Kamil Perry
Parmesan cheese is traditionally not vegetarian because its production involves animal rennet, derived from the lining of calves' stomachs. However, Tesco, the largest supermarket chain in the UK, offers a range of vegetarian-friendly cheese alternatives, including vegan options and vegetarian pecorino cheese. Tesco's Italian Pecorino Cheese, for example, is a full-fat hard vegetarian cheese made using pasteurised ewes' milk and microbial rennet. Tesco also offers 25 vegan cheese alternatives online, such as the Violife Epic Mature, Follow Your Heart Smoked Gouda, and Applewood Smoky.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tesco Parmesan Cheese | Not vegetarian |
| Tesco Pecorino Cheese | Vegetarian |
| Tesco Vegan Cheese | Available |
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What You'll Learn
Tesco's pecorino cheese is vegetarian
Tesco's pecorino cheese is suitable for vegetarians. The manufacturer claims that this product is vegetarian, and its ingredients list supports this. Tesco's pecorino cheese is made with pasteurised ewes' milk, salt, microbial rennet, and a starter culture. It is a full-fat hard cheese that has been carefully matured in Italy to impart a nutty, salty flavour.
Tesco's pecorino cheese is available in 170g blocks and 50g grated packages. The 50g grated package may contain traces of goat's milk due to traditional farming methods.
As a hard cheese, Tesco's pecorino is pretty similar to parmesan. However, unlike parmesan, pecorino is made with microbial rennet, which is suitable for vegetarians. Rennet is an essential ingredient in the cheesemaking process, as it causes milk to curdle and separate into solid curds and liquid whey. While animal rennet is derived from the stomachs of calves, kids, or lambs, microbial rennet is produced by bacteria or fungi and is suitable for vegetarians.
Some other vegetarian alternatives to parmesan include Gran Moravia, Lithuanian Džiugas, Follow Your Heart vegan parmesan, Organic Valley, Trader Joe's, and Mauro & Gianni's vegetarian parmesan.
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Rennet in Parmesan
Rennet is an enzyme used to clot milk, and it is traditionally derived from the inner lining of the fourth stomach of calves. This means that rennet is not vegetarian, and any product containing it is also non-vegetarian.
Parmigiano-Reggiano is a protected term for cheese produced in specific Italian regions, and it must contain rennet. However, the term ''Parmesan' is not protected, and while most Parmesan cheeses use rennet, some do not.
Some Parmesan cheeses are made with microbial rennet, which is suitable for vegetarians. Tesco's Pecorino cheese, for example, is a vegetarian alternative to Parmesan. Other vegetarian Parmesan options include Gran Moravia, Lithuanian Džiugas, Organic Valley, Trader Joe's, and Mauro & Gianni's vegetarian Parmesan.
It is worth noting that some people who follow a vegetarian diet may still consume animal rennet or Parmesan cheese containing it. The amount of animal rennet in Parmesan is very small, and some may consider it close enough to vegetarian.
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Tesco's vegan cheese options
Tesco has been offering vegan cheese options since 2017, when they introduced their own brand of vegan cheese in partnership with Bute Island Foods. The range is coconut oil-based and similar to the Sheese brand and Sainsbury's own-brand vegan cheeses.
However, there have been reports of Tesco stores reducing their vegan cheese offerings or removing them entirely. For example, in 2025, some of the largest Tesco stores in Manchester and London stopped selling vegan cheese altogether. Tesco automatically discontinues fresh lines if they are not selling well in stores, and vegan-specific foods are often poor sellers.
Despite this, Tesco has continued to expand its vegan cheese offerings in some markets. In 2024, Tesco Ireland began selling the award-winning Collection 01 by JULIENNE BRUNO, which includes three vegan cheese alternatives: Burrella, Crematta, and Superstraccia. These cheeses have drawn praise for their taste and versatility, with Burrella and Superstraccia being inspired by burrata and stracciatella, respectively.
In addition to these options, Tesco also offers a vegetarian Italian Pecorino cheese made with pasteurized ewes' milk. While not vegan, this product may appeal to those looking for cheese alternatives that do not contain animal rennet, which is commonly found in Parmesan cheese.
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Vegetarian alternatives to Parmesan
Traditional Parmesan cheese is made with rennet, a coagulating agent derived from the stomach of calves, and is therefore not vegetarian. However, there are several vegetarian alternatives to Parmesan cheese that you can explore.
In the United Kingdom, major supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, and Morrisons offer their own versions of vegetarian hard Italian cheese, often labelled as "Italian Hard Cheese" or "Italian-style hard cheese". These can be found in the form of tubs or solid wedges and are usually available under the supermarket's budget branding. While these options may not taste exactly like Parmesan, they are widely accessible and affordable.
If you're looking for something closer to the real thing, you can explore specialty stores or online options. Twineham Grange, produced in Sussex, offers a vegetarian "Italian-style hard cheese" that can be purchased online or from Waitrose. Bookham & Harrison's Twineham Grange "Farmer's Hand" is another option that can be shipped to your doorstep and freezes well. Gran Moravia, a popular choice in the Czech Republic, is gaining fame across Europe as a vegetarian alternative to Parmesan and may be available in the UK. Lithuanian cheese Džiugas is another well-liked option, although it doesn't melt as well and is best added after cooking.
For those who want a ready-made vegan Parmesan, Violife is a popular option that tastes exactly like Parmesan, and Follow Your Heart is another vegan alternative that can be sprinkled over pasta or other cooked dishes. If you're feeling adventurous and want to make your own vegan Parmesan at home, there are simple recipes available that use a mix of raw sunflower, pumpkin, and hemp seeds, or a combination of cashews, nutritional yeast, salt, and garlic powder.
Lastly, it's worth noting that while true Parmesan cheese may not be vegetarian, there are some brands that offer vegetarian alternatives, such as Organic Valley, Trader Joe's, and Mauro & Gianni, which has a specific 'vegetarian' label on their packaging.
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Vegetarian Parmesan in Europe
Parmesan cheese is traditionally made with animal rennet, which is derived from the lining of calves' stomachs. As a result, vegetarians often seek alternatives to Parmesan that are made with microbial rennet or vegetable rennet.
In Europe, there are several vegetarian alternatives to Parmesan cheese that are popular. One option is Gran Moravia, which is widely available across Europe and is known for its similarity in taste and texture to Parmesan. Another option is Lithuanian cheese Džiugas, which is also a well-known vegetarian-friendly alternative. For those seeking a vegan option, Follow Your Heart makes a vegan Parmesan from finely ground cashews, nutritional yeast, salt, and garlic powder, which can be sprinkled on pasta dishes.
In the United Kingdom, Tesco, the largest supermarket chain, offers a variety of vegetarian and vegan cheese options. Tesco's Italian Pecorino Cheese, for example, is a full-fat hard vegetarian cheese made with pasteurized ewes' milk and microbial rennet, carefully matured to achieve a nutty and salty flavour. Tesco also offers vegan cheese options such as Violife Epic Mature, a cheddar cheese alternative, and Nurishh Camembert, among others.
While there are some European countries where it may be challenging to find vegetarian Parmesan, such as Germany, it is worth noting that some companies offer vegetarian versions of Parmesan-style cheeses. For instance, Mauro & Gianni sells a vegetarian version of their Parmesan cheese, ensuring that it is properly labelled as 'vegetarian' to distinguish it from their regular variety.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Tesco Parmesan cheese is not vegetarian. However, Tesco does offer a variety of vegetarian and vegan cheese options, including Tesco Italian Pecorino Cheese, Tesco Free From Halloumi, and Violife Epic Mature, a cheddar cheese alternative.
Parmesan cheese is non-vegetarian because it requires animal rennet, which is made from the lining of calves' stomachs.
Yes, there are several vegetarian alternatives to Parmesan cheese, including Gran Moravia, Lithuanian cheese Džiugas, Organic Valley, and Trader Joe's.
Yes, there are vegan alternatives to Parmesan cheese, such as cashews ground finely with nutritional yeast, salt, and garlic powder. There are also several vegan cheese options available at Tesco, including Violife, Nurishh, Follow Your Heart, and Sheese brands.
To identify if a cheese is vegetarian or non-vegetarian, look for an ingredients list that specifies the use of microbial rennet or vegetable rennet instead of animal rennet. Some products may also display a "V" symbol to indicate that they are suitable for vegetarians.
