Types Of Vegan Cheeses And Their Benefits

Vegan cheeses are made from plant-based products. They are usually organic and are made by coagulating protein mass from various plant products, such as soy, hydrogenated vegetable fats, nutritional yeast or grains.

Vegans are people who do not eat meat and animal products. This means that they not only eat no meat and fish, but also do not eat milk and milk derivatives, eggs or other animal products and derivatives thereof.

What is vegan cheese?

Cheese is a very popular food. There is a huge variety and endless options to choose from. Many people have had to stop eating regular cheese due to medical conditions, such as lactose intolerance or an allergy to cow’s milk protein.

In addition, other people have opted for a dairy-free lifestyle, such as vegans, whose numbers have increased on a global and local level in recent years.

The traditional cheeses we know are made from animal milk casein. This is a type of milk protein found in milk from animals such as cows, goats and sheep.

During the production of traditional cheese, a group of enzymes produced in the animal’s stomach is added to milk. This addition is known as rennet and is almost always of animal origin in regular cheese.

Vegan or plant-based cheeses are made from plant-based products. Often these are organic, and involve the consolidation of protein mass from various plant sources such as:

• soya
• hardened vegetable oils
• nutritional yeast
• cereals

These cheeses do not undergo the natural fermentation process of proteins like traditional cheeses. Therefore, they do not have the same flavor profile as a matured dairy cheese.

Benefits of consuming vegan cheeses

As we have read, vegan cheeses contain different ingredients and characteristics that make them different from animal cheeses. However, they also offer some specific benefits that make them an ideal food for any type of diet.

The big advantage of these products is that they contain a much lower amount of cholesterol and saturated fats than alternatives made from animal products. This may be beneficial for reducing the risk of developing problems such as:

• obesity
• diabetes
• heart problems
• certain types of cancer

In terms of protein, vegan cheeses contain between 1 and 2 grams of protein per 100 grams. So it is not a good source of protein, although a serving of traditional cheese contains 5 grams of protein. In addition, it contains carbohydrates, so diabetics must be aware of how much of it they eat.

A big advantage of eating vegan cheeses is the high content of minerals, such as phosphorus and potassium. These substances are necessary for the proper functioning of the nervous system as well as for the maintenance of our muscles.

3 types of vegan cheeses based on raw material

Different types of vegan cheese can be distinguished based on the product from which the cheese is made. Most of these cheeses are made from tofu, coconut or nuts.

• The first kind to be made from tofu and it’s basically just fermented soy. This fermentation gives the appearance of fresh vegan cheese with a relatively high protein content.
• The second group are cheeses based on coconut fat and starch, usually potato. These cheeses have the characteristic texture of animal cheeses.

• And finally, there are cheeses made from nuts. The two most commonly used nuts are cashews and almonds. The downside of this is that it is very difficult to mask the taste of cashews or almonds. However, if you ignore this fact or if the taste does not bother you then you will have very original flavors.

Varieties of vegan cheeses

In Spain, the variety of animal cheeses is almost endless, with over 200 different options. In other countries, the range is less extensive, but various types are available in all western countries.

Vegan cheeses were only developed a few decades ago, but the number of varieties available is still growing. Below is a list of vegan cheeses that are currently available:

• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Vegan mozzarella cheese
• Vegalloumi, cheese to eat warm
• vegan cheddar
• Smoked vegan cheese

Where do you find them?

Vegan cheeses are not only for sale in shops with a vegan offer and at health and ecological food stores, but also at vegan fairs and specialized restaurants. If you would like to make a delicious vegan cheese yourself, we will explain how to do that in the article below.