Market & Trends

Four Vegan Companies in Venezuela Making Alternatives to Favorite Foods

We take a look at four vegan companies in Venezuela making alternatives to dairy, meat, and chocolate while attempting to stay afloat amidst Venezuela’s economic crisis and rampant inflation. 

Venezuela was among the 11 countries ahead of France in the Veganuary 2022 challenge; according to estimates from the Venezuelan Association of Nutritionists, the vegan population in Venezuela is growing. 

Okara

Vegan ham by Okara
© Okara

Dairy-free artisanal cheese specialist Okara began crafting chickpea-based cheese in 2019 when it was founded by Mirla Morales and Jennifer Schneider. Now it uses cashews, almonds, and legumes to make over 30 varieties, ranging from fresh mozzarellastyle to camembert to matured cheeses. Okara also makes vegan desserts and is expanding to plant-based chorizo, cooked ham, and tofu filets to offer vegan ingredients for Venezuela’s loved festive dishes, hallacas and pan de jamón (bread filled with ham).

Okara says its best-sellers cheeses are almond milk arepero (for arepas, a local cornbread)) grated, mozzarella, and cream cheese. The vegan company has even developed a recipe for a “cheez-whiz style” but made with fermented cashew and cassava starch. “People are looking for a substitute for everyday cheese alternative to fill their arepas,” says the company on Instagram.

The company sells DTC via Instagram and has a brick-and-mortar shop offering pick-up and delivery services.

Mereketé 

mereketé vegan cheese range
© Mereketé

Caracas-based Mereketé specializes in milk-free, cashew-based vegan cheese and yogurt. The company was founded in 2019 by an all-woman team to lead “the new sustainable plant-based cheese industry.”

Mereketé’s broad vegan cheese portfolio includes mozzarella, ricotta, cream cheese, spreadable cheddar, blue, and Gorgonzola. Using herbs and spices, Mereketé surprises its customers with three “Boursin” flavors: fine herbs, fungi porcini, and mustard. The brand’s popular product Cashewgurt is a coconut and cashew yogurt naturally fermented with lactobacilli in natural or red berries flavor. 

“We are aware of the environmental deterioration caused by industrial livestock farming, and we are absolutely clear that the planet needs a more conscious way of production. Therefore, we chose to make dairy-free products; in addition to the thousands of health benefits of not consuming them,” Mereketé told Cilantro pero no tanto.

The company sells DTC via Instagram and has a brick-and-mortar shop offering pick-up and delivery services.

Alegría

Alegría nuggets
© Alegría

Alegría is a 100% vegan healthy breakfast & lunch restaurant in Sebucán, Caracas. It serves lentil burgers, local corn bread — empanadas and arepas — filled with pulled beef (carne mechada), black beans, and plantain or grilled vegetables.

The vegan restaurateur delights its clients with an in-house veggie burger made with a lentil pattie, topped with cheddar, mayo, caramelized onions, tomato, and lettuce, sandwiched in a wheat and sesame seed bread.

Alegría’s alternatives to meat have become so popular that it launched a frozen line: nuggets, pulled beef (made with plantain and proteins), and its plant-based burger patties. All products are ready for delivery across Caracas or available for pickup in Sebucán.

“Our vegan nuggets are love at first bite!” says Alegría on Instagram.

Chocolates Sun

Vegan chocolates
© Chocolates Sun

Chocolates Sun started pioneering healthy chocolates seven years ago, aiming to provide “delicious” chocolates for vegans, diabetics, celiacs, and lactose intolerants. It has a broad portfolio ranging from various flavors of chocolate bars (dark chocolate, crispy banana, or white chocolate with cookies, among many others); to spreads, cubes, chips, cocoa powder, and raw chocolate for desserts.

According to Chocolates Sun, its products are made with 100% premium cacao Criollo from the foothills of the Venezuelan Andean Cordillera, “where it grows best.”

Chocolates Sun can be found in specialized and gourmet shops across the country. It uses Instagram to sell and promote its products.

“All our great taste is about being unique and special because we are VEGAN, free of Lactose, casein, animal protein, animal cruelty, and 100% vegetable. Without refined sugar, a delight to the palate and a guarantee for good taste,” says Chocolates Sun on Instagram.

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