VEGANS SAY CHEESE

LAUDS Plant Based Foods has a bit of a quandary. Cheese is far and away their main product, but as their name says, animals make no contribution.

The names Dani Wheatley and Simon Paul give their products include feta and chevre.

Dani says some people say they should create entirely new names. On the other hand, they want people to know how to use the products and what to do with them. And, considering few of us grew up on vegan or dairy-free diets, they want to appeal to fond food memories.

“We have chosen to call it cheese, because we actually use a cheesemaking process,” Dani said. “The only difference is the milk does not come from the mammary glands of animals.

“I guess my answer to anyone who objects to us calling it cheese is that definitions are constantly broadening to incorporate new things.”

They certainly are not trying to fool anyone. Simon said they were very cautions to make sure the main ingredient was in the name of the product and there was a picture on the label.

Names include Almond Persian Feta, Aged Cashew Cheese and Ashed Walnut Cheese.

“We want to develop products that taste of the ingredients themselves,” Simon said. “If you taste our walnut cheese, it tells you very clearly ‘this is walnut’.”

While the cheeses are substitutes for foods forbidden for whatever reason, it’s important, Dani said, to “have

anybody enjoying our products, not just vegans and people who can’t eat dairy”.

For the Winter Feast at Dark Mofo they made mac and cheese sticks from their Original Oat Melt and Aged Cashew Cheese with macaroni.

They were covered in panko crumbs then deep-fried.

Dani said: “That’s what we do at these food festivals — highly recognisable food items but made plant-based, just to let people see just what you can do with our cheese.”

A year ago, at Beaker Street at TMAG, Simon and Dani met Edward Weichelt, who was there selling his Hobart Beverage Company drinks.

They mentioned they were looking for bigger premises than they had in Glenorchy, where I talked to them two years ago.

Edward said he had extra accommodation in the space he rented at Mornington.

He makes fermented drinks and the two businesses thought their common and ethical goals would mean they could work together.

The big room had previously been used as a smoker, and Simon said his shoulder still was sore from the scrubbing he administered to the walls and ceiling from scaffolding before they were ready to move in last December.

One benefit of the move and increased capacity for consumers is a drop in price from next week. It is not uniform over all products, but 20 per cent on average.

“It has always been a very big part of our ethos to be accessible to all,” said Dani.

“We believe everyone should be able to enjoy the food that they love.”

And the price drop should also make a big difference to the price of their vegan cheese in food service.

In Hobart, Lauds cheeses are used at Metropolitan Pizzas, Sisterhood Cafe, Ti Ama, Room for a Pony and Daci & Daci.

Pia Palmer, who has come on board to market the products, has got them into South Australia, with Victoria next in line.

I am familiar with kombucha, but Edward’s Kombucha & Ginger was much closer to ginger ale than anything I’ve ever been able to make, with the health benefits of kombucha and way less sugar than ginger ale.

And I was completely sold on his Hopped Water Kefir and Strawberry Water Kefir.

Edward said kefir has the same benefits as kombucha but carries flavours better “so you get really fresh, fragrant flavours coming through like strawberries, elderflower or hops”.

He also makes a tonic, ready bottled or as a syrup, and a Mandarin Lime & Bitters for your gin.

Everything is made from fresh ingredients, not syrups.

Lauds products are sold at many retailers.

You can buy from them directly at Farm Gate Market and they sometimes pop up at Salamanca Market.

Check their Facebook page for market appearances.

Weichelt products are in the midst of relabelling.

Flora is the new name for the kombucha drinks, Tas Pop for premium low-sugar soft drinks.

The products are sold at Eumarrah, in various cafes, and through the Hobart Beverage Company website.