Patrick Oconnell
Honey and cheese is a magical pairing, with the sweet honey creating an exciting new flavor element that perfectly complements the saltiness of the cheese. The best honey and cheese pairings create a delicate balance of sweet, salty, bitter, tangy, and savory flavors. While any cheese would likely pair well with honey, certain types of cheese are better with honey than others. For example, blue cheese with a dollop of honey is a perfect addition to a grazing board, and fresh goat cheese and other tangy, acidic cheeses like feta are enhanced with a drizzle of honey.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese and honey pairing strategy | Pairing cheese and honey produced in the same region |
| Best type of honey | Runny honey or set honey, depending on personal preference |
| Best cheeses for breakfast | Young, creamy and milky cheeses like Ricotta, Cottage Cheese, and Burrata |
| Best cheeses for daytime | More mature and intense flavoured cheeses like La Tur, Selles-sur-Cher and Gorgonzola Dolce |
| Best cheeses for night | Harder cheeses like Pecorino or Cheddar |
| Honey and cheese taste groupings | Sweet, salty, bitter, tangy, and savoury |
| Cheeses that go well with honey | Blue Cheese, Goat Cheese, Feta, Brie, Triple creams, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Roquefort, Cheddar |
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What You'll Learn
Honey and cheese pairings
Honey and cheese are a magical pairing. The sweet honey creates an exciting contrast to the saltiness of the cheese, enhancing its flavour rather than smothering it. The best honey and cheese pairings create a delicate balance of sweet, salty, bitter, tangy, and savoury flavours.
There are several ways to approach honey and cheese pairings. One strategy is to pair honey and cheese produced in the same region. The thinking goes: "if it grows together, it goes together". The flavours of the honey and the cheese will complement each other because the livestock are grazing on the same foliage that the bees are. One example of this is pairing Catskill honey with goat cheese, both from upstate New York.
Another strategy is to pair varietals of honey and cheese that work particularly well together. For example, French chestnut honey has a very distinctive flavour profile and needs a strong cheese that can hold its own against its bitterness, such as Roquefort or gorgonzola. Orange blossom honey tends to be a Middle Eastern or Northern African flavour and pairs well with sheep's milk cheeses, which are prevalent in those regions.
The texture and consistency of the honey and cheese can also be considered when creating pairings. Runny honey works well with young, creamy cheeses such as ricotta, cottage cheese, and burrata. Harder cheeses like pecorino or cheddar pair better with set honey, like Scottish Heather Honey.
Finally, the time of day can also be considered when pairing honey and cheese. Creamy, milky cheeses like ricotta, cottage cheese, and burrata are best for breakfast, while slightly more mature and intense-flavoured cheeses like La Tur, Selles-sur-Cher, and Gorgonzola Dolce are better during the day. At night, it's time to bring out the "big-hitters", especially if the cheese is the last course of the meal.
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Honey and cheese by time of day
Honey and cheese are a magical combination, and the perfect pairing depends on the time of day.
Morning
For breakfast, opt for younger, creamier cheeses such as ricotta, cottage cheese, or burrata. Drizzling honey over these mild cheeses adds a beautiful new flavour dimension. For a tasty breakfast or dessert, try ricotta topped with figs, apricots, or berries, and a drizzle of honey.
Mid-Morning or Afternoon
For a mid-morning or afternoon snack, choose slightly more mature and intense cheeses. Try La Tur, Selles-sur-Cher, or Gorgonzola Dolce with a drizzle of honey on a cracker. If you prefer harder cheeses, like cheddar or pecorino, a set honey like Scottish Heather Honey is a great choice.
Evening
In the evening, bring out the "big-hitters". If serving a cheeseboard as the last course of a meal, consider a blue cheese with a dollop of honey, or warm brie and triple creams with a drizzle of honey and crunchy nuts.
Anytime
Of course, honey and cheese can be enjoyed at any time of day. A classic cheese and honey pairing is simply a wedge of cheese with a drizzle of honey, or a jar of honey on the side. For a more indulgent option, try baked cheese with hot honey.
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Honey and cheese by texture
Honey and cheese is a magical pairing that can be enjoyed at almost any time of the day. The sweet flavour of honey adds an exciting new element to a cheese plate, creating a delicate balance of sweet, salty, bitter, tangy, and savoury tastes. The best honey and cheese pairings complement each other, with the honey enhancing rather than overpowering the flavour of the cheese.
When it comes to texture, soft and creamy cheeses like Ricotta, Cottage Cheese, and Burrata go well with runny honey for breakfast. For a more mature and intense flavour, try La Tur, Selles-sur-Cher, or Gorgonzola Dolce with a drizzle of honey during the day. Harder cheeses like Pecorino or Cheddar pair better with set honey, such as Scottish Heather Honey, which has a more solid consistency.
For a unique experience, try baked cheese with hot honey. Remove the cheese from its wooden box, wrap the box in foil, and place the cheese back inside. Poke a small hole in the top of the cheese, insert a garlic clove, and drizzle with wine before baking until bubbly. Then, top with hot honey and serve with charred bread or crackers.
If you're creating a cheese board, consider adding a jar of honey or a piece of honeycomb on the side. This allows your guests to experiment with different combinations and find their perfect pairing. Remember, the key is to use honey sparingly to enhance the flavour of the cheese.
Finally, when it comes to specific cheese and honey pairings, here are some suggestions:
- Blue Cheese with honey and walnuts
- Fresh Goat Cheese, Feta, and other tangy cheeses with a drizzle of honey
- Ricotta topped with figs, apricots, or berries and drizzled with honey
- Parmigiano-Reggiano with honey to enhance its salty, nutty flavour
- Brie and triple creams served warm with honey and crunchy nuts
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Honey and cheese by region
While there are no hard and fast rules for pairing honey and cheese, the intensity of the honey is a good starting point for choosing the intensity of the cheese. For instance, a mild honey with light and delicate notes such as sage, black locust, or fireweed, can be paired with a mild cheese. On the other hand, pungent or intense honey with notes of eucalyptus, buckwheat, or oilseed rape can be matched with a strong-flavoured cheese.
Middle Eastern, Northern African
Middle Eastern and Northern African honeys, such as orange blossom honey, tend to go well with sheep's milk cheeses.
France
French honey with a distinctive chestnut flavour pairs well with a Roquefort cheese. A creamy French cow's milk cheese with a bloomy rind, such as a Brie en Croute, is the perfect match for a sweet and spicy honey. St. Nuage, a triple-crème cow’s milk cheese made in Burgundy, France, has a mild, buttery, rich, and tangy flavour with hints of mushroom and a nice salt balance. It can be paired with a honey that complements these flavours. Bleu d’Auvergne is a French cheese from the Auvergne region of south-central France. It has a creamy ivory colour with blue-green veins and a smooth texture. Its flavour is assertive, grassy, herbaceous, and develops a spicy, peppery, salty, and pungent taste with age.
Italy
A hard and sharp Italian cheese can be paired with honey, as one user on Reddit discovered when their sister brought home cheese and honey from Italy. Gorgonzola Dolce, a soft, blue, buttery cheese made with pasteurized cow’s milk, has a mild sweet flavour with a slightly milky tang.
England
Keen’s Cheddar, a raw cow’s milk cheese from Somerset, England, is among the country’s finest farmhouse cheddars. It has a hard texture, a grassy flavour, and a hint of spiciness. This classic cheddar pairs well with Jameson Honey.
New Zealand
A strong cheddar from New Zealand made by Biddy Fraser-Davies is recommended to be paired with honey.
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Honey and baked cheese
Honey and cheese is a classic combination that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. The sweetness of honey is the perfect contrast to the saltiness of the cheese, creating a delicate balance of flavours. While any cheese would go well with honey, some types of cheese are just a little better with honey than others.
Blue cheese with a dollop of honey is a great addition to a grazing board, especially when served with halved walnuts. Fresh goat cheese and other tangy, acidic cheeses like feta are also delicious when paired with honey. For a great cheese spread, bring your goat cheese to room temperature and mix in honey and herbs. Serve this alongside your favourite cracker.
Ricotta topped with figs, apricots, berries, and drizzled with honey can be served for breakfast or even as a dessert. Parmigiano-Reggiano's salty, nutty flavour is also enhanced with a drizzle of sweet honey. Honey garlic pasta, which uses honey and parmesan, is a delicious dinner option. Brie and triple creams are best served warm with a drizzle of honey and a garnish of crunchy nuts.
Baked cheese with hot honey is another fantastic option. To make this, take the cheese out of its wooden box, wrap the box in aluminium foil, and place the cheese back inside. Poke a small hole in the top of the cheese and push in a garlic clove. Drizzle wine into the hole and over the top of the cheese. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until hot and bubbly. Drizzle the cheese with hot honey and serve immediately with charred bread and/or crackers.
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Frequently asked questions
Blue cheese, Parmesan, Brie, Camembert, goat cheese, feta, ricotta, and cheddar all go well with honey.
Honey derived from orange blossom, lavender, raspberry blossom, or clover is recommended. Lighter honeys are better for milder cheeses, while darker honeys are more distinctive in aroma and taste.
Honey can be drizzled over a wedge of cheese or served on the side of a cheese plate. Honeycomb can also be served with cheese, either in chunks or as a whole piece with honey inside.
Honey enhances the creaminess and natural flavour of cheese, complementing its saltiness and tanginess.
