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It has been around since the dawn of humanity, but veganism still feels like a new food trend, with more and more people adopting the practice of abstaining from all animal products in their diet.

Not only does it have huge environmental benefits, but living on a plant-based diet can have a great effect on people's health and wellbeing.

More so than that, however, veganism is becoming an increasingly tasty dietary regime, with new vegan and vegetarian cafes opening every day.

In Hertfordshire, we are lucky to have some of the best vegan and veggie restaurants in the country, offering scrumptious, healthy menus that even the staunchest steak-addict couldn't turn down.

Here are some of our favourite vegan and veggie cafes in the county:

Chia Naturally Healthy

Market Place, Hitchin

"One of the most powerful changes you can make to improve your health is to move to a plant based way of living," begin the owners of Chia Naturally Healthy in Hitchin.

"It is proven that this alone is the most effective way to not only live longer but help the environment & its beings too."

It is the belief that is at the core of the cafe's ethos, informing their tasty menu of all day brunch dishes, nourishing bowls and fresh juices.

From plant based shakshuka to avocado mash, Chia has everything you need to get your day started in a healthy way - or why not try some of their organic beers and wines later in the evening?

Mudlarks Garden Cafe

Railway Street, Hertford

Mudlarks is a fantastic charity based in Hertford that supports adults with learning disabilities and mental health issues.

Alongside their allotments, which help adults integrate into the community through gardening, earning the charity a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the charity's cafe is the only vegan and veggie cafe in Hertford.

Mudlarks' menu adapts to the British growing season, with food sourced from the allotments as much as possible, and offers a variety of breakfasts, salads, soups and hot can cold dishes.

Best of all, the cafe supports adults with learning disabilities to take part in paid work, promoting a full and active role in the community.

Their potato, cauliflower, chickpea and coconut curry is particularly delicious, so make sure you stop by Mudlarks next time you're in the area.

Hopley's Cafe

High Street, Much Hadham

(Image: Google Maps)

Hopley's Cafe, based in Hopley's garden centre, is a delightful place opened up by the aptly named Fiona Copley in 2012.

Around a third of their dishes are vegetarian, with a varied and regularly changing menu complimented by their selection of specials.

The cafe was also a finalist in the 2016 Hertfordshire Life Food and Drink Awards which was recognition of their creative use of seasonal ingredients.

After your meal, you can also stop off in their homeware and plant shops, where they stock culinary and decorative herbs, bee and butterfly friendly plants, and a range of hand crafted colourful bird and insect boxes.

The Marchmont Arms

Piccotts End Road, Hemel Hempstead

(Image: Google Maps)

Neither strictly vegan nor a cafe, the Marchmont Arms nonetheless offers a great selection of plant-based delights for those in and around Hemel.

Asian-influenced small plates like miso aubergine bao buns and tempura oysters mushrooms are sublime, while their nourish bowl is a perfect vegan main.

They offer lunch and all-day menus, and the pub itself is a stylish and relaxed drinking and dining outlet, well worth visiting.

Vutie Beets

The Wynd, Letchworth

Vutie Beets is a proper vegan cafe, owned by brothers John & Brad, who want to inspire and motivate people to be more ethically, healthily, and environmentally conscious with their vegan food.

The cafe offers everything from burgers and curries to quinoa bowls and healthy juices.

Hatch

Holywell Hill, St Albans

(Image: Google Maps)

Hatch is one of St Albans' most popular spots for a weekend veggie or vegan brunch with good reason.

The cafe offers everything from your poached egg and avocado staples to full vegan brekkie.

Nourish Cafe

Hitchin Road, Letchworth

(Image: Google Maps)

Based at the Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living, Nourish Wholefood Cafe extends the centre's focus on clean lifestyles to its menu.

Initially set up for the benefit of those attending fitness classes, the cafe has built its own reputation, offering stunningly presented, vegetarian wholefoods which rival those served in top London restaurants.

The Green Kitchen

Hatfield Road, St Albans

(Image: Google Maps)

The Green Kitchen has been open since October 2014, offering an affordable menu of cooked-to-order pick and mix platters, super salads and curry of the day.

It is entirely vegan, child and dog friendly, making it one of the best places to grab a bite while in the cathedral city.

The Wellbeing Cafe

Imperial Way, Watford

Who knew yoga and food would work so well together? The owners of The Wellbeing Cafe, that's who.

They offer a range of homemade vegan food, including superfood salads, vegan chilli and pressed juices.

Daisy's in the Park

Watling Street, Radlett

(Image: Google Maps)

Daisy's is a cute and quirky restaurant in the village of Radlett offering a fantastic range of vegetarian plates, as well as a few vegan options to boot.

They aims to make English garden vegetables the star of the show with their dishes, with seasonal produce sourced locally.