We love all types of food here at Consommé, a double-dip into a baked brie with crisped bread rubbed with garlic and oil, a steaming pot of vegetable curry that has been bubbling away for hours and enticing us in with its aromatic flavours that fill the air, an extra square or two of our favourite chocolate as we let it melt on our tongue and savour a little ‘me moment’ and we, like many others, like to start the New Year with a little bit of a change - most of us, vowing to take on Veganuary - a month of vegan meals to help the environment, and yourselves; normally after one too many mince pies and a tub or two extra chocolates we too are looking for some less indulgent and feel good foods - but given the year we have all just gone through - we say - lets continue the indulgence! And lucky for you - whether you are deciding to take on Veganuary this year, or not - these products are perfect for all. Rich, decadent, delicious and suitable for vegans and non-vegans alike. So you can feel good while you do good; that’s good enough for us! And Consommé writer Adam has put together his favourites just for you.

January is traditionally a time where the phrase “New year, New Me” normally comes into force, and where new strange food habits become a thing. But there's one food habit that is, for an increasingly large portion of the country, becoming a way of life - a vegan diet, and most people tend to start it in January, with Veganuary being the foot in the door. Be it for ethical, health or even financial reasons, a vegan diet can provide a more interesting way of life than your standard meat and two veg meals.

In 2020, 400,000 people worldwide signed up to the Veganuary movement, increasing from 250,000 in 2019, and 170,000 in 2018. According to the official Veganuary movement, signatories now come from every country in the world - apart from North Korea, Vatican City and Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland).

In addition, many more people are thought to have taken part in the event in the last two years without signing the official pledge, and many are expected to continue with plant-based diets beyond the traditional month-long event.

The movement has some seriously famous ambassadors, too, such as Paul McCartney, Joaquin Phoenix, Mayim Bialik, Sara Pascoe, Monami Frost and Alicia Silverstone and in preparation for this special month, I've searched far and wide for a selection of the best Vegan products around, some of which are very new to the market and are 100% worth a look. Be it meat-replacements, accompaniments, snacks, sauces or drinks, they're all featured here. But just a quick disclosure before we dive in - I am a meat-eater - but more often than not, my family and I partake in a Vegan diet for the majority of the week, due to cost - so I can vouch for just how good it can be, both financially and health-wise.

Also, yes, it goes without saying that everything here is vegan-friendly, so if I haven't specifically written “this is vegan-friendly” with every product description, you can rest assured it's because I've given up typing the words!

Roots of Kimchi

For religious reasons, I had been searching for a vegan Kimchi for years (as I can't eat shellfish) and Roots of Kimchi has finally provided one that, not only tastes good, but stays true to the authentic Kimchi flavour - one I, among many crave.

For those who don't know, Kimchi is the most popular traditional side dish in Korea. It is a blend of salted and fermented vegetables, such as napa cabbage and Korean radish, made with a widely varying selection of seasonings including chilli, spring onions, garlic and ginger.

Roots of Kimchi is a new brand of Kimchi made in the UK with truly fresh, natural ingredients, with both organic and non-organic options available. It is created in small batches to authentic family recipes by a Korean chef, delivering a taste sensation undiscovered by British consumers until now.

The range includes a traditional cabbage version, as well as parsnip and carrot versions, and they even have a special version for children, made with mooli.

Prices range from £5.49-£8.99 on rootsofkimchi.com

Orriss & Son

Speaking of fermented, Orriss & Son have just launched a rather stunning range of three small batch chilli sauces which are fermented to give an amazing well-rounded flavour, as well as some punch.

The new range is focussed on three flavours with unique names: Even Flow (habanero chilli), My Wave (Piri-piri sauce) and Fresh Tendrils (Jalapeño nettle sauce). The latter is my personal favourite, and I've actually been using it, and the others, as an ingredient in most dishes since discovering, but especially in burgers.

The backstory of these sauces is one of the few positives to come out of the coronavirus pandemic. David Underwood, founder of Orriss & Son has been a chef for more than 20 years. Having travelled extensively, cooking in some top kitchens in London and Melbourne, before settling back in his home town of Cambridge in 2014 as co-owner of burger sensation Steak & Honour, he decided - after six years and a national lockdown - to devote his full energy to his pursuit of flavour. At home with his family, he developed and refined an idea he had been working on for the past decade; hand-crafted, fermented chilli sauces made in small batches: plant based and minus junk, and they carry his grandmotherís family name, Orriss - one rooted in the East Anglian region.

£7.25 per bottle, or £21.75 for three on orrissandson.com

Honeybuns Bakery

Gluten and vegan bakery products are never normally that wonderful - until now; Honeybuns is the brainchild of Emma Goss-Custard and one the entire Consommé team is in love with.

Emma started started Honeybuns in 1998, originally selling home-made cakes to cafes and deli in Oxford out of the basket on her bike. Since then Honeybuns has gone from strength to strength delivering gluten, and wheat-free products to delight customers all around the country, and she has even extended to a vegan range.

All made in Dorset, the vegan range is extensive, including oaty raspberry bars, Millionaire's slices, peanut butter and jelly brownie tray bakes, and even a vegan gift tin featuring eight gluten free cakes that are also vegan friendly and registered with the Vegan Society.

We have all tried several items from the range over the last few months, at Consommé and we haven't been disappointed by a single item! So, If you want to treat yourself this Veganuary, Honeybuns is definitely the place to start!

Various prices on honeybuns.co.uk

Frank Dale Foods

Feeling a little bit lazy, or don't fancy cooking having just spent most of December preparing for Christmas Day? Well, that's where the Frank Dale’s vegan range comes in.

Everything is made in-house, in Norwich, using British Oat Milk and pea flour to create delicious quiche and pie fillings. Encased in their signature vegan-friendly shortcrust pastry, they use flavourful vegetable based fillings and toppings which make a great accompaniment or centre piece option for lunches and perfect as appetisers or starters to celebrate occasions. They are super easy to prepare at home and can be stored in the fridge or freezer as required.

My personal favourite was the mushroom, leek and ale pies, which comes as part of the 12-piece vegan mini pie selection, priced at £5.99.

So, if, like us, and sometimes you just don't want to cook, go and order these. Not only are they stress free and bloody tasty, but they are great for those looking to have a healthy start in January as they come in miniatures, making it easy to portion control but still have a little bit of a good thing!

All products are delivered frozen so that they can be baked fresh at home, too.

Various prices on frankdalefoodsonline.co.uk

The Meatless Farm Co.

Hands up all those who have had Quorn products and think that nothing else really exists outside of that when looking for meat replacements? Yeah… that was me, too, until I tried the Meatless Farm Company's selection of meat-free sausages, mince and burgers.

MMC is a British company that has developed an amazing plant-based mince, burger patty and sausage loaded with taste and texture. Founded in 2016 by Morten Toft Bech, the company is based in Leeds, but also has offices in Amsterdam, New York and Singapore and there's something about this range that made both my wife and me say “that...really tastes like meat”; since trying it, it has since become a household staple for us, and our young daughter loves it, too, which is always a win. It’s incredibly versatile, and I'd recommend them to anyone wether they are just starting their journey or looking to continue it.

Various prices, full listings on meatlessfarm.com

Rubies in the Rubble

I've taken a little bit of a shine to Rubies, I must admit, which tends to happen when a product range is as good as this. But it also happens when the people behind it are incredibly conscious of the impact we humans have on the world and genuinely care for our wellbeing.

Enter Rubies - a company who joined forces with hummus manufacturers to collect their typically discarded aquafaba - the protein-rich water left over from cooking chickpeas. Using this aquafaba as a hero ingredient rather than relying on egg production, their Plant Based Garlic Mayonnaise, for examples, offsets 762G CO2e in every jar.

Imagine that - spooning mayo out of a jar and having a positive effect on the planet - all while tasting absolutely incredible. And a big shout out to the banana ketchup, too, which is one of the most intriguing flavours I've had in a long time.

Various prices, on rubiesintherubble.com

Creative Nature

You know me - I'm all for an easy life, and Creative Nature's baking kits help me fulfil that. With a vegan recipe on pack, these have been hugely popular over lockdown, plus their new snack called Gnawbles have just won two Quality Food Awards for Best Vegan Snack and Best Free From Snack this year and I can definitely see why.

Created due to founder Julianne Ponan suffering severe allergic reactions - Creative Nature are free from the 14 most common allergies, which means anyone in the family can enjoy them without putting anyone’s lives at risk of serious allergic reactions. In Ponan’s own words, she started ‘making my own healthy snacks out of frustration at the lack of nut-free products in the market that weren’t packed with additives’

I tried the banana bread baking mix, and the carrot cake loaf mix - both equally as good and definite winners in the Cailler household.

The entire range is available in pretty much every major supermarket, including ASDA, Co-op and Ocado and the entire range is also kosher, with the KLDB marking on it, which is a big plus, especially for me!

Prices start at £3.99, on creativenaturesuperfoods.co.uk

Makan Malaysia

I love a good personal story, and one of triumph, especially during these tough times.

Kat and Sue are the powerhouse best friends behind Makan Malaysia. Prior to lockdown, the pair, who ditched corporate life to follow their foodie dreams, were hosting wildly popular supper clubs and pop-up events across the South East. The authenticity of their dishes and truly immersive experiences proved an instant hit with diners who were taken on an exotic journey through the different flavours and textures of Malaysia - so they kept coming back. Then the pandemic arrived, and an entire calendar of events vanished overnight, and their business threatened to disappear with it. No longer able to host events, they needed to rethink and fast.

Determined to keep their dream alive, the friends decided it was time to find a new way of sharing Malaysia with as many people as possible. After six weeks of extensive research and testing, they figured out a way to send food in the safest, freshest and most sustainable way, promptly moved operations to a commercial kitchen and Makan Malaysia home delivery was born. Customers can now enjoy their lovingly created dishes in the comfort of their own home, vacuum-packed for freshness and ready to heat up and enjoy or freeze for a super yummy treat another day as well as a range of spices to help elevate your own meals.

They have an entire vegan range, but my favourite two products are the Sambal Curry Paste, and the Pandan Madeleines. The former is now a staple cooking sauce at home, while the latter is just such an incredibly balanced, yet uniquely flavoured little cake that you just can't stop eating after one bite.

Various prices, from makanmalaysia.co.uk

Perkier

Apart from having a brilliant name, Perkier also has a brilliant range of vegan products.

Their new range of bars and porridges are not only super delicious they are also vitamin packed providing 100% Vit B12 which is often deficient in vegan diets (about 50% of vegans are estimated to be deficient in Vit B12). To be completely honest, I'm never normally a fan of porridge pots, but these completely changed my mind. Coming in golden syrup, plain or cranberry and chia porridge flavours, they definitely fill you up, despite looking like quite a small amount at first; they also pack a really surprising flavour punch, too.

The cereal bars, in various flavours, are the only UK cereal bar brand to be palm oil free and has a partnership with International Animal Rescue, to save and rehabilitate Orangutans in Borneo.

Ann Perkins and Steve Turner founded Perkier in 2015, inspired by Ann’s health-driven gluten and dairy free diet. The brand takes its name from the pair; Perkier is a mash-up of their surnames - Perkins and Turner.

They started out by making Perkier bars in their home kitchen. They still honour this process and today all recipes are developed in house, and the products are handmade in small batches.

Various prices, on perkier.co.uk

Doughnut Time

Vegan DOUGHNUTS. Like, do I really need to write any more at this point?!

Doughnut Time's unique, hand-crafted doughnuts are made daily in small batches, in their bespoke doughnut kitchen, full of dedicated doughnut designers who work around the clock to ensure they deliver the ‘dreamiest, freshest doughnuts’, and boy - do they do that.

In their own words ‘We make doughnuts, we make them fresh, we make them tasty and we make them loud and proud.’

I tried the DIY vegan favourites doughnut kits, which includes two ring doughnuts, two red velvet doughnuts, cream glaze, whipped vanilla buttercream, vegan melting chocolate, double-chocolate cookie crumb, chocolate chip cookie dough and freeze-dried raspberries. And, yes, it's all vegan.

This might be controversial to some, but these doughnuts are actually far, far better than anything I've ever had. They're light and fluffy, yet so full of flavour. Well worth the calories (and mess, from letting our young daughter decorate her own)

There are various different vegan kits, and doughnut selection boxes to choose from, jut don’t blame me if you have to buy them all.

Various prices, on doughnuttime.co.uk

Steenbergs

Steenbergs is a small family run company based in North Yorkshire, specialising in the ethical sourcing and hand-blending of spices, loose leaf teas and home baking ingredients, with a focus on Fairtrade and organic and a passion for provenance, aroma and taste.

All of their products are suitable for vegans, with the natural and organic baking extracts all registered with the Vegan Society and they have an EXTENSIVE range of products. I tried (and loved) their organic vegetable curry powder, which was developed as an all purpose organic curry mix for vegetables and pulses. The flavours are built on the lemony flavours of organic coriander seed and the earthy, astringency of organic cumin and organic turmeric, with heat built in from organic brown mustard seeds and ginger powder and sweetness from the organic cassia and ground cardamom, giving it a gentle warming Indian flavour and aroma that complements rather than overpowers vegetables. It adds a special something to a vegan curry, which is so often lacking in the more well-known branded products.

Prices starting from £2.65 on steenbergs.co.uk

Willicroft

I have a confession to make - I have a slight lactose intolerance, but I still love cheese, and have so far never found a fake cheese brand that tastes anything like actual cheese, so continue eating the real stuff - until now.

Willicroft was founded in 2018 by Brad, the grandson of a Devonshire dairy farmer. His journey began in 2016 when he adopted a plant-based diet. He found the transition easier than he’d imagined, with the exception of cheese. Unable to find many plant-based cheese alternatives in the supermarket, he was inspired to start making it at home. What began as a pet project, has now become his total existence. A couple of decades after the well-respected Willicroft Farm first supplied Waitrose with Aberdeen Angus meat, the family story has become full-circle, as Willicroft in its reimagined form is supplying the same store with plant-based cheese.

Brad believes that cheese is the final stumbling block for many transitioning to a plant-based diet. Through his products, he’s aiming to demonstrate that plant-based cheese can be just as decadent as its dairy alternative and I believe it could be a saving grace for those who are struggling to make that last step.

The Willicroft This is Not Cheese range is rich in flavour and low in impact. They combine age old techniques, such as fermentation, with a more planet-friendly ingredient base to create a plant-based cheese that will never leave you sacrificing on taste. The Willicroft range includes: This is not Cheese Fondue, This is not Classic Cream Cheese, and This is not Grated Cheese Italian Style.

Various prices, from willicroft.com

Binta’s Kitchen

Binta's Kitchen was started by Farhana Ibrahim. Rather than me tell you her story, which I couldn't do justice, here, she explains about her journey from northern Nigeria to the UK, where she produces two excellent vegan-friendly sauces - spinach and pumpkin, and tomato and red pepper.

Farhana told me: ‘Binta, my mum, was our chief culinarian growing up, where food was at the heart of everything. She refined recipes that have been passed down through generations, creating a range of sauces with authentic flavours and sublime infusions…iIn this time of an increased awareness around BAME, people want to support more culturally diverse businesses, and they are more adventurous about food from different backgrounds. Growing up in the UK, I could never find Nigerian food that was accessible to me - it was always easy to prepare my mum's sauces, but the downside was that I had to make it myself… I had the dream one day to not only make Nigerian food more accessible, but to also raise awareness that Nigerian food is also healthy and delicious.”

So… Bintaís Kitchen was born. The range also includes superfood powders, such as Moringa, Baobab and Hibiscus, which can boost your breakfast porridge, cereal, yogurt or smoothie or can even be used as an ingredient in baking.

Various prices, on bintaskitchen.com

Nudie Snacks

Nudie's entire range is plant-based and a healthy alternative to traditional snacks. Based in Ayrshire, Scotland, it is a family owned and operated producer of healthy plant-based snacks and food boxes, with the aim of providing an alternative to potato snacks full of artificial flavouring and preservatives.

With that said,I tried... a lot of the Nudie range, and I am yet to find something I don't like! Highlights include cheese and caramelised onion cauliflower crisps, chilli and lime lentil curls, katsu curry cauliflower crisps and premium toasted coconut chips - which have won a Good Taste Award! The latter are super moreish, and it's incredibly easy to finish an entire packet without actually realising you've just done so.

All of Nudie’s products were a real winner in our house, and suitable for all ages. They also have a full vegan snack box for £15.99, featuring nine different products - a great starting point to experience a small range of Nudie’s before going all in.

Various prices, on nudiesnacks.co.uk

Coconuts Organic

I had been searching for a decent vegan ice cream for a long time and nothing really tasted any good, until I came across Coconuts Organic (and the next brand featured after this).

You might remember this brand from the 2018 BBC Dragons' Den series, where Peter Jones said it was “the best ice cream I've ever tasted”. And who am I to argue with such esteemed taste buds?

They have a vast range of flavours, created in Cornwall, from pure chocolate, rum 'n raisin, and choc orange swirl, to double caramel, mint choc and more. At £5.95 per tub, you could argue it's a little expensive, but actually, this is one of those rare occasions where you are actually paying for quality - and I'd happily do it again, and again, and again.

Starting from £5.95, on coconuts-organic

Little Moons

Little Moons Mochi are the perfect snack food - it's ice cream, in little rice balls, that you just can't stop eating. And that is a statement the whole Consommé team can agree upon, as all members give them a huge thumbs up.

Brother and sister, Howard and Vivien Wong, launched Little Moons in 2010 on a mission to bring Japanese mochi with a delicious, modern twist to the masses. Having grown up eating traditional mochi in their parent’s bakery they knew the potential these little balls had to deliver a moment of total happiness to whoever ate them.

It took them two years to master the mochi making process and perfect the ice cream recipes, working with top chefs and using quality ingredients to create the perfect flavour combinations and they have achieved all that - and more. They're just incredible… and so addictive.

Tip: Don't just buy one box, you'll regret not buying more.

Various prices from various places, littlemoons.co.uk

Squeaky Bean

Picture the scene - it's a Sunday night and you're planning your lunches for work for the week. The fridge is pretty empty, and you're lacking inspiration. So let me introduce you to Squeaky Bean.

Squeaky Bean, which creates plant based meat alternatives including chicken and turkey, adds that special something to any salad, sandwich, pasta dish.

I realise I now begin to sound like I'm ‘Quorn-bashing’, but in a market that’s been mostly dominated by one company, Squeaky Bean really does add something new and exciting to it, and it actually does taste like what it's supposed to.

I tried the majority of the Squeak Bean range, but the stand out has to be the pastrami style sandwich slices. Made with chickpea flour, beetroot, soya sauce and other natural ingredients, these have the taste and texture - and look - of pastrami.

They recently launched in pretty much ever major supermarket, with some impressive shelf-space in Tesco, taking up virtually an entire fridge shelf. If you can find them, I'd highly recommend buying their products. You won't be disappointed.

Prices vary, on squeakybean.co.uk

Quinola

Speaking of lunch, Quinola is a small independent business - the kind we all need to support in the current climate - selling a range of quinoa based products, all vegan and gluten-free. Their mantra is that being generous to the environment, to ourselves and each other, is the only way to achieve better.

The Express Quinoa comes in several different flavours, including Spicy Mexican, Golden Vegetable, White and Red, White and Black and Puy Lentils and Whole Grain. They're great for a pick-up-and-go, no-nonsense product that will actually keep you full, and tastes great.

Combine with the Squeaky Bean products, above, and you're really onto something for an inspiring lunch combination!

Various prices, quinola.com

Great British Porridge Co.

I love porridge. I always have, and I always will (but proper porridge, not the pot kinds - unless you’re talking about my recent convert to Perkier’s) But very often, what you find on the shelf is a product LOADED with sugar and other not-so-natural ingredients; that's where The Great British Porridge Company comes in.

Another product that appeared on Dragon's Den, but this was more than just a successful appearance, as all five Dragon's made an offer; they accepted the offer of Tej Lalvani.

Their products are made with water, not milk, are gluten-free and 100 per cent natural. The sweetness comes from dates, and it comes in five flavours - red berry and pumpkin seed, blueberry and banana, strawberry and peanut butter, caffe latte, and my person favourite, classic chocolate.

There's something soothing about a good bowl of porridge, and The Great British Porridge Company's porridge is certainly a good bowl of porridge!

£3.99 per bag, on thegreatbritishporridgeco.co.uk

Dishoom

It would be a shock if there was a Consommé reader out there who didn't know what Dishoom was.

And I would be further shocked if someone out there hadn't either ordered one of their infamous at-home-kits, cooked from their incredible book, or stood in a very long queue to get into one of their branches.

Often famed for it's excellent Indian meat dishes, Dishoom recently launched its first ever Vegan Sausage Naan Roll kit… and it's excellent.

Specially developed for Dishoom by renowned chef Neil Rankin, it takes cleverly fermented vegetables and the best sausage spices to create everything required to enjoy two Naan Rolls, plus an extra naan dough ball for experimentation. With Chai spices and loose-leaf Darjeeling tea: for delicious Dishoom chai for two, every kit purchased sees a donation meal made to Magic Breakfast.

The absolute standout of this dish is the sausages. It's hard to describe something so wonderful, but when I tried them, it created that special moment of silence that only something truly brilliant can create.

And they're so easy to make at home, that a novice really can try it.

Vegan Sausage Naan Roll Kit is £16, on store.dishoom.com

Chococo

We've mentioned Chococo here before on Consommé, but we love chocolate - especially when it's this good - so they're more than welcome to have another mention.

Chococo are known for being proudly handcrafted in Dorset and their range always delivers; the mini dark chocolate hamper gift bag furthers that reputation.

Presented in a plastic-free gift bag, it comes with nine Glorious Ginger chocolates, Colombian Coffee Beans covered in dark chocolate, a ridiculously good toasted cashew and sea salt dark chocolate slab and 70 per cent mini bar and six dark chocolate Dorset Mackerel (not actual fish, don't panic).

They have other vegan-friendly products, too, but what more could you want from such an exceptional company that makes exceptional chocolate.

Mini Dark Chocolate Hamper Gift Bag, £35, on chococo.co.uk

Joe and Sephs

Another make that the Consommé team have an affinity for is Joe and Seph's. It always delivers, and is constantly brilliant. And its new vegan range adds to that.

Focussed around five flavours - salted caramel, toffee apple and cinnamon, olive oil and sea salt, coconut and cacao and olive oil, sea salt and black pepper - the range absolute outshines every other vegan-friendly popcorn on the market. So, when you've finished your lunch, dinner, or breakfast (don't judge me), these bags of goodness are the way forward in snack-royalty. Trust us. We know.

£4 per bag, joeandsephs.co.uk

NuGo Nutrition

The entire NuGo Nutrition range - a largely vegan, gluten free, nutritional bar brand originating in the Americas - is one of my favourite things right now.

Although it's been in the UK for a while, they're focussing this year with their NuGo Dark range. Each bar contains 10-13g of plant-based protein, and is made up of a light crispy inside and coated The current range includes Pretzel, Peanut Butter Cup, Mint, Mocha, Chocolate Chip and Coconut.

I can't fault any of these, and I am yet to decide which one I like the best. They're all brilliant, and can be had as a special treat, or even an after-dinner special treat.

Various prices, on nugonutrition.co.uk

Rude Health

For the massive amount of products I've mentioned here, if there's anything you're looking for that isn't… listen - I can guarantee you that Rude Health fills in all the gaps.

Their range is so incredibly extensive that you could just shop for Rude Health products, and nothing else, and still have a full fridge and pantry at home. It's truly amazing just how much stuff they make - they even have a tiger nut drink!

From milks, biscuits, snack bars and porridge, to muesli, granola, cereals, flours, Rude Health have it all covered, in the most glorious and vegan-friendly way.

Just go and check it out, let it all sink in, and thank me later.

Various prices, on rudehealth.com

Heck

Heck is known for some of the best, and most flavourful meat products on the market. So why am I including them in a Veganuary feature? Because they've also got one of the most versatile and incredible vegan ranges out there, too.

Under the banner of Veg With Edge, it includes beetroot-based sausages, vegan breakfast sausages, Italian chipolatas, the ultimate vegan burger, and “Vegfuters” - these are great, and are fantastic vehicles for flavour with any of the sauces or other items listed in this feature.

The burgers, which are made from beetroot, mushroom, sunflower seeds and carrot are probably my favourite from the range. Gone are the days of the boring bean burger that all restaurants or companies offer, because, being honest, we're all SICK of those as the only option for non-meat eaters. These burgers, and the entire range of HECK vegan products are well worth trying out. And they're registered with the Vegan Society, so you know you're safe with these!

From £2.50, on heckfood.co.uk

25 Of The Best Vegan Products You Need This Veganuary