So in my quest to ditch the dairy I decided to explore some of the alternatives available out there, first stop, Holland and Barrett. I was surprised to learn H&B did vegan alternatives, but while exploring redwood for vegan cheese I found my local supplier was H&B.
There is a huge variety available, from dairy free cheese, to duck style pieces and even deli veggie salami! I wanted to taste a variety, so picked up, cheezly cheddar style cheese, soya yogurt, almond milk, egg free mayo, fish style fingers (not yet tried) and tuna style pate.
First up, Rice Dream almond milk. I have always struggled to find a dairy free milk alternative as when I have tasted the soya versions they have been absolutely foul. I didn't hold out much hope for this almond milk. It wasn't the creamy colour of normal milk, but had a slightly brown hint to it. As I brought it up to my lips a sweet scent hit my nostrils, oooh it smelt good. First sip, and it tasted absolutely delicous! It was a pleasant surprise! It was similar to milk but with a sweet nutty taste. Heaven for a sweet tooth like me. Next I tried it with cereal, it was rather unusual, but it was definitely edible, it would just take some getting use to. This milk would taste superb in a yummy latte.
Next I fancied a sandwich, so how about a tune mayo style version? I grabbed my tuna style pate and egg free mayo and eagerly cracked them open. First I took a small nibble of the pate to test it out.... EUGH!!!! If I can imagine what dog food tasted like this would be it! Maybe the mayo would be better, but after dipping in my finger and popping it in my mouth the sour and saltyness touched my tongue. Yuck. Not nice! I thought about throwing it in the bin there and then but I held out, perhaps it would be better all mixed up in a sandwich. Nope. Sour dog food! In the bin it went and I guzzled my almond milk to get rid of the taste.
Perhaps I'd have better luck with the cheezly. As I opened the pack the rubbery looking blob in front of me looked far from appealing. I bent down and took a whiff, there was definitely some cheese like hint there. I cut off a slice and popped it in my mouth.... not only did it look like rubber, it tasted like rubber too. The soya was extemely prominent and not to my taste at all. That went straight in the bin. I was extememly disappointed, cheese will be the hardest for me to give up, and with this unedible option it will make it even harder. But I will not give in! There are plenty of other options out there!
Next the Provamel soya yogurt, it was mixed berry flavour and I decided to have it over apples. It was delicous, extremely similar to normal yogurt, if not better! Even an avid meat eater enjoyed this and said he couldnt tell the difference!
I didnt want to be beaten on the cheese, so I headed on down to my nearest Tescos. I had read that tescos had brought out a new free from range, and added lines of vegan cheese from bute island products. I was pleasantly surprised with the range offered, the biggest variety of vegan milk, hard cheese and cheese spreads, soya cream, yogurts and plenty more. I picked up the cheddar style spread and mild style soya cheese.
I braced myself as I opened my mild soya cheese, ready with a glass of water if I needed it. I took a good whiff. This had a definite cheese smell, and it looked much more like cheese than rubber too. I sliced off a tiny piece and winced as I popped it in my mouth. Hang on... this was actually nice! It wasnt an exact match for normal cheddar, but it was damn close, I can imagine this tasting heavenly grated over a pasta.
The cheese style spread was also just as good, creamy and definitely cheesy flavoured! It was that good I immediately popped some bread in the toaster. Spread over toast it was delicous and a very tasty snack!
I will definitely be exploring the rest of bute islands range, blue cheese, spread with herbs and their vegan deli. Not all is available in tesco, but can be found online.
There is a huge variety available, from dairy free cheese, to duck style pieces and even deli veggie salami! I wanted to taste a variety, so picked up, cheezly cheddar style cheese, soya yogurt, almond milk, egg free mayo, fish style fingers (not yet tried) and tuna style pate.
First up, Rice Dream almond milk. I have always struggled to find a dairy free milk alternative as when I have tasted the soya versions they have been absolutely foul. I didn't hold out much hope for this almond milk. It wasn't the creamy colour of normal milk, but had a slightly brown hint to it. As I brought it up to my lips a sweet scent hit my nostrils, oooh it smelt good. First sip, and it tasted absolutely delicous! It was a pleasant surprise! It was similar to milk but with a sweet nutty taste. Heaven for a sweet tooth like me. Next I tried it with cereal, it was rather unusual, but it was definitely edible, it would just take some getting use to. This milk would taste superb in a yummy latte.
Next I fancied a sandwich, so how about a tune mayo style version? I grabbed my tuna style pate and egg free mayo and eagerly cracked them open. First I took a small nibble of the pate to test it out.... EUGH!!!! If I can imagine what dog food tasted like this would be it! Maybe the mayo would be better, but after dipping in my finger and popping it in my mouth the sour and saltyness touched my tongue. Yuck. Not nice! I thought about throwing it in the bin there and then but I held out, perhaps it would be better all mixed up in a sandwich. Nope. Sour dog food! In the bin it went and I guzzled my almond milk to get rid of the taste.
Perhaps I'd have better luck with the cheezly. As I opened the pack the rubbery looking blob in front of me looked far from appealing. I bent down and took a whiff, there was definitely some cheese like hint there. I cut off a slice and popped it in my mouth.... not only did it look like rubber, it tasted like rubber too. The soya was extemely prominent and not to my taste at all. That went straight in the bin. I was extememly disappointed, cheese will be the hardest for me to give up, and with this unedible option it will make it even harder. But I will not give in! There are plenty of other options out there!
Next the Provamel soya yogurt, it was mixed berry flavour and I decided to have it over apples. It was delicous, extremely similar to normal yogurt, if not better! Even an avid meat eater enjoyed this and said he couldnt tell the difference!
I didnt want to be beaten on the cheese, so I headed on down to my nearest Tescos. I had read that tescos had brought out a new free from range, and added lines of vegan cheese from bute island products. I was pleasantly surprised with the range offered, the biggest variety of vegan milk, hard cheese and cheese spreads, soya cream, yogurts and plenty more. I picked up the cheddar style spread and mild style soya cheese.
I braced myself as I opened my mild soya cheese, ready with a glass of water if I needed it. I took a good whiff. This had a definite cheese smell, and it looked much more like cheese than rubber too. I sliced off a tiny piece and winced as I popped it in my mouth. Hang on... this was actually nice! It wasnt an exact match for normal cheddar, but it was damn close, I can imagine this tasting heavenly grated over a pasta.
The cheese style spread was also just as good, creamy and definitely cheesy flavoured! It was that good I immediately popped some bread in the toaster. Spread over toast it was delicous and a very tasty snack!
I will definitely be exploring the rest of bute islands range, blue cheese, spread with herbs and their vegan deli. Not all is available in tesco, but can be found online.
