What it is like to be vegan in: Thailand
In this second article in the 'Vegan in the World' series, in which vegans from all over the world explain what it is like to be vegan there, Oar tells about her experiences of being vegan in Thailand.
Interview with Oar from Thailand
How many people live in your country?
About 66 million people.
Do you know how many of those people are vegan in your country?
I don’t know (according to Wikipedia 3,3% of the population is vegetarian).
How long have you been vegan?
2 years vegan and 4 years vegetarian before that.
Why did you decide to become vegan?
Compassion for animals.
Tell me a little bit more about your family. Are they vegan? What do they think about you being a vegan?
My family is not vegan. They love eating meat but they don’t stop me from being vegan.
Is it difficult to be a vegan in your country? Why (not)?
It’s not difficult to be vegan because there are a lot of vegan restaurants and I can order vegan food in the other restaurants as well.
Oar from Thailand
What are some of the challenges you face in your daily life as a vegan? What do you do when you go out with friends or visit family?
The challenge is my feeling, I feel sad for the people eating meat so I try not to judge them and try to invite them to a vegan restaurant for a meeting.
Can you describe what you eat on a normal/average day?
Stir-fried soy protein with basil leaves Vegan noodles Tofu spicy salad.
What is your favorite vegan dish from your country?
Stir-fried soy protein with basil leaves.
Stir-fried tofu with basil leaves
“I feel sad for the people eating meat so I try not to judge them and try to invite them to meet me in vegan restaurants.”
- Oar
What is tofu?
Tofu, also known as bean curd, is a food prepared by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into solid white blocks of varying softness; it can be silken, soft, firm, or extra firm. Beyond these broad categories, there are many varieties of tofu.
It has a subtle flavor, so it can be used in savory and sweet dishes. It is often seasoned or marinated to suit the dish and its flavors, and due to its spongy texture, it absorbs flavors well. (Source: Wikipedia)
Can you recommend a restaurant where you live?
I would recommend Loving Hut Pakchong.
Do you have a recipe and would you like to share it?
VEGAN THAI FOOD COOKING AT HOME ( STIR-FRIED TOFU WITH BASIL LEAVES) | กะเพราเต้าหู้เมนูวีแกน Watch the video for instructions.
If you have a vegan business or work at a vegan business, can you tell us something about it? What is the business, when did you start it?
I started my YouTube channel; 'I am Oar' to promote vegan food and restaurants since February 2019.
