New Zealand's fourth annual Vegan Sausage Awards got underway in Auckland this morning.
The judges, including vegan news anchor Mike McRoberts, will eat their way through nearly 40 different plant-based contenders.
Photo: Beyond Meat
What will they be looking for?
As with any food, it's all about the taste, Vegan Society spokesperson Claire Insley tells Susie Ferguson.
Herbs and spices will play a role in the winning sausages, she says, which will often have a smoky flavour and of course a pleasing texture.
"Soy is a good [ingredient] for texture and so is seitan, which is made from wheat gluten. That gives a very chewy texture that people love."
The Supreme Winner at last year's Vegan Sausage Awards was the Breakfast Sausage by Nelson restaurant The Vegetarian Butcher. (They also won the Breakfast Sausage and Best Chorizo categories and were runners-up for Best Speciality Sausage)
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