The interruptions of food supply chains following the closure of the XingFaDi market in Fengtai district, the city’s biggest fresh produce, meat, and fish supplier in Beijing, has left us all with a bad taste in our mouths. Okay, maybe not bad, but a strange taste for sure. For a few days this past week, some of our favorite restaurants were unable to plate our favorite meat dishes, and we had to contend with mostly veg dishes instead. 

In an ideal world, we would put down our serrated knives and forks, flood the streets, and demand delicious vegan alternatives for everything. But the world is not ideal, and frankly, it is too hot to move a muscle. So instead, we might choose to do what we do best – Taobao and chill. Only this time, we will be exploring the mysterious world of faux-meat.

While by no means a new invention (Buddhists have been creating mock-meat alternatives for ages), in the last couple of years, plant-based meat substitutes have gained enormous popularity the world over, in a trend that is tied to growing concerns over greenhouse gasses emitted by animals raised for meat and milk and how they continue to affect the environment. But beyond all that, many meat substitutes are actually delicious sources of high levels of plant-based protein and at the very least, a guilt-free dinner.

Let’s dive into some of the best options available on Taobao right now. 

Beyond Meat

This American brand began making waves in the mainstream foodie community in the mid-2000s with its revolutionary top quality products. It has since gained support from the A-list vegan celebrities such as actor and comedian Kevin Hart. It is also available on Taobao at fairly competitive price-points, offering a variety of products, from beyond meat ‘beef’, beyond meat ‘burgers’, beyond meat ‘sausage’ and beyond meat ‘pork’. They even offer fishless filets and chickenless nuggets. Whereas a 500-gram slab of premium imported Angus beef steak could set you back RMB 300, the beyond meat steak stands at a reasonable RMB 140. And if you’re concerned with the ingredients, rest assured. All protein is plant-sourced from fava bean, mung bean, peas, and brown rice. All oils and fats included are coconut oil, cocoa butter, sunflower, and canola oil. For your troubles, you also get rewarded with as much as 20 grams of protein per serving. Not bad.

To find it, search: Beyond Meat

Qishan Food Factory Store

Offering a variety of prepared faux-meats, this store specializes in offering a Chinese cuisine inspired meats, from Sichuan-flavored sausage, to prime lamb pieces and plain Beijing roast duck, all made from a soy-based mixture. And to sweeten the deal, the Taobao store offers an assorted pack of 16 types of meat for RMB 169.

To find it, search: 齐善食品工厂店 (Qí shàn shípǐn gōngchǎng diàn)

Tian Yue Ming Fang Su Life

If you’ve ever been to a typical 麻辣烫 (málà tang) eatery then you might recognize some of what’s on offer in this Taobao store. They specialize in a variety of ‘breakfast meats’, with mushroom meatballs, soybean ‘ham’ sausage, and even salted soy protein fish. They also offer a variety of condiments, relishes such a mushroom and olive pickle relish and oils you might never have thought to try. My eye is currently on a bottle of Porcini oil. This shop definitely shows a fondness for mushroom, which is a great source of protein and might be a good break from the usual soy-meat substitute we have all grown accustomed to.

To find it, search:  天悦名坊素生活 (Tiān yuè míng fāng sù shēnghuó)

Omnipork

Much like Beyond Meat, Omnipork combines the innovation of plant-based protein with a meat particularly favored this side of the world – pork.  The meat on offer is made entirely of Shiitake mushroom, pea, non-GMO soy, and rice, and free of added antibiotics or hormones found in real animal meats. It also has the added benefit of being Halal certified. And for those who are allergic to nuts, then you are in luck since Omnipork contains zero percent nuts. These products are available in the Greencommon Taobao store, which happens to be Omnipork’s parent company. So you are assured of a factory to plate safety guarantee. Less glamorous but you catch my drift.

To find it, search: 新猪肉 (Xīn zhūròu)

KEEP READING: Beijing’s Vegan Community on Challenging Stereotypes

Photos: beyondmeat.com, Mark Allan Karanja