Indian cheese takes wins American hearts

The last few years have been great for the dairy products in the US. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, the is a 19% rise in curd consumption over the last decade. Data from Madison, Wis.-based International Dairy Deli Bakery Association, shows that sales for dairy products rose from $7 billion from a year earlier to $61 billion. Further, the second-best-selling overall product of 2020 was four-cheese Mexican blend at Kroger Co. Now, it is the Indian cheese (or paneer) that is making inroads in the U.S.

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Paneer is gaining popularity in the region for numerous reasons. It is a rich source of protein and fats, which makes it a favorite among those on the keto diet. The ketogenic a market was valued at US$ 9.5 billion in 2019 and the US is the biggest market for these diets. Further, this Indian cheese has got a high melting point, it keeps its shape when it’s cooked, making it a good candidate for center-of-the-plate vegetarian dishes. Another USP of paneer is that unlike many faux-meat options, paneer is clean-label, i.e., it’s made with minimal ingredients.

“Indian cuisine has grown in popularity, and people have become more interested in learning to make it at home,” says Joey Wells, global senior principal for product development at Whole Foods Market Inc. Chefs across the U.S. have similarly become inspired with this Indian cheese variant. For example, in New York City, Unapologetic Foods chef Chintan Pandya has upgraded the cheese’s profile.“Our growth is unique in the cheese world, especially during a global pandemic, when the normal ways of selling to new accounts don’t apply,” Tarush Agarwal said.

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Oirignally published in Economic Times.