Product Spotlight: Conscious Cultures Vegan Cheese

By Patricia Kusumaningtyas

What if I told you that one of the best cheeses I’ve ever had from the Co-op is vegan? Yes, it’s true. I’m an avid cheese reviewer here at the Co-op and it’s always a new experience, no less for vegan cheeses. The cheeses from Conscious Cultures are a delight to the taste buds and worth trying, even if you’re not a vegan.

The secret to Conscious Cultures is cashew milk and coconut cream. These base ingredients are mixed with mold cultures used in non-vegan cheese making, then aged in a controlled facility, which will allow the cheeses to develop a chewy rind. Conscious Cultures offers a variety of cheeses you can choose from. The Maverick ($11.05) has a creamy soft texture with a chewy rind, and has a distinct sharp flavor once you bite into it. Barn Cat has vegetable ash in its middle, adding depth to its flavors. And my favorite, the Philly cream cheese ($7.80), has a smooth nutty flavor with a mayonnaise-y twang to it, making it more interesting than your regular cream cheese. 

Conscious Cultures pushes the limits of what vegan cheese could be. Its complex flavors will surprise you. With its variety of cheeses, you can incorporate two or three Conscious Cultures cheeses to your cheese board. Throw in some other Co-op products—Norwegian Knekkebrød, Trade Street Jam and some of our fresh fruits—and bring your cheese board to your next sunny day picnic!