The world of vegan cheese has been changed forever. Or should I say, “cultured nut products”? Thanks to Miyoko’s Kitchen, a maker of incredible gourmet nut-based products in a wide variety of flavors, no one will ever miss out on cheese again. For me personally, I was never a big fan of cheese (I know…shocker!) but it’s nice to have vegan options like these that are produced in a similar fashion as dairy-based cheeses. Miyoko’s Kitchen is based out of Fairfax, California but don’t fret if you live somewhere else in the United States. They are able to ship nationwide! All you have to do is visit their Online Store, create your custom collection, and have them sent right to your doorstep with 2-day shipping. This was the January Jubilee collection that they were selling for a limited time, but now you can pick and choose which cheeses you want. You really won’t want to miss out on trying these for yourself, ex-cheese-lover or not!
We decided to do a cheese-tasting party in our house, and it was a blast! I created an assortment of crackers, homemade bread slices, vegan pepperoni, olives, apples and grapes. We wanted a good variety of choices, since a lot of these cheeses are better when paired with certain things. Even if you’re not doing a big celebration with these Miyoko’s Kitchen products, opening them alone feels like you’re unwrapping a gift. My mom and I both love the packaging. I know it seems like a minor thing when you consider what’s inside, but as a designer I’m biased when it comes to the package that a lot of vegan goods come in.
The first choice was the Smoked Farmhouse, which is basically a smoked cheddar cheese. However, I heard that legally Miyoko’s can’t call it that. It has a really rich, smoky flavor that is great on bread or just eaten alone. This one is described as “a semi-hard wheel with rich, smoky and sharp tones that linger on your tongue”.
Next, we have the Double Cream Chive (the one of the far left), which is a soft, spreadable cheese that’s just fabulous. It might even be my top favorite of all four! As described, “This versatile round packs a buttery, savory, mild herbal garlic flavor. The creamy delight is a crowd pleaser enjoyed by everyone from kids to sophisticated foodies. Serve on crackers or use as a delicious sandwich spread.” If you follow me on Instagram, you would know that I used this cheese in a tomato and cucumber sandwich. You could also just spread it right onto crackers or come up with a dip recipe using it.
Another favorite, the Double Cream Sundried Tomato Garlic, is described as “A creamy, robust, and pungent wheel filled with deep Mediterranean flavors. Serve as is with crackers, or toss with pasta for an instant creamy sauce.” This one is also fairly soft and spreadable and it’s great on crackers, with pasta or on top of warmed pizza bread.
My least favorite of them all, although I still liked it a lot, was the High Sierra Rustic Alpine. The description is “A semi-hard, nutty round with sweet overtones and a creamy buttery finish. Pairs beautifully with a good loaf of bread, accompanied with apples, pears, or other fruit. Can also be used for fondue or mixed in a risotto.” I loved this one with some apples and grapes, or when spread on a cracker with a little strawberry jam.
The amazing thing about these cheeses is that they’re super rich, so it really only takes a little bit at one time to keep you satisfied. I was pretty full after this plate of cheese and a couple more crackers and pieces of fruit. According to my mom, these also go tremendously well with a glass of wine just as dairy-based cheeses do.
This was the aftermath of our 2-person cheese platter. My mom and I both agree that these delights from Miyoko’s Creamery were well worth the money and waiting to have them shipped (which only took a couple of days luckily). We can’t wait to try more varieties of Miyoko’s in the future, because we enjoyed these so much! Be sure to visit the Online Store to see what’s available. Purchase a few and you can have some of the best vegan cheeses shipped right to your door! Have you tried Miyoko’s before? Which flavors are your favorite? Or if you’re just recently learning about their products, which of the varieties sound the most appealing to you?