Eat this, vegans: Earl Grey donut at Cartems Donuterie in Vancouver

Yes, those are rose petals. (Stephen Hui)

Word has it that Cartems Donuterie (534 West Pender Street) is working on a fried vegan donut. Until such time as it appears, their baked Earl Grey is our favourite vegan donut in Vancouver.

This heavenly cake donut is infused with organic Earl Grey tea and covered with an Earl Grey glaze. Rose petals are sprinkled on top.

It’s tea time. (Stephen Hui)

Truthfully, it doesn’t taste much like Earl Grey. Plus, we generally don’t appreciate flowers in our food. Neither matters here.

Cartems makes vegan and non-vegan versions of the Earl Grey, so make sure you get the right one. A single donut costs $3, a half-dozen goes for $15, and a dozen is $30.

Maple chocolate, oh yeah. (Stephen Hui)

They don’t always have vegan donuts in the display case. During recent visits, a few kinds of vegan (and gluten-free) chocolate donuts were hiding on racks behind the counter, however. Just ask and you’ll be rewarded.

Cartems (whose co-owner Rajesh Narine appeared in an episode of Sylvia’s Vegan Kitchen) started up its downtown location in October 2013, a month after closing its pop-up shop in the Downtown Eastside. It’s open seven days a week.