Product Review: Follow Your Heart Dairy-Free Cheese

I’ve been vegan long enough to remember the bleak days of non-dairy cheese. There were those waxy blocks that resembled large, square crayons, as well as slices wrapped in cellophane that turned to orange oily goo if they were heated a few seconds too long. Rather than force myself to choke those products down, I resigned myself to a future full of cheeseless pizzas and grilled cheese sandwichless tomato soups.

Life changed for me when Follow Your Heart launched their dairy-free cheeses several years ago. I still remember the first time I found them in a store. I was in Watkins Glen visiting Farm Sanctuary, and I wanted to stop into the local health food store for snacks for the five hour drive home. And there they were – the new Vegan Gourmet Cheeses quietly sitting in the refrigerator case, as if they were waiting for me. I bought several packages and even stopped at Kmart to pick up a cooler case to take them home in. I drove home with visions of cheesy pizzas dancing in my head.

Follow Your Heart has done it again! They’ve launched a new line of delicious dairy-free cheeses that has the vegan world abuzz. The new cheese are gluten-free, dairy-free, non-gmo, soy-free, and of course, vegan. They’re made with filtered water, coconut oil, modified food starch, potato starch, spices, and natural plant-based flavors. It’s been so long since I’ve had dairy-cheese that I don’t really remember what it tastes like, but I’ve been told these cheeses taste just like “the real thing”. They melt and taste just as good straight out of the package as they do when cooked with food.

 

The new Follow Your Heart Dairy-Free Cheese is available in four different varieties:

American – This cheese reminds me of those orange slices I loved as a kid (minus all of the chemicals). It’s mild and creamy and perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches.

Provolone – I ate quite a lot of this cheese right out of the package. The flavor resembles what I remember provolone tasting like, and it has a smooth and creamy texture.

Mozzarella – This one has a mild, cheesy taste and is perfect for pizzas, lasagnas, eggplant sandwiches, and just about any Italian-style dish.

Garden Herb – This cheese is seasoned with a blend of thyme and oregano and is perfect for cubing and serving at parties with olives or grapes.

 
All four varieties are available as blocks that been sliced, diced and shredded as well as slices that are perfect for adorning sandwiches. The American and Provolone cheeses are also available in snack-sized packs. (Note, the original, soy-based Vegan Gourmet cheeses are still available.)