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Veganette · Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 21

I am considering making a move in part because where I live now is a bit difficult be a vegan. I've heard good things about Thailand....all right, so I mainly listened to the stories about the fruit.

How hard is it to be vegan in Thailand? Do they add animals products to just about everything? Actually, I am accustomed to cooking all my own food from scratch, so I don't care too much about how the street vendors prepare their food. But it would be nice to be able to eat out now and then.

Oh, VEGGIES! I forgot....I hadn't heard any stories about available veggies. What kinds are available? I realize that there are a lot of veggies (and fruits) that I've never heard about, so please just tell me about the ones that same as what is available in America.

Is tofu expensive there? What about things like sprouted brown rice, sprouted barley, millet, etc.? I don't mean the cooked versions.

OOOOOH and organic! Are organic fruits and veggies available? And if so, how much more expensive are they?

What about packaging? I realize I'll have to learn Thai to understand the labels, but are products properly labeled with exactly what is in them? Or is it more like, 'Natural flavoring added' without a hint as to what "natural" is or where it came from?

--dashes off to start other threads--

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

If you cook yourself you should be okay, but otherwise you're going to struggle as lot of the street food has fish oil doodah in it (they use it like salt).

Doable, although when my little Sis (who is veggie) comes over she sort of realises there's a good chance at some point a bit of meat will get in her food.

PKB · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 88 Location: USA

Veganette · Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 21

*roll eyes* Um, yeah. Right. Rolling Eyes

PKB · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 88 Location: USA

America is a country of considerable prosperity and it is reported that many people of means have access to such indulgent produce there. Organic food produced in Thailand is generally for export to the rich world.

Veganette · Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 21

I wonder if that is where South Korea is getting all its organic produce then?

Still, if Thailand is making and exporting it, then maybe (if I end up there) I can track it down and get them to sell some to me directly. All I need to do is find someone who is growing it and I'll buy it regularly from them and happily pay five times the cost of non-organic stuff. Very Happy

*fingers crossed*

Indulgent. That's funny! Laughing

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

In my experience organic produce is fairly easy to obtain, at least in Bangkok. It is generally found in health food stores and co-ops. Also, you might check out high-end supermarkets such as Villa.

I can't really give you much info because I have just seen it in passing when buying herbal products. I'll try to get more info and pass it on to you.

Boy Wonder · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 453 Location: Clacton on sea

Veganette...we all used to eat in this really fabby veggie restaurant..every lunchtime.It was great.....trayloads of Tofu, bolied millet and even crispy brown veggie sausages.....

I reckon you'd love it......and i would be absolutely delighted to take you and your dogs there for a slap up vegan meal.......

Only thing is one of my friends found a cockroach under his broccoli one mealtime...but later told me it tasted real good.[/img]

Boy Wonder · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 453 Location: Clacton on sea

Veganette...we all used to eat in this really fabby veggie restaurant..every lunchtime.It was great.....trayloads of Tofu, bolied millet and even crispy brown veggie sausages.....

I reckon you'd love it......and i would be absolutely delighted to take you and your dogs there for a slap up vegan meal.......

Only thing is one of my friends found a c.o.c.k.roach under his broccoli one mealtime...but later told me it tasted real good.

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

PKB · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 88 Location: USA

Apparently Thai organic certification regimes are quite new and developing. Domestic organic products are often commoditized with non-organic products. Many products are not certified as organic and are merely designated as "healthy" products. They are often sold at a premium and may are may not be organic.

The primary organic certification schemes are designed to meet international standards for export.

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

Veganette -

Check into Royal Chitrlada Projects, which are outlets that sell the products of various royally-sponsored rural development projects.

And Doi Kham which is a brand of vegetables that are supposed to be organic that are sold at these outlets.

hails · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 27 Location: New Zealand

Mmm boy wonder that sounds yummy (apart from the roach)!

Veganette, a bit easier for me as I am only a vegetarian, but I did ask on another forum about vegie restaurants in Hua Hin, where I want to live, and there is a place there where you can sustitute any meal with tofu... sounds good to me.

Very Happy