FAQs
Q: When will Cheez be available for purchase online?
A: Online sales here and on Amazon have been disabled during the summer months to prevent any impacts to the flavor or quality of the product as temperatures can get well above 90 or 100 degrees for multiple days during shipping. While disposable ice packs are an option, part of our ethos is to "first do no harm" when it comes to the environment. We hope you'll continue to keep Cheez in mind when the cooler temperatures of late fall and winter roll around and shipping can once again commence.
Q: How long does it last?
A: Cheez is generally good for about two months. We say generally because it depends on how the product is kept (e.g. refrigerated or left out on the counter). Cheez has reached the end of its life when the flavor profile changes from tangy deliciousness to something of a more sour taste.
Q: I received my shipment and the lid appears slightly swollen. Is the product still good?
A: Yes! In fact, this is normal. Cheez is a live culture product. Beneficial microorganisms are constantly at work breaking down complex carbohydrates and sugars and releasing carbon dioxide. As this accumulates in the jar, it can cause the lid to expand and a liquid to pool on top. If desired, drain off any excess liquid into the sink before serving.
Q: Do I need to keep Cheez refrigerated?
A: Technically no. It’s lacto-fermented and just like sauerkraut or pickled vegetables, could sit out on the counter. That said, it’s best to keep it in the fridge once you get it home. This slows down the fermentation process and helps to ensure the best flavor for the longest period of time. Additionally, keeping Cheez refrigerated will firm up the consistency to that of a soft goat cheese.
Q: It seems kind of pricey.
A: Our pricing is driven by the quality and integrity of the ingredients we use. Fundamentally, we believe that a product is only as great as what goes into it. We use the highest-quality ingredients because we strongly believe that preventative medicine starts with the food we eat and Cheez is something we want to put into our bodies.
To illustrate further, it would be easy to use any type of sea salt. However, we don't. Instead, the sea salt we use is more expensive than others. Why do this? To us, it's about far more than just salt. Real Salt is mined from a volcanic sea bed in Utah that is estimated to have been produced during the Jurassic Period. This prehistoric sea salt has a unique profile that contributes to the depth of flavor of Cheez and contains over 60+ trace minerals that are great for the body. (Additionally, there's just something kind of cool about putting minerals and atoms into your body that have a consciousness that dates back to the time of the dinosaurs!) More information about Real Salt can be found here: https://redmond.life/mine/
The white miso we use has been made by the same family for nearly 100 years. Regarded as the best organic miso in Japan, it's still made in the cool climate, clean air, and pristine mountains of Nagano using pure spring water.
The nutritional yeast used is a super food and provides great immunological benefits. Nutritional yeast is a source of protein and various B-complex vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, B12 & Folic Acid). In addition to the naturally present zinc, potassium, and iron, the product is fortified with additional vitamins and minerals.
We use fair-trade, organic cashews that provide a good source of healthy fats and help reduce bad cholesterol. As they are a good source of magnesium, cashews also help maintain blood pressure, boost the immune and nervous systems and provide phosphorous to promote bone and oral health.
When it comes to packaging we opt for glass instead of plastic. This comes at a cost but the glass jar provides a more elegant and pleasing aesthetic while having less of an impact on the environment than single use plastic.
All of these factors contribute toward our goal to produce a simple, clean product that tastes great and provides a nutritional benefit to the body. We strongly believe that it's possible to shift the view of food from that of being strictly a commodity (something to obtain at the lowest price possible) to instead seeing it as an investment in our health.
A: Online sales here and on Amazon have been disabled during the summer months to prevent any impacts to the flavor or quality of the product as temperatures can get well above 90 or 100 degrees for multiple days during shipping. While disposable ice packs are an option, part of our ethos is to "first do no harm" when it comes to the environment. We hope you'll continue to keep Cheez in mind when the cooler temperatures of late fall and winter roll around and shipping can once again commence.
Q: How long does it last?
A: Cheez is generally good for about two months. We say generally because it depends on how the product is kept (e.g. refrigerated or left out on the counter). Cheez has reached the end of its life when the flavor profile changes from tangy deliciousness to something of a more sour taste.
Q: I received my shipment and the lid appears slightly swollen. Is the product still good?
A: Yes! In fact, this is normal. Cheez is a live culture product. Beneficial microorganisms are constantly at work breaking down complex carbohydrates and sugars and releasing carbon dioxide. As this accumulates in the jar, it can cause the lid to expand and a liquid to pool on top. If desired, drain off any excess liquid into the sink before serving.
Q: Do I need to keep Cheez refrigerated?
A: Technically no. It’s lacto-fermented and just like sauerkraut or pickled vegetables, could sit out on the counter. That said, it’s best to keep it in the fridge once you get it home. This slows down the fermentation process and helps to ensure the best flavor for the longest period of time. Additionally, keeping Cheez refrigerated will firm up the consistency to that of a soft goat cheese.
Q: It seems kind of pricey.
A: Our pricing is driven by the quality and integrity of the ingredients we use. Fundamentally, we believe that a product is only as great as what goes into it. We use the highest-quality ingredients because we strongly believe that preventative medicine starts with the food we eat and Cheez is something we want to put into our bodies.
To illustrate further, it would be easy to use any type of sea salt. However, we don't. Instead, the sea salt we use is more expensive than others. Why do this? To us, it's about far more than just salt. Real Salt is mined from a volcanic sea bed in Utah that is estimated to have been produced during the Jurassic Period. This prehistoric sea salt has a unique profile that contributes to the depth of flavor of Cheez and contains over 60+ trace minerals that are great for the body. (Additionally, there's just something kind of cool about putting minerals and atoms into your body that have a consciousness that dates back to the time of the dinosaurs!) More information about Real Salt can be found here: https://redmond.life/mine/
The white miso we use has been made by the same family for nearly 100 years. Regarded as the best organic miso in Japan, it's still made in the cool climate, clean air, and pristine mountains of Nagano using pure spring water.
The nutritional yeast used is a super food and provides great immunological benefits. Nutritional yeast is a source of protein and various B-complex vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, B12 & Folic Acid). In addition to the naturally present zinc, potassium, and iron, the product is fortified with additional vitamins and minerals.
We use fair-trade, organic cashews that provide a good source of healthy fats and help reduce bad cholesterol. As they are a good source of magnesium, cashews also help maintain blood pressure, boost the immune and nervous systems and provide phosphorous to promote bone and oral health.
When it comes to packaging we opt for glass instead of plastic. This comes at a cost but the glass jar provides a more elegant and pleasing aesthetic while having less of an impact on the environment than single use plastic.
All of these factors contribute toward our goal to produce a simple, clean product that tastes great and provides a nutritional benefit to the body. We strongly believe that it's possible to shift the view of food from that of being strictly a commodity (something to obtain at the lowest price possible) to instead seeing it as an investment in our health.