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    You are at:Home»Product Reviews»Dairy-Free Cheese Substitute Reviews»Chao Vegan Cheese Slices Make the Cut with Five Flavors

    Chao Vegan Cheese Slices Make the Cut with Five Flavors

    25
    By Alisa Fleming on September 16, 2020 Dairy-Free Cheese Substitute Reviews, Product Reviews

    Sometimes food manufacturers get it right on the first try. And Field Roast is one of those success stories with their Chao Creamery division. Chao Vegan Cheese Slices launched about five years ago, and quickly became one of the most popular dairy-free cheese alternatives.

    Chao hasn’t had to change a thing about their vegan slices formula or packaging – well, except for selling bulk quantities. Early in 2020, they launched Costco packs in the Midwest, Southwest, Texas, and Ontario, Canada regions.

    But we had all been waiting for them to expand their product line, and that day has finally arrived. Chao Vegan Cheese Slices now come in five flavors, with Spicy Original and Smoked Original melting into the mix.

    Chao Vegan Cheese Slices Reviews and Info - Dairy-Free Cheese Alternative by Field Roast Chao Creamery Now in Five Flavors

    Chao Vegan Cheese Slices Make the Cut with Five Flavors

    Chao Vegan Cheese Slices were indeed a pleasant surprise, mimicking the unique bite of dairy cheese slices with impressive ease. I found the texture to be remarkably similar to Follow Your Heart Vegan Cheese Slices (not their Vegan Gourmet line), and for good reason. The two have nearly identical ingredients. Chao Creamery uses just one special ingredient to set their dairy-free cheese alternative apart: a touch of fermented chao tofu.

    Surprisingly, the fermented tofu does add that “umami” factor to each flavor. We enjoyed all three of the flavors we tried, but the Creamy Original was my favorite. It has a provolone meets white cheddar flavor that is rich and just bold enough. My friend Tess loves the subtle earthy flair of the Coconut Herb, spiked with oregano and black pepper. And I think Tony was partial to the spicy heat of the Tomato Cayenne – perfect for quesadillas or kicking up that dairy-free grilled cheese!

    As you can see by my picture below, Chao Vegan Cheese Slices do indeed melt easily when broiled or sandwiched and heated. That said, I thought they were quite tasty cold, for noshing as a snack or adding another sandwich layer.

    Creamy Original

    Chao Vegan Cheese Slices Reviews & Information (Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free) - full product details and ratings! Pictured: Creamy OriginalIngredients: filtered water, coconut oil, modified corn and potato starch, potato starch, fermented tofu (soybeans, water, salt, sesame oil, calcium sulfate), sea salt, natural flavor, olive extract (antioxidant used as a preservative) and beta carotene. Contains: soy.*

    Nutrition (per 20-gram slice): 60 calories, 4.5g fat, 4g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugars), 0g protein.*

    Smoked Original (new in 2020!)

    Chao Vegan Cheese Slices Reviews and Info - Dairy-Free Alternatives in Five Flavors - Top rated!Ingredients: filtered water, coconut oil, modified potato and corn starch, fermented chao tofu(soybeans, water, salt, sesame oil, calciuk sulfate), sea salt, natural flavor, smoke flavor, olive extract(antioxidant used as a preservative), beta carotene(color). contains: soy*

    Nutrition (per 20-gram slice): 60 calories, 4.5g fat, 4g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugars), 0g protein.*

    Spicy Original (new in 2020!)

    Chao Vegan Cheese Slices Reviews and Info - Dairy-Free Alternatives in Five Flavors - Top rated!Ingredients: filtered water, coconut oil, modified potato and corn starch, potato starch, fermented chao tofu(soybeans, water, salt, sesame oil, calcium sulfate), sea salt, dried green jalapeno peppers, dried red bell peppers, natural flavor, olive extract(antioxidant used as a preservative), beta carotene(color). contains: soy*

    Nutrition (per 20-gram slice): 60 calories, 4.5g fat, 4g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugars), 0g protein.*

    Tomato Cayenne

    Chao Vegan Cheese Slices Reviews & Information (Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free) - full product details and ratings! Pictured: Tomato CayenneIngredients: filtered water, coconut oil, modified corn and potato starch, tomato juice, potato starch, chao tofu (soybeans, water, salt, sesame oil, calcium sulfate), sea salt, green and red dried bell peppers, cayenne pepper, natural flavor, olive extract (antioxidant used as a preservative), paprika extract and beta carotene. Contains: soy.*

    Nutrition (per 20-gram slice): 60 calories, 4.5g fat, 4g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugars), 0g protein.*

    Garden Herb

    Chao Vegan Cheese Slices Reviews & Information (Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free) - full product details and ratings! Pictured: Garden HerbIngredients: filtered water, coconut oil, modified corn and potato starch, potato starch, chao tofu (soybeans, water, salt, sesame oil, calcium sulfate), sea salt, black cracked pepper, oregano, natural flavor and olive extract (antioxidant used as a preservative). Contains: soy.*

    Nutrition (per 20-gram slice): 60 calories, 4.5g fat, 4g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars (includes 0g added sugars), 0g protein.*

    More Allergen Notes

    Chao is one of the few cheese alternative brands that produces in their own dedicated dairy-free facility.

    Vegan Chao Cheese Slices from Field Roast - One of the best dairy-free hard cheeses with a tender, meltable bite and 3 "umami" flavors.

    More Facts on Chao Vegan Cheese Slices by Field Roast

    Price: $5.99 per 7-ounce package; $10.89 for a 3-pack at Costco

    Availability: Chao Vegan Cheese Slices are sold at Target, Safeway, Albertsons, and Sprouts stores in the U.S., and in select Costco regions in the U.S. and Canada. Look for them in the refrigerated section.

    Certifications: Chao Vegan Cheese Slices by Field Roast are Certified Vegan.

    Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Chao Vegan Cheese Slices are dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, vegan, and vegetarian.*

    For More Product Information: Visit the Field Roast website at fieldroast.com.

    *Always read the ingredient and nutrition statement prior to consumption. Ingredients, processes, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company or product. Contact the company to discuss their manufacturing processes if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. No food product can be guaranteed “safe” for every individual’s needs. You should never rely on ingredient and allergen statements alone if dealing with a severe food allergy. 

    Average Reader Review

    4.7
    Rated 4.7 out of 5
    4.7 out of 5 stars (based on 20 reviews)
    Excellent80%
    Very good5%
    Average15%
    Poor0%
    Terrible0%

    Leave Your Rating & Review for This Product

    What Others Are Saying ...

    BEST Vegan Cheese!

    Rated 5 out of 5
    April 12, 2022

    The Chao Original Creamy Slices is the 3rd Vegan Cheese I have tried and was BLOWN AWAY by how good it is! The taste, texture and the creaminess is spot on! I would HIGHLY recommend this for everyone to try! Thank you Field Roast!!

    Avatar for Jack Dent Jr
    Jack Dent Jr

    Delicious and melts great!

    Rated 5 out of 5
    March 11, 2022

    So delicious!!! We’re trying to find great dairy free cheese and we’ve found it! So melty good. My sister is hard to please and she loves it. Thank you.

    Avatar for Erika
    Erika

    Tastes similar to Munster when cold

    Rated 3 out of 5
    January 13, 2022

    Chao is the first dairy free cheese I tried and I was happily surprised. It tastes mild and buttery like Munster cheese when cold, but I found when it melted it tasted like coconut. I’m new to being dairy free, so I remember dairy cheese well. I think it would be fine on a sandwich or cracker, but personally I’d skip it for grilled cheese, burgers, etc unless you are not sensitive to the flavor of coconut.

    Avatar for Dairyfreetaster
    Dairyfreetaster

    Creamy original review

    Rated 3 out of 5
    January 11, 2022

    Having to give up dairy isn’t easy, but I’m doing my best. I recently tried this and while I do like it, there’s one major flaw….it’s so danged salty! Take it from someone who does NOT keep salt (or pepper) around.

    The other thing I hate is the price, but that’s life for ya.

    I like to cut it in half into smaller squares. Lasts longer. 3 month expiration on plastic and it’s still edible after 2 months. Hasn’t made me sick or anything anywho so must be good. 🙂

    Avatar for Thomas
    Thomas

    Best cheese ever!

    Rated 5 out of 5
    November 19, 2021

    We wanted to go dairy free but never found a good vegan cheese until Chao. Both my husband & I only eat this brand now. It’s better than real cheese! Creamier! No after taste! Perfect! Ty!!

    Avatar for Julia
    Julia

    Great for grilled cheese

    Rated 5 out of 5
    June 16, 2021

    Tried both the original and the tomato cayenne and they are both great. The original melts really nice for a grilled cheese, and the tomato cayenne has some great flavor if you want to amp it up!

    Avatar for John Staudenmeier
    John Staudenmeier

    Great taste but 67.5% fat

    Rated 4 out of 5
    June 4, 2021

    Great taste but 67.5% fat. There is no nutritional value to eating it even though it is so good. Easy to just eat the whole package and want more. Best cheese out there but zero health benefits to eating it. Had to give up.

    Avatar for Marnie
    Marnie

    Great Taste for vegan cheese

    Rated 5 out of 5
    December 27, 2020

    I am so glad I tried this product! I have been using other vegan cheese very sparingly because I couldn’t get over the taste. I tried the shredded original and was blown away by the taste. I wish I could find the other flavors in my area!

    Avatar for Starla Van Vorst
    Starla Van Vorst

    Cheese.

    Rated 5 out of 5
    December 11, 2020

    I’ve been getting the original creamy Chao cheese for a while now and I’ve loved it since! I’m so glad that I found this alternative when I did because I couldn’t bare to eat cheese any longer. I LOVE IT!

    Avatar for Tamira Gaines🌻🌙
    Tamira Gaines🌻🌙

    Love it!

    Rated 5 out of 5
    November 13, 2020

    Recently found this cheese in my local grocery store and LOVE it! I’ve been using it to top my sloppy (lentil) joe sandwiches for lunch. It doesn’t say how long it is good for in the fridge though, and I couldn’t find any information on the website either.

    I know traditional cheese has a stable shelf life but I’m curious if anyone else knows how long these are good for? At my store they were relatively pricey so I want to make sure I use them before they go bad!

    Avatar for Rachel
    Rachel

    Response from Go Dairy Free

    Most dairy alternatives suggest use within one week of opening. Unopened, they have a use-by date. According to the company, they last 65 days refrigerated and unopened after the production date.

    Site Reviews navigation

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    Alisa Fleming
    • Website

    Alisa is the founder of GoDairyFree.org, Food Editor for Allergic Living magazine, and author of the best-selling dairy-free book, Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living, and the new cookbook, Eat Dairy Free: Your Essential Cookbook for Everyday Meals, Snacks, and Sweets. Alisa is also a professional recipe creator and product ambassador for the natural food industry.

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    25 Comments

    1. Linda A Reynolds on August 19, 2018 12:12 am

      I Love Chao Cheese. Thank You so much!!!!!!!!!!!!

    2. Debera Gambee on January 22, 2018 1:32 pm

      I feel alot of Vegan cheeses just don’t taste all that great…BUT FIELD ROAST CHAO cheese slices are the bomb! Not only do the slices taste like REAL CHEESE….when you MELT it onto something…this other WONDERFUL cheesy nutty flavor comes out..its like WOW..a whole different cheese taste and its sooo yummy! I only like the CREAMY ORIGINAL, but I HIGHLY recommend it! And if you check,,there isn’t a whole lot of fat/calories..etc..like real cheese..I don’t mind paying a little extra more for this product!

    3. Vicki J Toomey on November 29, 2017 3:52 pm

      I love love love the tomato cayenne slices.

      • Alisa Fleming on November 30, 2017 1:35 pm

        Me too – they are so hard to find!

      • Kisha on January 14, 2018 12:24 am

        Please send to Guam! SOS we need Chao Cheese !!!

    4. Sonya Wood on November 26, 2017 5:16 pm

      Is it soy free as well? Sadly, so many vegan foods contain soy. My husband is allergic to soy, my son and daughter to dairy (NOT lactose intolerant!). My daughter is also allergic to eggs.

      • Alisa Fleming on November 27, 2017 5:34 pm

        Hi Sonya, this one does contain a very small amount of fermented tofu for flavor. However, the Follow Your Heart Slices & Blocks (NOT their Vegan Gourmet line) are actually the identical ingredients/formula, minus the soy. Definitely just as good and soy-free. Here is info on the Follow Your Heart ones -> https://www.godairyfree.org/product-reviews/follow-your-heart-cheese-alternative

    5. Ann osgerby on August 30, 2017 4:51 am

      Where can I buy this please

      • Alisa Fleming on September 10, 2017 2:32 pm

        They have a store locator here -> http://fieldroast.com/where-to-buy/

    6. Avi Strauss on November 17, 2015 4:06 pm

      I would trust anything from Field Roast. Amazing company. I buy all my vegan sausages from them which are flavorful. Has anybody tried cheese from Miyoko’s Kitchen? It’s mail order but looks amazing in Vegan News magazine. Still waiting for this site to do a review on vegan cheesecake and not just cheese 🙁

      • Alisa Fleming on November 17, 2015 7:14 pm

        Yes, we’ve reviewed that one, too, Avi! It’s cultured, so it has bolder flavors than many nut cheeses, and we like a few of the flavors. Here are my notes: http://www.godairyfree.org/product-reviews/miyokos-creamery-non-dairy-artisan-cultured-nut-cheese

    7. Acaena Rivera on November 12, 2015 5:25 am

      Thank you so much….
      I went out and bought a chao cheese original after reading this review in my inbox and I have to say that it was delicious both hot and cold….
      I live in Buffalo, N.Y and I am trying to find the Daiya cheese cake, if you could please help me I would greatly appreciate it…
      Thanks again,
      A.C

      • Alisa Fleming on November 12, 2015 6:55 am

        Hi A.C., So glad you enjoyed it! I’m actually going to be trialing those cheesecakes myself soon and will review here. I’ve seen them at Whole Foods and Natural Grocers, but have not seen them in conventional grocers. If you have a natural food store in your area, I would check with them to see if they can order in.

    8. Sylvia on November 10, 2015 7:48 am

      Hi Alisa! I just tried the coconut herb. I heated it in my spaghetti and it gave it this yummy, creamy texture. It was also delicious on the rosemary turkey sandwich. Thank you so much!

      • Alisa Fleming on November 10, 2015 8:07 am

        Yum! Thanks for sharing this Sylvia!

    9. Jessica on November 4, 2015 8:23 pm

      I’m still hoping to find one that is dairy AND soy free. 🙁

      • Alisa Fleming on November 4, 2015 8:38 pm

        Did you not see my recent Follow Your Heart review Jessica? Their new blocks and slices are dairy-free, soy-free, top allergen-free and impressive: http://www.godairyfree.org/product-reviews/follow-your-heart-cheese-alternative

    10. Kim - Liv Life on November 4, 2015 7:02 pm

      I’ve yet to find a dairy-free cheese that I’ve really liked, but the pictures of this one look promising!! Will research and see if I can find some before my son comes home from college!

      • Alisa Fleming on November 4, 2015 7:10 pm

        I do not lie Kim, nor does the picture, it’s pretty darn promising 🙂

      • Pamela Dahlke on November 6, 2015 10:50 pm

        You will LOVE Field Roast Creamy Orginal. It’s mind blowing good!!! It tastes like cheese with an amazing texture without being too bold!!

        • Alisa Fleming on November 8, 2015 4:18 pm

          Agreed! Thanks for sharing your feedback Pamela – so helpful!

      • Chloe on July 2, 2017 7:28 pm

        This one is seriously amazing! The original is so good, it tastes like real cheese. Before I tried it I never ate vegan cheese because it never tasted good. I am honestly obsessed with this cheese now and pretty much eat it with everything!

        • Alisa Fleming on July 8, 2017 8:29 am

          So awesome that it fit the bill for you Chloe! I really like it too.

    11. Sarah Hatfield on November 4, 2015 10:13 am

      K and I just tried this cheese recently. It is amazing! I can’t wait till it’s available closer to where we live.

      • Alisa Fleming on November 4, 2015 11:02 am

        Awesome, so glad you guys liked it, too!

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