Frederic Melton
Veganism is on the rise in Australia, with more people than ever embracing plant-based diets for ethical, environmental, and health reasons. As a result, the demand for vegan cheese has surged, and the market has responded with a growing array of dairy-free options. From cheddar to mozzarella, feta to parmesan, there's a vegan cheese to suit every taste and dish. In this article, we'll explore the best vegan cheeses available in Australia, discussing their taste, texture, and how they compare to their dairy-based counterparts. We'll also look at the growing trend of making vegan cheese at home, using ingredients like almond meal, tofu, and nutritional yeast. So, get ready to indulge in some delicious, dairy-free delights as we uncover the top vegan cheeses Down Under!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese Type | Mozzarella, Cheddar, Feta, Parmesan, Blue Cheese, Camembert, Cream Cheese, Garlic Cheese |
| Cheese Style | Slices, Shreds, Blocks, Cream Cheese, Soft Cheese, Spread, Sauce |
| Cheese Texture | Smooth, Sticky, Soft, Creamy, Flaky |
| Cheese Taste | Mild, Sharp, Salty, Tangy, Rich |
| Cheese Recipes | Made from Sunflower Seeds, Almonds, Coconut Oil, Cashews, Nutritional Yeast, Tofu, Carrots, Potatoes |
| Cheese Brands | Bio Cheese, Sheese, Imber's Pantry, Made with Plants, Nature's Kitchen, Cheer, Damona, Dilectio, The Vegan Dairy, Nutty Bay, Peace Love and Vegetables, Botanical Cuisine |
| Cheese Price | $2.60-$8 per 100g |
| Cheese Availability | Available in supermarkets, health stores, and online |
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What You'll Learn
Mozzarella
Bio Cheese Pizza Shred
This mozzarella-style product is one of the most popular choices among tasters, receiving a thumbs-up from eight out of nine testers. It is described as having a soft, sticky consistency when melted, with an appealing appearance and a mild flavour. It melts well and has a pleasant taste, making it a good option for those who want to avoid dairy products.
Green Vie Mozzarella
Green Vie offers an award-winning mozzarella flavour that is a good option for those on a budget. It is priced at $2.60 per 100g, making it one of the more affordable vegan cheese options.
Imber's Pantry Mozzarella
Imber's Pantry offers a luxurious and gourmet plant-based mozzarella that is soft, sliceable, and melts well. It is perfect for paninis or pizzas and is a convincing alternative to its dairy-based counterpart. Their mozzarella is often described as "lusciously meltable", with the classic mozzarella strings.
Dairy Free Down Under Mozzarella
Dairy Free Down Under offers a shredded mozzarella made from soy. It has a subtle flavour and a good shelf life. While it may not look fully melted at first, it has a gooey, melted texture on the inside. This option is priced at $7.50.
Mayers Mozzarella Block
Mayers Mozzarella Block is made from coconut and is a favourite among those who prefer vegan cheese. It has a good flavour and melt factor, and is great on pasta, eggplant lasagna, and baked sweet potato. It is priced at around $7 and offers good value for money.
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Cheddar
Vegan cheese is increasingly popular in Australia, with more and more vegan food products appearing on cafe and restaurant menus. Vegan cheese is now a common feature in major supermarkets, with many options available for cheddar lovers.
BioCheese is a well-known vegan cheese brand in Australia, offering a range of flavours, including cheddar. Their cheddar-style slices are popular for their strong flavour and melting ability, although some say the texture is not quite cheesy enough. BioCheese's Cheddar Flavour received a thumbs-up from six tasters in a blind taste test, with its smooth, buttery texture and appearance praised.
Dairy Free Down Under also offers Cheddar Style Slices, which are made from almonds and are a good option for those who find BioCheese too overpowering in flavour.
For a more gourmet option, Nature's Kitchen offers dairy-free cheddar slices and shreds, perfect for melting into creamy pastas or toasties.
Sheese is another popular brand, with its tasty-style slices and grated shreds nailing the slightly sharp, cheddary flavour and melting like a dream.
For those who want to support smaller businesses, The Vegan Dairy is a family-run company that creates handmade, healthy, and wholesome vegan cheese. They have been recognised as the best vegan cheese by the Australia public at the Nourish Awards.
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Feta
There are several options for vegan feta cheese in Australia. For instance, GreenVie Greek Feta Style cheese, which is available at Vegan Perfection, has an authentic crumbly texture and a salty, tangy flavour. It can be served with olive oil and oregano or grilled in spicy dips and pizzas. Vegan Life Australia also offers a feta block that is 100% plant-based, soya-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and palm oil-free.
My Life Bio, a classic dairy-free brand in Australia, offers feta cheese alternatives that are easily available in supermarkets and are often on sale. Sheese, a newer brand, offers feta cheese at select Woolworths supermarkets at affordable prices. Damona, an Australian-made and owned brand, offers almond feta cheese, which can be found at Woolworths along with other vegan cheese options.
Made With Plants, known for their ready-made meals and deli meats, has also launched a cheese range that includes feta cheese. Their products are slightly more expensive but are said to have great flavour and their shredded cheeses melt nicely. Green Vie, found in specialty supermarkets, also offers a feta cheese option, although it is on the more expensive side and can be hard to find.
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Parmesan
Nutritional yeast is a popular vegan alternative to parmesan. It has a salty flavour that adds depth to various dishes, and it's also a healthy and cheap option. However, it does not melt, and it is not considered a vegan cheese.
If you're looking for a vegan parmesan cheese, there are a few options available in Australia. One option is the Greenvie Parmesan blocks, which are made with coconut but are said to taste and behave like regular parmesan. Another option is the Angel Food Dairy-Free Parmesan, a powdered alternative made with coconut flour, sunflower oil, yeast extract, and natural vegan flavours. This product can be spooned over hot pasta or pizza or mixed into other vegan foods.
Bio Cheese, a well-known vegan cheese brand in Australia, offers a dairy-free parmesan option called Bio Cheese Parmesano. It has a strong and bold flavour and is available at Woolworths for $8.50. Made with Plants is another brand that offers a vegan parmesan cheese, exclusively available at Woolworths supermarkets. Their products are backed by the Australian plant-based company Cale and Daughters and are affordably priced at $6 each.
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Camembert
There are several options for vegan camembert in Australia. Dilectio's camembert is said to look, feel, and taste like camembert. It is made in Byron Bay and is cashew-based. Fine Cultures also offers camembert made from organic ingredients like soy, macadamia, and cashew.
Mouse's Favourite Camembert Style vegan cheese is another option. It is made from organic cashews and is naturally aged to develop a tangy and nutty flavor with an authentic camembert rind. It has won the Best Dairy-Free Cheese in the Peta Vegan Food Awards.
If you're feeling adventurous, you can even make your own vegan camembert at home. The process takes about three weeks and involves blending soaked cashews with water, acidophilus probiotic, and Penicillium Candidum.
Imber's Pantry also offers a cashew-based camembert that is perfect for a vegan snack platter.
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Frequently asked questions
Some popular vegan cheese brands in Australia include Bio Cheese, Sheese, Imber’s Pantry, Made with Plants, Nature’s Kitchen, Cheer, Damona, Dilectio, and The Vegan Dairy.
Some popular vegan cheddar options include Bio Cheese Cheddar Flavour, Dairy Free Down Under Cheddar Style Slices, and Nature’s Kitchen cheddar slices and shreds.
Some popular vegan mozzarella options include Imber’s Pantry mozzarella in brine, Damona’s Smoked Mozzarella, Mayers Mozzarella Block, and Bio Cheese Pizza Shred.
Some popular vegan feta options include Botanical Cuisine cashew feta, Noshing Feta Lemon & Rosemary, and The Vegan Dairy’s feta.
