Choosing a vegan diet is something that is becoming increasingly popular in the UK, for a variety of reasons, such as health benefits or to reduce environmental impact etc. As a result of this growing demand, more and more vegan products are being developed and the range of choices available in restaurants is significantly increasing. In fact, some might say, there is now so much choice it has become a much easier dietary change and transition.
You may have found that with all this choice, it can be quite a shock to the system when you go on holiday to a country where the word vegan is still met with puzzled looks! In some cases, the language barrier alone can be enough for us to want to run back home to our vegan burger! With a holiday, at least you know you can eventually do that though, it will only be something you have to endure for a few days or weeks.
So, what happens when you want to move abroad? Are there any countries where you can enjoy the same abundance of vegan-friendly food options? It can be easy to think that none exist and moving abroad is off the table altogether. However, as with the variations of choice you experience from town to town in the UK, it is much the same across countries and indeed areas within these, throughout the world.
Below you will find some of the most vegan-friendly countries which offer some of the best vegan comforts to help you to make a new home from home, outside of the UK.
Germany
When you think of German cuisine, you may be filled with images of brats and schnitzels. However, whilst this is the case for most of the country, if you head to Berlin specifically, you will find a vegan haven! The vegan scene continues to thrive, with products, shops and restaurants steadily increasing throughout it. You can even get yourself a vegan tattoo here! Not far behind, is Hamburg, where vegan restaurants are starting to make an appearance.
Taiwan
The cuisine of Taiwan doesn’t often contain dairy and eggs, thus making it relatively easy to find options on the menu of standard restaurants. However, there may still be added ingredients so it is safest to utilise the many dedicated vegan restaurants in cities such as Taipei. As a friendly nation, with a high proportion of English speakers, you will find there is a lot of support and understanding available to aid your integration.
Bali
With such an array of lush and vibrant plant-based food, Bali is somewhat of a vegan paradise! The cuisine, in general, contains fresh vegetables, tempeh, rice and tofu and when it comes to creamy curries, you can enjoy the richness of coconut milk rather than dairy cream. Therefore, you will find you are spoilt for choice with a variety of vegan options available.
Jamaica
Scatted throughout the country there are a fair few vegan shops and restaurants. However, to live here you may need to make some small adaptations by planning ahead, being willing to ask for help and making your own food more than eating out. If you can be quite flexible and open, you will find it relatively straightforward to live a happy vegan life in this tropical oasis.
Sri Lanka
Unlike India, which uses a lot of butter, milk, yoghurt and eggs in their dishes, Sri Lankan dishes tend to be dairy free on the whole. Is it the most vegan-friendly country you could live in on the planet? No, but with the sheer volume of spices and fresh vegetables available, you can easily enjoy a relatively varied vegan diet without much trouble at all.
Austria
Veganism is making waves in Austria, mainly due to the growing health-conscious trends. If you head to Vienna in particular, whilst it may look historical and traditional on the surface, when you take a closer look, the word vegan is commonplace and vegan shops and restaurants are continually popping up around the city.
In this article, we have mainly covered food choice. If you have adopted an entirely vegan lifestyle there are, of course, a whole host of other things to consider. The best advice we can offer, to give you some peace of mind is, if you do not know the language and therefore cannot read the labels of the products in the shops and supermarkets, it is best to seek support from someone who can translate the information so you know exactly what is in the products you are buying.
