This Is Vegan Cheese

Handcrafted in Maryland, the creation of This Is Vegan Cheese was a labor of love that involved many trials and experiments.

The goal was to create a dairy-free cheese that melts, stretches, and even browns when baked. Not only did they want a dairy-free cheese, but they aimed to create one that could be enjoyed by those who are allergic to nuts and gluten.

What began as just mozzarella, has grown into so much more. The line up of This Is Vegan Cheese is ever growing and includes everything from Blue Cheese to Yellow American to Pesto. And unlike many brands of dairy-free cheese alternatives, these aren’t cashew based. The first ingredient is organic non-GMO soy milk! This is followed by coconut oil, nutritional yeast, tapioca flour, carrageenan, vinegars, miso, vegan lactic acid, and a variety of herbs or seasonings on the ingredient statement

Tasting Notes for This Is Vegan Cheese

Pre-vegan days, I wasn’t much of a cheese connoisseur, but I dove into the realm of dairy-free cheese. I became intrigued to try all of the different varieties that I could recommend to those who “could never live without cheese”. I’ve sampled many awful goopy cheeses and a handful of seriously tasty ones. This Is Vegan Cheese immediately jumped to the top of my list! This dairy-free cheese is seriously impressive. Delicious as is and it cooks up incredibly.

Blue Cheese

Although I’ve never been a fan of blue cheese, I was so intrigued to try this blue swirled cheese. Spirulina gives it that classic blue/green color, and wow does it have that signature tangy and pungent blue cheese taste! It’s definitely a milder “funky” flavor, but it’s still got it. It crumbles easily and has a touch of a grainy mouth feel, but not in an unpleasant way. If you miss blue cheese, I’m sure you’ll love this variety!

Herbed Feta

Ah, feta. Definitely my favorite from my dairy-filled days. A dairy-free version isn’t something you come across often, so I was so excited to see this among the cheese samples. Again, this had a bit of a grainy feel, but crumbles well and melts in your mouth. It has that telltale salty and tangy taste, and the herbs come through nicely to compliment. This has me craving a jumbo Greek salad!

Salsa

Studded with sun-dried tomato, jalapeno, green chili, onion, and garlic, this variety packs a flavor punch. The spice level rises slowly and overall it has a really complex flavor. It has a softer texture, but still holds its shape. This Is Vegan Foods recommends this flavor for quesadillas or nachos – yes please!

I tried the salsa cheese on top of a mexi-style tofu scramble with hashbrowns and it was such a delicious pairing. It lightly softened on top, but didn’t disappear. The flavor came through and the texture was really pleasant.

Everything

Just like an everything bagel, this variety is flavor with spices and seeds. The small crisp poppy seeds gave it textural interest and I really enjoyed that. It has a firm texture and slices easily.

This variety made the most incredible grilled cheese! I sliced it thin, put it in between some wholewheat sourdough, and grilled it to toasty perfection. The cheese melted nicely, but it didn’t have that stretch you might expect from cheese. Although this may be because I had frozen the cheese. With my beautiful cheese package came a note, and it said that freezing for up to a few months was alright. I didn’t notice much difference in texture thawed vs fresh – maybe just a touch of a pastier mouth feel. I’m not complaining though, because it was so flavorful and I enjoyed every bite!

Dill Havarti

Although, hard to decide, this is possibly my favorite of the bunch! The dill addition tastes so fresh and is so fragrant. It’s firm, smooth, and so rich in flavor. I enjoyed this one on its own or atop some simple wheat crackers. It’s seriously snackable.

Apparently this is their most popular flavor, and I can definitely understand why!

Yellow American

This bright orange block had a sharp taste that was present, but fairly mild. It didn’t wow me, but it’s a classic. It’s really firm, shreds seamlessly, and is perfect for a classic grilled cheese.

Pepperjack

This red pepper speckled Pepperjack is also quite firm and shreds well. At first taste, there’s very little flavor, but slowly a pleasant spice comes through. It gradually rises to a pretty fiery spice, but it’s well rounded. It’s flavored with jalapenos, green chilies, and red pepper.

Bruschetta

This flavor is so unique and I loved that it was visibly speckled with sun dried tomato. It also has an addition of fresh parsley, basil, and garlic. Surprisingly, I found that the flavors didn’t come through too much. It was a little bland. But it’s reportedly delicious on pizza!

Garlic Mozzarella

Holy garlic, but in the best way. I’m a garlic fiend so I’m all about this garlic mozzarella. The garlic tastes fresh and I think I even bit into a piece. Beyond the garlic, it tastes nice and light. It has a firm solid texture that should shred well.

Fresco

This softer cheese was very mild in flavor but had a milky taste and feel.

Brie

This dairy-free cheese is seriously luscious. It has a soft and spreadable texture, along with a mild taste. I’m excited to top it with dried cranberries and enjoy it with crusty bread or crackers for a serious appetizer indulgence.

Pesto

This is another flavor after my heart, but I’m not sure I’d guess it was pesto by taste. The herbs are gentle, but definitely there. It tastes really fresh and has a touch of tangy flavor. All around, I think it’s a pleasantly subtle herbed cheese.

The Facts on This Is Vegan Cheese

Availability: Currently, This Is Vegan Cheese is available locally, at Riverdel and at Orchard Grocer in Manhattan. However, they do ship! Simply email through their website to order. They are updating their ordering system.

Certifications: This is Vegan Cheese does not appear to have any certifications.

Dietary Notes: By ingredients, This is Vegan Cheese is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, peanut-free, vegan / plant-based, and vegetarian. Nonetheless, always read the ingredient statement and check with the company on their manufacturing processes for all varieties if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. Processes and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company / product.

For More Product Information: Visit the This is Vegan Foods website at thisisveganfoods.com.

What Others Are Saying ...

Huge lineup of artisan vegan cheeses

5.0 rating

February 19, 2019

I was immediately in awe of the expansive and unique line-up of nut-free and gluten-free flavors from this artisan vegan cheese maker. Just about every variety was a hit with my taste buds and so spot on in flavor. They are made with a base of organic soy, have a pleasant texture, are shreddable, and are enjoyable served cold or cooked. But overall, the Everything and Dill Havarti were my two top choices, especially for grilled cheese. In my books, this is definitely dairy-free cheese worth splurging on!

Leah