Rennet is an enzyme used to coagulate (thicken) milk during the cheesemaking process so that curds form. Rennet is derived from one of four sources:
- The stomach lining of a young animal (a calf, ewe or kid.) The enzyme rennin is found in the stomach lining of animals because it aids in the digestion of their mother's milk. This type of rennet is usually called “traditional” on cheese labels.
- Plants (typically thistle)
- Microbes in fungus and yeast (called microbial on cheese labels)
- Genetically engineered rennet that imitates animal rennet but is not derived from animals
If you're a strict vegetarian, you will want to avoid artisanal cheese made with “traditional” (animal) rennet. Look for cheese with rennet that is made from plants or microbes. Unfortunately, this information is not always on the labels of cheese that has been pre-cut and wrapped by a store. Often, however, the information is printed on the large label on a whole wheel of cheese. A good cheese store will be able to provide information about which cheeses are vegetarian.
Below is a list of some types of artisanal cheese that are not made with animal rennet and are appropriate for vegetarians.
Artisanal Cheese Made With Vegetarian Rennet
Soft Cheese
- Bermuda Triangle , Fog Light, Humboldt Fog, Truffle Tremor - Made by Cypress Grove in California
- Coach Farm Goat cheese (all products) - Made by Coach Farm in New York
- Blythedale Camembert - Made by Blythedale Farm in Vermont
- Bijou, Bonne Buche - Made by Vermont Butter & Cheese in Vermont
- Buche Noir, Merry Goat Round - Made by Firefly Farms in Maryland
- Camellia - Made by Redwood Hill Farm in California
- Crocodile Tear - Made by Capriole in Indiana
- MouCo Camembert - Made by MouCo Cheese Company in Colorado
- Mt. Tam, St. Pat, Red Hawk - Made by Cowgirl Creamery in California
- Hoja Santa – Made by Mozzarella Company in Texas
- Hudson Valley Camembert - Made by Old Chatham Sheepherding Co. in New York
- Marin French Cheese Co. Triple Crème – Made by Marin French Cheese Co. in California
- Wasabi Disk – Made by Westfield Farm in Massachusetts
Semi-Soft
Ardrahan - Made by Ardrahan Farmhouse Cheese in Ireland (imported by Neals Yard Dairy)
Barely Buzzed - Made by Beehive Cheese in Utah
Gravestein Gold - Made by Redwood Hill Farm in California
Carmody - Made by Bellwether Farms in California
Fleur de la Terre - Made by Trader's Point Creamery in Indiana
Smoked Scamorza- Made by Mozzarella Company in Texas
St. George – Made by Matos Cheese Factory in California
Otentique - Made by Juniper Grove Farm in Oregon
Just Jack & other jack cheeses - Made by Beecher's Handmade Cheese in Washington
Aged Cheeses
Appleby's Cheshire- Made by Abbey Farm in England (imported by Neal's Yard)
Lamb Chopper, Midnight Moon - Made by Cypress Grove in California
Cabot Cheddars – Made by Cabot Creamery in Vermont
Black Butte- Made by Pedrozo Dairy in California
Bravo Cheddar, Silver Mountain - Made by Bravo Farms in California
Goat Cheddar - Made by Redwood Hill Farm in California
Flagship Cheddar - Made by Beecher's Handmade Cheese in Washington state
Dry Jack Special Reserve, Mezzo Seco - Made by Vella Cheese Company in California
Hook's 5-year Cheddar - Made by Hook's Cheese Company in Wisconsin
Promontory Cheddar - Made by Beehive Cheese in Utah
San Joaquin Gold, Fiscalini Bandage-Wrapped Cheddar - Made by Fiscalini Farm in California
Serena, Serenita - Made by Three Sisters Farmstead Cheese in California
Wensleydale – Made by Wensleydale Creamery in England
Winchester Gouda - Made by Winchester Cheese Company in California
Shelburne Farms Cheddar - Made by Shelburne Farms in Vermont
Roth's Private Reserve - Made by Roth Kase in Wisconsin
Blue
Beenleigh Blue -Made by Sharpham Estate in England
Big Woods Blue - Made by Shepherd's Way in Minnesota
Buttermilk Bleu - Made by Roth Kase in Wisconsin
Cashel Blue - Made by Grubb Family Farm in Ireland
Great Hill Blue - Made by Great Hill Dairy in Massachusetts
Hubbardston Blue - Made by Westfield Farm in Massachusetts
Ewes Blue - Made by Old Chatham Sheepherding Co. in New York
Oregon Blue Vein, Oregonzola, Rogue River Blue, Smokey Blue - Made by Rogue Creamery in Oregon
Pt. Reyes Farmstead Blue - Made by Pt. Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.
Shropshire Blue - Made by Colston Bassett in England
Torta de La Serena - Made in Spain
Torta del Casar - Made in Spain
More Brands of Vegetarian Cheese
