Best vegan cheese: The best dairy-free alternatives in the UK

Fake bacon, soya milk and meatless burgers – there’s not much left nowadays that you can’t make a vegan version of.

Veganuary has seen thousands of us sign up to go plant-based for the first month of the year, and with so many delicious and cost-effective vegan products out there right now, there’s no excuse not to at least try and see what all the fuss is about.

Understandably, many of us who profess that we will never go vegan tell of one primary reason why – cheese.

Because of its unique taste, recreating a dairy-free cheese flavour is hard to achieve and the reason why the tempting call of the real thing can prove too much for some would-be vegans.

But times are a-changing and there are dozens of small companies and supermarkets to pushing out their own range of vegan cheeses that are not only versatile but tasty, too.

We’ve tried and tested some vegan cheeses with mixed results – see which one came out on top:

Smoked Vegan Cheeze Balls (3 pack)

Golden, smokey, melt in your mouth happiness. Made from organic cashew nuts and almonds, this is the stuff of foodie dreams and late night cravings. The three 150g portions are more than enough to satisfy you and a couple of friends over a fine few bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon — an excellent pairing recommended by the brand that we happily certified. The texture is soft but not mushy, smokey but not bbq overboard. The hint of paprika gives it a nice colour but you don't need much to dress this one up, something to spread it on and a plate is all you need.

£17.97 | Yumbles | Buy it now

Tyne Chease Selection Box

If you really want to bite into the world of vegan cheese a sample selection is the way to go. Better yet, if you are hosting a dinner party and want to include something vegan that will impress upon your guests better than a tub of hummus and rye crackers will — you absolutely can't go wrong with this one.

Nine 20g portions, all made from cashew, are offered up in a flavour rich roster that includes garlic, dill, ethiopian spice (our favourite), mustard, chili flakes, za'atar spice, sun dried tomato, pink peppercorn, smoked and original. The texture is light and spreadable with heavy hits of spice and earthy fragrance.

£15.15 | Tyne Chease | Buy it now

Tesco Free From Mature Cheddar Alternative 200G

First up from the super market ranges, we tried Tesco’s vegan take on mature cheddar, made using coconut oil. Surprisingly, it shared the same crumbly texture as real cheese, although we weren’t overwhelmed by the flavour in terms of its similarity to the real thing. It does, however, melt easily and tastes great baked over some vegan mac and cheese. It's more on the processed side and does contain some artificial ingredients which is probably what gave the block its cheesy taste.

Cheap, versatile and tasty enough to eat on its own or cook with — but the ingredients could be improved upon.

£2.25 for 30g | Buy it now

Tesco Free From Jalapeno and Chilli Cheese Alternative 200G

A similar texture to the Mature Cheddar, this spicy, Mexican inspired cheese certainly packed a punch. The flavours didn’t overwhelm the fact it’s meant to taste like cheese, although it can get a bit rich after a few mouthfuls.

The Jalapeno tang might be a bit much for some, but if you love spice then this cheese will be right up your street. It tastes fab grated over some enchiladas, too.

£2.25 for 30g | Buy it now

Kinda Co. White Cheddar & Cranberry

We had mixed feelings about this White Cheddar & Cranberry block from Kinda Co. Whilst we loved the cranberry flavour we found out it doesn’t travel well, and totally melted on our journey home. It's also very soft and ideal to spread on a cracker, but not much else. Also, bear in mind that because this cheese is made from cashews, it’s not suitable for those with nut allergies. Overall a good flavour for the right type of spreadable snack.

£6 for 135g | Kinda Co.| Buy it now

Kinda Co. Nacho Dip

Okay, so it doesn’t really taste that much like nacho cheese, but we appreciated that they didn’t use a load of ingredients we can’t pronounce to make it taste as such, with the tumeric and mustard giving it its yellow colour. It has a smoky tangy flavour rather than a cheesy one, but nonetheless still works great with tortilla chips.

£6 for 240g | Kinda Co. | Buy it now

Kinda Co. Smoked Paprika Round

We loved the smoky flavour but the texture was akin to pâté. Bare in mind vegan cheese mostly falls on the soft side so if you're looking to grate something over pasta go for a sturdy, hard block instead. This one is great for spreading and it did impart a delicious smokey flavour.

£6 | Kinda Co. | Buy it now

Violife Prosociano Wedge

A pasta lovers preference, if you relish your spag bol and have already figured out that vegan mince does the trick, top it off with a handful of this grated goodness. While the flavour isn't too much of any one thing, it does provide a certain sharpness and texture aesthetically comparable to parm.

£2.79 | Waitrose | Buy it now

Verdict:

If you're hosting a party or looking for something truly artisan go for Yumbles smoked vegan cheeze balls or the Tyne Chease Selection Box. Delicious, supreme quality and thoroughly enjoyable —vegan or not.