Cowvathi, Shasvathi, & The Indian Vegan Cheese Revolution

Shaswathi & Cowvathi

The world of online friendships can be scintillating. Shasvathi is one of those bright, authentic, big-hearted people that give you them happy-happy vibes even though you've never met them. Of course, she could also be a serial killer, but as you read her interview you'll be inclined to think otherwise. 

Shasvathi is the founder of Cowvathi a dairy alternative vegan start-up in Mumbai. Mainstream media has taught all of us that anything with a cow on it means quality dairy products, and that's precisely what Cowvathi is here to challenge. 

Dairy = sad cows. Happy cows support vegan alternatives.That's the truth, yo.  

This soon to be 26-year -old is originally from Chennai, but can't possibly think of a life outside Mumbai. She's been vegan for 4 years. Guess who actually nudged Shasvathi towards a vegan life? Her parents! Thought that vegan families were a myth in India? Read this!

The inspiration behind Shasvathi's vegan life. Her parents. 

I declare that her journey to being a vegan cheese entrepreneur was pre-destined. Shasvathi had a past career in advertising and was a legit, serious practitioner of Carnatic music. The one thing she never did? Step into the kitchen, even to make her own chai. She just didn't do it folks. So it's kind of ironic that she spends most of her time today experimenting and perfecting vegan cheese recipes. 

If you live in Mumbai, I highly (oh-so-highly) recommend you order from Cowvathi and see how magical dairy-free cheese can be. Meanwhile let's get to know more about Cowvathi.

Say OLA to Cowvathi. This girl likes her pasta

Tell us more about Cowvathi. What do you think she would cook for her current romantic interest for date night? 

Shasvathi Siva: Cowvathi is my partner is crime and dine. We cook, sing, and weave stories together. Cowvathi's  grandmother was just another commodity in the dairy industry, and had the worst possible life. Her daughter, Cowvathi's mom, managed to make a run for it and succeeded. She's told Cowvathi many a story about her grandmother's life. That is what drives Cowvathi to continuously find dairy and meat alternatives so she can save her kith and kin from a horrible life. Cowvathi, despite growing up listening to these stories, is the happiest kid in the block. She only wants to spread joy and happiness. Her aim is to tell a story through food, and not just a story.  What would she cook for a Date night? Well, she's a hardcore pasta and garlic bread lover.

Oh, guess this Cowvathi likes south indian food too

 When did you start experimenting in the kitchen with vegan cheese? Is there a story there?

Shasvathi Siva: When I went vegan 4 years ago, it was really hard to find dairy- alternatives. There was SoFit for milk, but I didn't fancy it much. I loved chai and curd rice, and I'd miss it regularly. Making it at home was a task as well, since I'd have to rely on my dad to make it every time.  I started to forget about all the things I craved for and lived without dairy alternatives.

But as time went by, I saw so many new alternatives enter the market. The more vegans I met, the more I realised there was a whole world of vegan alternatives and recipes out there. That's when I was first inspired to try making some of them myself. I started having chai again and realised that making vegan curd rice was actually really goddamn easy. 

When I'd tell friends about veganism, I realized how very easy it is in today's world to simply pick up alternatives. And I wanted to be a part of that and contribute to it. To PROVE that alternatives in India are easy to find and hence, there is no reason for one to rely on dairy/meat. I'm slightly more biased towards dairy alternatives since I've never tasted meat and haven't ventured too much into the mock meat area either. 

I made cheese one day (after three months of failed attempts and frustration), and it turned out pretty well. I've always wanted to launch Cowvathi into the vegan market one way or the other, and the fact that that cheese was the least available product in the  Indian market propelled me towards creating a line of dairy-free cheeses. I practised the recipe many times, and after a few tasting sessions, my confidence improved. That's how this all started.

The Cowvathi Range of Dairy-Free Cheeses ( MOOOOOO)

So what's the deal with vegan cheese? Do you think it's something that has a life of its own in terms of what it can used for today? Do you think its doomed to always be compared with dairy cheese?

Shasvathi Siva: I think vegan cheese is here to stay. I hope I'm able to deliver across the country soon enough. 

I actually love it when someone asks me if my products are made from dairy - because of the cow (Cowvathi the mascot). That's when I have the opportunity to tell them it's not dairy because the cow in this picture is smiling. You know why the cow is smiling? Because her products are not used in this. Had I used dairy, the cow would be terribly sad  and definitely NOT smiling. It's a great conversation starter for me. I've also had some people call me thinking my cheese is a dairy product, and then I explain, and they've ordered it straight out of curiosity! And these people loved the product too! 

Cowvathi Endorses Her Products

When did you think that you could roll out an actual business? What are your thoughts on vegan enterprises right now in urban India?

Shasvathi Siva: Like i said, I always wanted to build a brand on the name Cowvathi, but I thought my products would revolve around vegan cupcakes/milk-alternatives etc. The decision to make cheese the hero product was only  2-3 months ago. 

I'm in awe of all vegan enterprises. It takes a great deal of courage and determination, considering how tiny the community actually is. But people are definitely waking up, the growth of veganism is on an upward swing and I am super thrilled to see where we are headed. 

Mumbai, GET ON THIS!

6. What's the biggest myth about veganism that you think most people still believe today?

Shasvathi Siva: That it's impossible.

 Wave your compassion card, when it comes to dairy most of India does not perceive it to be a cruel industry. Can you sum up your stance on the problem with our dairy consumption in a few sentences?

Shasvathi Siva: We are a dairy obsessed country. And I will not blame the people for it. We've been conditioned to believe we NEED dairy. To that extent, we've been conditioned to believe that vegetarians are not harming any cows. It is so difficult to break people out of these beliefs they've grown up hearing. Be it the masala chai on the road, or the cheese on the pizzas. Advertising has brought us to a point where dairy is a part of every restaurant, and every household. Unfortunately, the most natural reaction for most is to shut out information that will alter their way of living.As humans, we  are weary of change. 

Shasvathi is here to stay

8. If you had to pick one kind of cheese flavour from Cowvathi's range, and only eat that  for a year, which one would it be? And why?

Shasvathi Siva: I'd love to say Mozzarella because that was my first experiment. But now that I make cheese everyday, even the smell of it is repelling (DAMMMNN) :P 

Has Shasvathi inspired you to start your own business? Are you inclined to try dairy-alternatives and see where this adventure leads you? Give Cowvathi a shout out and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! We all have a part in working towards a more compassionate future. The act of supporting local vegan business no mater what your consumption habits are, can help make major change. 

Umang Singh: Powerlifting with Plants ( The Bearded Vegan)

That is one hot, um, apple. 

Say wassup to Umang Singh. He's originally from Dayalbagh, Agra, but has been living in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan for the last couple of years. He works as an executive for Honda Cars by day, but he is a vegan superhero in genereal. He went on his own fitness transformation in 2012, by then he was already vegan.

He revamped the way he ate and worked out and went from 103 kgs to 68kg, then he worked on gaining lean muscle mass and is a solid 82 kgs today. He's a passionate weightlifter that isn't shy to talk about how easy it is to fuel your body with compassion and nutrition. 

Umang  adopted a indie dog, named Badshah who is the most amazing fitness buddy to have around (or so we think). Badshah is 19 months right now, and yes, calm down, we have pictures.

We've also got pictures of his transformation and his favourite foods, along with a few key responses about his lifestyle that I think most people will find compelling. Let's go!





What's your favourite meal ?

U.S: Cooked broccoli, dry fruits (peanut,almond,walnut),green smoothies (mixture of oats,flax seed ,supergreens and vegan protein ) and oats pancake with peanut butter.

We're guessing this is a broccoli taco! Plant-Power.

Ah, The stereotype of the malnourished vegan. Haha let's all finish chuckling at that one. You're a freaking powerlifter, what do people tell you when you tell them you're vegan? Since you lift a lot, do you have a certain way of planning your meals?



 U.S : When I am working out in the gym, someone inevitably asks me about my diet plan, especially about my protein sources. Most of them are surprised to know that I don't consume any animal products. That's usually when I talk to them a bit about veganism. I basically believe in the 'eat more and workout more' mantra.

I keep my macro nutrients in check i.e 

150gm of protein 120gm of carbs and 50gm of healthy fats(1600kcal), I follow this plan when I am  cutting down.

90gm of proteins 600gm of carbs and 30gm of healthy fats (This is for when I have to bulk up)

Umang's Toastie-Veggie sandwich 

Serious Lifting 

Growing up with Badshah

You post a lot on FB detailing what you eat, and showing us how easy it is to practically get in some working out anywhere (on a park bench for instance). What's your approach to fitness?

U.S : I always tell my friends and the people around who approach me to have a healthy diet and inculcate discipline,consistency,resiliency and to not loose hope no matter what. The key words are "never give up'. It's as simple as that. 

Ferocious philosophy with Badshah

What normal meals/food do you think are severely underrated in our country when it comes to positioning them as food that actually nourishes you and keeps you fit?


U.S : Basically every plant-based food is underrated in our country.
Especially  lentils , porridge , green veggies and nuts. People think it's a waste of money buying all these things, especially in fitness scene. We've been taught we need to  buy dead corpses for nutrition. Flaxseeds is one of the cheapest source of healthy fats and is cultivated in abundance, but people hardly know about it.

If I had to summarise my approach to life and health, it all comes down to this:  'I cannot destruct others to construct myself".

Major life changes

Working out at work!

Damn that's pretty hard to argue with! Keep up with Umang and stay inspired by following him on Facebook and on Instagram!

Bengaluru Special Donne Biryani ( Plus my Vegan Sermon, Yikes!)

Mighty but not Meaty

Ola Leopards!

Here's to a more conscious, kinder, and happier New Year. 2017, baby! Let's make it wicked hot.

If you've been following my posts, you already know the drill: it doesn't matter if you aren't vegan, or vegetarian. Reducing your intake of meat and dairy makes a stand against cruelty. By consciously lowering your intake you are acknowledging one of the most cruelest industries in operation today: subjecting animals to being produced just to they live in cages until they are killed. The dairy industry keeps cows pregnant (by artificial insemination) constantly, so they give out milk around the clock. And their calfs certainly don't get enough to drink. What's more is that they inject cows with hormones,so they produce more (which is painful for the cow, and super nasty for you).

 I turned vegan ( after being vegetarian/pescatarian for 7 years) about 8 months ago. So, I thoughts, why not chronicle my experience of being one in India.

It's lonely being a vegan in a non-vegan world. I don't know any vegans in real-life most of them are on the internet. We live in a non-vegan world, globally we're only 3%-5% of the population. India might have a large vegetarian population, but is very lactose dependent: ghee, milk, curds and butter is in a lot of our vegetarian food. India's population is huge-Ass, but we in all probability don't have even have 10k vegans in the country.

As a vegan, I get eyebrows raised, I get made fun of, and I certainly get unwarranted advice. But I am no evangelistic vegan. Ain't one of them that says the go vegan or call yourself a mass murderer. Humans are fundamentally hypocritical- we have pets, but we eat meat. We think cruelty is bad, but we don't think about our food.  We have cultural ties to food, and the demands for vegan substitutes are so low, that it might seem like a very privileged thing to take up. Most people think that you don't get the right nutrition on a vegan diet. That's a complete myth, and there is enough on the internet to read about that specifically.

I believe any change is good chance. If you can give up meat and dairy one day a week, you are contributing to a better world. We're consuming and consuming, we've lost touch with our food, where it comes from, and what goes on behind the scenes. Sometimes, I don't think the vegan label does us much good, people feel intimidated by it, and get defensive about it (which is why we get all the stupid comments and jokes). And it's not only the non-vegans who create the problem. Some vegans be be downright annoying, holier-than-thou, and dogmatic. After all who is to define the exact rules of being vegan? We could always argue that vegetables kill insects, that india uses animals to farm its agriculture, and that most things we are involved with directly or indirectly abuse animals in some form. There is plenty of infighting in the vegan community precisely because of this, who get's to be 'vegan' enough?  Franky, I could give a rat's ass. Everyone has their own evolution based on their circumstances, privileges, culture, and individual experience. But what we all have in common (if you are reading this) is to be aware of our experience right now, and what we're doing. That's why I think: any change, is good change. Even acknowledging the problem of cruelty is change.


Read up more about the industry. If it moves you, then give up the small things first. Give up leather (there is no good reason you need to actively buy leather). Reduce your consumption of milk. If you are vegetarian, consider trying the vegan diet. The environmental impact is huge. And if this is too hard, support the rest of us vegans by buying vegan products from time to time, it helps us increase the demand in the market, making it more accessible to the mass population.

Alright, sermon over. But the preamble also serves well for my next recipe. A lot of people who eat meat are worried about taste and and recreating old favorites. I am no different, I grew up a meat eater and one of my favorite things was biryani. Bangalore has a special local biryani, and you live here, you've either eaten it or seen it all around town: Donne Biryani. Usually made with chicken and small grain rice. The taste, if you ask me, comes from the spicy-delish mix of ginger-garlic, shit tons of coriander, mint, and chilies! 'donne' in Kannada means palm leaves, which was originally the way it was served, in a cup made out of these leaves.

Here's my vegan version using soya chunks and potatoes! It was extraordinarily tasty and spicy! This recipe will serve 2-3 people.

The Taste comes from these cuties

Here's What you Need


3 fresh  tomatoes pureed

2 large onions

2 cups fresh coriander leaves

1 cup mint leaves

3 inches of ginger plus 10 pods of garlic

As little as 2 to as much as 10 green chilies ( I like it super spicy)

11/2 cup small soya chunks

2-3 potatoes chopped ( I cute one potato into 8 pieces)

5 tablespoons biryani masala ( I use Shaan masala/Bombay Briyani masala or Chicken masala)

11/2 teaspoons turmeric, jeera powder, and dhanya powder

Some fresh coriander and chopped tomato for garnish

11/2 cup of white rice

Salt to taste

1 teaspoon sugar

3tb cooking oil


How to make

Puree your tomatoes and set aside. Then blend your mint, chilies, and coriander together with a a bit of water to make your green paste. Blend your garlic and ginger together to make a fresh ginger-garlic paste. Don't use ready-made paste, the taste of this recipe relies on everything fresh. Lastly, grind up your onions too. Now you have 4 pastes : Onion, Ginger-garlic, Tomato, and Green.

Green and Red

In a pressure cooker, heat up 3tb of cooking oil. Add you ginger-garlic paste and fry it for 2 minutes. You can also add a bayleaf to the oil if you want, but totally optional. Now add your onion paste, and fry for another couple minutes.

Pasty!

Soak your soya chunks in a bowl of water. And keep you potatoes peeled and chopped.

Now add green paste to the onion/ginger-garlic paste, and stir. Dump your tomato paste in, and add all the masalas. If your biryani masala doesn't already have salt add some to taste. You might need to use a little salt anyway, since potatoes tend to soak it up. Add your teaspoon of sugar as well now too.

Now add your soya chunks and potatoes, and fry it all together, add a few tablespoons of water, and cook for about 5 minutes. Finally add your washed rice, and stir the mixture throughly. Add 3 cups of water and put the lid on. Let it go for about 3 whistles. Put off the cooker and let it cook with the heat inside. Open, place in a bowl and garnish with more coriander and fresh chopped tomato. Serve with a salad, or with vegan raita (peanut curd is available for delivery in Bangalore and tastes very much like regular curd) Contact Veganarke on their FB page for peanut curd (80 rupees for a litre)

Yeah! Enjoy your vegan donne biryani, and share some with your friends.

<3 Happy 2017!

Have questions about vegan food or being vegan in India? Comment or catch me on FB: Rheea Rodrigous Mukherjee