Now, first off I do have to say - the place is very small. But if you're a vegan in Statesboro, you'll be able to find food there that you won't find at any other store within 50 miles of town. It seems as though they're constantly getting better options, too.
One more thing I must mention for the college students out there - it's not cheap. But if you're serious about your diet, it's well worth the price. I myself can only afford the occasional trip to the Herb Shop, but it's been more than worth it every time I've gone.
The store seems to be mostly all about, well... herbs. Remedies, herbal supplements, things like that. But considering how small the shop is, you'll also find a very wide variety of vegan foods. Here's a list of some of the things I've recently tried out from the Herb Shop:
Chocolate - They offer a huge variety! Check the ingredient labels, though. Some are vegan, some aren't.
Soy sour cream - Amazing stuff! I wasn't all that fond of sour cream before going vegan, but one of my favorite late-night meals these days is tortilla chips with salsa and soy sour cream. Also - I've only had one person out of several try it and say it didn't taste like the real stuff!
Cereal - I actually haven't tried any of their cereal yet, but just the fact that they offer it is great. I only found two kinds of cereal at Wal-mart that don't contain any milk derivatives.
Dairy-free cheese - Also something I haven't tried from the Herb Shop yet. I recently discovered that they offer vegan cheese and I'm saving up the money to try it out ASAP!
Soy meats - They have your typical veggie burgers and veggie dogs as well as a few more options that Wal-mart doesn't offer.
Quick vegan meals - This is the only place in Statesboro I've found where I can buy food that I can make in less than 10 minutes. Definitely try the microwave burritos!
Soy milk - They have about the same variety as Wal-mart, but they offer a variety of carton sizes as well, plus they also have soy milks that can be stored in the pantry.
Vegan mayonnaise - They offer the very-popular 'Nasoya' Nayonaise brand. I have to admit, I've had it on my shelves for months now and have never tried it. I've never been a fan of mayonnaise to begin with, so I'm still trying to figure out how to use it. But I have heard that it's incredibly similar to the real stuff, and that you'd never know the difference if it's used in a recipe.
Dairy-free ice cream - I just can't even express how excited I was to see vegan ice cream in a store in Statesboro - I went nearly 5 years without any deserts of any kind before realizing vegan options existed! My all-time favorite vegan ice cream (SoyDream) is unfortunately not offered at the Herb Shop yet, but I've been happy enough with the flavors they do offer.
Now, just to clarify - the Herb Shop is not a 'vegan shop' - you should still definitely read the labels before buying anything. But most of their products do seem to be clearly marked as vegan if they are. Products like the chocolate aren't so clearly marked - the "Endangered Species" brand has both vegan and non-vegan flavors of chocolate, but a quick read-through of the ingredients to scan for whey or milkfat is simple enough. (Check out more about Endangered Species Chocolate)
If you're new to veganism (or just getting sick of feeling like there's nothing to eat in Statesboro), the Herb Shop is the place for you. It's not Wal-mart cheap, but it's worth it. Check them out some time - the shop is located on Highway 67 in the plaza across from the fairgrounds, next to Smiling Buddha Tattoos. (Google map & directions)
1 comment:
OMG. I have been stressing out thinking where am I going to eat where do I buy my organic vegan food!! I am relocating (job) from New York City to Statesboro in April. Visiting Statesboro the week of March 15th. Will stop by and check it out.
Post a Comment