Someone who started up a cookie business in Mississauga during a period of being unemployed is now actually selling out of cookies.

A Cookie Called Quest takes the inspiration for its name from the music group A Tribe Called Quest, as they're on a quest to create the best vegan cookies out there.

About five years ago, founder Kamar Martin made the switch to a plant-based diet, but always had a love of cookies and baked goods growing up. He used to work as a senior UX designer, but became unemployed just before lockdowns hit, and during that time felt pushed to do something new.

"I grew tired of bad-tasting vegan or plant-based cookies that lacked texture and flavour. In December 2019 I managed to come up with something that mirrored a traditional home-baked cookie that had the chewiness inside, crisp on the outside, and packed with a ton of flavour," Martin tells blogTO.

"I decided to take it seriously and registered A Cookie Called Quest in May 2020 and apply my experience in branding and design that would capture people's attention."

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His vegan cookies can now be ordered online, and come in varieties like lemon, s'mores, ginger spice, birthday cake, chocolate chip, Guinness marble chocolate, oatmeal rum and raisin, chocolate pretzel and stuffed crushed Oreo. 

"People who aren't vegan or plant-based are in disbelief at how great the cookies taste and wouldn't guess that they're vegan," says Martin. "I'm often told it's one of the best cookies they've ever had."

However, Martin actually doesn't have a formal culinary background, and actually first started trying out making vegan cookies by borrowing his Jamaican mom's mixer.

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"My mom and my aunt, her identical twin sister, always baked a bunch of Easter buns and black cakes during the holidays for friends and family," says Martin. "So maybe it's in the genes."

They're available for pickup or can be shipped Canada-wide, and the current menu consists of mini cookies in a bag, orders of a half dozen, eight-packs, and a dozen cookies ranging from $12 to $38. Cookie cakes and platters should also be available soon.

By now, A Cookie Called Quest typically sells out at most events they attend and has fulfilled large orders for reputable food businesses and corporations in Toronto, and Martin has been all over North America to promote and sell his vegan cookies.

"What started as a need to fulfill my sweet tooth then transformed into a hobby and now has transformed into a business that has a strong and loyal customer base," says Martin.

"Future plans include growing my customer base, acquiring large wholesale orders, and opening vegan cookie shops in Canada and the US."

With that in mind, if you're vegan and love cookies, you'll want to keep an eye out for this growing brand.