Looking for the tangy and unmistakable flavor of goat cheese, or chévre, without the cruelty of dairy goat farming? Check out these three companies that are making delicious vegan goat cheeses that you will want to have on hand the next time you open a bottle of wine and put out some crackers.
Three Girls Vegan Creamery
When MFS heard there was a vegan cheese operation just one state over from us, in Connecticut, we were thrilled. When we found out they offer vegan goat cheese, we were over the moon!
Three Girls Vegan Creamery, based in Guilford, CT, makes small-batch vegan cheeses using organic quinoa, cashews, and almonds. The three woman at the helm of the operation describe themselves as “culinary activists” who are making authentic and tasty products for the health of people, for the animals, and for the planet.
Their mouthwatering goat cheese selections range from mild spreads to more pungent discs and include flavors such as Maple Bacon, Pecan Herb, Blueberry, and Goat Cheese with Edible Flowers. The founders recommend spreading the cheese on sourdough toast and topping it with a drizzle of maple syrup or a dollop of peach chipotle jam.
You can buy the cheeses at the Three Girls Vegan Creamery store in Guilford as well as retail locations throughout New England. You can also buy many flavors online—purchase products directly or email the company for special orders of out of stock or unlisted products.
Photo: Three Girls Vegan Creamery/Facebook
VegNature Nancy Grenier
Holy cow—or should we say holy goat—a company dedicated to making vegan goat cheese! VegNature Nancy Grenier, based in Quebec, Canada, makes 6 flavors of vegan goat cheese, including popular flavors Nuts & Cranberries and Herbes de Provence & Onions. All are nut and seed based, featuring ingredients such as cashews, macadamia nuts, almonds, and pumpkin and sunflower seeds.
VegNature founders Nancy and François told MFS that their cheese is often compared to goat cheeses found in Europe, as it does not have the sour aftertaste of those found in North America. MFS volunteer Laura recommends pairing the herbed varieties with a vegan Sauvignon Blanc, or you can get creative by trying a recipe—like mushroom scallops & cream sauce—from the VegNature Instagram page.
As for the mission behind their company, Nancy and François state, “Our primary goal from day one is to provide comfort food for vegans so they don't miss dairy products, but every time a dairy lover picks us, we consider it as a small step in the right direction, toward the end of animal farming."
You can find VegNature cheeses at multiple retailers in Canada, New England, and New York.
Photo: VegNature Nancy Grenier
Heidi Ho
Known for a memorable appearance—and successful pitch—on Shark Tank, Heidi Ho is a Portland, Oregon-based company that makes organic vegan “cheeze.”
Under the leadership of Chef Heidi Lovig, Heidi Ho currently sells two varieties of vegan goat cheese, a.k.a. Ne Chévre (“no goat”): Pure, and a Black Lava flavor that includes a layer of crushed hazelnuts and black lava salt. A company representative told MFS that they are working on new exciting ideas but are currently keeping them top secret!
Ne Chévres are made from an organic cultured cashew base and have the consistency of conventional chévre. The word around the Heidi Ho headquarters is that staff like to enjoy Black Lava Ne Chévre with potato chips as well as tortilla chips and salsa.
Like the other companies on our list, Heidi Ho is mission-driven, as they are committed to creating a product that uses sustainable, wholesome, and animal-friendly ingredients.
You can buy Heidi Ho cheeses online and at retailors throughout the United States.
Photo: Heidi Ho
Top of page photo: Three Girls Vegan Creamery
—written by MFS volunteer Jennifer Wyglinski
