The Rise of the Vegan Movement

A recent study showed that as of 2023, approximately 3% of Australians claimed they were following a vegan diet. Can you believe that? That’s at least 600,000 people at a minimum, and it’s growing every year!

 

In the last two decades or so, the population in general is becoming more health conscious and the demand for plant-based alternatives has grown at an extraordinary rate. From our own experience, Bondi Chai’s Nutritional Information is one of the most visited pages on our website.

 

📷 Ella Olsson via Unsplash

 

A vegan diet consists purely of plant-based foods, which means no dairy, meat, or products of any kind produced by or from animals (including honey). The philosophy of the vegan movement rejects the farming of animals for food, with a focus on the care and welfare of our furry, hairy, scaled and feathered friends. It's a laudable ideal and not an easy feat in a world where animal products are mass produced and consumed, and while more and more people are joining in, there's a long way to go for the vegan movement.  

 

You may or may not be aware of Veganuary, which is a worldwide 31 day challenge every January that aims to raise awareness of what veganism is, reduce the pollution caused by mass animal farming and encourage people to try a different approach. When you sign up, you are given a celebrity cookbook and various recipes to get you through the month and encourage you to adopt a vegan diet on a permanent basis.

 

 

Some fast food chains in Australia, such as Hungry Jacks, Pie Face, Pizza Hut and Grill’d have responded by adding plant-based and vegan options to their menus and there are many cafes and restaurants specifically catering to the vegan market.

 

📷 Bradyn Trollip via Unsplash

 

We’ve mentioned in a previous blog that a report from the ABC in May 2022 showed that consumption of plant-based milks was growing rapidly in Australian cafes, and anyone who has visited a supermarket lately will have noticed the dramatic increase of non-dairy offerings, with soy and almond milk being the preferred options. In keeping with the rising trend, vegan versions of chai lattes have also been popping up online and instore to meet the needs of the non-dairy drinking community.

 

📷 Franki Chamaki via Unsplash

 

Although Bondi Chai's Club Cinnamon blend continues to be the most purchased and served of our offerings, we also wanted to provide an alternative blend for chai lovers everywhere. We wanted to make sure that it was just as tasty, which is often a challenge with plant-based recipes, and fulfilling as our original blends. After a lengthy process, we launched our dairy free, gluten free and vegan Ginger n Spice in 2019.

 

 

Ginger n Spice may be the baby of the family, but it's growing quickly in popularity. Several cafe members of the Bondi Chai family serve our spiciest blend exclusively because it's the variety that their predominantly vegan customer base prefers. 

 

 

📷 Korie Cull via Unsplash

 

It's anticipated that the demand for plant-based alternatives will continue to rise in the coming years as more people switch to what is considered by many to be the healthier option, so watch this space.

 

via GIPHY

 

Are you considering a switch to a vegan lifestyle? We have a chai blend for that!