Cheese made from plants might sound like an oxymoron, but it’s not. Around the world, brands are crafting products that look, smell, and taste just like traditional cheeses, but with ingredients like nuts, seeds, and coconuts. The vegan cheese market is booming, currently valued at over $2.4 billion.
Research indicates that plant-based cheeses are better for the planet (animal agriculture contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation) and might also offer health benefits.
Find out about the benefits of cheeses made from plants below, as well as some of the best places to buy them in New York City (for Los Angeles-based vegan cheesemakers, find our guide here).
Is vegan cheese healthier than regular cheese?
Much of the cheese consumed in the US is highly processed. American cheese, for example, is eaten by over 230 million people annually but is known for being ultra-processed and packed with emulsifiers, salts, and additives, which may not be the healthiest choice.
Some studies have linked ultra-processed meat and dairy products with higher disease risks. A recent study published in BMJ, involving more than 114,000 health professionals, found that high consumption of ultra-processed meat and dairy products was associated with a moderate increase in mortality risk.
Rind
On the other hand, one USDA study suggested in 2023 that some ultra-processed foods may still be healthy if they’re made with plant-based ingredients. That said, processed vegan cheese is likely not a health food as such. It still contains saturated fat and may increase LDL cholesterol if eaten in excess.
If you love cheese, one of the best options for your health is to visit a plant-based cheesemaker. There, you’ll find artisanal, high-quality cheeses that are made from scratch, often with whole food ingredients, like tofu, cashew nuts, and seeds. A diet high in plant-based whole foods is often associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart disease—read more about the benefits here.
The best vegan cheesemakers in NYC
If you’re in New York City, you have a few vegan cheesemaker options. Find some of our recommendations below.
Riverdel
1 Riverdel
This popular Brooklyn-based brand is allegedly “the original vegan cheesemonger.” It has been crafting artisanal plant-based cheeses since 2015, using premium quality plant-based ingredients like cashew nuts and soy. While it used to have its own bricks-and-mortar, the brand is now 100 percent online. It’s currently running a subscription service, so you can enjoy munching on its specialty cheeses (like aged cheddar and camembert) every few months.
Find it here
Rebel Cheese
2 Rebel Cheese Essex Market
When Riverdel decided to move to a 100-percent online model, it handed over the keys of its bricks-and-mortar in Essex Market to another popular gourmet vegan cheese brand: Rebel Cheese. Based in Austin, TX, this is the brand’s first store in New York City. Head on down to sample Rebel’s own selection, but while you’re there, you can also grab products from plant-based brands like Dare (based in North Carolina), Conscious Cultures Creamery (based in Pennsylvania), and so much more.
Find it here
Rind
3 Rind
If you love soft, French-style cheese, you need to put Rind on your must-try list. The Brooklyn-based brand creates smooth, intensely flavored cheeses like Bleu, which has a “yeasty, buttery body,” and Classic Cambleu, which is sharp and rich with an “intense bleu mold.” Rind is wholesale only; to try its products, head down to stores like Tuffet in Brooklyn and select Whole Foods Markets across the city. For a comprehensive list of locations, check out its website below.
Find it here
Orchard Grocer
4 Orchard Grocer
Arguably, nothing beats a New York Deli sandwich. Orchard Grocer offers a variety of bagels and Reubens, all loaded up with delicious plant-based ingredients, including tempeh bacon, seitan ham, pickles, and housemade cream cheese made from cashew nuts. Its packed menu also features several sandwiches with provolone slices from the Greek vegan cheese brand Violife.
Find it here
Numu
5 Numu
Okay, so not every meal is about health, and that’s totally fine. When you’re in the mood for a pizza (which, if you’re like us, is quite a lot of the time), look out for New York restaurants serving Numu vegan mozzarella. The Brooklyn-based brand supplies its deliciously stringy, addictive, vegan mozzarella to several eateries across the city, including Anixi in Manhattan, Bellucci’s in Queens, and so many more.
Find it here
This post was originally published on VegNews.com.