Randy Chandler
Daiya Foods is a company that produces plant-based, dairy-free cheese and cheese-forward foods. The company was founded in 2008 and has since expanded its product line to include pizza, mac & cheese, and frozen cheesecake. Daiya's cheese is made with a blend of water, gluten-free oat flour, pea protein, cultures, enzymes, and other plant-based ingredients. The company has won multiple awards for its vegan cheese, including the VegNews Veggie Award and the PETA Libby Award. In recent years, Daiya has invested in improving its product through natural fermentation and has released new formulations made with oats, chickpeas, and coconut cream.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type | Vegan cheese |
| Ingredients | Water, gluten-free oat flour, pea protein, tapioca starch, coconut oil, corn starch, expeller pressed safflower oil, calcium phosphate, konjac flour, fruit and vegetable juice, annatto, salt, dextrose, xanthan gum, lactic acid, natural flavors, chickpeas, coconut cream |
| Texture | Velvety melt, smooth |
| Flavor | Cheddar, mozzarella, feta, halloumi, asiago |
| Forms | Shreds, slices, blocks |
| Dietary restrictions | Dairy-free, gluten-free, plant-based |
| Preparation | Melts easily, suitable for pizza, casseroles, sauces, grilled cheese, mac and cheese |
| Storage | Refrigerate, consume within 7 days of opening, can be frozen |
| Awards | VegNews Veggie Award, Proggy Award for Company of the Year, PETA Libby Award for best vegan cheese |
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What You'll Learn
Daiya Cheese Ingredients
Daiya cheese is a plant-based, dairy-free cheese alternative. The brand's cheese products are made from a blend of water, gluten-free oat flour, pea protein, cultures, enzymes, tapioca starch, coconut oil, corn starch, expeller-pressed safflower oil, calcium phosphate, konjac flour, yeast extract, fruit and vegetable juice, annatto, salt, dextrose, xanthan gum, lactic acid, and natural flavours.
The Daiya Oat Cream™ Blend, made from oats, is a key ingredient in the cheese, providing a creamy, melty texture and rich flavour. This blend is combined with other plant-based ingredients to create a product that mimics the taste and texture of traditional dairy cheese.
Daiya's cheese products are designed to melt easily, making them suitable for use on pizzas, in casseroles, sauces, grilled cheese sandwiches, and macaroni and cheese. The brand has also introduced new formats such as slices and blocks, as well as new cheese styles like feta, halloumi, and asiago.
In 2023, Daiya announced a significant investment in natural fermentation technology to further enhance its vegan cheese offerings. This new fermentation-powered formulation promises to improve the melting capabilities of the cheese, addressing a common challenge with vegan cheese. The investment in R&D showcases the brand's commitment to continuously improving its products and creating cheese alternatives that closely resemble the taste, texture, and functionality of their dairy-based counterparts.
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Daiya Oat Cream Blend
Daiya Foods is a company that creates plant-based, dairy-free cheese and cheese-forward foods. Their products are designed to be creamy and melty, with a rich flavour crafted from plants. Daiya's cheese is made with a blend of water, gluten-free oat flour, pea protein, cultures, enzymes, tapioca starch, coconut oil, corn starch, expeller-pressed safflower oil, calcium phosphate, konjac flour, fruit and vegetable juice, yeast extract, annatto, salt, dextrose, xanthan gum, lactic acid, and natural flavours.
The Daiya Oat Cream™ Blend is a key ingredient in their dairy-free cheese, combining traditional cheesemaking methods with the goodness of oats. The result is a product with a smooth texture and a full flavour that melts and stretches like traditional cheese. The Daiya Oat Cream™ Blend is made with water, gluten-free oat flour, and pea protein, along with cultures and enzymes that help with the cheesemaking process.
Daiya's cheese is designed to melt easily, making it perfect for pizzas, casseroles, sauces, and grilled cheese sandwiches. The company has also released new formats such as slices and blocks, and new cheese styles like feta, halloumi, and asiago. In addition to their cheese products, Daiya Foods also offers other dairy-free options, including mac and cheese, pizza, and frozen cheesecake.
In 2023, Daiya invested in a new fermentation facility to further improve its vegan cheese products, aiming to make them even more meltable and stretchy, and to enhance their flavour. This move towards natural fermentation is expected to transform its products, making them even more comparable to traditional dairy cheese in terms of taste, texture, and meltability.
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The Melting Factor
Daiya cheese is a plant-based, dairy-free cheese alternative that is designed to melt. The brand's cheese is made from a blend of gluten-free oat flour, pea protein, tapioca starch, coconut oil, and other natural ingredients. The Daiya Oat Cream™ Blend is a key component in achieving the desired melting factor, as it provides a creamy, rich, and indulgent texture that mimics traditional cheese.
The Daiya Oat Cream™ Blend plays a crucial role in achieving the desired melting characteristics. The blend's composition, which includes water, gluten-free oat flour, pea protein, and other natural ingredients, creates a creamy and smooth texture that lends itself well to melting. The inclusion of tapioca starch and coconut oil also contributes to the cheese's melting abilities, as these ingredients are known to provide a creamy and rich mouthfeel.
Daiya's commitment to improving the melting factor of their cheese is further demonstrated by their investment in a new fermentation facility. The company has directed millions of dollars toward developing new formulations that improve the melting capabilities of their cheese. This investment addresses a common challenge with vegan cheese, where it may not melt evenly or at the same temperature as dairy cheese. By achieving a similar melting point to dairy cheese, Daiya ensures that their product can be used in the same way and provides the same sensory experience for consumers.
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Daiya's Fermentation Facility
Daiya Foods is a company that produces plant-based, dairy-free cheese alternatives. In 2023, the company announced a multi-million dollar investment into a new fermentation facility to transform its vegan cheeses. This facility is located within Daiya's 400,000-square-foot production site in British Columbia.
The new fermentation-powered formulations have improved meltability and browning abilities, bringing the product closer in taste and texture to dairy cheese. Daiya's cheese is now made with a blend of oats, chickpeas, and coconut cream, offering a creamy, melty, and rich flavor. The company has also introduced new formats, such as slices and blocks, and new cheese styles, including feta, halloumi, and asiago.
Daiya's investment in research and development, strategic partnerships, and academic collaborations has been significant in this new phase of vegan cheese development. The company's dedication to innovation and commitment to food safety, as demonstrated by its move to a dedicated facility in 2009, ensures that consumers can enjoy delicious, dairy-free cheese alternatives that are safe and continuously improving.
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Daiya's Awards
Daiya Foods is a pioneer of plant-based, dairy-free products, with a growing line of premium, plant-based foods that began with cheese. The company has since expanded into cheese-forward foods like pizza, mac & cheese, and frozen cheesecake. Daiya's products are made with a blend of water, gluten-free oat flour, pea protein, cultures, enzymes, tapioca starch, coconut oil, corn starch, and other natural ingredients.
Daiya has received numerous awards and recognition for its innovative plant-based, dairy-free products. Here are some of the notable awards received by the company:
- VegNews Veggie Award : Daiya Foods won the VegNews Veggie Award at the Natural Products Expo West Show in Anaheim, California, in 2009, 2011, and 2012.
- Best Vegan Cheese Award : In 2010, Daiya was awarded the title of Best Vegan Cheese by VegNews.
- PETA Libby Award : In 2009, Daiya received the PETA Libby Award for best vegan cheese.
- Proggy Award : Also in 2010, Daiya was recognized by PETA again and received the Proggy Award for Company of the Year.
- BCIC Commercialization of Agricultural Technology Competition : Daiya won first place in the BC Innovation Council's Commercialization of Agricultural Technology Competition in 2009.
These awards showcase the company's success in creating delicious and innovative plant-based alternatives to traditional dairy products, particularly in the category of cheese. Daiya's dedication to creating high-quality, dairy-free options has earned them recognition from industry organizations and consumers alike.
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Frequently asked questions
Daiya cheese is made from a blend of water, gluten-free oat flour, pea protein, cultures, enzymes, tapioca starch, coconut oil, corn starch, safflower oil, calcium phosphate, konjac flour, yeast extract, fruit and vegetable juice, annatto, salt, dextrose, xanthan gum, and lactic acid.
Yes, Daiya cheese is vegan. The company has been making vegan cheese since 2008 and has won several awards for its products, including the VegNews Veggie Award and the PETA Proggy Award for Company of the Year.
Daiya makes a variety of vegan cheese styles, including cheddar, mozzarella, feta, halloumi, and asiago. They also make cheese-forward foods like pizza, mac & cheese, and frozen cheesecake.
Daiya cheese is available at various retailers. After Daiya's acquisition by Otsuka, some retailers discontinued carrying Daiya products due to Otsuka's practice of animal testing.
