10 Vegan Cheeses Even Cheese Freaks Will Love

1. The creamiest Miyoko’s Creamery Double Cream Chive Cashew Cheese This California-based company cultures cashew milk using traditional cheese-making methods to get as close to dairy cheese flavour as possible. The payoff comes through in this brie-style wheel, which spreads beautifully on crackers. $16, vegansupply.ca.

2. The best spreadable Plant Ahead Plant-Based Cream Cheese We tried a range of cream cheese alternatives. Some were quite dense, and most didn’t exactly nail that balance of tang and creaminess—except for Plant Ahead’s pleasantly tart, spreadable version. Various pricing, costco.ca.

3. The perfect bite
Babybel Plant-Based Cheese Snacks The makers of this school-snack favourite have nailed the satisfying squeaky-but-creamy texture of the dairy original more so than any other cheese we tried—and for the same price, too. $7, goodrebelvegan.com.

Related: What’s The Best Plant-Based Milk For Coffee? We Tried 10

4. For garlic lovers
VegCheese Garlic & Chive There are a couple of allium-flavoured picks on this list for a reason: They’re an effective way to inject flavour and make a savoury bite feel satisfying. This French-style cheese is the tastiest of the bunch—and notably nut-free. $14, vegcheese.com.

5. A spicy kick
Applewood Smoked Vegan Ilchester-Style Cheese Block Testers loved the strong paprika flavour in this award-winning English cheddar-style cheese alternative. $6, realcanadiansuperstore.ca.

6. Parm-esque
Violife Parmesan-Style Wedge We were shocked by how much this parm-style wedge smelled—and tasted—like the real thing. While it doesn’t melt into hot food quite the way dairy parm does, it’s delicious sliced into salads and on crackers. $9, vegansupply.ca.

Related: 7 Irresistible Vegan Dessert Recipes For Spring

7. Buttery smooth
Culcherd Garlic Plant-Based Butter Is this plant-based butter, instead of cheese? Technically! But the addition of cashew cream, garlic and parsley gives this spread a much richer texture and more savoury profile than your standard margarine stick. $9, shop.abovefood.com.

8. The party pick
Green Goddess Everything Bagel Cheese Ball Coating this retro party-snack favourite in everything bagel seasoning was a smart move: It was the most-tasted item on our cheeseboard. $14, goodrebelvegan.com.

9. The smoke show
Miyoko’s Creamery Aged Smoked English Farmhouse Cheese Smoke-cured cheese lovers will appreciate the intense, almost meat-like savouriness of this slightly crumbly cheese wheel. The flavour profile boasts more than just smoke, with notes of plum and herbs. $17, vegansupply.ca.

Related: 4 Hearty, Flavourful Vegan Salad Recipes

10. Top block
Violife Epic Smoked Cheddar Tangy, slightly smokey, with a firm, creamy texture when cut into squares, this white cheddar-like block earned top marks for flavour. $9, goodrebelvegan.com.