I'm a new "flirt" .  I am looking for great tasting vegan cheese that melts and tastes like cheese for my pizza.  I purchased Daiya cheese - while it looks like mozzarella in the package - but when it melts - it looks exactly like curdled milk!  Can anyone help me? 

I wanna say ditto to the OP.

Theresa - I would definitely give Daiya a second - or third - chance. Have you tried tasting it, despite what it looks like? I've been off of cheese for a good two years now, but Daiya is what keeps me going - I absolutely love it. I've heard Teese is also good. Hope your search helps you find something you love!

- Lindsay, founder, Kiss Me, I'm Vegan!

I will look out for Daiya. Is it soy? I try not to eat a lot of soy, even though I love tofu.

I recently tried a rice one and it was alright.

No...all the imitation cheeses I have tasted were terrible! Even nutritional yeast, which a lot of people make imitation cheese sauces with, was not that great. Edible, yes. Delicious, no. Oh, well. I am learning to make do without. :(

Theresa - you're not going to find a vegan cheese that melts and tastes like cheese, it's not dairy-cheese. Daiya is very popular, but it definitely isn't dairy cheese. If you think of it for what it is, it will be better than trying to use it as a replacement for 'real' cheese. If you decide to become vegan, you will find that your taste buds change and food tastes better, because you're really tasting it. You might not need substitutions then, including cheese.

Esperanza - Daiya is completely soy-free, which is wonderful!

Peasandlove - how long have you had your relationship with Nutritional Yeast? I hated it at first, but now I'm hooked. I sprinkle it on everything from popcorn to my vegan tomato cream sauces to tofu scramble! I know it's not a real imitation of cheese, but it does give my food a cheesy, nutty flavor which I've come to love. I hope your feelings change one day about nooch (as I am thoroughly obsessed with it)! :)

Theresa - one more thing to note - Hazel is totally right about allowing your taste buds to change. I was hooked on cheese - especially the stinky ones! - before I went vegan, and my biggest fear was having to give it up. But once I really gave myself time to taste and get used to new foods, I learned how to make food that satisfied my cravings. Oftentimes, when we crave cheese, we're craving something salty, creamy, and thick - so I'll usually allow myself avocado, a creamy pasta sauce, vegan ice cream, or Daiya in those moments, they completely satisfy me! It's been two years since going vegan, and I have to say that while I do still love the smell of pizza with cow's cheese, I do not miss it a single bit! Especially when I remind myself that my choice to abstain from cow's milk and milk products is supporting a woman's right to choose - specifically, a mother cow's right to choose to nurse and raise her baby! :)

Good luck with your search!! :)

- Lindsay, Kiss Me, I'm Vegan!

Honestly, yes. You have to find what works for you though. I've bought a few and one of them was so horrible I threw it right away after tasting it! However, I've got another one that is so-so-so yummy I'm in heaven. St. Martaen makes amazing cheeses (http://stemartaen.com/) but if you're not local to Chicago, it costs money to ship it (which sucks!). 

if vegan cheeses are important to you, just shop around a little bit and see what you like. Experiment. Talk to your local vegan-friendly store (natural foods, farmer's market, Whole Foods, etc.) and see if they'll let you sample.  

I really do hope my taste buds change because I really love cheese.

What flavor do you reccomend in Daiya?