Experts don’t know exactly when humans started making cheese, but it was a long, long time ago. In fact, research suggests that cheese is like before the Roman Empire old. Experts do know, however, that North Americans likely started making cheese in the 17th Century, after English Puritans brought dairy farming to the continent. Since then, cheese has evolved into a massive industry. In the US alone, it’s valued at nearly $39 billion.
For the most part, cheese is now highly processed. Take American cheese, for example, which is consumed by more than 230 million people each year. The cheddar-based cheese favored by fast-food joints is made by combining natural cheese with emulsifiers, salts, and other additives to create a uniform texture and longer shelf life.
But that said, there are still some cheesemongers in the US who specialize in making top-quality, artisanal products. And some of them don’t even need dairy to do it. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best vegan cheesemakers in Los Angeles that are making incredibly, cheesy products using only whole food ingredients.
Why choose a plant-based cheesemonger?
Research shows that cheese made from cow’s milk might not be the best for our health. As noted above, most of the cheese Americans consume is highly processed, in products like pre-packaged pizzas, macaroni and cheese, and fast food items for example. However, the popular product is high in saturated fat, which can increase the amount of LDL cholesterol in our bodies (LDL cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease).
Eating a little every now and again isn’t likely to be an issue, but that’s not always easy with cheese, because it might actually be addictive. “Cheese keeps you coming back for more,” Ashley Kitchens, MPH, RD, LDN, owner of Plant Centered Nutrition told VegNews. “It contains a protein called casein that releases casomorphins. When you eat cheese, it triggers dopamine, the ‘feel-good’ hormone, production in your brain.”
Vromage
It’s worth noting that cheese is also detrimental to the planet. Every year, animal agriculture (which includes the dairy industry) contributes to major environmental issues, including deforestation, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the livestock industry emits 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gasses.
For those who want the cheese without the dairy, there are a number of vegan products on the market. In fact, the global vegan cheese market is worth more than $2.4 billion. But it’s important to note that many of these products are still highly processed and not necessarily good for your health—unless you find an artisanal plant-based cheesemaker.
Brands like Vromage (more on that below) use nutrient-dense whole-food ingredients, like organic cashews, macadamia nuts, almonds, and hemp seeds, to make their plant-based cheeses. These ingredients are lower in saturated fat than dairy, and they don’t contain cholesterol either (fun fact: no vegan cheese ever contains cholesterol!).
Plant-based cheesemongers are also worth visiting because they often curate a selection of artisanal, high-quality products, which are typically made with premium ingredients and crafted with attention to detail.
5 vegan cheesemakers in Los Angeles
Want to try one for yourself? Find some of the best vegan cheesemakers in Los Angeles County below.
Vromage
1 Vromage
In 2014, chef Youssef Fahouri founded the very first vegan cheese shop in Los Angeles, and it’s still growing strong today. Vromage’s portfolio of delicious handmade plant-based cheeses includes Feta, Pecorino with Ash, Camembert, and so much more. You can order the cheeses as they are or head to the shop’s cafe to try everything from Caprese Salad to Crunch Pizza.
Find it here
Misha’s
2 Misha’s
Misha’s artisanal cheeses are “real cheeses made the traditional way,” only instead of cow’s milk, they’re made with plant milk. According to the brand, they’re just as delicious as dairy cheeses, but they’re also “kind to your body and kind to the planet,” too. Find its cashew-based products, like Black Truffle, French Connection, and Sari in stores across the US.
Find it here
Kitchen Mouse
3 Kitchen Mouse
You can sample Kitchen Mouse’s delicious vegan cheese by heading to its café on Figueroa Street in Los Angeles (try the Breakfast Sandwich with vegan provolone cheese, for example). But the eatery also offers its housemade cheeses, including its Herb Cashew Cream Cheese and its Smoke Cashew Cream Cheese, wholesale to other businesses across Los Angeles, too.
Find it here
Yvonne’s Vegan Kitchen
4 Yvonne’s Vegan Kitchen
French-trained chef Yvonne Ardestani is the creator of Yvonne’s Vegan Kitchen and its impressive range of dairy-free goat cheeses. Head to the Pasadena storefront (or order online!) to try delectable products like Goatless Cheese with Cranberry & Dill, Black Truffle, and Roasted Garlic, Onion, & Chive. Can’t decide? Ordering a 3-cheese board is a great way to sample everything.
Find it here
Rochelle’s Super Naturals
5 Rochelle’s Super Naturals
Rochelle’s Super Naturals prides itself on making some of the “freshest” handcrafted vegan cheese in the whole of California. Its range is entirely almond-based and includes unique, ultra-creamy options like the fluffy green spreadable Palermo: Fresh Basil and the super pretty Flower Power: Flower + Herbs. Order online now to try it for yourself.
Find it here
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
