Vegan in South Africa

I have been wanting to say something about being vegan in South Africa...

Where to start?

When I lived here in 2002, I was vegan then too. I had my own place and cooked for myself and it was no problem. Travelling around I don't remember much hassle, but I don't think I ate out much.

Last December it was fine too, but by the end of the trip I felt my nutrition starting to flag. We ate out a lot and it was hard to get a balanced diet.

I've realized that I must be VERY specific when ordering food or drinks here to make sure they are vegan because the menus don't often say all that is in a dish or drink.

Take for example some chai I had a few weeks ago. The menu had two chais: One with milk and one with "just hot water." Since they didn't carry soy milk (called soya here) I asked for the one with just hot water. I assumed I would get a chai tea bag in a pot of hot water (nearly always in a pot, never just a mug, I love it) but it came in a tall glass mug: a creamy chunky substance!!! Oh no! It was powdered chai! I love chai and have looked at every single powdered chai I have ever come across just hoping that I will find one that is vegan. They all have milk, or milk derivites in them. Every single one. And so did this one.

Later that day we were at a Tibetian Teahouse. They had a "Tibetian salty butter tea." I thought, hey, lets try something new. This place did have soy milk so I got Tibetian salty butter tea made with soy millk. It didn't occur to me that there might be other stuff in there too. Like butter perhaps? Yes, Tibetian salty butter tea has butter in it. And its salty. I drank a bit of it, but it was really buttery. So its not just a name: Tibetian salty butter tea. It has salt and butter in it. Tibet is a high and cold place and these high and cold places often use lots of animal products. The teahouse did have vegan ice cream which I devored with a passion only seen by friends of vegans who haven't had access to vegan ice cream in several months. Jared was lucky he got a few bites. I don't share sweets well.

So it is necessary to ask very specifically what is in the food and drinks and to not order something if in doubt.