Why are people becoming ‘So vegan’ in Thailand?

“Everyone has to find what is right for them, and it is different for everyone. Eating for me is how you proclaim your beliefs three times a day. That is why all religions have rules about eating. Three times a day, I remind myself that I value life and do not want to cause pain to or kill other living beings. That is why I eat the way I do.” -Natalie Portman

It is not uncommon for a Thai person to say, “Thailand is becoming so vegan now”. It is the Thai way of saying someone is becoming vegan. ‘So vegan’ is such a common way of addressing veganism, there is even a popular restaurant chain named ‘So Vegan’ across Bangkok. Interestingly, Thailand is one of the best countries in the world for delicious vegan food.

What percentage of the Thailand population is vegan in 2022?

According to statista.com, In 2019, around eight percent of the total population in Thailand did not eat meat. It is difficult to find a statistic for the exact number of vegans, some are plant-based but don’t necessarily identify as vegans. Some people who come under this statistic might be vegetarians.

The good news is that this percentage was forecasted to increase in the coming years, reaching 15 percent in 2025. In that same year, the market value of plant-based food in Thailand amounted to around 28 billion Thai baht.

There is no exact statistic showing the number of vegans in Thailand but when we spoke to business owners who are behind the various plant-based meat products being launched in Thailand, they mentioned that there is a significant demand for plant-based meat and that it is expected to grow in the coming years. 

As of January 2021, approximately 79 million people globally are vegan. While veganism is growing, it still covers only 1% of the global population. But if the diet keeps its steady growth rate, it’s predicted to increase to one in 10 people within the next 10 years. 

Is being ‘So Vegan’ the latest trend in Bangkok?

One significant reason why veganism is becoming so popular in Thailand, particularly in the bigger cities like Bangkok, Phuket and Chiangmai is that it is seen as something cool and trendy. Also, Thai food can easily be made vegan. More and more vegan cafes are available on online apps like foodpanda. In the near future, we might see an online app exclusively for vegan delivery.

Veganism in Thailand is not really a movement towards animal rights or environmental sustainability, most people who eat meat also look at veganism as a cool new trend.

Thai influencers, super stars, models and star athletes are posting vegan food,vegan recipes and vegan products on their curated instagram feeds and like most cultures around the world, Thai culture is extremely mesmerized by super stars and celebrity influencers and want to copy what they do. 

There has been an increase in vegan skin cream products too. Most people believe that vegan beauty products are the best for skin, it is easily absorbed by the skin.

A lot of beauty bloggers post their vegan skincare regime and the general public is curious about these products. Every second beauty brand has vegan cream products available.

many vegan cafes opening in Bangkok

There are many vegan cafes opening in Bangkok which offer interesting  meat free plant-based food recipes. For a country which has a long association with meat, it is definitely changing and there are more meat free menus being offered now. These cafes are getting positive reviews by meat lovers too. A lot of plant-based meat is available in the Thai market and the overall public review is welcoming these products. Demand and supply is helping prices go down too.

There are many small brands which ship nationwide. You can get fresh delicious vegan cookies shipped from Chiangmai to Bangkok from a small home run business. Organic Village, a premiere grocery store in Bangkok has many vegan products which can be shipped nationwide.

Militant veganism which is usually associated with animal activists campaigning in front of the meat section in grocery stores with gory details of animal slaughter may not really be influencing Thai culture and that type of activism is generally not seen in Thailand. There are also virtually no protests for animal rights in the country – the few and far between are done by foreigners, such as those working for PETA.

Thailand and vegan food

We spoke to Tung Chuladesa who is the owner of the popular vegan cafe CANES, they have two branches. One is dedicated to fine-dining and the other one is casual-dining. He mentioned that because of the popularization of culinary sciences in the last couple of decades, we now understand why traditional cooking was so helpful in society. So, people are taking steps back to healthy living.

He went on to say, “Now that any dishes known can be made as well as they could imaginably be, it is time for the culinary world to explore the new possibilities with unfamiliar ingredients especially vegetables and methods we aren’t yet able to fully utilize such as fermentation, which is the area I believe the plant-based culinary sciences really shine and partially contributed to the rise in menus which are free from animal products and opening of  vegan restaurants in Bangkok and world-wide.”

He decided to start the best vegan enterprise because he believes that plant-based food is the future. As for their customers (both vegan others not), the goal is one: they want  to try something innovatively different and it is definitely a growing trend in Thailand to post vegan food on social media.

So Vegan: Could Buddhism be one reason for the growing rise of veganism in Thailand?

Thailand is a Buddhist country and it is common to see people giving alms to monks and doing prayers every morning. The average Thai person may or may not be religious but it is hard to ignore the influence of buddhism in Thai culture. It is evident everywhere from shop entrances to the festivals celebrated across Thailand.

One of the fundamental principles Buddha preached was ‘non-violence’ or ‘ahimsa’. According to the Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, a Mahayana sutra giving Gautama Buddha’s final teachings, the Buddha insisted that his followers should not eat any kind of meat or fish. This is an extremely controversial topic and it is difficult to reach a conclusion because religious Thai’s who eat meat will insist that Buddha never interfered with the diet of people and Buddhism allows you to eat anything that is given to you provided you don’t kill it yourself. 

Most Thai people believe that Buddha likely ate meat. Buddha was simple and his followers received most of their food from alms rounds, where they were given gifts of food by people as they passed. This is a practice which is still practiced by Buddhist monks in Thailand and it is one of the most beautiful early morning sights on the streets of Bangkok. Know more about where can I buy organic food online, vegan food near me, So Vegan and where to buy vegan food near me.

When this food given as alms includes meat, the monks must accept it with gratitude because Buddha did the same; this was and is still acceptable provided the animal has not been killed for their benefit. 

Buddha and vegan food

If Buddha was alive, would he approve of the way meat is factory farmed today? Is it not hypocritical to say,”This animal came to my plate. I did not order it to be killed”?

Many religious people are asking such questions and people who practice buddhism are becoming curious about veganism provided they can get vegan food at affordable prices.

Thailand has a long-standing vegan tradition in the form of jay, it is a Buddhist-Taoist religious practice. Although, more recent trends of veganism from the West carry no burden of creed nor of animal activism, could there be a link to veganism and the buddhist philosophy of non violence?

There is a sect of Buddhists in Thailand who have been abstaining from animal products, as well as the “fetid” vegetables such as garlic, leek, chives. Also, for one month every year, there is a big ‘jay’ festival across Thailand and it is common during this time to find a lot of restaurants and cafes with a yellow flag outside which means they sell only vegetarian/vegan food.

It is not uncommon to find interesting vegan recipes in cafes and restaurants across Thailand during this month. Plant-based ingredients are commonly used during this month.

Those who “gin jay” (literally, “eat jay”) can find many shops or stalls during this month with a yellow flag with “jay” written in red. There are a variety of the best Thai dishes which are available in a vegan version during this time.

The most popular Thai dishes like pad-thai, somtam etc can all be made into a vegan version so easily.

Conclusion

A simple vegan diet with a lot of organic vegetables is considered good for health. Drinking lots of water is important for any balanced diet. Did you know drinking water helps in protecting organs and tissues? 

If you are interested in reading an inspiring book on veganism, you should get your hands on Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. Everyone should read this book. Starting from a neutral standpoint on the matter, Safran Foer answers the question of whether he and his family should eat meat.

Approaching the subject as a journalist, he includes interviews with family-run farms, activists and slaughterhouse workers. He includes different perspectives and arguments. This book is highly recommended.