Rome: Vegan Food Brands

This is the first and only vegan grocery store, yep entirely vegan, in all of Italy. The place has a lovely selection of sweet and savory snacks, all types of meat substitutes, breakfast foods, non-dairy cheese, and yogurt as well as local chocolate. Sock up on all of these items and be impressed by the number of Italian brands that make vegan products.

Mortadella

Mortadella — a large Italian sausage product that is often cut into deli meat slices — is getting a vegan makeover courtesy of Felsineo, Italy’s leading mortadella brand. Their new line, Felsineo Veg, is launching with six different plant-based meat slices inspired by the flavors of Italy and will offer a clean, animal-free alternative to a commonly bought food.

The line, which was launched in response to a decline in mortadella sales, is something the company is ready to stand behind. Felsineo president Andrea Raimondi said, “It is an incontrovertible fact that the number of consumers choosing vegetarian and vegan [products] is growing.” Raimondi continues, “[These] are not ephemeral fashions, but new eating habits that are well-positioned under the umbrella of health and well being.”

The new Veghiamo line is made quite differently from traditional mortadella meat — no bloodshed necessary. In addition to the animal-free production, the vegan products are made with a new technology called “Mopur”; a process involving the fermentation of flours and legumes until they develop a specific taste and texture.

Ice Cream

There is an impressive selection of dairy-free ice-creams available at Conad. Opt for the gelato cones but they had tubs of different flavors too. When looking for your vegan gelato fix, don’t forget that gelaterias always have sorbetto!

Cheese

There are two vegan cheeses in Italy, this vegan sliced cheese and another that looked like that ‘plastic burger cheese that’s basically not cheese but you love it anyway’ cheese.

• io Veg Fettina Vegane - vegan cheese slices - ultimate product guide to vegan food in Italy
• io Veg Fettine Vegane – Vegan Slices

Apparently, a new smoked version is on its way too!

Pesto

Sapori Dintorni Pesto di Pistacchio ist a truly excellent pistachio pesto, produced by Santoro, which you can also find with the "L'isola gourmet" brand, which is very easily found in supermarkets of large retailers. Made with a pistachio content of 51% (label), salt, pepper and sunflower oil.

Despite the high percentage, the taste of pistachio is natural, sweet and intense, making it a really recommended pesto. If we also consider the very low price (about € 3.50) it is a product to be seriously considered. Of course, the price must be compared to the amount of pistachio, a factor to be taken into account if you have to make a recipe that involves discarding the pesto oil.