Best Vegan Cheese in Ireland: What to Buy First
Quick answer
If you only want one answer: choose by use case. For toasties and sandwiches, start with a mild slice such as Violife or a smoked Applewood plant-based option. For pizza, use a grated or mozzarella-style product. For a cheeseboard, look at Irish cultured cashew cheese such as Fully Free. For budget experiments, check current Vemondo availability before travelling, because supermarket stock changes.
Finding quality vegan cheese in Ireland is easier than it used to be, but the "best" product still depends on the job. This guide compares the safest starting points for slices, blocks, spreads, pizza toppings and artisan cashew alternatives, then points you to the vegan cheese product picker for a shorter shopping view.
For searchers comparing best vegan cheese, vegan cheese Ireland, supermarket own-label products and pizza melt, the safest answer is to buy for the meal you are making. A smoky slice can beat a premium cashew cheese in a toastie, while an artisan wheel can be the better choice for crackers or a board.
How to Choose the Best Vegan Cheese
Do not judge every vegan cheese by the same test. A slice that works in a toasted sandwich may be too mild for a cheeseboard, and a rich cashew cheese may be too strong or expensive for everyday cooking. Use this simple order:
- Toasties and burgers: start with slices or a smoked block.
- Pizza and baked pasta: choose grated or mozzarella-style cheese and use a hot oven.
- Bagels and crackers: choose cream cheese or cultured cashew cheese.
- Irish-made option: check Fully Free's own shop or stockist list before assuming local availability.
Sliced Vegan Cheese
Violife Original
Where to look: major supermarkets, health food shops and current retailer listings.
Price check: varies by retailer and promotion; verify before buying.
Violife's slice range is a safe first stop for sandwiches, burgers and toasties. The flavour is mild, so it works best when you want the filling or sauce to lead rather than the cheese. Best for: quick lunches and casual cooking.
Applewood Vegan Smoked
Where to look: supermarkets and Applewood's own product range pages.
Price check: varies by retailer and format.
The standout here is smoky flavour. It is more assertive than a plain slice, so it suits toasties, burgers, crackers and barbecue-style meals. Best for: smoked-cheese flavour without moving into artisan pricing.
Block & Crumbly Cheese
Sheese (Various Varieties)
Where to look: health food shops, specialist retailers and online stockists.
Price check: varies by retailer and product type.
Sheese is worth checking when you want a stronger block or spreadable option rather than a supermarket slice. Availability can be patchier than bigger brands, so confirm before making a special trip. Best for: flavour-forward cooking and spreads.
Nurishh Creamy Coconut Cheddar
Where to look: larger supermarkets and specialist retailers when listed.
Price check: varies by retailer and pack size.
Use this kind of cheddar-style block when you want a neutral grate-over option for hot food. Taste is usually subtler than smoked or cultured products, so it works better as a background ingredient. Best for: cooking, grating and comfort food.
Cream Cheese & Spreads
Follow Your Heart Vegan Cream Cheese
Where to look: health food shops and online specialist retailers.
Price check: varies by retailer and tub size.
This cream cheese is genuinely creamy and perfect for bagels, crackers, and desserts. Tanginess is mild, so it won't overpower delicate flavours. Best for: breakfast, baking, spreads.
Mozzarella & Melting Cheese
Violife Pizza Cheese
Where to look: major supermarkets and online grocers when listed.
Price check: varies by retailer and pack size.
Choose a pizza-labelled vegan cheese when the melt matters more than the cheeseboard flavour. It will not behave exactly like dairy mozzarella, but it is usually easier to use on pizza, lasagne and baked dishes than sandwich slices.
Julienne Bruno (New to Tesco)
Where to look: current supermarket and specialist listings.
Price check: verify current retailer listings.
Use newer mozzarella-style products as comparison buys rather than guaranteed staples. If you see one in stock, compare it with the regular pizza cheese you already use for browning, saltiness and texture.
Parmesan-Style Cheese
Violife Parmesan Style
Where to look: larger supermarkets and online grocers when listed.
Price check: varies by retailer and pack size.
Pre-grated and ready to sprinkle. Tastes nutty and salty, with that signature umami punch. Works beautifully over pasta, soups, and salads. Best for: finishing dishes, quick sprinkles, everyday use.
Fully Free Ireland (Irish Artisan Cashew Cheese)
Where to look: Fully Free's own shop, stockist list and independent food retailers.
Price check: check the producer's current shop before buying.
Fully Free describes its range as small-batch, live cultured cashew cheese alternatives made in Ireland's Ancient East. Treat it as a cheeseboard or special-occasion product rather than a direct swap for cheap sliced cheese. Best for: Irish-made artisan flavour and sharing boards.
Quick Comparison Table
Prices and availability change quickly, so this table uses buying role rather than exact current prices. Check current retailer or producer listings before travelling. Last reviewed June 2026.
| Brand | Type | Taste | Meltability | Buying role | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violife Original | Sliced | Mild, sweet | Good | Everyday slice | Excellent |
| Applewood Vegan | Sliced | Smoky, robust | Good | Smoked slice/block | Very Good |
| Sheese | Block | Deep, complex | Excellent | Specialist block/spread | Limited |
| Nurishh | Block | Subtle, creamy | Very Good | Cooking block | Good |
| Follow Your Heart | Cream Cheese | Creamy, mild | Spread | Spread | Moderate |
| Violife Pizza | Mozzarella-style | Mild, fresh | Very Good | Pizza topping | Excellent |
| Julienne Bruno | Mozzarella-style | Subtle, Italian | Excellent | Comparison buy | Very Good |
| Violife Parmesan | Parmesan-style | Nutty, salty | Sprinkle | Finishing sprinkle | Excellent |
| Fully Free Ireland | Artisan Cashew | Complex, premium | Good | Irish artisan board | Limited |
Where to Buy Vegan Cheese in Ireland
Major Supermarkets
Large supermarkets are the first place to check for everyday slices, blocks and pizza-style cheese. Search the retailer's current site or app before travelling, because branch-level stock and promotional ranges change.
For a shorter shopping page, use the vegan cheese product picker. For brand-specific checks, start with Violife, Fully Free and Vemondo. If you are shopping in Lidl, treat Vemondo mentions as a range to check on the day rather than a promise that one named block is in every store.
Specialist Shops & Markets
Health food shops and markets are better for cultured cashew cheeses and specialist imports. Use producer stockist pages where available; for example, Fully Free publishes its own shop and stockist routes.
Storage and Label Checks
- Follow the storage instructions on the pack, especially after opening.
- Check allergen labels carefully: many artisan vegan cheeses use cashew nuts.
- If buying for a guest, ask about nut, soy, gluten and coconut-oil preferences before choosing.
- Do not rely on an old product photo or blog post for current ingredients; recipes can change.
Cooking Tips for Best Results
For Pizza & Baked Dishes
Use a pizza-labelled vegan cheese or a mozzarella-style product, then keep toppings light so the cheese can heat properly. Preheat your oven and use a pizza stone or hot tray for better browning. For Dublin delivery or restaurant searches, pair this with the vegan pizza Dublin guide.
For Melting on Toast
Slice cheese thinner than dairy—it melts faster. Applewood Smoked is ideal here for flavour.
For Flavour-Forward Dishes
Use Sheese or Fully Free Ireland in small quantities. Their strong flavours mean you need less. Grate over warm dishes rather than melting into them.
Compare the Shortlist
Use the cheese picker for a quicker product view, then check current retailer or producer listings before buying. VeganFood.ie does not claim partnership, live stock or official retailer status for these brands.
Sources and Review Trail
Last reviewed 20 June 2026. Source trail: brand/product pages for Violife, Applewood and Fully Free; Lidl Ireland's vegan/vegetarian range page; VeganFood.ie internal product picker and brand notes. Stock, price, pack size and ingredients can change, so use this as a shortlist rather than a live availability claim.