Why jackfruit could be the vegan trend that appeals to everyone

Vegans used to be met with plenty of raised eyebrows. The hackneyed old saying goes something like 'How do you know if someone is a vegan? Don’t worry they’ll tell you.'

But in 2018, the rise of veganism seems like a positive, unstoppable force.

When in the past lazy tropes like the opener have dominated the discourse, people are embracing the positive impacts that veganism can offer in terms of health, the environment and animal welfare. And there's never been an easier time to embrace more vegan friendly diet - with plenty of new products hitting the market.

So why is it a big deal that people are choosing to go vegan? You don't have to look much further than the recent UN report on climate change to realise that something needs to be done in terms of the impact of our diets.

The recent UN report suggested that we have 12 years to turn things around. While the responsibility of that doesn’t fall on individuals as much as it does governments, it is clear that we have reached a point where it is important to do anything we can and eating a more vegan-friendly diet has a much lower environmental impact than heavily reliant meat and dairy ones.

One new trend that seems particularly exciting is the development of jackfruit as a meat substitute. A staple in South East Asia, this fruit is being used to create delicious new dishes. Versatile and meat-like it's ideal for barbecue or pulled meat style recipes, curries or Mexican food.

Plus it's packed with Vitamins A & C, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc and it's relatively low calorie.

Perhaps the reason it's only just becoming available in the west is that before restaurants started cooking with it, it was really expensive to pick up. 

A jackfruit can weigh 10kg easily, so buying a whole fruit is not cheap for indvidual consumers, but that cost is starting to come down.

Need some jackfruit inspiration?

Chicken n' Blues in Bournemouth serves it in a wrap instead of pulled pork while The Duck and Jackfruit in London give the choice of duck or jackfruit (the clue's in the name). Illegal Jack in Scotland swaps it for mince in a chilli that comes topped with tortilla chips. 

No longer a massive sacrifice to be vegan, instead, it is beginning to seem like the only way, fuelled by jackfruit. Vive la révolution!

Want some other vegan food brand options? Check out our vegan food on the go feature.