“I could never go vegan, I love cheese too much!” — me before going vegan. So what’s a cheese-loving vegan to do? Well, I tried every weird vegan cheese so you don’t have to. It’s been 5 years of strange textures, weird smells, and wasting money on things that only slightly resemble food. But here are my top picks – my holy grail vegan cheeses (and yes, they really are good!)

 

Kite Hill. When you hear “vegan cheese,” you might think of some highly processed brick of plastic. But vegan cheese has come a long way in the last few years, and Kite Hill is changing the game. The base of their cheese is just almonds, cultures, enzymes & salt. I am a huge fan of their ricotta! It tastes spot on and I can finally recreate my great grandma’s lasagna recipe. Kite Hill also carries a delicious cream cheese, which has more of a whipped texture. It’s an excellent choice for a soy-free cream cheese, although it’s more expensive than Tofutti. Besides the price point, you really can’t go wrong with any of the Kite Hill products!

Chao. These are truly the best vegan cheese slices you can find! The Creamy Original is my favorite, mild and definitely creamy, perfect for a grilled cheese. It melts beautifully, but tastes great right out of the package too. I really can’t recommend this brand enough — even my omnivore friends like these!

 

Miyokos. Miyoko’s was the first vegan cheese I tried that gave me hope. My favorite product is the Fresh Loire Valley cheese wheel. I think it’s the fancy-factor that brings me so much delight. It’s a cashew and miso based cheese, wrapped in a wine-soaked fig leaf. It’s sooo creamy and a must-have for any fancy snack board. Their Mozz is a completely different base, but a great option for pizza. It melts, bubbles and browns like a dream! It’s milder than I prefer, but it doesn’t have a funky plastic taste like some other brands do. 

Follow Your Heart. This is another brand that is really growing! They have a huge selection of vegan cheese, dressing, sauces, and even a vegan egg alternative. Although I’d recommend the Chao slices over these, I like the flavor options by Follow Your Heart. The Pepper Jack and Smoked Gouda are the best! They do take a while to melt, and I wouldn’t eat these raw. They work well melted as one of many toppings on a burger or sandwich.

VioLife. I first tired Violife in Paris and searched everywhere to find it in Portland. I finally found it at Food Fight Grocery, and I’m completely hooked! Other brands have tried to make parmesan using nutritional yeast and spices, which is really more of a seasoning/topping. But Violife made something that tastes as close to real parmesan as any vegan could dream of. It grates like the real thing, has that strong parmesan smell, and gets even better over time. Definitely a must-try! I am really looking forward to trying more flavors from Violife.

My local favorite is Vtopian Cheese. This cheese is so flavorful and nutty, and I probably spend half of my income at their local deli each week. If you aren’t local, you can find their cheese here. I’d recommend the brie and sharp cheddar! If you’re in Portland, you haven’t lived until you experience their Grilled Mac & Cheese Panini. Trust me.

A few things to keep in mind:

• When you first try vegan cheese, consider it a “topping” or a “spread.” That way you can enjoy the flavor and creaminess without being disappointed that it doesn’t taste exactly like cow cheese.
• Just because one vegan cheese is disgusting and haunts your dreams doesn’t mean they all are. There are a ton of different brands with completely different ingredients. Keep trying!
• Find the right use for your cheese. For example, some are a bit plain on crackers but taste great melted on a pizza. Others get weird when melted, but are delicious raw. You just have to experiment!
• The longer you go without cow cheese, the easier it is to enjoy vegan cheese.
• Check ingredients! If you’re going vegan for health reasons, stick to simpler ingredients like those in nut-based cheeses. There are some great ones with less than 5 ingredients. Weirdly enough, you might need to check for milk. For example, the brand Go Veggie markets a “lactose-free cheese” that has casein (milk protein) added to it. WHY?
• Vegan cheese is not always in one spot at the grocery store. You’ll find most of it near the vegan specialty stuff (look for the tofu), but sometimes it’s randomly throughout the store near the hummus/spreads, yogurt, produce, or dairy cheese.
• Vegan cheese is expensive AF, but the right brands are worth it. You can also make your own vegan cheese for a fraction of the cost.
• You don’t need vegan cheese to eat delicious vegan food. There are lots of dishes and snacks that don’t involve cheese! So if you can’t find any locally or it’s too expensive, everything will be A-OK.

Have you ever tried vegan cheese? What are your favs?