BK's New Plant-Based Whopper is a Winner
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Beijing’s plant-based community woke up to welcome news yesterday morning as international fast food juggernaut, Burger King, announced via their official Weibo account that they would be adding a faux-meat version of their Whopper aptly called – if not entirely uninspired – the Plant-based Whopper, to menus at 325 restaurants in select cities across China. There's also plans for a nationwide rollout by spring 2021, making them the latest in a growing list of international chains on the mainland to offer a vegetarian burger option.
Char-grilled flavor without that icky coagulated ground meat texture
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Meanwhile, 13-year-old intern Eloise Wester said she would definitely opt for the burger again over its meat-based counterpart.
As for the vegetarian – who also happens to be yours truly – advancements in plant-based meat recipes and techniques have been growing ever more indistinguishable from real meat, and not always in a good way. To that end, the patty used on the Plant-based Whopper had a texture that doesn't lean into the coagulated ground beef of real meat burgers, and in my humble opinion, is much more enjoyable. Yet, it still preserves the rich and smokey, char-grilled flavor of a hamburger
If you're seein' green, then you've come to the right place
Alone, the burger costs RMB 26, however, there are additional meal deals
that include a drink, fries, and somewhat inexplicably, chicken wings,
for RMB 39, or two burgers, two drinks, fries, and chicken wings, for
RMB 69. The appearance of said chicken wings would seem to suggest that
Burger King isn’t as concerned with appealing to China’s plant-based
eaters, but rather, omnivores who are looking to reduce their meat
intake.
The ele.me deal: Not entirely sure what those chicken wings are doing there, but hey, small victories. Right?
The Plant-based Whopper’s patty – which is reportedly made from soy,
wheat, vegetable oil, herbs, and onion – is the brainchild of
Holland-based company The Vegetarian Butcher, which was acquired by
multi-national conglomerate and Burger King partner, Unilever, in 2019.
The release of the burger in China’s market coincides with releases
across Latin American and Caribbean markets as well.
READ: Fast Food Watch: Thank God McDonald’s Spam-and-Oreo Burger is a One Day Only Thing
Images: Observer Network, Burger King
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