Hailing from South Africa, I like to think of myself as a bit of a barbecuevirtuoso.
The ribs in question were made by Slovenian food techstartupJuicy Marbles.
And the vegan bones?
Well, apparently, theyre just for a laugh.
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Its just fun from every angle.
And, unfortunately, the two dont really align.
Spurred on by climate guilt, I decided to give the imitation ribs a try.
(The vegan ribswill launch for regular purchase on the companys webshop in early 2024).
Total cook time was around 10 minutes.
The taste test
As advertised, the meat is succulent and flakes off the bone with ease.
But it has more of the texture of pulled pork than pork ribs.
As for a convincing replacement for a rack of pork ribs?
Im not so sure.
And the flavour profile feels unidimensional compared to the real thing.
The high soya protein and oil content are probably to blame for that.
And what about the edible vegan bones you ask?
Nevertheless, they remain a cool addition, even if just for show.
But plant-based whole cuts could unite us all around the fire.
Overall, I was left feeling impressed by the worlds first plant-based bone-in ribs.
This was definitely the most realistic plant-based whole cut Ive tried (as opposed to a burger).
The texture and addition of bones make it pretty legit.
For what it is, I think Juicy Marbles did a great job.
The pursuit of plant-based meat perfection could also have benefits beyond bonding with your brethren behind the barby.
Moreover,plant-based meat products are generally healthier than their processed meat equivalents.
However, the picture looks more promising in Europe.
The plant-based food sector here has grown by 49% over the past two years.
Meat consumption in the Netherlands is alsodeclining.
Whatever the reason may be, plant-based alternatives are here to stay.
Story bySion Geschwindt
Sion is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy.
