As Christmas approaches, the annual rush of gift-buying and frantic shopping is in full swing. And while Christmas shopping is rarely anyone's favourite task, there are ways to make it less painful than a frenzied and exhausting trip to the Trafford Centre. Manchester vegan Christmas festival is one good alternative.
Held at Bowler's Exhibition Centre in Trafford, the festival hosted a variety of traders selling everything from cakes to clothes and perfume to pastries - all completely vegan. It was the perfect spot to hunt for a Christmas gift with a difference from traders who are passionate about their craft.
One such trader was Beth, who runs the Ivy Dene rabbit rescue in Leeds. She uses profits made from her rabbit-themed wares to care for bunnies in need, so you know your money will be well-spent.
Alongside her hoodies, calendars, and books, Beth sells tins of 'equality street' chocolates - of course a play on the Christmas classic Quality Street - for a festive treat with a difference. If youve got vegans in your household this Christmas, these are chocolates everyone can enjoy, although priced at £30, they are steeper than a box of Celebrations.
Another vendor taking his treats to the festival was Cheetham Hill-bases Richard Hyman, who was selling a tapioca-based vegan salmon alternative. He told the Manchester Evening News that his family had been smoking salmon for over 100 years - but he was trying something different.
"I've been smoking salmon myself for around 40 years, and I've been working on the vegan version for around four years," he said. "I'm really happy with it It's got a tapioca and water base, and then with a little bit of alchemy and a little bit of magic, you get this."
But perhaps stealing the show was the huge selection of dairy-free cakes and desserts from a variety of vendors - several of whom had travelled across the country to be in Manchester today. Giancarlo runs an Italian vegan bakery in London, and had come up especially for the event.
Even if you're not fully sold on veganism, the festival offered great opportunities to try new things. As well as trying Richard's salmon alternative and one of Beth's 'equality street' chocolates, I found the best vegan cheese I'd ever tasted from a company called Tyne Chease, who make their delicious soft cheese alternatives in a variety of flavours. As a vegan myself I generally avoid dairy-free cheeses which I find tend to be plasticky, but this is one I'll be putting on my Christmas list.
I left feeling stuffed full of vegan goodies, and inspired by a group of traders who were all passionate about their craft. And remarkably, a morning of wandering didn't leave me with the Christmas shopping fatigue that comes as part of the experience. That's what I call a successful morning.
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