Your Beginner-Friendly Guide to Buying Quality Cheese
Picking quality cheese for the first time can feel daunting. With pungent rinds, crumbly textures, and unfamiliar names, it’s easy to feel lost at the cheese counter. But buying brilliant cheese shouldn’t be intimidating. We’ve put together this guide to help you choose cheese with confidence, whether you’re building a cheeseboard, buying a thoughtful gift, or simply diving into something delicious for yourself.
Cheese is one of the oldest and most complex foods we enjoy today. From fresh and delicate goat’s cheese to robust cave-aged blues, the flavours, textures, and aromas are nearly endless. Once you get to know just a few basics, exploring cheese becomes a joy. The more you taste, the more fun it gets. With trusted cheesemongers like The Cheese Shop Nantwich by your side, it’s even easier to make the right choices.
Exploring Cheese Types and Milk Origins
When we talk about cheese, we’re talking about entire families of types and textures. Understanding a few key groups can help you pick something you’re bound to enjoy:
Soft Cheeses
These are creamy, often spreadable, and have high moisture content. Think Brie, Camembert, or our range of soft cheeses that melt instantly on your tongue.
Hard Cheeses
Aged for longer, these cheeses, like Cheddar, Parmesan, or Gruyère, offer stronger flavours and a much firmer bite. We stock a variety of rich and hard cheeses that reward a patient ageing process.
Blue Cheeses
Marked by blue or green mould veins and often bold in flavour, blue cheeses like Stilton or Gorgonzola are not for the faint of heart, but plenty find them addictive.
Washed Rind Cheeses
These are often stronger-smelling and have orange or sticky rinds due to regular washing during maturation. Behind the funky aroma can be soft, mild-flavoured interiors.
Fresh Cheeses
Examples include ricotta and feta – they are not aged and usually taste clean, milky, and slightly tangy.
Different Milk, Different Flavours
Cheese begins with milk, and not all milk tastes the same. Cow’s milk is the most common and has a comforting creaminess. Goat’s milk adds freshness, paired with citrusy notes. Sheep’s milk is rich, often used in tangy cheeses like Manchego. You can even find cheese made from water buffalo milk, packed with extra-fat content for a luxurious experience.
How Age and Season Matter
Just like fruit, some cheese is best enjoyed at certain times of year. Lighter styles feel right in summer, while winter is perfect for those earthy, punchy varieties. Cheese also develops over time. A young, mild cheese becomes firmer, more intense, and complex with age. This process is part of what makes good cheese so fascinating.
What Makes a Cheese High-Quality?
Recognising quality cheese means looking beyond labels. Great cheese tells the story of where it’s from and how it’s been crafted. Here’s what to notice:
Traditional Cheesemaking Beats Mass Production
Artisan and small-batch cheesemakers prioritise flavour over shortcut efficiency. Many of our artisanal cheeses are handmade using methods passed down over generations. This helps preserve character and regional identity.
Ingredients Matter
High-quality cheese starts with great milk. Where possible, unpasteurised milk and natural rennet are used. This lets the full flavour of the milk shine through. Watch out for cheeses with unnecessary preservatives or flavourings, as these can mask inferior ingredients.
The Magic of Maturation
Patience plays a key role in cheese. During affinage, expert cheese refiners choose the perfect conditions for a cheese to mature: the right temperature, humidity, and attention. The results are confidently balanced, textured cheeses ready to be savoured.
Sensory Appeal
A top-quality cheese isn’t just about flavour. It should look and smell inviting. The texture should give clues to its ripeness and freshness. Is it creamy, crumbly, springy, or dense? Each texture adds to the experience.
How to Buy Quality Cheese Like a Pro
Buying quality cheese is easier when you know a few tricks. Whether you’re shopping for a celebration or just treating yourself, these simple steps will help.
Trust Expert Suppliers
Artisan cheese deserves to be sold by cheese lovers. Places like The Cheese Shop Nantwich are passionate about offering proper advice and carefully stored cheese. Skip the shrink-wrapped cheese found on supermarket shelves and head to trusted cheesemongers who care as much as you do.
Talk to Your Cheesemonger
Never feel shy about asking questions. Want to know the origin of an aged cheddar? Or which chutney pairs with a washed rind cheese? Great cheesemongers love to help. We even offer delicious deli and antipasti to go with your selection.
Try Before You Buy
Taste is personal. Sampling cheese before purchase gives you a clearer picture of what you’ll enjoy. If you’re unsure about funky blues or nutty Alpine styles, tasting first will help build your confidence.
Buy Smaller, More Often
Most cheese keeps best in small wedges, not gigantic wheels. If you enjoy cheese a few times a week, buy it in smaller amounts and eat it while it’s at peak freshness. Soft cheeses, in particular, should be enjoyed relatively soon after cutting.
Store It Right
Store your cheese in breathable wrapping, like waxed paper or parchment, not cling film. Keep it in the fridge’s vegetable drawer or a cheese box if you have one. Before serving, allow cheese to warm to room temperature so its full flavour and texture can emerge.
Getting the Most Out of Your Artisanal Cheese
Proper storage and thoughtful purchasing are just the first steps. Here’s how to make every bite memorable:
Pairings that Bring Cheese to Life
Cheese comes alive when shared alongside good company and good flavours. Serve with crusty bread, fruit, pickles, or nuts. Wine and cheese pairings are classic, but try beer or cider for alternatives. Every pairing reveals new flavour notes.
Begin Your Taste Adventure
The best way to build a palate is to try new cheeses little by little. If you usually love hard cheese, explore a bold blue or a tangy goat’s cheese. Our Cheese Club subscription is a fantastic way to discover cheeses from a curated monthly selection.
Choose Cheeses by Season
When days are warm, opt for fresh, light cheeses like mozzarella or goat’s cheese. In colder months, rich cheeses like Comté, Stilton, or mature farmhouse cheddar feel right at home.
Try Something Inclusive
We also offer vegan cheese, vegetarian-friendly options, and even organic cheeses for customers with specific dietary preferences.
Your Simple Guide to Buying Quality Cheese
Know What to Look For
Start by understanding the different textures, milk types, and ageing styles. Recognise that quality cheese isn’t just one thing. Its clean ingredients, traditional techniques, and expert maturing come together to create something special.
Build a Relationship with a Trusted Cheesemonger
Shops like The Cheese Shop Nantwich are invested in bringing you proper cheese. With support, tips, and friendly faces, your cheese journey just keeps getting better.
Ask, Taste, Explore
Let your senses guide you. Shop frequently, taste fearlessly, and try one new variety every time you shop.
Look After Your Cheese
Keep cheese cool, but not freezing. Wrap it in breathable materials and eat it at room temperature. This brings out its best qualities.
Make Cheese a Shared Joy
Cheese is about enjoyment. Share it with friends, family, or savour it on your own. Whether you’re tucking into a traditional English cheese or something uniquely Alpine, you’re appreciating layers of history and skill.
Wrapping Up with a Bite-Sized Summary
If you’re just stepping into the world of cheese, remember that buying quality cheese is simple when you know what to look for. Focus on the ingredients, craftsmanship, and charm behind each variety. Trust cheesemongers who care. Taste before you buy. Store cheese properly and enjoy it when it’s ready.
The Cheese Shop Nantwich is here to help you savour every step. From fierce blues to floral goat’s cheeses, there’s always something new worth tasting. Fancy joining a community of curious cheese lovers? The Cheese Club might be your perfect match. Keep your taste buds curious and discover cheese the quality way.
