EV’s Take: A Funky Vegan Sour Cream That’s Just Okay
We take vegan sour cream seriously here at Exploring Vegan, so this Violife vegan sour cream review is near and dear to our hearts. Unfortunately, we still have yet to find one that hits just right. Forager Project’s vegan sour cream is way too sour, Kite Hill’s vegan sour cream is a little too runny, and Violife’s vegan sour cream sits somewhere in the middle but still doesn’t give us exactly what we’re craving.
When I opened the container, I was most surprised by its powerful chemical smell, akin to paint. Between the intense odor and the thickness of the sour cream, I honestly had a moment where I thought I’d accidentally bought a tub of spackle.
I gave Violife’s vegan sour cream the EV tortilla chip test, and its thickness came in clutch here. It gives you a gorgeous thick dollop that worked great on my Tostito’s Scoops. The sour cream is thick with a capital T, so if you’re serving it alongside thinner tortilla chips, expect some breakage.
If you like sour cream as a solo dip, I’m not sure Violife will be right for you. Using it with just tortilla chips made the chemical smell much more prominent. The paint smell softened in my vegan baked potato soup recipe as the sour cream mixed with the soup’s flavors. While the sour cream melts nicely, its weight causes it to sink to the bottom of the soup immediately. It’s not a deal-breaker unless you’re trying to take nice photos of it!
The best way to eat Violife vegan sour cream
On baked potatoes is where Violife hit the jackpot. I don’t know if Violife developed this vegan sour cream formula specifically with baked potatoes in mind, but something beautiful happens when you mix the cool, tangy sour cream on a hot baked potato. It melts–but not too much–and I think the potatoes help mellow out the chemical taste and smell. I could see myself regularly eating a baked potato with a dollop of Violife sour cream on top.
Is Violife vegan sour cream the best dairy-free sour cream out there? That remains to be seen as we continue our journey into the world of plant-based sour creams. BUT, it is pretty good. If you’re a baked potato girlie like me, I definitely recommend giving it a whirl. If you’re a sour cream purist and want plain sour cream on tortilla chips, you may want to pass on Violife’s vegan sour cream.
What is Violife vegan sour cream made from?
Remember when I asked if they developed this specifically with baked potatoes in mind? Maybe the added potato starch creates a harmonious relationship between Violife and a fresh-out-of-the-oven baked potato.
Similar to Forager Project, Violife uses coconut oil as the foundation for its dairy-free sour cream. Where I think they’re getting creative is with the use of dried banana powder. Green banana powder can have an overwhelmingly sour smell and flavor, which is likely where this sour cream gets its intense funkiness. I give them bonus points for creativity, as many vegan sour creams will rely on vinegar or lemon juice for tanginess. While there’s nothing wrong with those choices, I think the banana powder helps set Violife apart in flavor.
Here are the ingredients from Violife’s website:
Filtered Water, Coconut Oil, Food Starch-Modified (Potato, Tapioca), Salt (Sea Salt), Citrus Fibers, Glucono Delta-Lactone, Lactic Acid, Dextrose, Dried Banana Powder, Flavor (vegan sources), Olive Extract, Beta Carotene (color), Vitamin B12.
Where Can I Buy Violife Vegan Sour Cream?
I’ve found Violife vegan sour cream in many retailers, such as Wegmans, Safeway, and Sprouts. You can use the store locator on the Violife site to find a store near you!
What do you think?
Have you tried Violife’s vegan sour cream? Love it? Hate it? Tell us in the comments! We’re still hunting for the perfect vegan sour cream, so let us know your favorites. We’d love to review them!
I love Violife’s cheese but the old school Tofuitti sour cream is still my go-to! Definitely worth checking out if you want something with less funk. It’s pretty mild and makes a great French onion dip base if you miss that trash from your childhood like I do. 🤣
Ooooh! I’m going to give Tofutti a try next!
I have tried a few vegan sour creams, including Toffuti, Forager, Kite Hill and Follow Your Heart, and I think the best alternative I’ve tried to date (and continue to buy and keeps well in my fridge for many weeks) is available at Ralph’s, Simple Truth™Plant Based Dairy Free Sour Cream Alternative. It has the right texture and the taste is just right when added to baked potatoes or burritos (or chimichangas, in my case), or anything Mexicana. I’d say it’s a little less sour though. I was curious to try the Violife version, as I’m a big fan of the Violife Just Like Feta, but after reading this review I think I’ll just stick to Simple Truth.
Sprouts vegan yogurt is the closest I have tasted to real sour cream. It’s not so thick as to be almost cream cheese and has enough tang to brighten up a baked potato.
Oooh! I will have to try this one next!
I tried Violife’s Sour Cream today, partnered with Beyond Steak tacos and I really enjoyed it. The smell didn’t seem strong to me, it actually to me, smells like Daisy’s Sour Cream – or at least what I remember from it. I’ve been vegan almost 6 years so sometimes I forget what things have tasted and smelled like 😅 Looking forward to trying it on a baked potato now.
Prior to Violife, I tried Kite Hill’s Sour Cream and didn’t like it at all, so I’m glad to have another alternative
Oooh! I hope you’ll report back to let us know what you think of it on a baked potato! I’ll have to try the Beyond Steak tacos next! Did you like them?