Real Vegan Cheese: Kite Hill (CA, USA)
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Photography © Liza Gershman, 2013
Soft Ripened
Soft Ripened is a velvety cheese with a white, fluffy rind. It has a tangy mushroomy flavor profile with a rich, silky texture and pungent aromatics. This cheese is best served straight from the refrigerator and pairs well with white grapes.
Suggested wine pairing:
A dry white wine such as a Chardonnay with fruit or citrus notes or even Champagne.
http://www.kite-hill.com/images/softripened-badge.jpg
I am impressed!
The Brie type I tried ( Soft Ripened) could fool any omni. Best part: cultured almond milk, enzymes and salt and... nothing else!
Now I am on a quest to produce my own.
Their secret enzyme is in fact not so secret -thistle rennet- used for centuries in Goat cheeses in Spain/Portugal.
Summer is past so where do I get dry-but-still-purple thistle stamens? Cardoon, artichoke or globe will all do.
Re: Real Vegan Cheese: Kite Hill (CA, USA)
That's an interesting idea, I never knew you could use that as rennet. I can't see anyone selling dried thistles etc, but OTOH they must be in season somewhere in the world!
Re: Real Vegan Cheese: Kite Hill (CA, USA)
Found it!
Liquid Thistle Vegetable Rennet $20 from Artisan Geek http://artisangeek.com/
(Select Size: 2 fl-oz / 60ml)
Also ordered a few cheese-molds and two cultures (most are not vegan).
Stocked up on nuts so now just waiting for the post... mmm nut-cheese
Re: Real Vegan Cheese: Kite Hill (CA, USA)
Well done Pat! Let us know how it goes.