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Discovering Darë Vegan Cheese with Gwendolyn Dare Hageman

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21 mins 6 secs
March 5

Cheese cravings are among the toughest to shake. But imagine enjoying pepper jack, spicy queso, cream cheese, and smoked pimento without the discomfort of dairy. It might sound too good to be true, but thanks to Gwendolyn Dare Hageman, it’s not.

Gwendolyn Dare Hageman, Owner of Darë Vegan Cheese, talks with Jen about her journey from formulating vegan cheese in a tiny blender at home to growing a fully-fledged business. Her vegan cheeses can be enjoyed without the cons of dairy. From playful recipe experiments to bold flavor combinations, Gwendolyn has reimagined cheese alternatives that even dairy lovers enjoy.

In this episode, Gwendolyn talks with Jen about the inspiration and process behind creating vegan cheese, the benefits of dairy-free cheese, and the challenges of competing with larger brands. 


Key Takeaways

  • [01:23] – The story behind the name, Darë Vegan Cheese.
  • [02:17] – How Gwendolyn fell in love with vegan cuisine.
  • [05:02] – How Darë Vegan Cheese got started.
  • [05:57] – Why cashews work well as a dairy cheese alternative.
  • [06:48] – Why people should go dairy-free.
  • [08:57] – A deep dive into Darë Vegan Cheese ingredients.
  • [12:01] – Where you can find Darë Vegan Cheese.
  • [13:05] – Darë Vegan Cheese’s core brand values.
  • [15:14] – The challenges of competing with large brands.
  • [16:55] – Gwendolyn’s vision for Darë Vegan Cheese.
  • [19:04] – How to join the Darë Vegan Cheese affiliate program.


Quotes

[02:47] – “It was like the coolest challenge as a chef, to take what people are used to eating and making it healthier.” ~ Gwendolyn Dare Hageman

[13:20] – “Our number one brand value is to create a workplace where people want to be.” ~ Gwendolyn Dare Hageman

[14:14] – “We want to be a fancy cheese, but we also want to be down to earth.” ~ Gwendolyn Dare Hageman


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Wake Up and Read the Labels is your guide to eating simple and feeling good. If you want to eat clean and feel your best, you’re in the right place. Join us each week as we talk about real ingredients, ethical brands, and the stories of people just like you who woke up and read the labels.

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