick-born girl named Peridot. Raised away from the realities of her world, as she comes into her powers, Peridot has to decide whether to use her gifts to help, or whether the world may be better off left turning. We caught up with <a href="https://linktr.ee/raystarbooks" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Ray</a> to see the reaction to book two of the trilogy; <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Earthlings-2-Ray-Star/dp/1914529324/ref=d_pd_sim_sccl_3_1/261-8060929-0380039?pd_rd_w=8XRJS&amp;content-id=amzn1.sym.3ef1e8b6-4c2b-40f8-9fa8-c6e8eb43ef8e&amp;pf_rd_p=3ef1e8b6-4c2b-40f8-9fa8-c6e8eb43ef8e&amp;pf_rd_r=3RW1EMR4YBV84Q24Y4SD&amp;pd_rd_wg=wUqAF&amp;pd_rd_r=48721d2a-d4d3-4a59-8ffd-0d8a9ffc1569&amp;pd_rd_i=1914529324&amp;psc=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Dominion</a>, and to get the inside scoop on the upcoming final instalment, <a href="https://www.raystarbooks.com/work" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Land of Hope and Glory</a>. V-Land UK (V-L): One of the first things that grab a reader's attention are the titles of your books. Was there a reason you named them after vegan documentaries? Ray Star (RS): I’ve watched a lot of vegan documentaries, and Earthlings was the one I found most impactful. It was so hard to watch, to the point that there were scenes I had to mute or fast forward. Yet, even though it’s equally upsetting and unsettling to witness, Earthlings is a vital documentary to gain a true understanding of just how vast our impact on animals across the globe truly is. When we see the realities of what animals endure because of us, it’s almost impossible not to want to help. If every person on this planet were to watch these documentaries (<a href="http://www.nationearth.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Earthlings</a>, <a href="https://www.dominionmovement.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Dominion</a>, <a href="https://www.landofhopeandglory.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Land of Hope and Glory</a>), I believe veganism as a way of life could genuinely be foreseeable. It was my hope that readers might watch them after reading each title, and I provide the links to watch for free in my author's note at the end of each book. V-L: Each book is written in the first person, was there a particular reason for this decision? RS: I want people to enjoy the story as if it were their own journey, and to do that, I needed to give multiple points of view, written in a way where various characters see different parts of their reality unfold, without any opinions on the page or forcing emotions from the reader. I want readers' reactions to each moment to be organic, natural, and their true response if it were them in that situation. Each chapter is written in the first person to (hopefully) enable the reader to experience their genuine emotion to each scene unfolding, whatever emotion that may be. V-L: Peridot’s elemental powers seem to be linked in a way to her emotional state. Did you intend this, or was it a natural choice as you were writing? RS: I wanted to make Peridot as relatable as possible or it could make the dystopian angle of the story hard to connect with, especially as she is magick-born. How many of us have felt so frustrated or angry that all we want to do is scream? Or, so sad that all we want to do is weep, so happy we could jump for joy, so excited we can’t sit still etc. It was my intention for readers to be able to connect with Peridot’s elemental magick through her emotional connection to it.&nbsp; When Peridot’s fire starts raging, I want readers to feel her fire in their fingertips as they’re reading and start metaphorical fires of their own. There’s a little magick in all of us, I hope Peridot helps readers embrace their own. V-L: From what sources have you drawn your magical inspiration? And is there a reason you spell magic with a K? RS: I believe that magick lies in all of us. The ability to wake up each morning and breathe fresh air, drink clean water, feel warmth from the sun and watch nature blossom from the earth is magick of its own. Real magick, with a resounding, kicking-K!&nbsp; Often, when people think of magic, we think of waving wands like in Harry Potter for example, and whilst yes, a wand can amplify a person's intention in ritual workings, it isn’t a necessity. Real magick is different, it comes from where we all came from. From nature. Just like the elements that Peridot is able to work within the story. When we listen to nature, the noise and hubbub dissipates, and a deep connection channels within our bodies. When we learn to connect with that channel, in time, most people will find their own magick. By spelling the word differently, I could help readers connect and differentiate from waving wands magic, and connecting with the elements of magick.&nbsp; As an <a href="https://www.raystarbooks.com/post/atouchofmagick" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">eclectic witch</a>, my own belief system originates from a mix of Pagan, Wiccan, Buddhist and Hindu practices. I follow the Wheel of the Year, celebrate the Solstices, set my intentions by moon cycles and give thanks to Mother Nature daily. I incorporated much of my own practice within Peridot’s upbringing, in the hope it might resonate with readers. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1683829877/Image_1_16_c888761005.png" alt="Two books next to one another (part of Ray Star’s Earthlings trilogy) with quotes about the books in a graphic form surrounding them">Ray Star V-L: What did you think were the most important elements when creating the relationship between Peri and Val? RS: The best stories I’ve read have relatable protagonists, despicable villains, and family dynamics that make you feel emotions and frustrations. I tried to ensure I ticked all those boxes with the characters in the Earthlings trilogy - especially Peridot’s relationship with her mother Val.&nbsp; As a mother of two, I drew on my own feelings. If the characters' dystopian reality were my own, as a mother, I’d want to cocoon my child in safety and keep her from harm, just as Val tries to do. But as many parents have learnt, being overprotective will only hold our children back, and as hard as it may be, we have to let them take their own journeys, make their own mistakes, and experience their own hardships, as we all have. Val really struggles with that, and no doubt I will too as my boys grow. V-L: Of all animals, what made you choose a chicken as the main villain? RS: The world being run by an evil chicken (especially one named Alan) is particularly insane, so I get asked this a lot! Yet, to me, it makes complete sense. Imagine if the roles of humans and animals truly were reversed. After everything animals have endured from human actions (and inactions), which species would have the most hatred towards us? I believe it to be those we’ve hurt the most.&nbsp; And whilst, when we think of animals ruling the world, wild cats such as lions and tigers may spring to mind, the reality is that we’ve pillaged their species to the brink of extinction. There simply aren't enough wild carnivores left in existence to make this a viable reality. But intensively farmed animals? They are alive in their trillions, and chickens are one of the most exploited animals on the planet, so with that in mind, Alan came to be. Chickens are the brains and cows and larger farmed animals are the brawn in the <a href="https://www.thebutterflybookclub.co.uk/product-page/exclusive-edition-earthlings" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Earthlings trilogy</a>.&nbsp; V-L: How did you find balancing the serious elements of the story surrounding the reversal of the mistreatment of animals and humans, with maintaining the tone of a YA novel? RS: If I’m honest, this was what made writing this trilogy so enjoyable. What we do to animals on a daily basis keeps me up at night. It haunts me. Do I want more people to be vegan? Yes. Do I want my books to help people find their vegan journey? Yes. Do I want my books to leave readers unable to sleep at night? No. This was where the use of fantasy, and the genre of Young Adult fiction helped me achieve balance.&nbsp; The message of the trilogy is the reason I wrote the books, but if I made the books solely focused on the message, it could’ve had a negative impact, not a positive one. The use of a fantasy world helped me make the story exhilarating and enjoyable, instead of too heavy to endure. We need more vegan fiction in the world, it’s a gentle, but powerful tool for animal rights activists to bring about change with a widespread audience. I was invited to speak at the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_J-CwV3gvI&amp;t=10s" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">vegan fiction authors’ roundtable</a> hosted by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vegan.f.t.a/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Vegan FTA</a> recently and there are some inspirational vegan fiction authors out there, <a href="http://www.instagram.com/mcronen_activist_author" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">MC Ronen</a>, <a href="http://www.instagram.com/volatilevegan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Whitney Mez</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ondinesherman/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Ondine Sherman</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/suli.autagavaia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Suli Autagavaia</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/copenhaverae/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">A.E Copenhaver</a> to name a few - but we need more! V-L: Was there anything you wanted to do differently with book two (Dominion) to drive home the ethical implications of the story, and what has the reaction been like? RS: Dominion is darker than Earthlings. I start off light and get heavier as the story progresses. We start off in book one focusing on dairy farming, book two on slaughterhouses, and book three on animals used for entertainment, sports and transportation. I was expecting a few negative reviews due to this, but so far, readers seem to be enjoying the darker side to the story. V-L: What can readers expect from book three? RS: Land of Hope and Glory takes us to new lands, introducing animals from outside of the UK and aquatic creatures. The magickal twists and turns come to an explosive conclusion, with a battle scene as the grand finale that I’m hoping will leave readers on the edge of their seats. It’s been a really tough one to write, as I’ve had to let go of some endearing characters that have played a pivotal role in the story. Many hold a place firmly in my heart, I cannot express just how much I did not want to say goodbye to some of them!&nbsp; Writing Earthlings has been a real journey, I’m excited for the final book to be published and have the complete trilogy out in the world. I hope Peridot’s story plants the seed with readers that animals aren’t that different from us, and they deserve to live their lives free from exploitation, just as much as we do.&nbsp; And, that with a little magick… anything is possible. <a href="https://www.raystarbooks.com/work" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Land of Hope and Glory</a> is set for release later this year and will be available to buy from <a href="https://www.raystarbooks.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Ray’s website</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BJBYTPMJ?binding=kindle_edition&amp;ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/author/ray-star/5080995" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">bookstores</a> worldwide. Although some of us are holding out for the movie! Looking for more vegan fiction for children and teens? Check out our young readers book list in <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/vegan-parenting-helpful-tools-for-raising-vegan-children" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">helpful tools for raising vegan children</a>, or for vegan fiction for adults, <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/a-e-copenhaver-writing-to-change-the-world" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">My Days of Dark Green Euphoria</a> is one to add to your bookshelves.

Smiling women with dark hair with her hand outstretched with a star symbol on it

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Ray Star on writing a magical best-selling vegan fiction trilogy


Nestled under the bright, bustling lights of Blackpool Illuminations, and just a stone's throw from Blackpool Tower, lies the heart of the vegan community in Blackpool, the <a href="https://instagram.com/cosyjazz?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Cosy Jazz Café</a>, cosy by name, and even cosier by nature. At the Cosy Jazz Café, you’ll always be greeted with a smile from the owner, Josh, who radiates sunshine and positivity. Aiming to encourage people to harmonise with the earth and adopt a plant-based diet, Cosy Jazz have commutated chicken for chickpeas - and they do it very well.&nbsp;&nbsp;Surrounded by a plethora of musical instruments and beautiful handcrafted art, we were guided to our seats and offered a drink. We had a rich coffee gently warmed with the creamiest of plant milks. With a range of coffee syrups to choose from, we opted for a standard latte to truly get a taste for the coffee - and what a coffee it was; rich, elegant, and smooth on the palate.&nbsp; <h2>What makes this café stand out from the rest?</h2>There is a strong emphasis on community spirit, and it was truly a thing of beauty to see so many like-minded people not only supporting a local business but actively engaging in conversation. With discussions about mindfulness and meditation afoot, we noticed a large projector above the window displaying mesmerising patterns and immediately felt a sense of calm.&nbsp; Combined with the soothing syncopated rhythms of cool jazz music, we could have easily been transported to New Orleans, and certainly wouldn’t feel out of place on Denmark Street, the musical quarter of London. Whilst chatting to Josh, he mentioned that he frequently provides food for <a href="https://instagram.com/mandushouse?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Mandus House</a>, a healing centre, which aims to support the local community in a profound, wholesome and spiritually nourishing way. It became clear quite quickly that Josh is a pillar of the vegan community in Blackpool; especially given his connections with <a href="https://www.happycow.net/reviews/ea-hotel-blackpool-138469" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The EA Hotel</a>, a hotel focused on effective altruism and community spirit.&nbsp; As we took a look around the café, we discovered an amazing painting of Jimi Hendrix which was handcrafted by Josh and took almost four weeks to complete. We also learnt that he was a touring musician working on cruise ships across the Mediterranean and his love for jazz music is truly a core value for the Cosy Jazz Café. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1683823355/Image_1_15_870dcbaaa5.png" alt="Painting of Jimi Hendrix done by the owner of the Cosy Jazz Café in Blackpool">Ellie Archer <h2>What was the food like?</h2>We were guided to the sustainable menu - a chalkboard on the wall behind the till and ordered the Jimmy Armfield burger and a Jerk Toastie with Jerk Rice. We knew the coffee was incredible, so we had high hopes for the food, and we weren’t disappointed. This food was beautifully presented, with many colours of the rainbow popping through both the rice and the burger. The cheese on the toastie had melted to perfection and each bite was a taste sensation - from the crunch of the bread to slightly salty jerk chick’n encased in soft, velvety, melted vegan cheese; (this wasn’t a standard toastie for you could practically taste the love and soul in each bite.) <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1683823457/Image_2_6_6e9efd67c0.png" alt=" Vegan melted cheese toastie with a rainbow mixed salad on the side from the Cosy Jazz Café in Blackpool">Ellie Archer Named after a local footballing legend, the Jimmy Armfield burger was served on a sub roll and contained avocado-infused oyster mushrooms with beetroot, spinach, plenty of other vegetables, and delightfully drizzled with cosy sauce. In short, this burger was deliciously nourishing, and a true journey into soul flavours; the perfect tribute to Jimmy Armfield. As for the jerk chick’n rice, it was topped with fresh avocado, salty artichokes, cosy sauce, rocket and spinach. Every bite of this meal contained a different flavour, and it was beautifully balanced - the flavour of the rice felt like a taste explosion. This is the pièce de résistance of the Cosy Jazz Café; mouth-watering, moreish, and magnificently infused with love. Whilst we ate, Josh picked up his saxophone and treated us to a performance, crooning along to the Bobby Hughes Experience. It’s not unusual for this to happen with musicality, artistry, and creativity encouraged. Interestingly, the café was opened on the 29th of August - an ode to Charlie Parker, an American Jazz Saxophonist, born on the same day some 100 years prior. We loved our visit to this café and will certainly be visiting again in the future. We believe that Cosy Jazz will be hosting speakers in the vegan community, and truly opening up important discussions around the environment, adopting a plant-based diet, and the link between veganism and feminism, amongst many other topics to engage the local community. If you are ever looking for a cosy café to enjoy some amazing soul food and meet like-minded people, you can find the Cosy Jazz Café on Lytham Road, Blackpool between 12 pm - 12 am Thursday - Sunday. If this eclectic vegan café in Blackpool has you itching to check out a vegan café nearby, it’d be amiss if you were to overlook our visits to <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/cafe-62-vegan-cafe-in-brighton-bringing-vegan-foodies-together" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Café@62: Vegan café in Brighton bringing vegan foodies together</a> and <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/the-fields-beneath-a-community-cafe-that-packs-a-flavourful-punch" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The Fields Beneath: A community café that packs a flavourful punch</a>.

 Interior of Cosy Jazz Café in Blackpool, with a variety of instruments, books, paintings and flowers

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Cosy Jazz Café: A hidden gem in Blackpool’s Golden Mile 

Island Source has something for everyone in their new range: whether upgrading your smoothies, adding flair and flavour to your curries or simply trying something new. Island Source are dedicated to bringing the best of Sri Lankan produce to the masses. You may have seen <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/island-source-pure-plant-based-goodness-straight-from-sri-lanka" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">our previous review</a> of two of their products: Organic Ceylon Cinnamon Powder and Dehydrated Curry Leaves; today we discuss their Organic Coconut Milk Powder and Dehydrated Pandan Leaves. <h2>Dehydrated Pandan Leaves</h2>Island Source's <a href="https://amzn.eu/d/gZvtGV9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Dehydrated Pandan Leaves</a> are a must-have for any kitchen cupboard to explore new sensations.&nbsp; These leaves are full of fresh, earthy flavours, perfect for Southeast Asian cooking. These leaves have been hand-picked and untouched by artificial ingredients, colours or flavours. The pandan leaves are aromatic plants known for their sweet, floral fragrance and versatility. Often used in South and Southeast Asian cuisines, they have grown in popularity in Western countries due <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/pandan#benefits" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">to its potential health benefits</a> and culinary properties.&nbsp; Pandan leaves are popular in Sri Lankan, Thai and Filipino dishes. The pandan leaves can be boiled or juiced or even used as a wrap for other ingredients. These are also used to flavour soups, stews and curries and can be used as leaves, paste, extract or powder.&nbsp; At V-Land, we wrapped them in sticky rice, turmeric and lemongrass. We also made the Malaysian dish Nasi Lemak containing coconut basmati rice, vegetables,&nbsp;'chick’n' pieces and the pandan leaf to create a fragrant rice. The pandan leaves left a sweet, soft aroma finalising our dishes and providing rich green tones. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1683028580/Image_1_dbdbae8db8.png" alt="Multicoloured packet of dehydrated pandan leaves by Island Source on a wooden table in a kitchen">Island Source <h2>﻿Organic Coconut Milk Powder</h2>This organic, gluten-free, dairy-free vegan alternative is suitable for almost any curry, soup, smoothie, cocktail or face mask! With versatile properties, which <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323743#nutrition" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">may possess antioxidant and antimicrobial&nbsp;activity in humans</a>, this coconut powder is jam-packed with goodness. Their <a href="https://amzn.eu/d/hemcrQo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Organic Coconut Milk Powder</a> is a nutritious, and versatile product, it originates from freshly squeezed coconut harvested by a community of organic farmers and is perfect for experimenting with new dishes and recipes.&nbsp; Here at V-Land, we tested this delicious product in pineapple and banana smoothies - mixing two to three tablespoons to make up this silky cream. We also created a vegan sweet potato curry with pandan rice and vegan naan. We found the coconut milk added depth and body to our curry with a smooth consistency. The pure and tasty products can be purchased through <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/IslandSource/Homepage/page/6446EFD9-EFC2-4C3B-B87E-21CFFD288264" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Island Source’s Amazon shop</a>. Looking to go more natural with your baking? Take a look at our review of <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/go-sweet-as-nature-intended-with-bonraw-s-organic-sugars" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Bonraw</a>, the organic sugar company making a difference.

Two hands holding a coconut and a bowl of coconut milk, with a packet of Island Source Organic Coconut Milk Powder between the two

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Island Source: Single-sourced products to add flair to your dishes

<a href="https://instagram.com/lisamarleychef?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Lisa Marley</a>’s recipes are featured in Metro, Daily Express, Vegan Food &amp; Living, Daily Mirror and others. She appears on Channel 5’s <a href="https://lisamarleychef.com/f/the-secrets-of-the-fast-food-giants" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The Secrets of The Fast Food Giants</a> and has travelled the country doing cooking events. Lisa Marley is becoming a very well-known chef in the vegan and plant-based scene, so V-Land had a one-on-one with her to get to know her a little bit better. V-Land UK (V-L): Hello Lisa! Thanks for the interview. Where did your passion for cooking come from? Lisa Marley (LM): My passion for food comes from food and eating. I didn’t grow up cooking, but I certainly grew up eating! Food has been a comfort, a friend, an enemy and a joy over the years. Now it’s also a job, but one that I love and that I’m grateful for.&nbsp; V-L: Why plant-based cooking, and when did you adopt this lifestyle? LM: It was a slow process that happened over many years. I started to feel uncomfortable eating meat and eventually stopped eating it. Then it was fish and dairy until eventually, I was fully plant-based. That was roughly six years ago. My main reason is my love of animals, not just pets.&nbsp; V-L: What is your favourite cuisine to cook? LM: I trained as a pastry chef, so my comfort zone is bread, cakes and sweet treats. However, I love spicy food as well as pasta. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1683582174/IMG_1773_fba6d6d430.jpg" alt="Woman (Lisa Marley) baking a cake in her kitchen"><a href="https://lisamarleychef.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Lisa Marley</a> V-L: You have been featured on BBC Radio, Daily Express, Metro etc. Have you always dreamed of being a recognised vegan chef, or did you let things flow without any expectations? LM: I’d love to say that it all happened by chance, but actually, I’m proactive. I’m always looking for opportunities and have a not-so-secret desire to be famous. I justify that by ensuring I will highlight and promote the many benefits of a plant-based/vegan lifestyle. I tell myself I’m doing it for the animals, which is actually true.&nbsp; V-L: Please tell us more about your relationship with ProVeg UK and what this association does for our community. LM: ProVeg UK is part of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/proveg.inter/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">ProVeg International</a>, a food awareness organisation with the mission to reduce the global consumption of animals by 50% by 2040. School Plates is ProVeg UK’s flagship programme, and we work with local authorities to change menus across primary schools. Currently 8,251,200 meals have been swapped to meat-free or plant-based and that number is rising everyday. I’m the chef trainer, and I’m part of a team that runs training workshops in plant-based cooking, and I develop plant-based recipes. V-L: The dream of many chefs is to release a recipe book. Do you have plans to do the same? LM: I do! I’m keen to write books and I’m working with a brilliant team at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/yellowpoppymedia/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Yellow Poppy Media</a>, and together we are going to make that happen.&nbsp; V-L: A starter, a main course, a dessert and a drink. What would you serve us for dinner for our V-Land UK team of 30 collaborators? LM: Starters would be sticky seitan ribs with a zingy salad. The main course would be Korean style spicy noodles with panko tofu. Dessert would be a raw chocolate hazelnut tart. I’d make a delicious cocktail using a non-alcoholic spirit. I’m trying to be alcohol free but I’d add a shot of tequila for those who wanted it. V-L: What are your plans and dreams for the future? LM: I will continue my work with ProVeg as I really believe we are making a positive impact. I’d also like to film cooking shows and be part of mainstream TV. We haven’t got a vegan chef who is a household name in the UK, I’d happily fill that spot. I’d also like to write as many cookbooks as possible.&nbsp; For more inspirational guidance, we speak with Emilia Leese on their new book, <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/do-you-think-like-a-vegan-emilia-leese-discusses-how-to" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Think Like a Vegan</a>, and check out vegan <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/can-a-vegan-mma-fighter-still-kick-ass-these-4-prove-they-can" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">MMA fighters</a> proving you can kick ass on a plant-based diet!

Smiling vegan chef (Lisa Marley) in a chef’s white apron with blonde hair in front of a wooden shelf 

Rise of a vegan chef: Lisa Marley shares her journey to success

The German capital, known worldwide for its interesting history and extraordinary nightlife is definitely a place everyone should visit at least once. Discover the must-dos when exploring as a vegan in Berlin.&nbsp; Since the reunification in 1990 the city has attracted free spirited people from all over the world and is home to many musicians, DJs and artists. Therefore, it's no surprise that many of Berlin's inhabitants are living a kind of alternative lifestyle, which is the reason for the huge vegan community. So we at V-Land travelled to experience first-hand what it’s like to be vegan in Berlin and to give you some recommendations that you should definitely check out upon your next visit. While thinking of visiting a vegan café for breakfast, we fortunately stumbled over a place called <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brammibalsdonuts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Brammibal's Donuts</a>: All their products are 100% plant-based and you'll find their stores all over Berlin. The taste and texture of their donuts is astonishing - we couldn't believe they were vegan!&nbsp; After this we took a little digestive stroll over the RAW area. An old industrial complex with plenty of abandoned buildings, that got converted over the last years into bars, clubs,&nbsp;skateparks, bouldering halls and other venues to spend some time, whatever the weather. You'll also find some restaurants and cafés here.&nbsp; Check out <a href="https://emmapea.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Emma Pea</a>, which we think is one of best vegan restaurants in Berlin with a good variety of freshly prepared, delicious meals. Another must-do in Berlin is obviously having a döner kebab. While a couple of years ago you needed to find a vegan kebab shop to get the plant-based version, nowadays every kebab shop in Berlin offers a seitan kebab for a similar price as the non-vegan version. But our personal favourite kebab was not found in a kebab shop, but in a vegan burger restaurant, called&nbsp;<a href="https://instagram.com/vedang.official?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Vedang</a>. We tried a couple of their delicious burgers and when their staff recommended the kebab wrap on their menu, we luckily accepted - it’d be tricky to distinguish it from the real deal. Go check them out, they also have other branches all over Germany. For dinner we were happy to queue to get a table, as we definitely wanted to try the food at the infamous <a href="https://www.instagram.com/1990veganliving/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">1990 Vegan Living</a>, but were obviously not the only ones with this idea. Recommended by people like Gaz Oakley our expectations were high but got fulfilled completely: A huge choice of different, mouth-watering Vietnamese tapas, best to share with your friend or partner, blew our mind completely!&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1683028141/Image_8687e68602.png" alt="Multiple bowls of colourful Vietnamese tapas from 1990 Vegan Living restaurant in Berlin"><a href="https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02VjMRbUTYNncfyTEsAgQB6LhSYwBfjHefbUtjazir2oi64mmMwmPgMcYshqhpJQcml&amp;id=100063631686902" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">1990 Vegan Living</a> To finish the day, we decided to get some drinks and found, just around the corner, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EkoBarBerlin/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Ekō Bar</a>. A cosy venue, set up in retro style like an 80s living room, which is typical for Berlin. A comprehensive offer of vegan long drinks and cocktails will definitely include something to satiate your thirst. We can recommend the whisky sour. With egg white? No; with aquafaba!&nbsp; So we hope we have helped direct you towards some top-notch things to eat and do in Berlin; keep this as a mini vegan travel guide for any future trips to Berlin. If you’re a vegan globetrotter check out our vegan guides to exploring <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/fall-in-love-with-the-copenhagen-vegan-scene" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Copenhagen</a> and <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/vegan-travel-dubai-offers-sun-sea-sand-and-vegan-food-aplenty" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Dubai</a>.

Vedang’s vegan burger next to vegan whipped ice cream 

Must-dos when spending 24 hours as a vegan in Berlin

In a cosy corner of Soho, right next door to the Noël Coward Theatre is <a href="https://instagram.com/mildredsrestaurants?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Mildreds Soho</a>. An unpretentious but high-end plant-based restaurant that delivers incredible, flavourful food and an experience that’s second to none. The welcome to Mildreds was warm and friendly and we were never made to feel by the waiting staff that we were being too much trouble, even after changing our minds on the starter twice. Why the second thoughts? Because of the vast amount of mouth-watering choices on Mildreds menu! We (finally) decided on our starters. We had Spinach Gyoza, because if they are on a menu they’re going in our mouths. They didn’t disappoint. With a tangy pickle and soy dip, they were perfection.&nbsp; We also had hummus and fresh pita bread which was still warm from the oven and the hummus was creamy, with the heat of a chilli oil. We didn’t have to wait long for our main course and thank goodness because we were excited to taste them. We had the Nashville Hot Chick’n Bun. A Southern fried plant-based chick’n with a creamy slaw and pickles. It melted in the mouth and had a sweet heat that surprised us - in a good way. We also had the Shiitake Tempeh Noodles, a healthful bowl of goodness, a bountifully big portion. A rich shiitake broth with king oyster mushrooms, pak choi and tempeh and shiitake balls which were filling and satisfying but not heavy or stodgy. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1681734137/Image_1_9aecca1021.png" alt="Image 1.PNG">Will Callaghan I know we shouldn’t have, but we gave into temptation and had dessert. And wow it was worth the calories. We had Dark Chocolate Pudding, which was covered in a rich and sticky stout sauce. We also had the Caramel Cookie Cheesecake, drizzled with a raspberry coulis. Our sweet tooth was truly satiated. It’s a truly wonderful experience to have beautifully made and tasting vegan food and Mildreds Soho delivered on every level. Once finished we made a booking to go back again… and again!&nbsp; Looking to explore more of London’s vegan scene? Find out all about our trip to <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/the-fields-beneath-a-community-cafe-that-packs-a-flavourful-punch" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The Fields Beneath</a>.&nbsp;

Vegan Caramel Cookie Cheesecake, drizzled with a raspberry coulis and topped with popcorn on a blue metallic plate in Mildreds Soho

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Mildreds Soho: Where taste and style converge

Spring has sprung and we are enjoying longer days and warmer weather. You may have already started your spring cleaning with V-Land's handy <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/spruce-up-your-home-with-our-spring-cleaning-checklist" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">spring cleaning checklist</a> and this guide highlights some of the best vegan cleaning products for any room and budget. <h2>Marks and Spencer</h2><a href="https://www.instagram.com/marksandspencer/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Marks and Spencer</a>’s cruelty-free cleaning range is budget-friendly and clearly labelled vegan. Their laundry liquid and fabric softener, cleaning sprays including kitchen, bathroom and antibacterial sprays and washing up liquid all smell wonderful and their packaging is recyclable.<h2> </h2><h2>Smol</h2><a href="https://www.instagram.com/smolproducts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Smol</a> is a British company who make vegan and cruelty-free laundry capsules, dishwasher tablets, multi-purpose sprays and fabric conditioners and better yet they all come in plastic-free packaging. They offer some of the best-eco friendly cleaning products around.&nbsp; <h2>Ecover</h2><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ecover_uk/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Ecover</a>’s mission is to "lead a clean world revolution" and redefine clean for the 21st century: "Clean products, clean homes, clean values." Ecover aim to make all of their bottles from recycled plastic and use biodegradable, plant-derived substances in their products. They make eco-friendly laundry, dishwashing, household and personal care products in refillable bottles. You can buy your own large refill vegan cleaning products on their website or refills are available in Holland &amp; Barrett and many independent health food shops.<h2> </h2><h2>Astonish</h2><a href="https://www.instagram.com/astonishcleaners/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Astonish</a> is a family company which offers cruelty-free and vegan cleaning products, from bathroom and kitchen cleaners to mould and mildew remover. Astonish is available in Morrisons, Asda, Home Bargains and more: to see the full list of stockists check out their website. <h2>Wilko</h2>For some of the best vegan cleaning products on a budget, look no further than <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lovewilko/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Wilko</a>. They sell their own range of vegan cleaning products including antibacterial, floor and glass wipes. They also sell <a href="https://www.instagram.com/methodproducts/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Method</a> cleaning products: all Method products are vegan-friendly and like many others in this list are approved as cruelty-free under the <a href="https://www.leapingbunny.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Leaping Bunny program</a>.<h2> </h2><h2>Zoflora</h2><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lovezoflora/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Zoflora</a> sell fragranced, perfumer developed, antibacterial products which kill 99.9% of bacteria, and according to <a href="https://veganuary.com/vegan-cleaning-products/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Veganuary</a> are vegan-friendly, not tested on animals. Their products are widely available in stores such as Boots, Superdrug and B&amp;M. <h2>The Vegan Kind</h2><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thevegankindsupermarket/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">The Vegan Kind</a> online supermarket sell several ranges of vegan and cruelty-free cleaning products including <a href="https://www.instagram.com/get_homethings/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Homethings</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ecozoneproducts/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Ecozone</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebiodcompany/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Bio D</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ecoleaf/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Ecoleaf</a>: they are a one-stop-shop for the best eco-friendly cleaning products. Now that you're ready to put on your vegan-friendly rubber gloves and start cleaning, check out <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/health-benefits-of-houseplants-5-that-look-after-your-wellbeing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">the health benefits of houseplants</a> and pick out some greenery to decorate your newly spotless home.

Person in a blue latex glove holding a transparent blue spray bottle over a wooden surface

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Best vegan cleaning products for a sparkling clean home

Buddhism is a religion famous for its approach to compassion and enlightenment. As with any religion, the Buddha's teachings can be interpreted in a myriad of ways, and the same goes for the Buddhist stance on food. There isn’t a universal Buddhist diet that everyone follows in exactly the same way as one another. Are Buddhists vegan? Not necessarily, in fact, not all Buddhists are even vegetarians. But that doesn't mean the religion doesn't have a rich vegan culture. From a way of life that condemns the killing of animals, what else would you expect? Join us for plenty of facts about Buddhism as we explore veganism's place in the religion.&nbsp; <h2>What is Buddhism?</h2>Buddhism is a religion that arose in India around 2,500 years ago and follows the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha). Today, there are over <a href="http://worldpopulationreview" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">520 million practising Buddhists</a> across the globe, making it the world's fourth-largest religion. This article will mention two of the biggest schools of Buddhism: Theravada and Mahayana. Buddhists are encouraged to follow a concept called the <a href="https://www.londonbuddhistvihara.org/teachings/the-noble-eightfold-path/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">eightfold path</a>. By following this path, practitioners can end their suffering and eventually reach enlightenment. This path is made up of eight guiding principles: • Right understanding - Remember that actions have consequences&nbsp;• Right intention - Follow the Buddhist path•&nbsp;Right speech - Don't lie, slander, abuse, gossip etc.•&nbsp;Right action - Behaving in a way that doesn't harm others, e.g. killing, stealing etc.•&nbsp;Right livelihood - Earn a living that doesn't cause harm, e.g. no trading livestock or weapons•&nbsp;Right effort - Avoid unwholesome thoughts and feelings•&nbsp;Right mindfulness - Become aware of your thoughts and feelings•&nbsp;Right concentration - Practice meditation&nbsp; <h2>Veganism in Buddhism</h2>Is veganism an essential part of Buddhism? Put simply - no. Some Theravada Buddhists will argue that since the Buddha wasn't vegetarian or vegan, removing animal products from the Buddhist diet isn't necessary to achieve enlightenment. Surprisingly, the<a href="https://americanmonk.org/vegetarianism-theravada-buddhism/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(13, 13, 20); background-color: transparent;"> </a><a href="https://americanmonk.org/vegetarianism-theravada-buddhism/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Buddha even laid down rules for eating meat</a>. Essentially, it's okay for monks to eat meat as long as it was a donation and the animal wasn't killed specifically for them.&nbsp; However, for a Buddhist monk living in a monastery, eating meat is not a personal choice. They can't go to the local supermarket and pick out all their favourite goodies. Instead, Buddhist monks often survive purely on donations.&nbsp; But most Buddhists aren't monks living in monasteries - especially here in the UK. So, what did the Buddha say about eating animal products for everyone else?&nbsp; Again, nothing. But, as Buddhism strictly prohibits taking life and causing harm to others, many interpret this as following a vegan diet. For example, in the<a href="https://globalcomment.com/why-arent-more-buddhists-vegan/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(13, 13, 20); background-color: transparent;"> </a><a href="https://globalcomment.com/why-arent-more-buddhists-vegan/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Mahayana sect of Buddhism</a>, there are clear and strict rules that condemn eating meat (no caveats for monks here).&nbsp; And since it's impossible to create meat without harming animals, this makes a lot of sense. Buying a steak from your local butcher is just causing suffering by proxy. While you didn't personally kill an animal, you did fund the process.&nbsp; Even in the Theravada practice, where eating meat is allowed under certain conditions, lay people (non-monks) are still advised to eat a vegetarian or vegan diet. Why? To avoid funding unethical animal farming practices. So, what about milk and eggs? The Buddha taught us to respect animals. Still, we've all seen how modern farming practices treat them. We're talking cramped factory farms riddled with diseases. Calves removed from their mothers for increased milk production. And the purposeful killing of male chicks in the egg industry. There's suffering wherever we look. <h2>The lowdown</h2>If you're interpreting 'right action' as not to intentionally cause harm, even by proxy, veganism is the way forward. It's a compassionate diet that removes unnecessary suffering from our food supply. And plenty of great healthy vegan food recipes are just waiting for you online! Yet since the Buddha didn't teach us not to, consuming animal products doesn't mean you're not Buddhist. At the end of the day, it's all down to each individual's interpretations of the Buddha's teachings.&nbsp; Above all else, be mindful of what you eat and where it comes from. Does something have to suffer for you to eat dinner, or is there a compassionate option instead?&nbsp; If you enjoyed learning about how veganism and Buddhism overlap, ponder further on the topic of moral encounters with non-human animals with <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/mind-being-world" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">author David G. Brooks</a>, and discover how <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/going-back-to-our-roots-the-benefits-of-tree-hugging" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">tree hugging has roots in environmental activism</a>.&nbsp;

Three Buddhist monks in red robes eating a Buddhist diet together sat down around a table  

Is a Buddhist diet vegan? It’s more complex than you'd think

It’s refreshing in this day and age of global brands that a small local café can offer such high-end, delicious food and coffee as <a href="https://instagram.com/perchandco_?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Perch &amp; Co</a> in Croxley Green a stone’s throw from Watford. It’s also refreshing that their vegan options are just as numerous and tasty as their non-vegan options.&nbsp; Perch &amp; Co is a family-run café, owned by partners James and Sophie who also cook every morsel that leaves the kitchen area. Perch &amp; Co prides itself on offering high quality, tasty breakfast and brunch food at incredibly reasonable prices.&nbsp; The atmosphere is a cosy, shabby chic vibe, and the food is influenced by British, Mediterranean and Persian flavours. It’s a true sense of comfort and happiness. While we were there, we had an absolute feast, served with huge smiles from Jamie, Harriet, Emma and Chloe. To start off the treats we had some thirst-quenching green smoothies, which were sweet and revitalising.&nbsp; For brunch we had the Full Vegan which is the Perch vegan version of a full English breakfast. It consists of grilled mushrooms and tomatoes, baked beans, sautéed spinach, smashed avocado, two juicy vegan sausages and two huge slices of toasted sourdough toast. We almost couldn’t finish as it was such a big plate.&nbsp; We also had the Creamy Mushrooms on Toast. Creamy? Yes! Vegan? Absolutely! It had been a long while since any of us had the creamy version of this British staple, and it was a wonderful treat. And to conclude the savouries, our team had the Vegan Messy, an appetising concoction of mushroom, avocado, hummus and spinach sandwiched between two slices of your choice of toast. You will need many napkins to eat this yummy dish. Then, for dessert we had vegan almond croissants which were filled with a gorgeous, smooth almond crème. To accompany them we had the best coffee we have had in a very long time. Strong but smooth and the perfect end to a glorious brunch. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1682610750/IMG_1674_1d2bd2a7a9.png" alt="Vegan almond croissant on a blue napkin on a wooden table from Perch &amp; Co in Croxley Green">Will Callaghan The specials change every week so don't forget to ask what's special, but just so you know everything is. If you enjoy reading café and restaurant reviews you might want to check out what we thought about the vegan junk food at <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/rabbit-food-edinburgh-s-new-favourite-spot-for-vegan-junk-food-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Rabbit Food</a> in Edinburgh or the pizza at <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/flower-power-pizza-brighton-s-groovy-vegan-pizza" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Flower Power Pizza</a> in Brighton.

Vegan mushroom and avocado sourdough sandwich on a white plate from Perch & Co in Croxley Green

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Perch & Co: Catering for vegans in Croxley Green

When you think of vegan travel options, Dubai is not a destination that immediately springs to mind. However, with one of the world’s fastest growing economies and a varied and expanding international community, Dubai is not short of vegan restaurants to choose from. V-Land recently had the opportunity to visit for a week so we were able to explore the city and discover some of the vegan spots and tourist attractions it has to offer. <h2>What to do in Dubai for a week</h2>Dubai dates back to the 18th century but the last 30 years has seen its biggest growth. It is now a modern bustling city with something for everyone. One of the newest attractions is the <a href="https://museumofthefuture.ae/en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Museum of the Future</a>. The building itself is simply stunning, while the exhibition presents a myriad of futures and takes visitors on a journey to the 2070s. It is proving extremely popular though, so be sure to book in advance.&nbsp; If tall buildings are your thing, then Dubai has you covered. It is home to the tallest building in the world - the <a href="https://www.burjkhalifa.ae/en/the-tower/facts-figures/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Burj Khalifa</a>. There are a number of different floors you can ascend to and you choose based on your budget and the experience you want. Regardless of how high you go, all offer an unforgettable view of the city. Our tip is to book for an early slot to avoid crowds and queuing. The temperature can get pretty brutal in the summer, but if you time your visit well, you’ll want to spend some time at the beach. The most popular public beach is <a href="https://www.visitdubai.com/en/places-to-visit/kite-beach" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Kite Beach</a> where you can relax and simply soak up the soul-nourishing benefits of a little sun, sea and sand. If you are feeling a little more adventurous, you can also try watersports like kitesurfing and paddleboarding. Some other noteworthy activities to add to your list include the slip and slide of the <a href="https://www.atlantis.com/dubai/atlantis-aquaventure/aquaventure-waterpark" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Atlantis Waterpark</a>, the breathtaking <a href="https://www.thedubaiframe.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Dubai Frame</a> and, for an adrenaline hit, desert dune bashing in a buggy. Many tours offer buggy experiences, but be careful not to book one that combines with a camel ride. Buggies are made to be ridden. Camels, not so much, so it’s disappointing this occurs at all. <h2>Dubai’s vegan restaurants</h2>Many restaurants across Dubai have vegan options and there are quite a few 100% vegan delivery services to be found. A quick browse on <a href="https://www.happycow.net/asia/united_arab_emirates/dubai/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Happy Cow</a> will show how extensive plant-based fayre is across the city. Despite all these possibilities, we mostly ate at the dine-in vegan restaurants. As it turns out, all our favourites are also top-rated on Happy Cow. If one needs validation, this is surely it.&nbsp;&nbsp; Following a day on Kite Beach we headed to the nearby <a href="https://www.instagram.com/justveganjumeirah/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Just Vegan Jumeirah</a>. They serve a mix of European and Arabic dishes, specialising in veganised popular dishes that usually contain meat. This means you can expect the likes of burgers, pizzas, shawarma and mac ‘n’ cheese. Their menu is extensive and despite the many healthier options we opted for the nachos and burgers - the ‘Oops Mushroom’ and ‘New York Double Cheese’. Sometimes you just need a delicious dirty vegan burger and they did not disappoint. We left full to bursting and content with the choices we made. Our next stop was <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vagaeadubai/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Vagaea</a>. The founder is a graduate from a design school, which explains the artistic décor of graffitied sculptures, dried flowers and thick yarned curtains. The Brazilian-inspired menu contains ingredients that are grown and sourced sustainably. There was so much to choose from that it was hard to decide, so we gravitated to the more traditional Brazilian dishes. To start, we tried the coxinha, which were stuffed with jackfruit and fried to perfection. Next was a moqueca, which substituted the fish with heart of palm. Yum. And to conclude, we just had enough room for their prestigio cake, which was filled with coconut and homemade condensed almond milk. A delight from the first mouthful to the last. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1681717851/Image_1_14_de80996fa1.png" alt="Big slice of layered vegan chocolate cake topped with coconut and chocolate cream on a white plate">Mark Flood <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Jumeirah" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">﻿Palm Jumeirah</a> is a man-made island, stretching out to the gulf. In close proximity, is <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetterradubai/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Planet Terra</a>. This organic café serves artisanal, handcrafted and innovative plant-based delights. With an outdoor terrace on the bank of a tranquil waterway, it is the perfect setting to decompress and enjoy some shaded outside space. Open from early morning to late at night, their menu changes throughout the day. Arrive early enough and you can opt for an acai bowl, French toast or pancakes for breakfast. We booked for dinner and were drawn to the buckwheat and mushroom croquettes, hazelnut béchamel smothered lasagna and the chocolate mousse dome. This place is highly recommended. On our final day exploring as a vegan in Dubai, we visited a self-described hidden gem and it’s true. The café, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sevatable/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Seva Table</a>, is linked to a wellness centre, so you can combine it with a yoga or meditation session if you wish. The café claims to be the first plant-based, gluten-free, cane sugar-free, and GMO-free café in the Middle East. It certainly ticks a lot of boxes. The setting is rustic and natural. We sat at a table in the garden under the shade offered by a canopy of vines. There was even a resident cat that shared the space and they were as calm and untroubled as we felt in this tiny green oasis. We were fortunate to arrive just in time to order from the breakfast menu and we started with the omelette. It was made with chickpea flour and was so jam-packed with spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, avocados and cashew cream cheese we were worried we’d be too full for more.&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1681717905/Image_2_5_3d9c97e1bc.png" alt="Vegan ‘omelette’ filled with avocado, tomato and mayo on a silver plate ">Mark Flood ﻿Fortunately we were in no rush, so we ordered drinks before thinking about more food. With a bright blue spirulina cream-topped cold brew coffee and cacao, the ‘Ocean Of Good Mood’ drink had us on the aesthetics alone. Then with a hint of orange and the sweetness of the dates we were won over by the taste too. So, for a little taste of food and seclusion heaven, a visit to Seva Table is a must. For more international vegan travel guides, you might like to see what we thought of our visit to <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/vegan-travel-is-winter-the-best-time-to-visit-prague" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Prague</a> last winter or how about <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/top-vegan-restaurants-in-vienna-and-other-unmissable-spots" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Vienna</a> and its top vegan restaurants and other unmissable spots.&nbsp;

Modern Architectural buildings along the beach and sea shore

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Vegan travel: Dubai offers sun, sea, sand and vegan food aplenty 


Are tattoos vegan? V-Land chats with London-based vegan tattoo artist <a href="https://instagram.com/moggtattoo?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Mogg</a> to find out and discusses their journey from going vegan at university to living and tattooing in Dubai. Creating bold and strikingly colourful depictions of nature from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/scorpiomarstattoo/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Scorpio Mars Tattoo</a>, an artist collective in Farringdon, you can check out their portfolio <a href="https://www.scorpiomars.tattoo/mogg-portfolio/project-one-ephnc-jgl92" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp; V-Land UK (V-L): How would you describe your tattooing style?&nbsp; Mogg (M): I started out wanting to do neotraditional designs, but it deviated from that because of my fine line work and varied use of colour. Botanical and illustrative describes it best.&nbsp;&nbsp; V-L: What has been your favourite design you’ve tattooed so far?&nbsp; M: My favourite tattoo to date is probably <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoFyyIADtx8/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">a goose in full Marie Antoinette get-up</a>! I love tattooing anything silly and anything to do with nature, so animals in wigs are a good time for me. V-L: Do you often find that clients are concerned about whether their tattoos and aftercare are vegan?&nbsp; M: All the time and interestingly, most of the tattoo products I come across are vegan. I don’t think I've ever seen an ink that isn’t vegan. Vegan-friendly alternatives like <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hustlebutterdeluxe/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Hustle Butter</a>, which is a vegan replacement for petroleum-based products, are used as a moisturising glide during tattooing, and they replace products that can contain beeswax or lanolin, which are the only things I've come across which aren’t vegan.&nbsp;&nbsp; V-L: How about aftercare products, is it easy to find vegan alternatives?&nbsp; M: I used to use specific tattoo butters which were quite thick, and if I gave those away to customers, they could put too much on and end up with irritated skin and so now I recommend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/palmersuk/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Palmers Cocoa Butter</a>. I use it myself, it's vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, family owned and easy to pick up anywhere.&nbsp; V-L: When did you first start tattooing?&nbsp; M: I started tattooing after I graduated from my fine art degree. I was the first person in my family to go to university. I wanted to have that experience; it felt really special to me. I don’t need a degree to tattoo, but I'm so glad I did it. I went to Winchester School of Art, it was quite a small community, and it wasn’t far from home in Portsmouth.&nbsp;&nbsp; After the first lockdown, I had just finished my degree and had always wanted to get into tattooing, my dad is covered in tattoos, and he used to take me to appointments with him, but I wanted to do my degree first so that I had something to fall back on. I actually moved to Dubai straight after that lockdown and did my apprenticeship there at a studio called <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dubaihillstattoo/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Dubai Hills Tattoo</a>. To my knowledge, they were the only tattoo studio at the time who were operating legally out there. They took me on, and I worked long days and met loads of awesome guest artists and had lots of talented people to learn from. I was there for about a year and a half.&nbsp; V-L: Very spontaneous!&nbsp; M: It was! A couple of weeks before my flight, my parents turned to me and said, “Wait, you’re actually going?” - I only moved back to the UK last April, so I'm still settling into London life but I'm loving it.&nbsp;&nbsp; When I came back I started working at a studio called <a href="https://instagram.com/floraandfaunatattoos?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Flora and Fauna</a> which is in East London. When I was there I did lots of guest spots at different places, mainly in Brighton and London. I did three guest spots at Scorpio Mars, and I really gelled with everyone there. It was a lovely place, so eventually, I asked them if there’d be an opportunity for me to work there permanently and they said yes, they’d love to have me, which was great! I've been there ever since and I really love it, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilymalice/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Emily</a> is the best boss ever and <a href="https://instagram.com/bosskitty__?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Lauren</a> is the most amazing manager. It’s such an inclusive space which is the dream really!&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1681717560/Image_1_13_6edc78417b.png" alt=" Vegan tattoo artist (Mogg) with brightly coloured hair leaning over and giving a tattoo to a client in a tattoo studio">Will Callaghan ﻿V-L: Was it easy to be vegan in Dubai?&nbsp; M: &nbsp;It was actually very easy! It’s very cheap to buy bulk ingredients such as lentils, grains and nuts. Tofu and tempeh are much cheaper there too, whereas meat replacements are expensive. Restaurants almost always have a vegan option, and there are some vegan places out there. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/neat.burger/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Neat Burger</a> recently opened up a restaurant in Dubai Mall, but that was after I left.&nbsp; V-L: Aside from your dad inspiring you to become a tattoo artist, which artists have inspired you along your journey?&nbsp; M: <a href="https://instagram.com/dollytattoos?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Dolly</a> who owns the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thedollhousebtn/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Doll House</a> in Brighton with <a href="https://instagram.com/georgelangfordtattoo?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Georgina Langford</a>. When I was learning I'd reach out to Dolly and she was so friendly and helpful, I did my first guest spot at the Doll House. I have such a long list of people in my mind and I probably don’t have time to tell you about them all but there's <a href="https://instagram.com/bethrosetattoo?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Beth Rose</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/katabdy/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Kat Abdy</a>, <a href="https://instagram.com/hannahflowers_tattoos?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Hannah Flowers</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/keelyglitters/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Keely Glitters</a> to name a few.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; V-L: Where are your favourite places to eat vegan food in London?&nbsp; M: I love going to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/boxparkcroydon/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Box Park</a> in East Croydon, which is a huge dining hall with different street food stalls. It used to have a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/whatthepitta/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">What The Pitta</a> there which I loved, but they left, I was gutted! They’ve got a few vegan places there. My favourite vegan restaurants in London would probably be <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/147083902626310/rudys-dirty-vegan-diner/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Rudy’s Vegan Diner</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/templeofseitan/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Temple of Seitan</a>.&nbsp; V-L: How long have you been vegan?&nbsp; M: I went vegan six years ago, I was vegetarian beforehand. I remember finding out when I was very young that ‘chicken’ was actually chickens and being devastated. I must have been around five years old. As soon as I started cooking for myself, I knew it was time to stop eating meat. I was vegetarian for a year and I found it easy, a lot easier than I thought it would be, then I met a vegan at uni who really held a mirror up to me and talked to me about the dairy industry. They helped me a lot when I was switching to vegan alternatives because vegan cheeses etc. weren't as good back then. It inspired me to cook and bake more, I had to get more creative, and learning to cook more dishes ignited more of a passion for food. It made me experiment more.&nbsp;&nbsp; V-L: What’s your favourite vegan dish to cook?&nbsp; M: I love making ramen. My favourite comfort food would be a bowl of satay udon noodles, I love spending time making home-cooked meals like Lasagna. The <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bosh.tv/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">BOSH!</a> cookbook has been my go-to for a few years now.&nbsp;&nbsp; To read more about vegan skincare products, check out our interview with <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/demi-colleen-vegan-spf-and-the-importance-of-skincare" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Demi Colleen</a> and cook up your own vegan comfort food with <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/holly-s-super-easy-yet-decadent-carbonara" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Holly's simple yet decadent carbonara</a>.

Vegan tattoo artist (Mogg) with brightly coloured hair smiling and holding a tattoo gun in a tattoo studio

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Are tattoos vegan? Vegan tattoo artist Mogg fills us in 

Last month we had the pleasure of visiting <a href="https://instagram.com/pastan.uk?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Pastan</a> in Bristol, an artisanal, fresh vegan pasta restaurant that recreates a wide selection of European, namely Italian, pasta dishes. Sat snug between the river Avon and south of the city centre, this plant-based eatery is a hidden gem, perfect for a midweek meal or a Saturday night dinner date.&nbsp; Bristol’s newest vegan restaurant, Pastan recently opened their doors in January. They have also been located in London and Manchester for several years since the success of their pop-up shops.&nbsp; Pastan is one of many restaurants to take part in an initiative called <a href="https://carbonfreedining.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Carbon Free Dining</a>. The initiative aims to counterbalance the environmental impact of dining by inviting diners to add a small charge onto their food bill in exchange for a tree to be planted in ‘developing countries’ such as Cameroon and the Philippines. The trees create food sources and jobs for local communities, which means more children have a chance of going to school and getting an education. By choosing to dine at Pastan in Bristol, you can take part in this incredible global enterprise and enjoy some delicious vegan Italian food, all at the same time.&nbsp; <h2>What’s on offer</h2>If you book a table you can expect to walk into a modern space with pink bricked walls, low hung lights, and a plethora of dark, leafy green plants. A long table and bar stools divide the bustling from the cosy seating area. We took a seat and were greeted by our wonderful host who suggested we start with an elderflower spritz with St-Germain liqueur and fresh rosemary. Floral and sweet, the subtlety and lightness of the drink acted as a good palate cleanser before our starter.&nbsp; We chose the Portofino, a platter of ‘buffalo mozzarella’, tomatoes, and basil, doused in olive oil and served with freshly baked bread. We were notably excited to try their ‘mozzarella’, as most vegan cheese is often served cooked, perhaps melted, and in accompaniment to a main dish. It was made with tapioca, so it had lots of elasticity and could easily take on different flavours and be cut and spread like a soft cheese. It was one of few vegan cheeses we have tried that can be eaten by itself, and in large amounts. It was salty and mild, not too tangy, and so creamy and milky to taste. The Portofino is a must if you want to try a plant-based take on an authentic Italian dish. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1681717062/Image_1_12_cfe139beb4.png" alt="Image 1 (12).PNG">Amelia Ling ﻿We found it hard to decide which pasta to go for as there were dishes from all over Europe, a Russian stroganoff, a Barcelonian spicy tomato pasta appropriately called ‘Catalonia’, and of course, Italian classics such as gnocchi, cacio e pepe, and carbonara. We went with the cleverly named ‘Caspian Sea’, a charcoal-infused tagliolini, with dill hollandaise sauce, and vegan shrimp. The novelty of the shrimp caught our eye and we were interested to see how an egg-based dish like hollandaise could be made vegan. We also chose the Russian-inspired ‘Umami Stroganoff’ which was made into a deliciously creamy vegan pasta and replaced traditional beef for pulled shiitake mushrooms.&nbsp; The ‘umami stroganoff’ incorporated three kinds of mushrooms: shiitake, porcini and truffle. The porcini was cooked into a velvety and rich sauce that was more silky than creamy, and the shiitake was pulled into almost a meatball that had the stringiness of beef - which was great! Although named after its full-bodied, umami flavour, the texture of the shiitake was by far the best part of this dish. The sprigs of tarragon cut through the balanced taste of the umami with a pungent taste of aniseed. <h2>Authentic European dishes veganised</h2>We have to credit Pastan for how well they pair their sauces with the most complementary fresh, vegan pasta. Creamy, thick sauces are often matched with tubular pasta such as paccheri that hold more sauce. Their dish ‘Vegan Red’ serves a classic basil and tomato sauce with chitarra, a long and thin pasta, like spaghetti. Pastan’s artisanal pasta is handcrafted in-house and made fresh from scratch every single day. Each bite had a distinct bounce, especially the thicker-cut pasta such as the paccheri.&nbsp;&nbsp; The ‘Caspian Sea’ accompanied tagliolini, a type of long ribbon pasta, with a buttery hollandaise sauce. We were surprised with how tangy and sharp the sauce was, it had a thin and slightly oily consistency which differentiated it from a more creamy pasta, like the stroganoff. Shoots of watercress were decoratively placed on top of the dish; it was an impressive sight: long black pasta with sheer yellow sauce and vegan ‘shrimp.’ The vegan shrimps, like the pulled shiitake, gave the meal more protein and substance. They didn't have a strong flavour but we believe their strong resemblance added a playful addition to the nautical dish.&nbsp; At Pastan they are incredibly generous with their portions, so for dessert we were tempted by the Affogato, one last homage to Italy. Vanilla ice cream served with espresso coffee. We instead went with their most popular dessert, mini doughnut balls with a gooey Biscoff centre. The doughnuts are small enough to eat whole and we were delighted by the sensation of them popping in our mouths and surprising us with an intensely biscuity filling. Pillowy, deep fried dough, dusted with icing sugar, they really are the perfect finish to your meal. They even have a slight taste of cinnamon which warms the tongue <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1681717221/Image_2_4_33d1649e65.png" alt="Mini vegan doughnut balls with a gooey Biscoff centre in a blue bowl from Pastan Bristol">Amelia Ling Pastan in Bristol are proud of the food they serve and we can see why. They told us they know their food is good when people come back for more. Let’s just say, we’re ready for seconds. We can also find branches of Pastan in London and Manchester.&nbsp;&nbsp; If you’re looking for other exceptional eateries in Bristol check out <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/best-vegan-restaurants-in-bristol" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Bristol’s best vegan restaurants</a>.

Pastan Bristol’s colourful vegan pasta dish with asparagus, watercress, ‘vegan shrimp’ and charcoal-infused tagliolini 

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Pastan: Bristol’s handmade plant-based pasta specialists

<h3>More than <a href="https://www.hsi.org/news-media/about/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(254, 254, 254); color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">115 million animals worldwide</a> are used in laboratory experiments every year. <a href="https://www.peta.org/features/animal-experimentation-statistics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">95% of all drugs</a> shown to be effective in animal tests fail in human trials.&nbsp;</h3> Animal testing raises ethical and scientific concerns, as animals used in testing experience pain, suffering, and distress. The results of animal studies are shown to not only be inaccurate translations of human responses but, in many cases, <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/animal-experiments_b_4209541#:~:text=Unlike%20failures%20in%20many%20other%20scientific%20areas%2C%20the,Have%20Been%20Directed%20into%20More%20Fruitful%20Human-Based%20Tests." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">have caused serious harm to humans</a>.&nbsp; Fortunately, increases in scientific innovation and growing support to find alternatives to animal testing means alternative methods are rising. <h2>Why is animal testing unreliable?&nbsp;</h2>It’s no surprise that animals are anatomically, metabolically, and genetically different from humans; many drugs deemed effective in animals fail in human clinical trials, highlighting the limitations of animal testing in predicting human response. Animal studies often use high doses of a substance to induce a response which doesn’t translate to humans. Throughout history, we have seen animal experiments deemed safe that have dire consequences for humans. In the 1950s, a drug to treat morning sickness, <a href="https://academic.oup.com/toxsci/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/toxsci/kfr088" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Thalidomide</a>,&nbsp;did not cause congenital disabilities when given to pregnant rats and mice, but in humans, it caused epidemics of congenital disabilities, including severe limb malformations.&nbsp; In 1993, <a href="https://thedermreview.com/replacement-of-animal-procedures-alternatives-in-testing-research-and-education/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">a potential treatment for hepatitis B</a> was approved for human testing after a six-month trial on dogs; however, five of the fifteen participants died, and a further two people required liver transplants.&nbsp; Another example from 2006 left human volunteers in critical conditions, including chronic organ failure, after trailing <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21042496/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">TGN1412</a>,&nbsp;a treatment for autoimmune diseases and cancer. Scientists relied on the treatment being tolerated by monkeys in the pre-clinical trials. For more cases, follow <a href="https://withoutconsent.peta.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(33, 37, 41);">PETA’s </a><a href="https://withoutconsent.peta.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Without Consent timeline</a>.&nbsp; Animal experimentation is unreliable, which begs the question, why does it continue, and what are the alternatives to animal testing?&nbsp; <h2>Why does animal testing exist if it’s unreliable?&nbsp;</h2>Despite the growing evidence that non-human testing is unethical and unreliable, it continues due to some regulatory requirements; however, a significant legislative breakthrough happened in the US with President Biden signing the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/5002" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">FDA Modernization Act 2.0</a>&nbsp;in December 2022, which “<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/the-us-just-greenlit-high-tech-alternatives-to-animal-testing/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">ends a 1938 federal mandate that experimental drugs must be tested on animals before they are used in human clinical trials</a>”.&nbsp;Although it doesn’t ban animal testing, it allows drug companies to use alternatives, whereas before, they had to test on animals. In 2009 the EU ban on&nbsp;<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/cosmetics/animal-testing_en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">animal testing</a><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/cosmetics/animal-testing_en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(199, 0, 0);">&nbsp;</a>of cosmetic ingredients came into force; however, competing legislation such as the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/reach_en.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">EU’s chemical regulations</a> means that some chemicals, which are for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/19/hundreds-of-uk-and-eu-cosmetics-products-contain-ingredients-tested-on-animals" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">cosmetic use are tested on animals</a>. The tradition of animal testing lingers as some scientists and researchers still believe that animal testing is necessary for advancing medical research and developing new treatments, despite the limitations and ethical concerns. Luckily, scientific innovation means alternatives to animal testing are proving successful and garnering support.&nbsp;&nbsp; So, what are some alternatives to animal testing? <h2>In vitro methods</h2>In vitro methods use cell cultures, organoids, or tissue chips to test the safety and efficacy of products without using live animals. <a href="https://crueltyfreeinternational.org/about-animal-testing/alternatives-animal-testing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Scientists coax cells</a> to grow into 3D structures, such as miniature human organs, to test therapies.&nbsp; A <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358506655_Airborne_toxicological_assessment_The_potential_of_lung-on-a-chip_as_an_alternative_to_animal_testing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">scientific review of lung-on-a-chip devices</a> (made with <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210208114214.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">molecules naturally found in the lung: collagen and elastin</a>) for evaluating the impact of air pollution on human lungs suggests that in vitro testing “will bring more reliable data to support animal replacement in the future”. Animal testing is biased and, therefore, misrepresents results “owing to the differences in the structures and functions of the respiratory tracts of different species”. <h2>Computational models</h2>Computer simulations and mathematical models (which replicate the ‘model’ of parts of the human body) can be used to predict the effects of chemicals and drugs on human physiology. One example includes novel computational models whereby <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35935266/#:~:text=Novel%20computational%20models%20offer%20alternatives%20to%20animal%20testing,assessing%20eye%20irritation%20and%20corrosion%20potential%20of%20chemicals." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">computer-based simulations assess the eye irritation and corrosion potential of chemicals</a>. These models use mathematical algorithms and data from various sources, including chemical structure, to predict a substance's potential to cause eye irritation or corrosion. <h2>Microdosing</h2>Volunteers can participate in microdosing, which involves administering minuscule amounts of new drugs to measure their effects on the human body which “<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/47810643_Microdosing_Safer_clinical_trials_and_fewer_animal_tests" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">can only improve predictions of drug toxicity and efficacy, whilst also reducing the resources spent and the number of animal tests carried out</a>” as well as allowing participants to provide first-hand accounts of their experiences, making it easier to understand and interpret the results. <h2>Human volunteer studies</h2>Clinical trials involving <a href="https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/alternatives-animal-testing/#:~:text=These%20alternatives%20to%20animal%20testing%20include%20sophisticated%20tests,in%20silico%20models%29%2C%20and%20studies%20with%20human%20volunteers." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">human volunteers </a>can provide important information about the safety and efficacy of drugs and treatments.&nbsp; Some trials use highly sophisticated scanning machines, and recording techniques have been developed to study human volunteers safely. Brain imaging machines, which can peer inside the brain, can be used to track the progression and treatment of brain diseases. By comparing results with healthy volunteers, these machines can aid researchers in comprehending the underlying causes of these diseases. <h2>Human tissue and organ banks</h2>These banks store <a href="https://www.pcrm.org/ethical-science/animal-testing-and-alternatives/human-relevant-alternatives-to-animal-tests" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">human tissue</a> and organs that can be used for research and testing, reducing the need for animal testing. Healthy and diseased tissues from <a href="https://crueltyfreeinternational.org/about-animal-testing/alternatives-animal-testing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">human volunteers</a> provide a more realistic way of studying human biology and disease than animal testing. Tissue can be donated from biopsies, cosmetic surgery, transplants, and post-mortem. <h2>Adverse outcome pathways</h2>The Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) concept offers a framework to “<a href="https://lushprize.org/background/supporting-alternatives/#:~:text=Adverse%20Outcome%20Pathways%20and%2021st%20Century%20Toxicology%20offer,regard%20to%20prediction%20of%20human%20safety%20and%20disease." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">make faster progress to research, develop and evaluate human-relevant methods and reliably interpret their results, for better safety prediction and disease research</a>”. This approach uses a weight-of-evidence approach to assess the potential harm of a substance based on existing data and knowledge of biology and toxicology. <h2>Hope for the future?&nbsp;</h2>The monumental FDA amendment evidences that non-animal testing is proving successful as some legislative bodies are easing the requirements to test on animals. Technological advances and the emphasis on ethical practices mean there is some hope. However, animal testing still occurs worldwide, so as consumers, it’s essential to support, where possible, companies and products that do not test on animals.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For more on ethical veganism, we interview <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/investigating-animal-cruelty-with-viva-investigations-team" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Viva!’s Lex Rigby</a>, and we work up a sweat to bust some <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/vegan-fitness-let-s-do-some-myth-busting" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">vegan fitness myths</a>.

Scientist using a pipette to do tests in a lab environment

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Alternatives to animal testing: Are they more reliable?

The Bake Off journey of French vegan patisserie chef Thibault Courtoisier, is an influential catalyst to say the least. Winning a high profile competition like this carries the potential to change the British public’s perception of vegan baking and food. The process remains quite a mystery to many, so coverage at this level is undoubtedly helping to answer the many questions surrounding plant-based baking. V-Land UK were pleased to hear from the winner himself! V-Land UK (V-L): Great to meet you Thibault. V-Land would like to begin by saying congratulations on your ‘Bake Off: The Professionals’ win in 2020! How did it feel, and what did you take from the experience? Thibault Courtoisier (TC): Unfortunately, we did not win Bake Off exclusively with vegan patisserie. Even though I was vegan at the time, the team captain I worked with whilst filming Bake Off was not. Quite the contrary actually. I feel that with these kinds of TV shows, it is really hard to be vegan and succeed. We have seen what has happened in the last few years with cooking shows and vegans around the world. Especially when those shows have a secret challenge and do not give you the choice of utilising your own ingredients.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;V-L: Business is booming in Cardiff at Pâtisserie Verte since your win! It must feel amazing to share your love of vegan baking with so many. How did you transition from baking your delectable macarons from home to selling countless more at your vegan patisserie?&nbsp;TC: I was still an employee when winning Bake Off, creating <a href="https://www.patisserieverte.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Pâtisserie Verte</a> at the end of 2020. We never had a physical shop as we always wanted to have some ‘freedom’ from feeling anchored here in Cardiff. As you said, we started making our macarons from our home kitchen. After a successful flurry of sales at farmers' markets around South Wales and South England, the demand vastly grew and became unmanageable in our own kitchen. We were producing 1500 macarons a week. So, I sourced a new space that I was able to turn into a kitchen and prep everything from there. But with demand increasing again, I had to move to an even larger premises! Our unit now is about 2200 square feet, so hopefully my team and I will be there for a little while.&nbsp;The aim of the business is to feed delicious vegan patisserie to as many mouths as possible. The initial idea was to mainly sell business to business. But alongside growing a business during the lockdown procedures, business to business became very challenging. We got the opportunity to sell our products to some larger events all over the UK through a wholesaler, which gave us a sudden surge in sales and customers trying vegan patisserie.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;V-L: You have very generously revealed your vegan macaron recipe through an online masterclass! What can home cooks and aspiring pastry chefs expect when they attend?&nbsp;&nbsp;TC: Due to COVID rules, we hosted masterclasses over Zoom as we weren’t able to do the alternative, which we can’t wait to start teaching again at our unit in person. The masterclasses are open to everyone, where both home cooks and professionals can obtain new skills. The aim of the course is to create macarons with the students that they can then enjoy at home. There is a huge gap in vegan cooking skills, so the idea of teaching them is really exciting for me. One wing of the business we are aiming to develop is the consultancy: we want to be able to teach people from all over how to make really tasty and beautiful patisserie.&nbsp;&nbsp;As you said, we generously revealed our macaron recipe, but if this move can help more people try vegan products or even just plant a seed in their head, then that’s a win for us!&nbsp;V-L: Of the four supersized macarons you produce for your street patisserie ‘Dirty Macs’, which flavour is the most popular and what inspired you to bring them out to the streets?&nbsp;&nbsp;TC: When designing the menu for our Dirty Macs, we needed a bit of everything in terms of flavours and things that people could relate to. For example, we created a ‘Ferro’ macaron which was advertised with the slogan “It’s like Ferrero but better” to draw people in. I think this one was definitely the big favourite. It’s made with a hazelnut macaron shell, chocolate mousse, praline paste, and roasted hazelnuts dipped in a ‘magnum’ crunchy chocolate glaze. This was served with whipped cream, warm chocolate sauce, more hazelnuts and praline paste on top. We wanted to make sure they lived up to the name!&nbsp;Dirty Macs aim was to eradicate the depiction of having a macaron on the balcony of a really posh hotel in the centre of Paris with a cup of tea or coffee. Bringing that flavour experience to street food events and public spaces was behind the process of starting this product range. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1681549961/Image_1_44_pic_2_bc4fc43396.png" alt="Vivid green vegan macarons">Thibault Courtoisier V-L: You’ve demonstrated incredible resilience over the last few years. From being runner up in the ‘UK Sugar Championship’, securing second place on the ‘Bake Off’ spin-off series ‘Crème de le Crème’ in 2017, entering and winning ‘Bake Off: The Professionals’ during COVID and becoming a father! Tell us what kept you going?&nbsp;TC: Thanks, to be fair it has been quite a rollercoaster for sure! But I am not the kind of person who quits. I have dreams and goals in my life, knowing for a fact that they won’t be achievable if I’m not putting the work required in. I am determined and know what I want, which I have to say helped me over the years (most of the time). I don’t think I could’ve done all of this without my partner Cari, mother of our amazing daughter Gwendolen. I am getting all the credit because I was the one who won Bake Off. She truly deserves some of the credit as she practically single-parented 9 out of 10 weeks whilst I was amid stage and work. She supported our family financially when starting the business, working full-time here and teaching translation to pay the bills. I cannot thank her enough for what she brought to our family, our business, and our lives.&nbsp;V-L: You’ve spoken before about the importance of sustainable business and shopping locally for your ingredients. Was sustainability the initial reason you decided to go vegan, or were there any other motives behind the decision?&nbsp;&nbsp;TC: Before going vegan, we knew there were some issues going on with animal farming and the environment, but we didn’t understand the scale. We educated ourselves on the subject after going vegan, reading articles and exposés. But the main reason unfolded upon returning from France after Christmas, where we were vegetarian for the holidays. I didn’t really have the guts to tell my parents I didn’t want to eat meat, as it was a really sore subject. We ate a lot of cheese during that holiday, and after returning home to the UK, we had really bad stomach pains for about 2-3 weeks. We decided that was it for us and went vegan. We have three big motives behind the decision, really; in no particular order, they are animals, the environment and our health.&nbsp;&nbsp;V-L: Have you got any exciting upcoming projects or delicious new treats coming this year?&nbsp;&nbsp;TC: In 2023, our concentration and focus will be wholesale, gaining new customers and trying to send our products further afield. We have a couple of dates in the diary with events planned such as the <a href="https://www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Abergavenny Food Festival</a> in Cardiff and the <a href="https://foodiesfestival.com/events/bristol-2023/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Foodies Festival</a> in Bristol. We will be selling our Dirty Macs and presenting a couple of demonstrations!&nbsp;V-L: As a Frenchman, is it safe to say your journey into veganism may have felt quite daunting at times? Cheese is a fundamental part of French cuisine and culture. It would be great to end our discussion with what advice you could give anyone feeling veganism isn’t something they could realistically establish as their lifestyle.&nbsp;TC: It hasn’t been easy, for sure. A lot of our family members were really against it to begin with (tends to happen being the son of a butcher and fishmonger!). We still get the odd comment every now and then. When we first went vegan, lots of them were scared we wouldn’t be getting the nutrients needed to thrive. We actually researched more about nutrition than ever before, to make sure we proved them wrong! All I can say is that I felt much better after only a few weeks of going vegan. I was sleeping better, I lost weight and felt much more energised.&nbsp;I never really craved cheese that much to be honest. Lots of people tell me it’s the hardest hurdle when considering veganism. If you crave cheese, think of what goes into it and how horrid the dairy industry actually is. It might just stop you from wanting that piece of cheese again! It’s crazy to think that before meeting Cari, I was the kind of person who would say “I’ll never date a vegetarian.” I would say the best thing to do is educate yourself on what is going on behind the walls of the farms we see everywhere. Extend that research into nutrition and the environment. If these three things won’t make you change, then I do not know what would.&nbsp;Although it can be quite daunting, you do not have to go 100% at the start. Bit by bit is probably easier and it’s not the end of the world if you have some days where you mess up. Don’t beat yourself up. Just do better the next day! Thibault’s description of the ingredients in those Dirty Macs has definitely unleashed an urgent need for something sweet! We’ve got you! Here’s <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/5-vegan-chocolate-bar-brands-to-add-to-your-shopping-list" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">5 vegan chocolate bar brands to add to your shopping list</a>.

Smiling bearded man with a hat (Thibault Courtoisier) 

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Meet Thibault Courtoisier: Bake Off champ and vegan patisserie pro

Something vegans often claim to miss is the ease of access to classic café lunchtime food; the ability to go for wraps or toasties and chips for lunchtime grub. The food at <a href="https://instagram.com/harrysplacecic?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Harry’s Place</a> scratches that itch. The options are extensive and would be overwhelming if it wasn’t so exciting to see so many plant-based choices all in one place. It’s proper Irish comfort food at its best. However, it is so much more than a place to eat, it is a social enterprise run by couple Gareth and David. It provides a space for adults with learning and physical disabilities, sight and hearing impairments and mental health issues to <a href="https://www.disabilityaction.org/news/helping-harrys-place" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">socialise and work</a>. The name comes from Gareth’s uncle Harry who sadly passed away 4 years ago. As Gareth grew up with his uncle he realised there weren’t many facilities and provisions for adults like him who had learning difficulties and so he set up Harry’s Mates. A social hub that started in a local church grew and grew to become the vegan grub hotspot many know and love today, and is able to hire the Mates. The staff are very friendly and helpful. We enjoyed finding out their input into some of the dishes, having some named after them, including our favourite the ‘What’s the story, Tori’ wrap: meat-free ‘chicken’, hash browns and pepper sauce. It’s comforting, it’s hearty and it’s unbelievably tasty. If you’ve ever missed sinking your teeth into a Big Mac, look no further than what’s on offer on the Harry’s Place menu. Chef Kris’s take on the widely recognisable sauce is spot on and delicious. This combined with the meat-free patties, the oozy three cheese melt, crispy iceberg lettuce and pickles make a yummy stacked burger that far and away exceeds the original. One thing about Harry’s Place is that they do not skimp on portion sizes. It offers incredible value for money with the amount of food and flavour you get for your buck. For a side, we opted for ‘The Ruairi’, a large and lush portion of dirty fries topped with gravy, homemade stuffing, grilled onions and crispy ‘facon’.&nbsp;It had the heartiness of a Sunday roast with all the trimmings and tasted incredible. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1681549170/Image_1_43_pic_2_f7938521c0.png" alt="Dirty vegan fries on a white dish on a wooden table in Harry’s Place Ballynahinch">Harry’s Place Next we had the local Ulster delicacy -&nbsp;a fifteen. A dessert rarely eaten outside of Northern Ireland or Donegal; we would strongly urge non-Irish readers to give it a try. It is a staple tray-bake to us all here in Belfast, Ballynahinch and beyond, but rarely found veganised. The name comes from how it’s usually made. 15 digestive biscuits, 15 marshmallows and 15 glacier cherries crushed with condensed milk and desiccated coconut, rolled into a log, and cut up in slices. If that sounds delicious to you it’s because it is, and we feel sorry for the rest of the world that is deprived of it. This is a spot not to be missed and worth a visit. You’ll come for the food and stay for the craic. It is dog-friendly, and there is a kids’ corner with toys and books so you can bring the whole family. It is one of the top places in Northern Ireland for vegan food and you’re guaranteed to leave with your appetite satisfied and a smile on your face.&nbsp; Harry’s Place isn’t the only delicious vegan café in Northern Ireland: check out <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/craving-a-tasty-vegan-brunch-near-belfast-visit-lynchpin-holywood" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">our review of Lynchpin Holywood</a>.

Vegan burger with vegan cheese oozing out of the bun on a plate from Harry’s Place Ballynahinch

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Café with a cause: Harry’s Place, Ballynahinch


Copenhagen has been one of Europe’s hidden gems until very recently. With the rise in popularity of their Fashion Week, powered by their sustainable design and a more conscious approach, the Danish capital has attracted the best of everything, making it a vibrant hotspot with everything to offer and a perfect vegan travel destination. We visited recently and have come up with the ultimate guide to Copenhagen’s vegan food and culture. To start, let us mention its airport. Whether you are coming or going, Copenhagen is probably one of the most vegan-friendly airports we have ever been to. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/joeandthejuice/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Joe &amp; the Juice</a> is a fail-safe (not only throughout the city, but in all Nordic countries) with their freshly squeezed juices, shakes and sandwiches. If you are looking for a quick bite, most cafés will offer drinks and some vegan buns (check out <a href="https://www.arket.com/en_gbp/cafe.html?utm_source=bing&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=DK0404" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">ARKET</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cphcoffeelab/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Copenhagen Coffee Lab</a>) and if you have time, there are plenty of options for a full meal, ranging from poke to Asian dishes.&nbsp; <h2 class="ql-align-justify">Copenhagen vegan breakfasts…</h2>The Danes love their first meal of the day, and buns and pastries are part of their national culture. Perhaps kick off the day at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cafe_kaf/?hl=es" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Kaf</a>, a fully vegan Copenhagen restaurant that offers baked goods, brunch, lunch and everything in between. If on the other hand, you prefer a lighter meal, we recommend <a href="https://land-bageriet.dk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Landbageteriet</a>, an organic bakery with lots of vegan and gluten-free options. We tried their Kanelsnegle (a huge cinnamon roll, typical in the Nordic countries) and their Fastelavnsboller, a delicious, sweet bun filled with pistachio cream and decorated with chocolate and nuts. And only a few meters away, you’ll find <a href="https://www.steelhousecopenhagen.com/visit-copenhagen/copenhagen-dining/torvehallerne" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Torvehallerne</a>, a food market by Norrebro station. You’ll find local and gourmet food, but our best tip is to stop by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tantensunivers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Tante T</a>, a tea shop where you’ll find the highest-rated matcha in the city. The market has outdoor seating, so take advantage of it and soak up some vitamin D on a sunny day. Hot tip: Danish breakfast mainly consists of sourdough bread with butter and cheese. However, if you find yourself in a spot with no vegan options, you can generally ask for jam instead.&nbsp; <h2 class="ql-align-justify">…and a spot of shopping</h2>If you fancy mixing pleasures (food being one, and design being another), you are in luck - this is the city for you. Pop into <a href="https://www.instagram.com/apotek_57/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Apotek 57</a>, the cutest little café inside <a href="https://www.instagram.com/framacph/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">FRAMA</a>, a store of namesake multi-disciplinary design brand where you’ll find home goods to skincare products. Another spot you can’t miss is <a href="https://www.instagram.com/louiseroecph/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Louise Roe Studio</a>. Their offering ranges from the sturdiest and most aesthetically pleasing ceramics to beautifully woven rugs. Their <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theroebar/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Roe Bar</a> features a striking metallic kitchen, and although their vegan menu is limited to drinks, bread, a delicious salad, and a plate of great looking hummus, it is a space worth spending some time in. It is also laptop friendly, so if you need to do some work - sit at their bar and watch passers-by. <h2 class="ql-align-justify">A hint of art</h2>Copenhagen has a wide list of museums and galleries; most of them have their own cafés or eateries to have a bite before or after visiting their exhibitions. Statens Museum for Kunst’s own <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kafeteriasmk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">SMK Kafeteria</a> offers soups and bread as their main vegan food. However, their olive focaccia is worth the trip over - even if you are not interested in art! The Designmuseum also has a cute café, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/formatdmd/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Format</a>, where options include drinks, bread and a yummy seasonal salad. And lastly, don’t miss <a href="https://www.instagram.com/apollo_kantine/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Apollo Kantine</a>, a vegetarian restaurant and café located within the courtyard of the historical cultural institution Kunsthal Charlottenborg. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1681317242/IMG_1532_fbf04879af.png" alt="IMG_1532.png"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=591908769160271&amp;set=a.591908745826940&amp;type=3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Apollo Bar</a> <h2 class="ql-align-justify">And some lunch or dinner</h2>As you can probably already tell, Copenhagen has an eclectic range of cuisines. One could argue Middle Eastern food is one of the most vegan-friendly, and we suggest trying out <a href="https://www.instagram.com/therealgreekcph/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The Real Greek</a> for a quick, but comforting gyros or <a href="https://z-p4.www.instagram.com/gazagrill/?hl=es-la" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Gaza Grill</a> if you find yourself at the Meat Packing District. There you’ll discover <a href="https://lovesanchez.com/taquerias" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Hija de Sanchez</a>, a Mexican restaurant with different locations in the city and with a higher-end sister restaurant called <a href="https://lovesanchez.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Sanchez</a>. And if you crave spicy food, at <a href="https://southindian.dk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The South Indian</a>, in the hip neighbourhood of Vesterbro, you’ll find heartwarming curries and naans.&nbsp; <h2 class="ql-align-justify">Honourable mentions</h2>We recommend checking out <a href="https://www.instagram.com/groedcph/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">GRØD</a>, a porridge bar bringing an exciting menu made up completely of oats: you can have a more traditional breakfast bowl or switch it up with a savoury risotto! Another honourable mention in the Copenhagen vegan food scene would be <a href="https://www.instagram.com/restaurant_ark/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Ark</a>, the first vegan restaurant awarded a Green Michelin Star in the Nordics, if you are looking for a fine dining experience.&nbsp; As you can tell, the Danish culinary experience is rather bread-heavy, but it is also full of fresh, vibrant and seasonal products. We hope you follow in our steps and try out the best of Copenhagen's vegan food and culture! If you’re a culture vulture, check out our interview with sustainable futures artist, <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/saskia-saunders-powerful-vegan-art-for-a-sustainable-future" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Saskia Saunders</a>, or <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/art-as-activism-vegan-artists-to-follow-on-instagram" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">how art can be a form of activism</a>.

Vegan pastry with cucumber and greenery piled on top on a rustic plate

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Fall in love with the Copenhagen vegan scene

If you’re looking for guilt-free vegan junk food in Brighton, head to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vegannomsuk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Vegan Noms</a> - located in <a href="https://www.instagram.com/worldsend_btn/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The World’s End Pub</a> on London Road, where you can eat in or have a takeaway.&nbsp; Vegan Noms Brighton pride themselves on sustainability, which is evident in not just their food but also in their 100% biodegradable and environmentally friendly packaging.&nbsp; The World’s End, known as Brighton’s best arcade pub is a colourful place with a welcoming vibe. We’ve heard a lot of good things about the food and were super excited to sit down and eat. Before we ordered we headed upstairs to check out the arcade which has loads to keep you entertained, including air hockey and the famous ‘World's Raceway’ racing game. Before we got too distracted, we headed back down to order the food, which looked sensational. We sat in a bright pink booth near the bar. The pub also has a seating area outside for warmer days, perfect if you’re visiting Brighton in the summer. The menu is packed with a variety of vegan burgers, vegan hot dogs, shakes and sides, it’s difficult not to order one of everything. We started with a Biscoff milkshake that is thick, creamy and tastes like heaven - so thick we struggled to suck it through the straw.&nbsp; As the food arrived, which was colourful and well presented, we tried the Chick’n Royale burger which consists of a crispy coated seitan and soya fillet in a white bun with shredded lettuce, Applewood vegan cheese and garlic mayo. After just one bite we knew this burger (and the rest of the food) would be an epic experience. The burger is so good you wouldn’t be able to distinguish the chick’n fillet from the real thing. The mayo gives a strong kick of garlic, and the melty vegan cheese works perfectly with the rest of the burger.&nbsp; After another large sip of the Biscoff shake, we tried the fully loaded BBQ jackfruit with skins on fries. The fries were cooked to crispy perfection and the jackfruit has been perfectly flavoured in a BBQ marinade. On the side were Chick’n Pap Pops, Sticky Korean BBQ poppers topped with red chilli and sesame seeds. These little crispy bites were very moreish, especially with the Korean sauce and heat of the fresh red chillies. This is the sort of food you’ll need a napkin to wipe your sticky hands and face, good job we had a few! <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1680034293/Image_1_41_pic_2_73d158a33b.png" alt="Vegan Noms Brighton colourful vegan BBQ poppers topped with chilli, sesame seeds, spring onions ">Aaron Calder ﻿We love a loaded vegan hot dog and the Vegan Noms Not Dog has so much topping we struggled to fit it in our mouths! The foot-long Moving Mountains dawg was topped with American mustard, ketchup, caramelised and crispy onions, with a super soft bun. The Not Dog was juicy and had a meaty texture.&nbsp; After we had finished all the amazing food it was time for dessert. They offer a Chocolate Fudge or Caramelised Biscuit Cake - we went for the latter. The cake had a biscuit base and creamy second layer, finished off with crumbled Biscoff biscuits and chocolate drizzle. The cake, which is more like a cheesecake than a sponge cake, was soft, gooey and melts in the mouth. It was so good that we ate it slowly, enjoying every bite. Noms are onto a winner with this cake and you’d be fooled into thinking this was made with dairy. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1680034528/Image_2_3_pic_3_70a91f21b9.png" alt="Vegan Noms Brighton Caramelised Biscuit Cake with chocolate sauce topping in a white dish">Aaron Calder We can see why Vegan Noms is so popular, with a good variety of food and drink, there’s something for everyone, with friendly and helpful staff, entertainment, and a large seating area.&nbsp;We look forward to coming back soon to try the other options! Planning a trip to Brighton, also get stuck into <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/flower-power-pizza-brighton-s-groovy-vegan-pizza" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Flower Power Pizza</a>, and there are plenty of <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/delightful-vegan-brunch-options-in-brighton" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">brunch options</a> for the morning after…

Vegan Noms Brighton vegan hot dog in a white bun with multiple toppings (mustard, ketchup, onions) 

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Vegan Noms Brighton: Guilt-free vegan junk food


As the cost of living crisis tightens its grip over the country, more and more people seek new ways to curb its effect on their wallets when they go to the supermarket. Whether this involves cutting down on ‘luxury’ choices, cooking more homemade meals, or by <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/vegan-on-a-budget-is-it-really-cheaper" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">eating less meat</a>, the UK’s population is getting creative in order to save its pennies. Below are five vegan tips and tricks to help keep your bills down and bellies full. V-Land have compiled this advice to give the vegan on a budget the best chance to establish money-saving eating habits! <h2 class="ql-align-justify">Maximise your kitchen appliances efficiency</h2>While the air fryer is becoming the best thing since sliced bread, this appliance is not the only device at your disposal: enter the humble slow cooker. Slow cookers are great for gentle aromas that fill the kitchen throughout the day, and&nbsp;for their <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/slow_cooker_hacks#:~:text=While%20the%20slow%20cooker%20will,and%20cheaper%20varieties%20of%20vegetables." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">excellent energy efficiency</a>. As a bonus, not only will your food retain more nutrients that are otherwise destroyed by cooking at higher temperatures, but it will also absorb additional depths of flavour. Try this <a href="https://healthyslowcooking.com/vegan-slow-cooker-fresh-corn-risotto-using-my-favorite-corn-cobb-trick/#mv-creation-29-jtr" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">vegan crockpot risotto</a> with fresh corn! If you don’t have a slow cooker,&nbsp;you can use your oven in more economical ways to minimise your energy use. While cooking an oven meal for dinner, why not pre-cook some vegan sausages at the same time for breakfast the next day? They are just as tasty heated up in the microwave the next morning, and this saves you from using the oven twice. If not sausages, why not add a pan of <a href="https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/basic-curried-roast-chickpeas" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">curried chickpeas</a> for a deliciously crisp afternoon snack? <h2 class="ql-align-justify">Try new supermarkets</h2>While loyalty schemes such as Tesco’s Clubcard can get you great-value deals, some of the best cheap vegan food may be found away from the ‘big four’. But this tip is not necessarily about visiting Aldi or Lidl. No, this trick relates to supermarkets of particular note for vegans - Asian supermarkets. Aside from having an impressive range of lesser-known ingredients, Asian supermarkets often sell produce in larger quantities for lower prices. <a href="https://www.tastetheorientsupermarkets.co.uk/manchester-oxford-rd" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Taste the Orient</a> on Manchester’s Oxford Road, for example, offers a 600g block of tofu for a very reasonable price. Larger, popular brands like <a href="https://www.cauldronfoods.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Cauldron</a> and <a href="https://tofoo.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The Tofoo Co</a> cannot usually compete on price.&nbsp; While availability may vary, some Asian supermarkets also sell frozen tempeh at better prices than most conventional supermarkets. If you are looking for cheap vegan protein sources, then a trip to these stores must be considered. If you rely mainly on the ‘big four’ (Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Morrisons), then the next best option is to time your big shop for the evenings. Often, supermarkets set aside older stock in the coveted ‘reduced section,’ where a slightly shorter shelf-life on particular items can lead to big bargains. Search for the yellow stickers after rush hour, when staff tend to re-stack shelves with the next day’s produce. <h2 class="ql-align-justify">Use your cupboard and freezer</h2>Keeping a well-stocked cupboard of staples can help to stave off late-night trips to the shop for instant noodles, and using your freezer can help you to increase the shelf-life of your food so that less goes to waste. Buy as much as you can in bulk at the supermarket to get the best value: a 2kg bag of red split lentils will be much cheaper in the long run than buying several 500g bags. Also, if you have time, buying dried beans and pulses is often much cheaper than buying tinned varieties - you just need to factor in any extra time that cooking may require (a pressure-cooker may come in handy). When you store bread in the cupboard or bread-bin, it has a relatively short shelf life. Even when you think a loaf may last, you will often find spots of mould just a day or two later. Instead, put your (sliced) bread in the freezer, and thaw it in the toaster on the defrost setting. In a world where <a href="https://wrap.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/wasting-food-feeds-climate-change-food-waste-action-week-launches-help#:~:text=Globally%2C%20around%20a%20third%20of,of%20total%20greenhouse%20gas%20emissions." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">one third of food goes to waste</a>, do your part. You’ll save the planet and your pennies in the process. <h2 class="ql-align-justify">Avoid branded meat replacements</h2>In our article on the <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/vegan-on-a-budget-is-it-really-cheaper" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">affordability of a vegan diet</a>, it was established that one of the best ways to cut costs as a vegan is to avoid highly-processed meat and dairy replacements. While a <a href="https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-11-11-sustainable-eating-cheaper-and-healthier-oxford-study" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">study</a> from the University of Oxford suggested that it is possible to reduce the cost of a food shop by up to one-third by adopting a vegan diet, the biggest obstacle to saving money in this way is expensive meat replacements. NB: plant-based meat and dairy replacements serve an important purpose in helping newer vegans to acclimatise to the diet, and sometimes their cost is a necessary evil. <h2 class="ql-align-justify">Do not forget the ‘OG’ vegan meals!</h2>The last of our vegan tips takes a look at our humble beginnings. Once upon a time, vegans’ diets often consisted of not much more than plates of rice and beans. While many plant-based sources of protein may not contain adequate amounts of all nine essential amino acids, a complementary mix of legumes and grains often provides adequate amounts of all nine. It may be the ‘original’ vegan meal for a reason. Now, we do not necessarily advocate a return to these (in hindsight, quite bland) times, but there is beauty and value in these budget vegan recipes. Rice, grains, beans, pulses, and vegetables are among the cheapest ingredients that you can buy in supermarkets, and once crafted into a stew, curry, chilli, or casserole, these dishes often freeze well and work perfectly for batch-cooking. They are also easily and endlessly personalised. If you are interested in learning more about the science of a plant-based diet, why not read our <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/exploring-the-power-of-plant-based-with-nutritionist-callum-weir" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">interview with vegan nutritionist Callum Weir</a>?

Hand putting a 20p into a smiling blue piggy bank 

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5 vegan tips and tricks to keep your bills down and bellies full

There are some people who harbour the misconception that vegan food is boring and bland. The easiest way to dispel this myth would be a visit to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fieldsbeneath/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The Fields Beneath</a> in London’s Kentish Town. We know this because V-Land were invited to sample the many delicacies on offer at this small, but perfectly formed, café.&nbsp;&nbsp; Nestled under the arches of the city’s overground rail tracks, this is arguably one of the best vegan cafés you’ll find in London. As you walk out of Kentish Town station, the café is situated immediately to the right. To guide you on your way you’ll encounter 2 bright yellow road traffic signs. One tells you the direction of the coffee and another, by way of a smiley face, points to this happy place.&nbsp; Once inside, the industrial look and feel of the exposed brick and corrugated iron ceiling is complemented with zig zagging string lights, a myriad of hanging plants and a splattering of bright artwork. There are even some strategically placed disco balls, adding extra shine to the decor.&nbsp;&nbsp; The café came into existence in 2012 before removing all animal products from their menu in 2017. If you want to explore more about what motivated them to do so, you can find that <a href="https://www.thefieldsbeneath.com/vvveg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">here</a>. As a café, they focus on 4 things - coffee, food, wine and people. While we very much plan to return for one of their wine tasting events, on this occasion, we were there for the food. This is mostly prepared from scratch in their kitchen which, given the limited space in the café itself, can be found further down the road. They even have an eco-friendly cargo bike for transporting the much-coveted menu items between the locations. Upon arrival we were greeted enthusiastically with the happiest of grins, matching the smile on the guiding sign outside. Aligned with their people focus, we were told about the sense of community they aspire to create. This is no better demonstrated than the handmade medicinal herbal teas they stock and serve. These teas are lovingly curated by a member of the team and the winter spice we sampled warmed our heart and body in equal measure on what was a relatively cold afternoon. On the back wall are chalk boards, announcing what fayre is on offer. We were fortunate not to have to choose as we were invited to sit down and were served a selection of their menu items. We started with the cheesy mite scroll. A layered roll with umami depth perfect for that carb fix and to grab and go if in a rush. This was followed by the oyster mushroom brioche. A sesame bun packed with mushroom, cucumber and onion. The bun was light and the contents fresh and flavourful. The highlight, if we were forced to choose, was their eggy bagel. We struggled to contain the generous rocket, cheese and tofu filling as we bit into this sandwich. Their homemade tomato ketchup added a zesty tang that hit the spot. Perfect for breakfast or brunch. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1680215571/Image_1_11_96cb2dfa0e.png" alt="Sliced vegan ‘egg’ bagel with rocket topped with poppy seeds from The Fields Beneath ">Mark Flood If you like a fishier taste, their panko wrap will satisfy that craving. Tofu fingers and tartare sauce with gherkins and pickled red onions packs a punch. Their rarebit croissant is a best seller and is an indulgent treat that is bursting with flavour. In fact, it should come with a warning for the supertasters amongst us. Before we transitioned from savoury to sweet we momentarily paused to ensure we had enough room for the delights we could sense were coming. First up was a warmed cinnamon swirl. With just the right hint of cinnamon, it was perfectly balanced as you bit through the sugar-coated crispy pastry. The peanut crack is a customer favourite and we completely understand why. It is both chewy and crunchy with a nice hit of peanut and a decedent dark chocolate topping. What a delight. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1680215633/Image_2_3_605ce63b6e.png" alt=" Peanut crack dessert topped with chocolate and peanuts from The Fields Beneath">Mark Flood If you like almonds and flakey pastry then the frangipane croissant is a must. Generously filled, covered in almond paste and dusted with icing sugar, we could have eaten this treat many times over.&nbsp; There were many more sweet treats to choose from but with a stomach full to bursting, we will have to return to continue our feast. Suffice to say, we can’t recommend enough this Kentish Town community café. So do pop in for a coffee, sandwich and cake if you are anywhere near.&nbsp; You could even combine with a trip to the <a href="https://camdentownbrewery.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Camden Town Brewery</a> which is next door. Given all their beers are vegan-friendly it’s the perfect place to grab a beer after you have lined your stomach at The Fields Beneath.&nbsp; If you enjoy reading café and restaurant reviews you might want to check out what we thought about the vegan junk food at <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/rabbit-food-edinburgh-s-new-favourite-spot-for-vegan-junk-food-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Rabbit Food</a> in Edinburgh or the pizza at <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/flower-power-pizza-brighton-s-groovy-vegan-pizza" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Flower Power Pizza</a> in Brighton.

Vegan frangipane croissant from The Fields Beneath 

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The Fields Beneath: A community café that packs a flavourful punch

When we think of fashion, we think of luxury, runway, or the right combination of clothes that will catch the eye of others. But fashion goes beyond exotic clothing or anything that's trendy. Fashion is simply everything and everywhere around us. That's why today, we need to talk about <a href="https://syssportswear.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">SYS</a>, the brand that has created fashion but not for the luxury market. It’s for those of us who like to be active and, either during or after training, want to wear something comfortable, beautiful and sustainable. That's what the British brand SYS has produced in its two years of existence. Clothing aimed at athletes and people who simply love going to the gym or working out at home. The brand has shorts, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies etc. in its range for both women and men. Their style is not just for the gym but also truly comfortable clothing that can be worn around town that can make you feel stylish and classy. A lot of sportswear is made to be throwaway fashion but SYS make it their mission to provide an eco-friendly alternative for sportswear, playing their part in helping to ease the carbon footprint that the fashion industry creates. SYS feels that it is their duty to use the most eco and sustainable approach possible, to help ease the carbon footprint created from day-to-day operations but also with a hope to inspire other companies to follow suit. Their criteria for phenomenal products relies on functionality, comfort and sustainability. Their product range allows customers to make conscious purchasing decisions and provides the opportunity for them to become more sustainable than before.&nbsp; The brand believes that the introduction of more forward-thinking ideas for the long term, will help encourage the change in social attitude towards issues such as fast fashion, which desperately needs to be addressed, in order to protect our planet. For every product that is sold, SYS will plant one tree. Our V-Land team has been wearing and loving their clothes and that’s why for us it’s our pleasure and responsibility to recommend SYS to our readers. Also, SYS has branched out into eco-corporate wear as well as sportswear, in an effort to provide employers with an alternate solution to combat climate change and waste accumulation. So, if you are in business and want to invest in sustainable, quality uniforms for you and your team, you can reach out to SYS via their contact page on <a href="https://syssportswear.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">their website</a>. If like SYS you want to see a move away from fast fashion check out our article which investigates <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/can-haute-couture-subvert-fast-fashion" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">whether haute couture can subvert fast fashion?</a>

Man and women lying next to each other in the sun on some concrete both wearing the same outfit by SYS Sportswear (grey sweatshirt and black shorts)

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SYS Sportswear: Clothing for the conscious athlete

A vegan world is an ideology many dream of. But is it a foreseeable reality? We sat down with <a href="https://instagram.com/weareveganuary?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Veganuary</a> Co-Founder Matthew Glover to hear his thoughts.&nbsp; Matthew is an activist and entrepreneur dedicated to removing animals from the food system.&nbsp;Having co-founded the global phenomenon <a href="https://veganuary.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Veganuary</a>, and then the US-based NGO <a href="https://genv.org/million-dollar-vegan/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Million Dollar Vegan</a>, Matthew launched <a href="https://vegcapital.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Veg Capital</a> to provide early-stage investment to companies developing vegan meat, dairy, eggs and seafood replacements. More recently, Matthew co-founded <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vfc.food/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">VFC</a> chicken, a vegan fried chick*n brand which marries activism with business, and seeks to spare the lives of chickens - the most abused land animals on the planet. V-Land UK (V-L): Veganism is growing globally, but with prices rising and a potential recession on the horizon, will vegan businesses be hit harder than most? Mathew Glover (MG): These are certainly challenging times. Many areas of the food system are struggling at present, so it’s difficult to know for sure how it will all pan out. For the plant-based food sector, there seems to be a concerning slowdown in interest in some territories (especially the US), with other areas still seeing growth, albeit from a low baseline. The cost of living crisis is definitely going to be a major factor, but also there’s pushback from the animal industries as well as society as a whole to alternative proteins. We need to work harder to get across ‘the why’ as well as working harder to create options people want to eat.&nbsp; V-L: What can vegan business owners do to keep their products on shelves and in stores? MG: The three main pillars are taste, convenience and price. We need to create better tasting alternatives, at competitive rates and then we have a chance of maintaining or growing our availability in retailers and restaurants. We also need to appeal to consumers with top-notch marketing, and clear messaging about our purpose and mission. It’s not easy to get all this right, but if vegan businesses wish to succeed then I think these are the vital pillars.&nbsp; V-L: Any advice for struggling vegan businesses and entrepreneurs trying to find a foothold in the market? MG: This is such a big question, and not one I can answer easily here. There are going to be some casualties in the coming 12-24 months, and whilst that will be stressful for many founders it may need to happen. Whilst it’s great for consumers that there are increased options, the reality for the start-ups is it’s difficult to compete with so much competition, not least from larger established players. I guess my main advice would be to try to get enough funding in place, and build a strong team. It’s easier said than done, but I’ve always tried to surround myself with people who are way smarter than me. Work hard, read a lot, network, and be ready to pivot if it’s not working.&nbsp; V-L: That’s great advice that we’re sure many vegan business owners will implement. What can we expect to see from your most recent business venture, VFC? MG: We’ve got a version three range of <a href="http://www.vfcfoods.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">VFC</a> chick*n products coming out soon, with much wider distribution. It’ll be a significant step up in terms of quality, so please keep your eye on VFC’s social media channels for updates. V-L: Whilst the vegan movement is certainly gaining momentum, for the changes we so desperately need to see in modern-day society, we need these changes to happen quicker. How else can we break through to mainstream consciousness? MG: I agree. We’re not cutting through fast enough, and this is a big conundrum I agonise over every day. We are making progress, but it’s way too slow. Meat consumption continues to rise, the global population is due to grow by another 2 billion, and we’re facing various environmental issues which directly relate to the exploitation of animals.&nbsp; Change needs to come from farming. Change needs to come from governments and institutions. Change needs to come from the food industry, retailers and restaurants. Change needs to come from influencers. And, change needs to come from individuals. I don’t have all the answers, but we’d have a chance with significant funding to create effective diet change initiatives, which move the needle much faster in terms of both policy initiatives and bringing along society for the ride.&nbsp; <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1680215278/Image_1_10_705a5ff736.png" alt="Two men: one holding a vegan burger and the other (Matthew Glover) holding a glass of red wine - they’re sitting down behind a table full of vegan food">Matthew Glover V-L: A vegan world is something the vegan community hope for, but in reality, compromises will have to be made if we are ever to see a plant-based way of life become a reality. What does a realistic vegan world look like to you? MG: For me, I don’t think of a ‘vegan world’ but tend to focus on trying to reduce as much suffering as I can as an individual. Expecting everyone on the planet to eat only plant-based foods is unlikely in the near term, and might never happen. Even if all of humanity became vegan, there’d still be wild animal suffering, and human-caused accidental animal deaths.&nbsp; I think ending factory farming is a realistic goal, and possibly most/all animal farming over the coming centuries. It’s unlikely to happen in our lifetimes, and we may not have enough time with climate change etc, but we should work hard to turn the tide, and build the foundations for future generations to get closer to a compassionate and sustainable relationship with the other species we share this planet with.&nbsp; A compassionate and sustainable future is something many dream of, and as the vegan movement continues to grow, perhaps that dream just might come true. In the meantime, if you’re wondering how to make a vegan world a closer reality, see <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/ethical-banking-how-to-make-your-money-make-a-difference" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">how your money can make a difference</a> and how to <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/no-mow-may-help-nature-this-earth-day-and-let-it-grow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">help nature by letting your grass grow</a> this spring.

Man (Matthew Glover) with short grey hair smiling, wearing a beige coat in front of a black background 

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In conversation with Matthew Glover: Investing in a vegan future

It is no secret that nature and the outdoors nourish the soul. That short walk in the evening to wind down, dog walks to the countryside pub for some grub, a catch up with a friend whilst soaking in the green glow under a forest canopy.&nbsp; Camping, however, takes this a step further. Giving you permission to fully switch off, escape from the rush of the world and completely immerse yourself in nature. That being said, staple camping meals and activities tend to be quite meat-orientated and potentially damaging to the local ecosystem. Bacon sarnies, BBQs, hotdogs and marshmallows being the obvious choices! So, we at V-Land UK have devised a vegan camping guide to making your wild retreat delicious, convenient and friendly to local flora and fauna. If you are seeking the authentic camping (rather than ‘glamping’) experience, you will need to prepare yourself with a mini kitchen and be health and safety equipped. Here are some useful suggestions to make the logistics of this hassle-free:&nbsp; •Try sticking to a one pot or pan meal, reducing the amount of kit in your bags, fire combustion time, and most importantly the amount of washing up! • Pre-measure any herbs and spices at home, packing them in labelled containers such as small jars or Tupperware.&nbsp; • Bring snacks! Pitching tents and lighting fires can work up quite an appetite.&nbsp; • The essential kit includes - a cast iron frying pan or Dutch oven, cooking rack and/or tripod, small chopping board, small sharp knife, ladle, spatula, large mixing spoon, light cutlery, water container, fire gloves, burns first aid kit, camping kettle, and a bag of oak, maple or ash hardwoods as they are very slow-burning and give off a good amount of heat.&nbsp; • We highly recommend <a href="https://instagram.com/thenomadskitchens?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The Nomad Kitchens</a> camping set for a very convenient, on the move cooking set. • If staying on a campsite, calling ahead of your stay to see if they provide any of the kit above may save you some time, money and space. • Always bring a portable charger for your phone. You do not want to be swept away in the natural beauty during wild camping, only to find you no longer have any idea where you are!&nbsp;&nbsp; The meals we consume affect us all on a physical and mental level, so whole food, nutritious, protein-rich and energy promoting meals are essential for vegan camping food choices. Your day should start with a nice energy boost, so why not try some smashed avocado on toast topped with garlic sauteed mushrooms, tofu and fried tomatoes? Just toast your bread over the fire using a long fork or stick, fry up your veggies and tofu, then smash up your avocado in a bowl with some salt and pepper. For those colder nights, a warming Black Bean Chilli or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CeLu5rNKCjj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Coconut Aubergine Dhal</a> are noble suggestions. Both one pot meals, simple to make and highly comforting. The ingredients promote energy, are high in protein and carbs and are ideal for those evenings resting after a long hike or pitching up your tents. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1680214974/Image_1_9_3ba92b3004.png" alt="Vegan soup in a brown wooden bowl on a sandy beach">Ben Richardson ﻿Now, when it comes to lighting fires in a wild environment, be sure that the area you have selected is not highly vegetated and is a safe distance from anything that could promote a potential wildfire. If on a beach, place a circle of stones around your chosen sacrificial spot to contain the embers and ash. If in a woodland, find a spot with very little flora like a bare patch of soil. A good suggestion for an area lacking in bare soil would be to use an elevated fire tripod, to prevent damage to the organic matter on the ground. With your carefully selected site to cook ready, set up your safety kit. A source of plentiful water to extinguish your fire, a large thick stick, burns first aid kit in sight and fire gloves on! Once the cooking has ended and you’ve watched the fire burn down during your delicious meal, it is time to appropriately extinguish it. Smother your fire with most of the water and start to scrape at the ground with the large stick to disperse the heat, pouring more water intermittently. The amount of heat contained within the soil is quite astounding, so it is vital to release this heat into the atmosphere to prevent any curious wildlife from burning their feet when they scavenge for any yummy spillages. On the subject of scavenging, it is important to acknowledge that the very sustenance for life itself comes from nature. Herbivorous wildlife forage for food every single day to survive those autumn and winter months, so what better way to deepen our connection with nature than to try this for ourselves?&nbsp; A brilliant guide for becoming more self-sufficient in these trying times is the book Foraging for Wild Foods by David Squire. This is a fantastic guide for those wanting to begin their foraging journeys. It is carefully curated in sections on nuts, fruits, mushrooms and more! After all, nurturing our relationship with the natural world is the key to its survival. Get out there, cook up a storm, gaze up at the trees and breathe it all in. Did these vegan camping meals and tips tempt you to start cooking over a campfire? Check out our article on <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/vegan-barbecue-essentials-your-barbecue-party-checklist" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">vegan barbeque essentials</a>, with plenty more ideas for what to cook, and enjoy the outdoors even more with some <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/going-back-to-our-roots-the-benefits-of-tree-hugging" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">tree hugging and forest bathing</a>!&nbsp;&nbsp;

An open camp fire heating up an iron pan in the forest to cook a meal

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Vegan camping guide: How to cook tasty meals in the great outdoors

Eco-friendly stores are, thankfully, becoming more and more common up and down the country. From selling sustainable products to allowing customers to buy everyday items without plastic packaging, these shops allow those in their local area to live more eco-consciously. One eco-friendly store in Lancashire has taken this to the next level by going completely vegan. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/turtlebeehuntleys/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">TurtleBee at Huntley’s</a> in Preston is now only selling plant-based foods and goods, after starting the transition in November 2022. <h2>Making the switch</h2>We sat down with business owner, Connor, to find out more about what encouraged him to make the store completely vegan-friendly. He had this to say: “I think sustainability and veganism go hand-in-hand. You can’t truly live sustainably and still consume animal products, it just doesn’t fit into this way of living. The store originally tackled the issue of plastic packaging but a few of the goods weren’t vegan. From chocolates to pastas, there were a number of products throughout the store that didn’t fit into a plant-based lifestyle. After taking the store over in November last year, I set out to make vegan-friendly products more accessible for customers. Reducing plastic is still at the heart of the store’s ethos but by making everything vegan-friendly, I’m proud to say that the store is also helping people tackle another major environmental issue.” <h2>What do customers think?</h2>TurtleBee at Huntley’s is part of a bigger group of stores and sees hundreds of customers per week. We were interested to find out from Connor how customers reacted to the change:&nbsp; “The response from customers has been overwhelmingly positive. The type of person that shops at TurtleBee is usually quite environmentally conscious anyway, so are pleased to hear that it’s gone an extra step in the right direction. I’d say that around a quarter of our regular customers are already vegan and love to see what new products we have on offer; many of which they can’t find elsewhere. Most of the customers who aren’t vegan are eager to try the products and I like to think it’s showing them that switching to a plant-based diet isn’t difficult”. <a href="https://instagram.com/turtlebeeathuntleys?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">TurtleBee at Huntley’s</a> welcomes those local to Preston, or those just passing through, encouraging customers to bring their containers and seeing what takes their fancy. If you want to check out other eco-friendly stores across the UK, why not learn more about <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/art-of-zero-living-celebrates-1-year-anniversary-in-greenwich-market" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Greenwich’s Art of Zero</a>?

Refill zone (with lots of different foods) inside an eco-friendly store in Lancashire (TutleBee at Huntley’s)