A PLACE FOR DESSERT: Why a Vegan Cheesecake? Why a dessert at all in a compilation of recipes that aim to be plant-based and life-enhancing? For one, at least in my experience on Ikaria, centenarians don’t avoid eating sweets. They just do so judiciously and make a special occasion out of it. Most traditional Greek sweets contain either sugar, honey, or petimezi (grape molasses), the last two being the world’s oldest natural sweeteners. Many of the desserts in places around the world labelled Blue Zones© contain nuts. In Greece walnuts, pistachios, and almonds are the most common. But cashews have gained ground and they’re an amazing ingredient. Because of their texture and fat content, they add creaminess and round, full mouthfeel to many dishes, and so can often replace traditional dairy ingredients.