Top five cheeses for Christmas

Cheeseboards have become an incredibly popular finale to a festive feast. With so many varieties of cheese to choose from, it can be tough to know where to start. Putting together a cheeseboard may be an afterthought while amid basting the turkey and flaming the pudding! However, many give or receive cheese hampers for Christmas – the perfect gift for hosts who are cheese lovers.

Cheddar offers a range of maturity, making it a great choice that everybody will love at Christmas. As Cheddar ages, the taste develops from a creamy taste and texture, to a more mature, complex and nutty flavour. For authenticity, choose Cheddar from one of the 14 licensed places to have the West Country Farmhouse Cheddar stamp of approval. Located in the four counties of origin; Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset, they all use traditional Cheddar making techniques.

Camembert is perfect for social and festive occasions. The soft, creamy texture is perfect with green salad, deep fried in breadcrumbs or baked for a cheese dip. When fully ripe, Camembert has a strong flavour with a runny interior. You’ll find a range of British and French Camembert, both pasteurised and unpasteurised types. Traditional unpasteurised Camembert will be labelled Camembert de Normandie Appellation d’Orgine Controlee au Lait Cru, made in Northern France. 

You either love it or you hate it. But blue cheese certainly has its place on the British cheeseboard and is found in many gourmet cheese hampers. Famed for its blue veins, it has a smooth and creamy cheese texture with a strong aroma and flavour. Young blue cheese is complex and has a slight acidic taste, whereas more mature varieties are soft and mellow. Originating from Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire, producers use a specified recipe and technique to make this blue cheese. 

Crumbly cheeses are a sweet contrast to intense flavours of other cheeses. Much of the moisture is removed due to the young age of the cheese, giving the cheese a crumbly and fresh flavour. You will find a young Wensleydale cheese has a hint of lemon – great with sweet and savoury accompaniments such as apples or crusty bread.

The range of flavoured or blended cheese has become popular, especially over the Christmas period. Deriving from Roman practice, these ‘modern’ cheeses are blended with small pieces of fruit, herbs and spices. These flavoured treats are great to try during the festivities – you may even find a few new favourites. 

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Try before you buy

If you’re unsure of the taste, texture or smell, ask for a small sample before you buy. It’s best to choose a great cheese that you will enjoy over Christmas.

Portions of cheese

It’s recommended to purchase about 100g of cheese per person.

Serving cheese

Take the cheese out the fridge 1-2 hours before serving to bring to room temperature. This allows the flavours of the cheese develop. Keep the rinds on the cheese to preserve the shape and look. 

Choose a range of crackers, fresh and dried fruit, chutney and vegetables to accompany your cheeseboard. Cut each accompaniment in to small bite size pieces and serve with cocktail sticks. Ensure there is a sharp cheese knife for each cheese. 

British Cheese: Information on cheese
Lots of facts, recipes and ideas about cheese

BBC: Food – recipes, chefs, programmes and techniques
Family ideas for food, preparation and education

Cheese and Wine Festival: taste new cheese and wine
Discover the best wine to go with your favourite artisan cheese