Cheese Gifts for Everyone
With Christmas fast approaching, now is a good time to start thinking of those hard-to-buy-for cheese-loving friends and family in your life.
Gifts for cheese lovers range far and wide these days; there’s a huge selection to choose from, that will suit all budgets. We’ve drawn up a list of our favourites*, available from both online and high street stores, that any cheese aficionado would be over the moon to see in their stocking this year.
From cheese-making kits and deluxe knife sets, to hampers brimming with only the flavoursome of cheeses – there’s something to thrill any cheese fan.
Top 15 Gifts for Cheese Lovers
But with so much choice, where do you start? We recommend delving deep into your recipient’s psyche and to help, we’ve segmented our top 15 list into four types of cheese gift, pertaining to whether your cheese friend is a “Striver”, a “Boarder”, a “Doer” or a “Chugger”.
So read on for our top 15 list of cheese gifts, perfect for whichever type of cheese lover you are buying for.
Cheese Presents for Christmas – the Cheese Loving “Strivers”
Strivers are those friends that are on a continual search for self-improvement. These gifts will keep their brains busy, whilst satisfying their lust of learning.
1. Academy of Cheese Gift Voucher: £135
Surprise your chosen one with an introductory Level One cheese course. This self-study course offers a comprehensive overview of everything your pal would like to know about cheese, from making to pairing and everything in between. Perfect for the wannabe cheese shop owner.
As well as studying 25 iconic cheeses, they will learn the Academy’s unique Structured Approach to Tasting Cheese. Learning more about cheese will enhance their enjoyment and appreciation of cheese and introduce them to the Academy’s global cheese community.
2. Cheese Making Kit – £19.99
Help the cheese-loving Striver in your life take their love to the next level and actually learn how to make cheese, instead of just chugging it! This beautifully-presented kit contains everything they need to make batch after batch of delicious soft cheese! Mozzarella & Ricotta kits are also available.
3. Wine Course – From £185
Your friend has already done the cheese course, and even made some cheese, so what now? Well why not give them a knowledge that they can apply to and enhance their cheese life with. The WSET Level 1 Award in Wines is the perfect course to start exploring the world of wine.
4. The Cheese Life, by Patrick McGuigan & Mathew Carver: £25
Who wouldn’t want to receive a book, dedicated to all things cheese? And this one is a belter. Written by not one, but two cheese experts, this is a deliciously-illustrated book that’s just perfect for a coffee table. As well as useful advice and trade tips, this is oozing with delectable cheese recipes.
Presents for Cheese Lovers – The Cheese “Boarders”
The “Boarder” is your perfect host: loves entertaining and has Pinterest bookmarks for everything. Spoil them with one of these fine gifts that will take their soirees to the next level.
5. LSA International Ash Board with Glass Dome: £145
Simple, clean lines combined with the natural warmth and softness of ash wood, gives the Lotta range from LSA International its unique, stylish character, Each hand-crafted piece comes in a beautiful presentation box.
6. Robert Welch Radford Bright 5 Piece Gourmet Cheese Knife Set: £96
Aside from being beautifully presented in their own box and handmade in the Cotswolds, this luxury set of hollow handled cheese knives is designed to be both practical and timeless and a stunning gift for the consummate connoisseur!
7. Artesà Fondue Set with Lazy Susan Turntable: £64.29
Your cheese “Boarder” will love to show off this decadent fondue set: a standout centre piece at any dinner party, perfect for serving up luscious melted cheese and accompaniments. With its rotating lazy susan base, their guests can spin and dip to their hearts delight.
Cheese Gifts for Christmas – The Cheese Loving “Do-ers”
You know that friend who never sits still and is a nightmare to get a date in the diary with? Our gift suggestions will keep your adventurous, fun-loving cheese friend busy and who knows, perhaps they’ll choose you to do their “do” with.
8. Cheese making course : £75
This course is run by renowned cheesemaker, Claire Burt from Burts Cheese. Held on the farm next door to their dairy, the workshop covers the basic principles of cheese-making, giving your friend hands on experience of making their own fresh soft cheese, to take away to enjoy at home, whilst also getting involved in making Claire’s best-selling Burts Cheese.
And if you’re cheese-loving pal can’t make it to Cheshire, the Specialist Cheese Makers Association provide a list of cheesemaking classes around the UK here.
9. Online Cheese Tasting: £45
Book one of Paxton & Whitfield’s live online cheese tasting events and your cheese loving “do-er” will be over the moon. There are three different events scheduled for January, but if you don’t want to decide for them, or unsure if they can make any of those dates, you can purchase a gift voucher, which enables your recipient to choose one, or wait until later in the year. The voucher allows one household to join the online cheese tasting and includes their fresh delivery of artisan cheeses and crackers ready for the live tasting
10. All Aboard The Cheese Barge: £59.50
Forget afternoon tea,and go for Afternoon Cheese instead! Give the cheese-loving pair in your life a voucher for 6 delicious, British cheeses, served with carefully selected pairings and a carafe of wine. All in the stylish surroundings of a converted 96ft double decker barge, moored on the Regent’s Canal in Paddington.
11. Bucket List Cheese Poster £12.99
A challenge any cheese “do-er” will be up for: your friend will love to scratch off some of the best cheeses from across the world as they “travel” to taste each of them. The question is, how long will it take for them to scratch all 100 of them?
Cheese Gifts for Him or Her – Your Cheese Eating “Chuggers”
A “Chugger” does just that: likes to chug the cheese. So give a Chugger what they crave most: fine cheese and gourmet accompaniments to pair them with. For this, it’s best to look to the experts: an “everyday selection pack” will not cut the Coleman’s.
Gift a box of fine artisanal cheeses. There’s loads of revered cheesemongers that offer online cheesebox deliveries. Check out our Where To Buy guide here for a list of recommended mongers and makers.
And if that special someone is someone really special, why not think about a cheese subscription? Most online cheese companies offer monthly or quarterly options, whilst others allow you to stipulate the length of time you would like to send . On a personal level, one of the most thoughtful gifts I received was a three-month cheese box subscription to The Fine Cheese Co. I got to celebrate Christmas Day again and again, well into February!
12. The Fine Cheese Co. Gift Subscription: from £36
Every month the experts at The Fine Cheese Co. hand-select four cheeses (approximately 700g), a pack of crackers, tasting notes for each cheese and a cheese care guide. You can choose to have a subscription box delivered to your cheese-loving friend every 1, 2 or 3 months, and if they’re vegetarian, or not a fan of blue or goats’ milk cheeses, you can specify their preferences.
13. Bottle of Pedro Ximenez: £19.95
A favourite tipple amongst cheese lovers, this sweet, sweet Spanish sherry is made from intentionally overripe grapes, dried in the sun like raisins. The saltiness of many cheeses provides the yin to the PX’s syrupy yang.
14. Fig & Almond Wedge: £5.79
Beautifully wrapped, the De Juan fig and almond wedge is a soft, yet sliceable paste that will enhance any cheese board. Made with 100% natural ingredients and flavoured with the subtle warm spices it will complement both soft and hard cheeses.
15. Beeswax Wraps: £10.99
For when your friend has finished, they will, afterall, need something to wrap what’s left uneaten (although we find not many chuggers actually have leftovers!). We love the selection, available from The Range, not only for their bright cheerful designs, but also the price: at just £10.99 for a pack of three, this set will keep your cheeses fresh and sweat-free.
*The Academy of Cheese is an impartial, not for profit organisation and does not receive commission for any clicked links.
Rachel Holding | Academy of Cheese Writer
Rachel loves a good cheese and wine session. Her love of all cheeses, artisanal or otherwise, has grown from her early years of working on the cheese counter at Fortnum & Mason. She has a personal mission to taste as many cheeses as possible and to encourage this passion in others.
