Vegan taste test: Brie and Shrimps

The past weeks I have tested two vegan products which are a little different from the things I normally buy. A while ago I went to visit de Vegabond in Amsterdam. A tiny vegan heaven. They serve vegan lunch and so you can sit in, but they also offer vegan products to buy. I didn’t have lunch but I did buy some of the products they sell to take home. I bought quite a lot and I want to share a part of my findings with you today. I tried vegan brie and shrimps!

Why Would I eat Fake Animal Products?

If you’re not vegan you might not understand. If I don’t eat animal products, why would I eat something that is supposed to taste the same? I am a convinced vegan, there is no doubt there. I have never had regrets about that decision. However, I didn’t go vegan because I didn’t like the taste of animal products. I went vegan for other reasons. I didn’t want animals to suffer, the planet to be destroyed or people to be hungry. So, yes, I did always like the taste. And that’s the reasons why I’m searching for a vegan alternatives that taste the same (or just as good) but doesn’t have these other negative effects.

Why Would I Buy Products in Plastic

I’ve written an extensive post about the exceptions I make on plastic, you can read that here. I make exceptions on plastic when it comes to meat-replacements and other vegan replacements because I can’t live without them. Simple. Being vegan is more important than living zero waste when you look at the impact. These replacements make going vegan 80% easier and so that’s why I choose to buy them still.

Okay, now onto the taste tests:

Vantastic Foods: Veggie Scampi’s

Okay, I am going to be straight with you. I do not like this. Not at all. I tried this products first because my expectations were very high. Vegan shrimps, oh my! Before I went vegan I really liked the taste of fish, especially gamba’s and salmon. But this doesn’t even come close. I ate the scampi’s with rice, vegetables and teriyaki sauce. Usually this makes a great dish. I though the scampi’s would sort of take over the flavor from the sauce. I took a first bite and it was horrible. The structure is like rubber and it has a weird ‘tasteless’ flavor. No, this is not for me. I didn’t even eat them all because I just couldn’t do it. I hate to give it to you. But well, sometimes this happens. I have some scampi’s left and I thought about marinating them overnight but the structure is just so bad that I won’t do this. I would not recommend this product at all.

Price: 6,25 euro for 300 gram at de Vegabond or 6,49 euros at Vegan Fitness
Rating: 1/5

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Almond Brie by The Nourishing Garden

I wish I had a really positive rating for this second products. But my reaction when I tasted this was not positive per se. This product does not taste like brie unfortunately. It didn’t have a specific taste at all, it was kind of flat. The taste is okay, not disgusting or anything. Better than the shrimps haha. I ate the brie first like I would normally do with non-vegan brie. On a piece of baguette with nothing else. As I said, the flavor is really boring. And so, I tried it melted. I made a grilled cheese sandwich with the vegan brie, walnuts and syrup. My boyfriend recommended this. This was a little better. It was okay but it didn’t make me that happy. This product is a typical ‘mwah’. Not good, not bad either. I would not buy it again and I wouldn’t recommend you to buy it. Too bad, I really wish this was as good as non-vegan brie.

Price: 7,95 (!) euros for 175 grams at de Vegabond
Rating: 2 á 3/5

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Well, those were two big disappointments. I traveled all the way to Amsterdam for these products haha. But well, if you don’t try anything you’ll never know. Maybe this is a good thing since a vegan whole-foods diet is best for me anyway. Whole grains, veggies and fruits. However, I will continue the search. Vegan shrimps and brie would be nice every once in a while.

Yours sincerely,
Romee