<p>Jajah Napaphatsorn is the Founder &amp; Vegan Chef of Veganerie, a vegan Thai food brand in Bangkok that she launched in 2016.</p>
<p>Her mother had already turned vegan but, at the time of launching her brand, Jajah was vegetarian. She was also passionate about baking and had been selling homemade vegan bakery products at markets during her teenage years.</p>
<p>Jajah's first Veganerie bricks and mortar venture was a vegan cafe at Mercury Ville, Bangkok in 2015. In 2016 she opened her first vegan restaurant in Bangkok called "Veganerie Concept" which offered a full menu and had a grocery on premises too. By 2018, Veganerie boasted 6 branches in Bangkok, an online vegan store and her own vegan collagen brand. Her vegan Thai food brand is also now available as a franchise.</p>
<h2>Veganerie Visionary</h2>
<p>A pioneer of veganism in Thailand, Jajah Napaphatsorn&rsquo;s vision for Veganerie was to develop a lifestyle brand. Not dissimilar to the Starbucks concept, she set out to create destinations where customers could while away the hours in the comfort of contemporary chic spaces whilst feasting on vegan Thai food, desserts, smoothies, bakery, and coffee.</p>
<p>Her formula has proved successful and continues to grow in popularity. More Thais, particularly among the younger generation, are drawn to a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Veganerie has also become a place for international travellers to beeline as soon as they arrive in Bangkok.</p>
<h2>Vegan Thai Food Brand</h2>
<p>Back at the beginning of her journey though, an overseas friend recommended to Jajah that she should avoid using the word &ldquo;vegan&rdquo; in her brand name due to its negative connotations. But what her friend failed to realize was that the word &ldquo;vegan&rdquo; had not, at that time, arrived in the Thai vernacular. There were no connotations to be concerned about and the stereotypical image often portrayed in the west of vegans, was baseless and unknown in Thailand.</p>
<h2>Educate &amp; Inspire</h2>
<p>Jajah had a blank canvas and with Veganerie she has succeeded in delivering the word &ldquo;vegan&rdquo; and her Veganerie brand to Thailand by educating Thais, particularly the younger generation, of the benefits. Jajah&rsquo;s contemporary, chic eateries are places people want to go to and be seen in. Jajah&rsquo;s formula does not preach nor seek to convert. Instead her mission is to inspire Thais to think about going vegan one day.</p>

Find out about Jajah Napaphatsorn from her biography in CI Talks Coach Profiles. Be inspired by the founder of Veganerie & vegan Thai food pioneer in Thailand.

Jajah Napaphatsorn - Biography | CI Talks Coach Profiles

Jajah Napaphatsorn

Meet Jajah Napaphatsorn, the founder of Veganerie and pioneer of vegan Thai food in Bangkok. Jajah launched Veganerie in 2016 and quickly expanded to 6 branches, an online store and her own vegan collagen brand by 2018. Find inspiration from her story and spark change.

<p>For me, being a vegan is life changing. After I became a vegan, I could find new opportunities, new friends, a new lifestyle, new work and a new mindset.</p>
<p>Many wonder what plant-based or vegan food is like and what's good about it. On CI Talks today, I'll share with you how it is. To become a vegan, it's not as hard as you think.</p>
<h2>Why Go Vegan</h2>
<p>Hello, I am Jajah Napaphatsorn, Founder of Veganerie Store, Veganerie World (a vegan online market), and "Freddie Plant Collagen" (a plant-based collagen business)</p>
<h3>Jajah Napaphatsorn<br />Founder of Veganerie</h3>
<h2>Vegan Versus Plant Based Diet</h2>
<p>The difference between plant-based and vegan is that if something is plant-based, it's made from plants. You may have seen big name fast food places advertising their plant-based meat, which looks like meat but is made from plants. Now let's talk about being vegan. It's more than eating plant-based food. It's 100% plant-based. Everything in your life must come 100% from plants. This includes your lifestyle. Your bags, your shoes must not come from animals. We call it the "cruelty-free lifestyle".</p>
<h2>Vegan Journey</h2>
<p>My mum is vegan. She is healthy and strong. That inspired me to learn more about veganism. And I've found information that changed the whole thing for me. The best way to pass on the information is by doing. So I started cooking vegan food. The first hurdle I faced was that people didn't know about vegan food and its benefits.</p>
<p>The reason why I quit med school was because of my strong passion. I felt like doing vegan food and spreading this to the new generations. So I talked to my parents. I have my brother to thank since he was fully into it and helped me a lot. My friends then gossiped "oh Jah is now selling cakes instead of being a doctor". I wasn't angry. I found it funny. I was becoming a vegan leader in Thailand.</p>
<h2>Vegan Leader in Thailand</h2>
<p>I want Thais to have good, healthy food. I want farmers to earn income. And I want to promote vegan Thai food to the world.</p>
<p>In 2020, I went to Oman and was invited to present vegan Thai food there. I was really excited. It was the first time for me to present vegan Thai food abroad. I was also featured in Veg World magazine. It's a foreign magazine that features all aspects of vegan lifestyle. I was so happy to have featured in it. Apart from this, Forbes Thailand also interviewed me about my vegan businesses, including Veganerie. I was so happy!</p>
<h2>The Benefits of Being Vegan</h2>
<h3>Good Health</h3>
<p>The first benefit of eating vegan food is good health.</p>
<p>I weighed around 62-63 kg before turning to veganism. After 2-3 years, my weight gradually reduced. At the same time, I gained more strength. My excretory system got better. Everything sort of came together all at once. I thought it was amazing. I just changed the food. Moreover, plant-based food also reduces our chance of getting cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.</p>
<h3>Good for Animals</h3>
<p>The second benefit of vegan food is obviously that it is good for animals. If we don't eat their meat, use their skin and fur, it's like we are saving their lives.</p>
<h3>Good for People</h3>
<p>The third benefit is that it's good for people.</p>
<p>Thailand is a world leading agricultural country. We export a tremendous amount of products. Many foreigners come to our country to find vegan food. If the market for vegan food is expanded, this benefits our country. Higher income leads to economic growth. That's really sustainable.</p>
<h3>Good for the Environment</h3>
<p>On the environment, vegan food has a lower carbon footprint and uses less unnecessary resources. For instance, for one beef burger you need to raise cows and to do that, forest must be cleared to grow cattle feed.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if we cut this cycle out and eat plant-based steak, it helps save resources. Veganism is not just a trend but a sustainable way of living that is good for the people, animals, and the environment.</p>
<h2>5 Tips to Help You Start Going Vegan</h2>
<p>I will share five tips to help you start going vegan. Let's see what they are.</p>
<h3>Become Vegan Slowly<br />Ease Yourself into a Vegan Diet</h3>
<p>First is to start slowly. This is very important because it helps you to sustain the habit. So if you eat both vegan food and meat, that's okay. Don't get stressed. Let's have fun with it. If you like Holy Basil Chicken stir-fry (Pad Krapow Gai) then carry on having it but start replacing chicken with mushrooms or tofu. Being gradual allows your body to adjust.</p>
<h3>Know Your Reason</h3>
<p>Second is to have your own rationale.</p>
<p>If you have your own rationale, you'll be able to do it better. For some people, they feel sorry for animals so they don't eat meat. Some want to be more healthy. And some think about the environment. There's no right or wrong. But it's your rationale that will keep you on track. And it will make your own journey enjoyable. So I want you to have your own rationale.</p>
<h3>Dare to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone</h3>
<p>Third is to get out of your comfort zone. If you do something you haven't done before or that you are not used to, you'll be scared of what may happen. I urge you to get out of your comfort zone by doing it and you will get used to it.</p>
<h3>Myths and Misconceptions About Veganism</h3>
<p>Fourth is regarding misconceptions about veganism. No.1 is that a vegan lacks strength, nutrients, protein, and vitamin B12.</p>
<p>Lacking Strength<br />Lacking Protein<br />Lacking Nutrients<br />Lacking Vitamin B12</p>
<p>These are wrong. You can find protein in a lot of plant-based food; nuts, tempeh and tofu. You only need to vary your diet to meet the needs of your body.</p>
<p>Second is price. Many people worry that vegan food is expensive. If you cook it at home, it's cheaper. On the ingredients, if you take meat out and replace it with tofu tempeh, greens, or plant-based food, this will not be expensive. You will be able to reduce your costs.</p>
<h3>Change Starts With You</h3>
<p>Fifth, small changes combine to create a big change. Many may wonder if it really makes a big difference simply by not eating meat. The answer is yes, a lot. If people stop eating meat in millions, it will make a huge difference. Changes are happening now. Many countries have seen more plant-based food and fewer meat-related businesses. That resulted from changes on our plates.</p>
<h2>5 Keys to Know Before Going Vegan</h2>
<p>Today, veganism is becoming a mainstream lifestyle, from food to everything around us. By sharing my story with you today, it doesn't mean that I object to eating meat. At the end of the day, it's your choice. I'm just one voice that tells you what being a vegan is like and what the benefits are.</p>
<p>These are my own experiences that I want to share with you. It could be helpful for you in the future.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://citalks.com">CI Talks</a>:</strong> Stories That Spark Change.</p>

Read the Why Go Vegan in Thailand script from Jajah Napaphatsorn's video on CI Talks. Find inspiration from the founder of Veganerie Bangkok and spark change.

Why Go Vegan in Thailand Script - Veganerie | CI Talks

Why Go Vegan in Thailand Script

Why go vegan? Jajah Napaphatsorn launched her brand "Veganerie" in Bangkok when she was 20 years old in 2016 and within 2 years was operating 6 branches, an online vegan store and collagen brand. Find inspiration from a young entrepreneur who is making vegan Thai food chic.

<p>Jajah Napaphatsorn Totienchai is a passionate entrepreneur who believes in veganism. Her strong determination to be the pioneer of vegan food in Thailand inspired her to drop out of medical school and pursue her passion for vegan Thai food whilst educating her brethren about the vegan concept and benefits within. Jajah is on a mission to educate and expose Thais to veganism so that the concept of &ldquo;Going Vegan&rdquo; becomes a viable option for the majority.</p>
<p>In her &ldquo;Why Go Vegan&rdquo; video, Jajah shares insights about veganism, her background as a former vegetarian, her professional life as an entrepreneur in the Thailand vegan food industry, and the reasons why she adopted the vegan lifestyle.</p>
<p>Jajah is the founder of &ldquo;Veganerie&rdquo;; a vegan lifestyle brand in Bangkok. The Veganerie chain (now also available as a franchise), serves a vegan Thai food menu, complete with smoothies, coffee, and bakery. Within the Veganerie brand is also &ldquo;Veganerie World&rdquo;, an online vegan shop where consumers can browse, order and receive an ever expanding range of vegan food and products. &ldquo;Freddie Plant Collagen&rdquo; is Jajah&rsquo;s own brand of vegan collagen.</p>
<p>In 2020, Jajah was invited to host vegan cooking tutorials for hospitality professionals in Oman. She has been interviewed by Forbes Magazine Thailand who quizzed her about the vegan business perspective in Thailand. Veg World Magazine, a world leader on vegan lifestyle perspectives, also ran a feature on Jajah Napaphatsorn Totienchai.</p>
<p>Going vegan is much more than refraining yourself from consuming animal products. To live sustainably as a vegan requires knowledge, understanding, patience and discipline. Last but not least, you will eventually need a vegan mindset and to clearly define the motivations and your answers to &ldquo;why go vegan&rdquo;.</p>
<p>In her video talk, Jajah Napaphatsorn Totienchai gives you 5 ways that may help you transition over to veganism:</p>
<ol>
<li>Become Vegan Slowly, Ease Yourself into a Vegan Diet</li>
<li>Know Your Reason</li>
<li>Dare to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone</li>
<li>Myths and Misconceptions About Veganism</li>
<li>Change Starts With You</li>
</ol>
<p>Jajah&rsquo;s vegan lifestyle business goes beyond merely generating profit. Veganerie is her brand and a vehicle that she is using to reach both Thais and visitors to Thailand, and to show that vegan food can be delicious and nutritious. By spreading the word and educating people about the benefits of veganism; health, sustainability and the environment.</p>

Watch Why Go Vegan with Jajah Napaphatsorn, founder of Veganerie in Bangkok on CI Talks. Find inspiration from an entrepreneur making vegan Thai food chic.

Why Go Vegan

Food

Health

Consumption

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