The Importance of Tasting Cheese Before Buying

Essential Tips For Buying Cheese

Choosing the perfect cheese can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re faced with an array of textures, flavors, and aromas at the cheese counter. That’s why tasting cheese before buying is so important.

This simple step transforms the experience from a guessing game into a culinary adventure. By sampling, you discover cheeses that truly delight your taste buds and suit your needs, whether for a charcuterie board, a recipe, or everyday snacking.

When you taste first, you avoid disappointment. A cheese might look amazing or have an enticing description, but until you try it, you can’t be sure it’s what you’re expecting. Sampling lets you assess the saltiness, creaminess, sharpness, or funkiness firsthand. You’ll feel more confident about your purchase and won’t end up with a wedge that goes uneaten in your fridge.

Tasting also helps you expand your palate. It’s a chance to try something new—maybe a nutty alpine cheese, a creamy blue, or a tangy chèvre. Many cheesemongers encourage tasting and can guide you to flavors you might not have considered.

Ultimately, tasting cheese before buying ensures you make thoughtful choices. It’s not just about finding a cheese you like; it’s about connecting with the story, craftsmanship, and flavor of each unique selection. So don’t skip the sample—embrace it!

Tasting Cheese Before Buying Is a Must

When tasting cheese, pay close attention to the flavors and how they may influence your purchase. Each cheese has a unique profile, and understanding these can help you choose the right one for your needs.

First, assess the saltiness. Some cheeses, like feta or Parmesan, have a pronounced salty bite, which works well in dishes that need seasoning or bold flavor. However, if you want a cheese for snacking or pairing with fruit, a milder option might be better.

Next, consider the sweetness. Cheeses like Gouda or some aged cheddar have a caramel-like sweetness, making them great for pairing with nuts, honey, or wine. Sweet cheeses can add balance to savory or tangy accompaniments.

Pay attention to tanginess or acidity. Cheeses like goat cheese or fresh ricotta have a bright, tangy kick that complements salads, fruit, or light dishes. Their zippy flavor may not suit every palate, but it’s perfect for cutting through richness.

Notice any earthy or nutty notes. Hard cheeses like Gruyère or Comté often have these flavors, making them versatile for cooking or enjoying.

Finally, assess the strength of the cheese. A pungent blue cheese or a washed-rind variety may be too bold for some uses but perfect for those who love intense flavors.

Let these tastes guide your decision. Match the cheese’s flavor profile with how you plan to use it, ensuring it complements your dish or your personal preferences.

What Was That Funky Taste?

When tasting cheese at a shop, you might notice a funky or off flavor that doesn’t come from the cheese itself but from its refrigeration. This happens when cheese absorbs odors or flavors from its storage environment, especially if it’s kept near other strong-smelling items or isn’t wrapped properly. Refrigeration can also dry out the surface of the cheese, slightly altering its natural flavor and texture.

Cheese is highly porous, which means it readily takes on surrounding aromas. The cheese can pick up these smells if it’s stored near pungent foods like fish, onions, or garlic. Likewise, if the refrigeration system circulates stale or musty air, the cheese might develop an unpleasant “fridge taste.”

This doesn’t mean the cheese is bad, but it can distort your perception of its true flavor. To identify this issue, ask to taste a freshly cut piece rather than one exposed to the shop's air. Cheesemongers often keep wheels or blocks sealed to slice off a fresh sample on request.

Remember that the refrigeration taste disappears when the cheese warms to room temperature. If you notice this flavor, give the cheese some time to breathe before deciding whether it suits your palate. Always trust your taste buds and ask questions to ensure you’re getting the cheese at its best.

So, What Did I Learn Saturday About Buying Cheese?

1. If you are buying pricey cheese, make sure you ask for a taste. This is impossible if you buy pre-wrapped or prepackaged cheese at the local market. The old expression "Buyer Beware" has never been more true than when buying cheese. You can ask to taste the product if you spend $20 plus per pound.

Don't be a jerk; ask for ten tastes and then buy nothing. Save those tastes for the big-box stores, where product tests are available at every corner.

2. If the cheese has an off taste, like the "refrigeration taste" I experienced, speak up. Most customers don't like complaining—I know I don't—but it's important to let the cheese person know what you are experiencing so they can offer you something else or cut you a piece from an interior part of the cheese.

I can't imagine they like having to cut from the center since they'll end up with a bunch of little pieces in their case, but I say, "So what?" If you spend that money, you want the product to be just right.

Now, it may be that the cheese is perfect, and you don't like the taste of it. Don't confuse that with an off-taste. The cheesemonger should be able to tell if something is a little off. If the cheese is fine and you don't care for it, move on and try something else. There are enough cheeses in most cheese shops to find a perfect fit.

3. Get to know your cheese person. I frequent this market every weekend, so I know the cheesemonger, and he knows me. He is learning what I like and don't like and makes a special effort to introduce me to new cheeses and offer me samples to taste.

The more I get to know him, the better service he will give me. Because I'm a good customer, he is okay with cutting the cheese in half to ensure I enjoy what I buy. It's an excellent way for this market to do business, and I reward them with my patronage.

Saturday was the first time he asked me if I wanted to know what was on sale. This is where you can get real deals for great cheese or any ingredient you buy. Stores sometimes purchase too much of one product, so they have to "move" it.

There's nothing wrong with it, but they want to "move" it before there is a problem. A relationship with your cheesemonger provides a much better opportunity for him to offer you these specials, especially if they know what you like.

So Saturday was a good day. I learned something new about cheese and arrived home with some great new cheese to enjoy and write about. I can tell you already that the Cabots Clothboud Cheddar is amazing. Look for a write-up soon.

Online Source: Cheese

I would encourage you to find a good cheese shop near you so you can get to know your cheesemongers, and they will get to know you. However, if you don't have a good local cheese shop or they don't have some of the cheeses, I recommend checking out Di Bruno Bros. online.

Di Bruno Brothers is close to home to me. They have been in Philadelphia since 1939 and prided themselves on bringing fantastic food to the city of Philadelphia and drawing food lovers together in their ‘home.’ They also have a store outside Philly where I get most of my cheese and cured meats. If you can't find a particular cheese in your market, most likely, Di Bruno Bros. will.