Cheese is the number one food most non-vegans say they can’t live without. While plant-based versions of the popular cheese have been around for quite some time, this up-and-comer represents a new wave of vegan dairy. They are bold and adventurous, yet familiar in the sense that they expertly replicate the taste, smell, appearance and texture of our favorite dairy cheeses. Pour yourself a glass of red and get your credit card ready; Here are ten vegan cheese brands to put on your party list.
Where to buy vegan cheese?
The global vegan cheese market is bigger than ever. In fact, according to some estimates, in 2021, it was worth more than $2.4 billion. This means that you can walk into most grocery stores in the US and find vegan cheese options from brands like Daiya, Violife, and Field Roast (learn more about the vegan cheese market here). But if you want something a little different, and you’re into artisanal food, the brands below are also worth checking out. They are not yet widely available, but trust us: they are still very much worth your time and taste
10 Vegan Cheese Brands You Need to Know
Riverdale
1 Riverdale Vegan Cheese
New York, NY
Yes, vegan cheese options abound, but often they are surrounded by a larger selection of animal cheeses. In Riverdale, vegan is the only option. Enter this intimate boutique cheese shop and enter a wonderland of plant-based cheeses, glorious cheeses. Order a few wheels to keep at home or opt for a virtual tasting or cooking course. Not in NYC? With nationwide shipping, the vegan cheese of your dreams is just a click away.
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Herbivore Butcher/Instagram
2 Herbivorous butchers
Minneapolis, MN
This brother-sister-run company is best known for its vegetarian meats, but its cheese game is just as strong. In addition to plant-based steaks, ribs and deli slices, the duo makes a medley of “cheese-free cheeses,” from Gouda to Brie to Havarti. Head to the Minneapolis-based deli for a monstrous meat-and-cheese sandwich (so good they’ve been featured on the hit Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives); Order a few blocks online (they ship nationwide), or visit the partner page to find these products in your neck of the woods (the company distributes to vegan and health food stores from California to New York).
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Rind
3 Rind
New York, NY
For funk-seekers, cheese connoisseurs and vegan cheese skeptics, there’s Rind. The company has worked for years to develop its top-of-the-line product which it claims is the “cheese of the future”. Ironically, the ingredients go through a primitive process that involves a proprietary combination of microbes that break down the fats and proteins to create a vegan cheese unlike any other. This is serious cheese business.
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Pure abundance
4 Pure abundance
Atlanta, GA
Cheese made with kombucha? Just trust the system – it works. These gourmet cashew-based, probiotic cheeses are available in three distinct flavors including Luna (the mildest), Pan (a smoky, tangy, ash-coated variety) and Sol (a versatile cheese sauce that can be used on anything from pasta to can go. nachos). Atlanta locals can find this cheesemonger’s products at Whole Foods, Cultured South and select restaurants, but they’re also available online for nationwide shipping.
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wandering
5 wandering
Los Angeles, CA
This vegan cheese is fit for royalty. Not really. The store was featured in Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s royal wedding album. Markle’s fondness for founder Youssef Fahuri and his store’s plant-based products is a full-page spread in this golden memoir. His Camembert, Feta varieties and Melty Mozzarella have attracted celebrity clients including Alicia Silverstone, Jeff Bridges, Al Pacino and Ellen DeGeneres. Stop by the unassuming strip-mall shop for a cheese platter or a simple yet perfect sandwich—prepared by Fahuri herself—or order online.
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Nuts for cheese
6 Nuts for cheese
Multiple locations, USA and Canada
This artisanal vegan cheese company is the Canadian equivalent of Miyoko in the U.S.—it’s everyone’s favorite and deserves to be featured prominently on your next cheese board. Sold in wedges instead of wheels, try super “blue” blue cheese marbled with spirulina, sophisticated black garlic coated in a crust of activated charcoal, or smoky artichokes and herbs with lemon pesto and vibrant herbs. Find your new favorite cheese through the company’s store finder or its online directory.
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Rebel Cheese/Instagram
7 Rebel cheese
Austin, TX
This vegan deli, cheese, and wine shop opened in late 2019, and its selection of gourmet cheeses and vegan foods is perfect for a trip to Austin. But if you don’t want to go that far, you don’t have to! The restaurant also offers online ordering. The small company makes its own vegan cheeses, and you can sign up to receive a monthly order through its Cheese Club membership. Let the vegan wine flow and bring to the cheeseboard.
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Parmela Creamery/Instagram
8 Parmela Creamery
Multiple locations, US
Cultured, aged cashews never tasted so good. The most elaborate of the bunch, Parmela products are aged for a minimum of 15 days to replicate the subtle funk and umami flavors of dairy cheeses. Stock your pantry with Parmela by visiting Whole Foods, Publix, Gelsons, or one of its other natural food store partners.
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the mixer
9 the mixer
Multiple locations, US
This tub full of creamy, spreadable almond- and cashew-based cheese is almost too good to be true. Chef-created flavors include Seven Point Five, a fiery kick with strawberries, habaneros, and jalapeños, and Black Truffle, made with shallots and truffle oil. The brand recently launched at Walmart locations in California, Utah, Nevada, Washington, Arizona and Texas. In addition, residents of the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Southwest and Pacific Northwest regions can also find Misha at specialty retailers. Pro tip: After one taste, you’ll want to stock up.
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Vitopian
10 Vitopian
Multiple locations, US
Based in Portland, this cheese brand is a true vegan utopia, hence the name. Everything is made with organic, fair trade cashews and locally sourced ingredients and tastes just as good as the real thing, if not better. Choose from options like garlicky aged white cheddar, creamy peppercorn brie, and herby chive and dill.
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To know more about vegetarian cheese, read:
Tanya Flink is a digital editor for VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.