When did vegan cheese get so good?

Nuts were a game-changer for vegan cheese because they provide a lot of fat: 100 grams of cashews have 44 grams of fat, versus 6.4 grams of fat in the same amount of soybeans. This allows for richer flavor and texture that gets closer to imitating animal milk dairy. Soy has also gone out of favor as a base for cheese because of allergy concerns, as well the fact that as of 2018, genetically modified soybeans accounted for 94% of all soy planted in the US. Nuts are not perfect — allergy or sustainability-wise — but they provide a fatty base with neutral flavor that has allowed vegan cheese to reach new heights of complexity.

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