I know, I know, yet another product review, but I really think this one is worth sharing!!
I found this in an independent health food store.
To be honest, I wan't expecting much. I've tried a few Vegan cream 'cheeses' (not many, because most contain soya, so are no good for me) and to be honest, I've not been that impressed so far! So when it came to this one, I was expecting to grit my teeth and grin and bear it.
However, I was really quite pleasantly surprised!
It was both creamy and cheesy! How about that?
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| What to look out for |
In fact, it is the ONLY Vegan cheese that I have eaten that I don't feel the need to toast before consumption - normally ALL vegan cheese tastes better (to me anyway) toasted or cooked in some way! (And that, by the way, is my usual advice to anyone who struggles to like the stuff, but is desperate to find a decent dairy free cheese!)
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| On Udi's Sundried Tomato Bagels. |
What's in it?
As you can see from the label this creamy cheese is free of all kinds of things. Dairy, soya and gluten being my main horrors to avoid, this one had my name written all over it! But you might well be wondering what on earth is in it?
Well here goes (it's quite a list)...
Ingredients:
Water, Coconut Oil (21%), Vegan Flavours (Basil, Sunflower Oil, Water, Olive Oil, Salt, Sugar, Mashed Potato, Modified Starch, Acidity Regulator: Citric Acid, Herbs, Yeast Extract, Preservative: Potassium Sorbate, Antioxidant: Natural Rosemary Extract), Starch, Modified Starch, Sea Salt, Stabilisers: (Sodium Polyphosphate, Carageenan, Locust Bean Gum, Potassium Chloride, Carboxymethylcellulose, Guar Gum), Preservative: Sorbic Acid.
It's noticeable that there's quite a few long unpronounceable ingredients in there - it's obviously a highly processed product. There's also a few legumes in there - for those for whom this may be a concern!
Where can you buy it?
Well, unless your local independent health food or vegan store is stocking it, nowhere else on your high street as yet! It's worth asking, though, as most that I have visited have been open to ordering in new products.
Strangely, I can't seem to find Violife Creamy on my usual 'go-to' free from or vegan online shops. Most puzzling!
How much??
Of course, most free from products tend to cost more than we'd prefer... but at £2.35 for 200g (in my local shop), I think this is priced fairly enough in comparison to what else is out there that are both dairy and soya free (i.e. not much).
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| Violife on Newburn's Gluten Free Sandwich Thins |
Related Posts:
Other posts about dairy free cheese, can be accessed via links on the page about Dairy Free Substitutes
Violife is the winner for me, as far as I'm concerned it's the only one that actually reminds me of the real stuff. Also I will happily use in sandwiches which is rare as most others I only use in cooking e.g pizza or cheese sauces
ReplyDeleteYes, I think it is definitely closest so far. I have been known to eat it in a roll, when I'm in a hurry, but still prefer it toasted! ;)
DeleteYum, might be worth looking out for. Maybe we can persuade Tesco to stock it! They might declare what the vegan flavours are on this packet but it drives me bonkers that they aren't transparent about what kind of starch / modified starch they are using as my little girl is allergic to tapioca. I've had email contact with them and they assure me none of their products contain tapioca but if you a marketing a product at the allergy market surely you should avoid vague product ingredients on the label?
ReplyDeleteYes, I do hope Tesco will stock it! And also I am a bit annoyed that companies who appeal to the allergy market, are so reluctant to be transparent - it makes me wonder what they've got to hide and after all, people with allergies NEED to know! I do wonder if they're infringing the law by not listing the exact ingredients, but I suspect they're just about skating 'round the edge - 'cos after all, Coca Cola have a 'top secret' formula, don't they?
DeleteThis sounds interesting...all the dairy-free cheese things we have tried have been awful and I have given up. Sounds like we need to give this one a go!
ReplyDelete