To anyone who still maintains that vegans are missing out on the greatest pleasure in life, commonly referred to as cheese, I challenge you to open you eyes- and mouth- to the latest wave of dairy-free innovations. Just take a gander at the luxurious spread above, and try telling me about the lack of options with a straight face. We’ve got the mainstream, meltable cheeses covered and now gourmet, artisan options seem to be the final frontier. Consider that great unknown territory officially conquered, claimed in the name of SunRAWise. An upstart based in Florida, these cashew-based cheeses don’t play it safe, boasting bold flavorings and the authentic funky, fermented flavor that only hand-crafted, aged cheeses can categorically boast. Crumbly but moist texture, each compact round can be sliced or finely grated, to be served as a main attraction to pair with wine or compliment almost any dish.
I thought that the Spiru-lean was a dead ringer for blue cheese, but was surprised to see that SunRAWise also offers a wholly separate Vegan Blue Vein option, supposedly lighter in spirulina content, perhaps for those more sensitively to the very subtly grassy flavor of the blue-green algae. If given the choice, opt for the full-flavored deal. Make no mistake, I am not a fan of spirulina, and I absolutely loved each beautifully marbled wedge. Bearing a unique twang and gentle acidity while still maintaining an agreeably mild, umami flavor, it truly bears an uncanny resemblance to the genuine article. This is what has been missing on the marketplace for far too long, and if only the company could expand and increase distribution, it would surely take off like wild fire.
Brightly colored with turmeric, the sunny yellow Rosemary cheese bears equally luminous flavors to match its striking appearance. Although I’m a bit puzzled why this particular round would be tinted to quite such a florescent hue, looks aren’t everything; the real beauty is in its earthy, pine-tinged bite. Easy to enjoy but most difficult of the three to pair, rosemary is such a distinct flavor that it needs to remain the center of attention. Many common accompaniments proved discordant when invited to the party, so I ended up munching on this one mostly out of hand, in thick, savory slices. Oh, such a terrible sacrifice that was [not]!
Brazenly named Smoke and Spicy, this red-flecked, peppered cheese sounded like the perfect accent to brighten up some simple eggless mini quiches. Warm but balanced spice defines this variety, introducing surprising pops of heat when you least expect it, thanks to the abundant crushed red pepper flakes found throughout the round. The promise of smoke goes unfulfilled, too mild to be heard above the loud spicy baritone. That said, I still wouldn’t dream of suggesting a formula change, since those smoky notes undoubtedly contribute to the overall complexity that make this such an addictive option.
A cheese flavored with Italian Herbs is simply begging to be paired with a classic pasta dish, and so I obliged, with a simple serving of spaghetti and meatless meatballs to catch a shower of finely grated cashew cheese. That simple addition took this omnipresent entree to the next culinary level, leading with herbaceous notes of oregano. Beyond that first bite, the typically aggressive and potentially clashing herbs are so harmoniously blended, it’s difficult to pick out any individual players. That may not sound like a compliment, but considering how difficult it can be to get such strong tastes to play nicely, it shows true finesse in fabrication. That sort of complimentary flavor profile is one that can only be achieved with patience, as the aging process allows disparate notes to slowly meld and mellow together. This cheese gives me hope that many things really do get better with age!
These are not your garden-variety cashew cheeses, far more mature, complex, and consciously crafted than any other option I’ve enjoyed thus far. As a healthy sort of decadence, they’re the perfect treat to save for a special occasion. Invite a few savory wedges from SunRAWise to your next big celebration, and they’ll likely become the guests of honor.
I wonder how these cheeses would compare to the ones served at Pure Food and Wine… just a thought ;)
That’s a beautiful photo – makes me want to take it and show it to all the ‘vegan? I couldn’t live without cheese!’ people. The smoke and spicy sounds right up my street with a few crackers and some cherry tomatoes. I wish we had something so appealing on sale in London.
I wouldn’t have guessed these are vegan by looking at it Hannah! I’m a sucker for cheese really, love the stuff but I’d be really interested to see and taste these! It does seem that the US is way further in vegan products than here in the Netherlands and cheese would probably be a struggle in a country where the people are often called cheese heads.. Lol… Still I hope I can find this somewhere. It looks interesting!
I shall have to find these and give them a whirl.
janet
A friend just sent me this link. I got very excited reading it…check it out…
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/real-vegan-cheese
:)
Ah yes, I’ve heard of this project! It sounds so crazy, it just might work… Very curious to hear how this one ends.
Me too Hannah, me too as they are promising to make all of their research open to the public so technically we could all make that cheese…technically…sigh… ;)
I do feel like multiple suns just came out of your kitchen :D
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
gorgeous photo of the cheeseboard! Great that they now have artisan vegan cheese..They all look great for a wine party.
Those quiches look fantastic too..
oh wow Hannah is absolutely beautiful.
Unbelievable how far vegan cheese has come! I was never a huge cheese fan (I know, so lucky) but I must try these. Of course, my favorite part is how they look like little Pac-Men. :)
Great shots, Hannah! Cute name for the artisan cheese company! That’s so awesome that there’s a cheese company based in Florida. I went to Miami once several years ago and there wasn’t a lot of vegan food at that time. So happy to see vegan businesses growing across the U.S.! I want to try their Smoke & Spicy flavor, it sounds pretty tasty based on your review/description! Are any these cheeses available outside of Florida, too?
They’re not in any stores yet, but they do ship nationwide, at least! I’m holding out hope that they’ll find their way into some mainstream markets, and soon.
Eureka…this looks a m a z I n g !!