Beyond Meat, a US plant-based meat producer, has said it will build a factory in Jiaxing, Zhejiang. This will be China's first plant-based meat factory built by a foreign company. Plant-based meat is getting more popular around the world. Made out of plants, it's designed to look, taste, and cook like real meat. It's usually made out of plant protein (蛋白质)，such as beans and peas.
Companies are producing this product mainly to protect the environment, as the meat industry produces too many greenhouse gases. According to the Worldwatch Institute, 51 percent of man-made greenhouse gases are from the livestock industry (畜牧业).
Although this new trend sounds attractive, it seems that plant-based meat still has a long way to go in China.
"Chinese people prefer fresh and natural food. You can never get the real taste of red braised pork with plant-based meat," said one netizen. It seems not easy for Chinese people to forget the taste of the real meat.
Some also wonder if plant-based food is safe and healthy, since it's man-made rather than naturally grown. The high price also holds many people back. It's equal to or more expensive than real meat.
Winning the heart of Chinese is not easy because the food culture and customers' preferences are very different and the market is sensitive to price. But some companies, are working hard to win the Chinese market. For example, since many Chinese people enjoy eating bone-in meat, some companies are developing plant-based meat with bones. Others are making products that can be boiled for a long time in hotpot or soup, which are also more attractive to Chinese consumers. Maybe you could see the dish on your dinner table soon.
