Vegan in Azerbaijan: Surprising Food & Mud Volcanoes
Azerbaijan: the least vegan-friendly country our friend’s ever visited. Here’s how we survived—and loved it.
Episode 191 – Mini-Series Part 3 🎙️– Click here for Mini-Series Part 1 and Part 2.
Why Azerbaijan? A Vegan Travel Deep Dive
This was our very first time in Azerbaijan, a country between Europe and Asia. We weren’t here to lead a trip. We were here to visit our longtime friends, Paul and Kate, before they moved away. But, of course, we couldn’t resist exploring the local food, culture, and sights as vegan travelers.
Baku First Impressions: Futuristic & Ancient
Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan and it amazed us right away! We saw incredible buildings like the Heydar Aliyev Center that looked like something from the future. Then we walked through the Old City with its stone towers, cobbled streets, and ancient charm. We climbed the colorful Cat Stairs, strolled the Caspian Sea promenade, and saw how Baku mixes old and new in the most surprising ways.
Gobustan’s Mud Volcanoes: Like Walking on Mars
We took a surreal day trip to Gobustan. First, we bounced through rocky terrain in a very old car to reach cold, bubbling mud volcanoes. They wobbled like pudding and made funny sounds. Then we explored the Gobustan Petroglyph Reserve, where we saw 20,000-year-old rock carvings of animals and people. After that, we had a Zoroastrian-themed lunch with live accordion music and tasty salads.
Vegan in Azerbaijan: The Good, Bad & Eggplant
Being vegan in Azerbaijan wasn’t easy—but it wasn’t impossible either. Our friend Paul called it the “least vegan-friendly place” he’d ever been. But Kate gave us hope!
The Vegan Shop Saving Us in Baku
There is actually a vegan shop in Baku where we found Beyond Burgers, vegan sausages, and pantry items. It helped a lot!
Lentil Soup & Other Safe Bets
We could always count on lentil soup, served with lemon, and found in many restaurants.
The Great Butter Dilemma (Qutab Fail)
We tried a dish called Qutab, a pancake stuffed with herbs. Usually it has butter, but we found a version without it. Still, it was a bit dry.
Self-Catering: Beyond Burgers to the Rescue
Self-catering made our trip easier. We cooked our own meals using goodies from the vegan shop. One of our favorite dinners was a Beyond Burger night at Basqal Resort!
Azerbaijani Drinks: Tea, Wine & Compote
Tea is everywhere in Azerbaijan and it’s a big deal! It’s served with jam, not milk, and we loved the ritual of sipping and snacking. We also tried compote, a homemade fruit drink with real fruit pieces floating in it. Kate introduced us to local rosé wines, and we even visited an organic winery called Mazeri. Baku also has a great cocktail scene!
Road Trip Highlights: Flat Tires & Wildflowers
Our road trip across Azerbaijan was full of wild beauty and funny mishaps. We saw fields of wildflowers, stayed in cute guesthouses, and yes—we had two flat tires! The first was scary but saved by friendly Israeli travelers. The second was fixed with the help of locals. We also tried to see a Jean-Claude Van Damme statue in a town called Vandam… but it was closed!
The Human Side: Traveling with Lifelong Friends
What made this trip really special was doing it with old friends. We shared stories, played games, and laughed through every challenge. This trip reminded us that travel isn’t about being perfect—it’s about the people you’re with.
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Learn More About What is Discussed on the Podcast
- What it’s really like to be vegan in Azerbaijan
- Exploring Baku’s futuristic buildings and ancient streets
- Visiting bubbling mud volcanoes and 20,000-year-old petroglyphs
- How a local vegan shop saved our self-catering meals
- Tea culture, compote drinks, and surprising Azerbaijani wines
- Road trip stories with flat tires, wildflowers, and funny fails
- The joy of traveling with lifelong friends in an unfamiliar place
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- Vegan Travel in Japan: Culture, Cuisine & Tips
- Tuscan Vegan Food Tour | Plant-Based Cuisine in Italy
- Pet Care Tips for Travelers with Companion Animals | Brighde
