Flavour Fusion RRP £4.95 + P&P from Good Carma [available in some UK stockists already] – See more here.

I have been looking for a good vegan substitute for parmesan for a long time – so when the Vegan Lifestyle Association approached me to review a new dairy free, parmesan style cheese alternative, it really was a no brainer! Good Carma, is the brainchild of Charlotte Bates, a passionate vegan who started the company in the summer of 2013 in honour of her mother who died from bowel cancer earlier that year. Charlotte has produced a range of cheese style alternative products called Flavour Fusion, and I for one could not be more excited! The products are made to be suitable for dairy free, wheat free and gluten free diets and include just a few carefully selected ingredients including Himalayan Pink Salt which is packed with over 80 minerals, nutritional yeast (which has added vitamin B12 (a vitamin fairly tough to come by on a vegan diet) and almonds, which amongst their other benefits, are thought to reduce the risk of heart disease.

As soon as the box arrived I could practically smell the lasagne I was going to make with it’s perfectly crisp topping (having done without cheese topping on lasagne for far too long!). The packaging design is sleek and eye catching, with colours representing each of the three colours currently available: Original, Chilli and Garlic.

I wasted no time in making my lasagne and was excited to make it for my family too, who are meat eaters but open to everything vegan. I decided to use the garlic flavour as I thought it would compliment the meal well. When I had layered up my other vegan ingredients (egg free pasta, “free from” sauces and egg free soya mince, all readily available in most supermarkets), I opened up the shaker style pot and the product same out very easily, spreading very nicely over my lasagne.

I cooked the meal for around 40 minutes at 200c and when I removed it from the oven, just as I had hoped, the Flavour Fusion had crisped up the top layer very nicely, making it a lovely golden brown.

The taste certainly wasn’t overpowering – my family are not big garlic eaters so they would have had something to say if it was! It tasted perfect, just like the parmesan toppings I would have had prior to becoming vegan. The meal was a real hit with everyone and everyone agreed there really was no difference – no one would have known it wasn’t parmesan. A yummy, guilt free meal #success!

I am thrilled to now have a product I can use just like a parmesan and not have to “miss out” when meals call for it. What’s more, it has a 6 month shelf life and can be stored at room temperature. I feel that this is what I would class as a “no excuse” product, with the knowledge we now have about the dairy industry and it’s brutality, not to mention the health implications  of dairy foods, what reason is there not to use an alternative when companies such as Good Carma are now making it so easy for us? I challenge any non vegans out there to say otherwise!

Flavour Fusion is stocked at selected retailers, but perhaps the easiest way to get this product in your life is to check out their online store.

This sample was sent to me free of charge through the blogger review service of the VEGAN lifestyle ASSOCIATION. For more information please see https://veganlifestyleassoc.com/directory-entries/goodcarma-foods/ I have not been paid for this review and it is my genuine and unbiased review of the product.