OUR TOP 5 CHEESES

So let's face it, vegan cheese is never going to taste like the real thing. Cheese is probably the one thing that vegetarians and omnivores say they could never give up and we get it! Finding a good replacement has been a challenge. When you go vegan, our view is that you shouldn't spend too much time trying to find a vegan cheese that compares to a traditional cheese as you'll just be disappointed. But...when you've not had it for a while and your taste buds have slightly changed, that's when you may have that eureka moment. Here are our top 5 vegan cheeses that we think come pretty close...

VEGUSTO

If you haven't heard of Vegusto, get to know them. You'll find them at most vegan festivals serving up their incredible hot dogs and selling their range of cheeses. Our favourite is the No-Moo Piquant,  you can buy their products from their online shop.

THE NUTCRAFTER CREAMERY

The cheeses from The Nutcrafter Creamery are some of the most authentic we've tried. You can tell a lot of handcrafted love has gone into these cheeses by the way that they look and taste. They're made from wholesome cashew or almond milk and are free from processed ingredients. Check our their website for information on their stockists or to buy online. 

MOUSE'S

Our Christmas cheese board last year was made up completely of Mouse's creamy blocks of heaven. We don't know how they've done it, but they've got it down. Their cultured nut cheeses are inspired by the traditional method of cheese making and should be enjoyed with a large glass of red wine, crusty bread and chutney. Their stockists are listed on their website but they don't currently sell online.

SAINSBURY'S CHEDDAR STYLE

Yep, you read that right. We absolutely want you to try all of the above and support independent plant based businesses first, but when you are craving that cheese toastie, Sainsbury's has your back. We were pleasantly surprised by dairy free cheese range at Sainsbury's and it's great to see that they have recognised the growing demand for free from foods. In Brighton, the whole range would sell out every day for at least two weeks when it launched. Now they know the demand  the shelf is always stocked.  You can buy it online if you aren't lucky enough to live in the Vegan Brighton bubble. 

MAKE YOUR OWN

Making your own is actually quite easy. There are lots of recipes out there for quick and simple tofu cheese or methods to age a nut cheese over a longer period. Get creative in your kitchen and show us the results, we'd love to see!