Vegan Cheese Options in Australia

Dairy cheese can be replaced by a variety of plant-based options including simple plant-based ingredients as well as vegan cheese alternatives.

photo: Sheese instagram @sheeseuk

Plant-based Ingredients

If you’re craving the richness or umami flavour that cheese used to bring to your meals, a variety of wholesome plant-based ingredients can fill the gap beautifully. Creamy options like tahini, avocado/guacamole, and nut butters add indulgent texture and healthy fats, while spreads such as hummus, vegan pesto, or other savoury spreads provide bold, satisfying flavours. For a touch of cheesy-like flavour, nutritional yeast is a popular pantry staple. Its naturally savoury, nutty taste can enhance everything from pasta and popcorn to sauces and soups.

Vegan Cheese Alternatives

Australia has a growing selection of vegan cheese options – from small-batch artisan cheeses to supermarket-friendly staples. While they may not taste exactly like dairy cheese, there are many delicious varieties worth exploring.

Spreadable & Artisan-Style Cheeses

These cheeses are often fermented, cultured, or cashew-based, and tend to have a rich, tangy flavour that makes them a great introduction to dairy-free cheese.

Botanical Cuisine – Organic, raw, and fermented spreads like Black Gold and Caramelised Onion cheese.
Damona Dairy Free – Melbourne-based brand with an impressive range of vegan cheeses including Feta, Brie, American Cheddar, Mozzarella, Bocconcini, and Pepperjack. Perfect for everything from grazing boards to melty toasties and pizza.
Dilectio – Australian-made artisan cheeses like Truffle Brie, Blue, Camembert, and Chèvre.
Lauds – Tasmanian brand with a range of cultured cheeses including Cream Cheese, Ricotta, and Smoked Oat Cheese.
The Vegan Dairy – Offers hand-crafted options such as Persian Feta, Garlic Herb, and Aged & Smokey.

These are great for cheeseboards, crackers, sandwiches, or as a flavourful spread.

Vegan Cheese for Sandwiches, Salads, Pizzas and More

These options are available in most supermarkets or independent grocers and work well for sandwiches, melting, grating, or topping meals.

BioCheese (by MyLife) – Widely available at Coles and Woolworths, offering shredded mozzarella, cheddar slices, and blocks.
Daiya – A US brand stocked in some health food stores and online, known for its melting ability.
Made With Plants – Affordable, supermarket-available range with slices, blocks, and spreads.
Noshing – A Western Australian brand offering a variety of vegan cheeses crafted with wholesome ingredients, perfect for snacking, cooking, or adding a creamy touch to meals. Their range includes flavorful cheeses that melt and slice well.
Sheese – UK brand with a wide range including mature cheddar, mozzarella, and creamy spreadables.
YAY! Foods – An Australian brand that specialises in vegan feta marinated with garlic and rosemary that adds a fresh, tangy burst to salads and Mediterranean dishes.

Where to Find Them

Supermarkets – Coles, Woolworths often stock BioCheese, Made With Plants, Sheese, and YAY! Feta, and independent grocers stock Dairy-Free Down Under and Noshing.
Health Food Stores & Vegan Grocers – Check out The Green Edge if you’re in Brisbane, Vegan Grocery Store if you’re in Sydney, La Vida Vegan if you’re in Perth, or your local independent health food stores for artisan and imported brands.
Online Retailers – Sites like Vegan Perfection, Vegan Grocery Store, The Green Edge online, and Five Vegans offer a wide selection delivered nationwide.

✔️Tip: Try different brands and types over time – people often find one they love after a little experimenting!

Make Your Own Vegan Cheese at Home

Homemade vegan cheese is not only affordable and customisable, but also a fun way to explore new flavours and ingredients. From creamy cashew-based spreads to potato- or tofu-based cheeses, there are endless possibilities to suit your taste and dietary needs. Whether you’re looking for something tangy, smoky, melty, or herby, DIY recipes let you control exactly what goes in. Try experimenting with recipes like cashew cream cheese, potato-based cheddar-style sauce, or quick nut-based parmesan to add cheesy flavour to your meals without the dairy.

Reasons to Say No to Dairy Cheese

The Reality of Dairy Cows

Mother cows only produce milk for their babies. Yet in the dairy industry, cows endure a relentless cycle of artificial impregnation, separation from their calves, and continuous milk production. Just a day after birth, calves are taken from their mothers – a heartbreaking experience for both. Mothers have been known to break down fences and walk for miles in search of their babies, crying out for days to be reunited.

Male calves are typically sent for slaughter within weeks, while around three‑quarters of female calves are raised to endure the same fate as their mothers. The other quarter are also slaughtered.

Dairy cows are treated as milk‑producing machines and often suffer from painful conditions like clinical mastitis – an udder infection caused by unnaturally high milk output. Once their productivity declines, usually around five to seven years of age, they are slaughtered, even though they could live naturally for 20+ years.

The Hidden Cruelty Behind Goat’s Milk

The goat milk industry is often mistakenly considered gentler, but it follows similar patterns of cruelty. Mother goats are impregnated, and their babies are separated within hours of birth. Male kids, who are not useful for milk production, are usually culled within hours or days, either slaughtered or left to die.

Investigations have uncovered widespread issues such as:

Zero-grazing conditions (kept indoors with no pasture),
Filthy, overcrowded pens,
Rough handling and visible suffering,
Newborn kids killed in front of other goats.

Environmental Impact of Dairy

Dairy production contributes to:

Methane emissions (a potent greenhouse gas),
Deforestation and land use,
Waterway pollution from waste and fertiliser runoff.

Choosing to go dairy-free helps reduce your environmental footprint and supports a more sustainable food system.

Health Considerations

Many people are lactose intolerant without realising it, and dairy products are often high in saturated fat and hormones. Goat milk is sometimes promoted as healthier, but it contains similar levels of cholesterol, and saturated fat.

A Kinder, More Conscious Choice

By choosing dairy‑free options, you’re taking a stand against cruelty and exploitation. You’re also supporting a more compassionate, sustainable, and health-conscious way of living.

Every meal is an opportunity to make a difference – for the animals, the planet, and yourself.