Katharos Vegan Cheese: The Perfect Amalgamation of Purity, Health and Taste

For someone transitioning into a dairy-free or vegan diet, cheese is often the very last thing that they give up. And it’s no wonder, since dairy cheese is processed food which contains a high concentration of casein. Casein is a milk protein that, when digested, produces casomorphins that are opioids, just like opium and morphine, and it’s easy to understand why we get those cheese cravings so often!

But.. what if you get a yummier, lighter version of plant-based cheeSe? 

Presenting a melt-in-the-mouth, soft, crumbly and delicious – and hard to resist cheese. (Plant-based cheese is pronounced with a 'Z'!)
You don’t have to compromise on your health or taste because Katharos ‘cheese’ is here, and they deliver pan-India.

Can cheese analogues be unhealthy?

Vegan cheese, though healthier than dairy, could still contain oil, stabilisers, preservatives, etc. But Katharos prides itself in the fact that their cheese is made of clean ingredients – if you can't pronounce it, it's not a part of their ingredient list!

Source: Katharos Foods

Presenting Katharos 

Jasmine, the founder of Katharos Foods, is a health-conscious lady who has been weight-training for twenty years! Once she started reading about nutrition, she switched to an unprocessed plant-based lifestyle, as it's not only healthy but has been proven to manage and even reverse diseases!

But she started missing one very delicious ingredient of her salads – feta cheese. The absence of a vegan-friendly and healthy feta cheese led Jasmine to start experimenting in her kitchen. When she received a big thumbs up from fellow vegans and friends and had perfected the recipe, she decided to launch the product commercially and voila! Katharos cheese came into existence in April 2019. 

Behind the name

Katharos means “pure” in Greek. Since the brand’s products are devoid of any oil, chemicals, preservatives, gum, trans fat, sugar, and emulsifiers, Jasmine felt that this name would be perfect for her company. The ingredients are “simple and pure,” she says. “Basically, if you don’t recognise an ingredient, you won't see it on our food labels.”

Packaged in Eco-Friendly Materials

Katharos uses eco-friendly packaging for all of their products. For example, their feta cheese comes packaged in recyclable cardboard boxes. They use minimal plastic when they absolutely have no other option. However, they ensure that this plastic is also recyclable.

They are trying their level best to be completely plastic-free.

VEGAN CHEESE OPTIONS

Katharos has many plant based cheese options that can be used for a variety of cooking purposes. Both are safe for children and pregnant mothers since their main ingredient is nuts. There are no added preservatives or chemicals either, making these dairy-free cheeses incredibly healthy! Here are the three products that are currently available in India.

HERBED FETA CHEESE

This flagship product is India’s first all-vegan feta cheese! Add chunks of it on a fresh salad, spread it on a dosa or even a toast, this cheese is more versatile than you think. The ingredients include almonds and condiments, without any additional chemicals or artificial flavours. With a high protein content (13.9gms), it can be consumed as a pre- and post-workout snack! It can also meet half of your daily calcium requirements. 

BUY HERE

PIZZA CHEESE

Imagine eating pizza every day because it is healthy, and this cheese made from cashew nuts makes that possible. This pizza cheese is gooey and melts easily on pizzas or grilled cheese sandwiches. With almost 6 grams of protein and no trans fat, it is a great alternative to regular dairy cheese.

BUY HERE

VEGAN SOFT CHEESE SPREAD

Made from the goodness of creamy cashews, their new range of silky dairy-free Soft Cheese Spread is incredibly versatile. Use it as a spread on toast or falafel, or simply serve it as a dip at parties, the possibilities are endless! The Soft Cheese Spread comes in four flavours: Jalapenos, Peri Peri, Roasted Cumin, and Crushed Black Pepper. (Currently only available in Mumbai.)

BUY HERE

Due to the overwhelming response, they have achieved economies of scale and have been able to drop the price for cheeses. Now that's great news not just for vegans but also for the plant-based ecosystem!

For a list of stores across India please go to www.katharosfoods.com