Karino AyakoFor vegans who are cheese lovers, there’s great news! “TOKYO VEG LIFE”, a YouTube channel based in Minato Ward, Tokyo that focuses on vegan, yoga and ecofriendliness, has produced a sustainable vegan cheese brand under the name “TOKYO VEG LIFE faux-mage” in collaboration with Japan Oishii Lab lunched by Pressio.
The specially made cheese is 100% plant-derived with no animal ingredients used. It is also 100% natural, using domestic or organic imported ingredients, not to mention soy-free and gluten-free. Furthermore, the organic cashew nut-based “cheese-like” fermented food is dairy-free and contains no chemical seasonings or preservatives. Compared to regular milk-based cheese, the aftertaste is refreshing, making it a product you can enjoy even in the hot, humid summer.
Japan is known for its culture for sending ochugen summer greeting gifts to show their gratitude to people who have supported them. Pressio has prepared special summer sets of cheese under the theme “Sustainable & Healthy.” With these gifts, people can show their concern not only towards the people who they send them to, but also toward the environment.
The special summer set is packed in custom-made paulownia boxes handmade by craftsmen of Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture. Since paulownia boxes absorb humidity, they can be used for a long period of time as a storage container for rice, bread, pasta, tea, dried food, etc. Also, since the cheese can also be widely used for cooking and making sweets other than relishing simply on bread and crackers, a mini recipe collection booklet that summarizes recommended recipes is included in the set.
Dairy-free vegan cheese is still rare and not very well known. It might therefore be hard to imagine how it tastes. However, TOKYO VEG LIFE faux-mage is for both vegans and non-vegans. It is a new type of fermented food that various types of people can enjoy.
A tasting event was held in Hanzomon, Tokyo, in June. People who participated commented, “There aren’t many additive-free vegan cheeses, so I’m very happy,” “It’s so perfect you won’t realize it’s not cheese unless someone tells you,” “I feel safe to feed it to my child who has dairy allergies.”
For vegans or non-vegans, it looks like TOKYO VEG LIFE faux-mage has created a whole new realm of cheese!
Looking for more sustainable food in Japan?
- 2024-05-02: Bamboo to Menma Initiative to tackle critical environmental issues
- 2023-08-25: Future food: Japanese companies making alternative meat and fish
- 2023-08-04: Sustainable restaurant highlights with FOOD MADE GOOD (Part 3)
- 2023-06-23: Most sustainable restaurants in Japan with FOOD MADE GOOD (Part 1)
- 2023-06-09: How can we solve a new type of malnutrition among Japanese women?
