The Perfect Cheese And Truffle Pairing: A Guide

The rich, earthy flavour of truffles makes them a luxurious addition to many types of cheeses. While truffles can be quite expensive and hard to find, they are a decadent treat, especially when paired with cheese. From gouda to pecorino, and even goat's cheese, there are many types of cheeses that go well with truffles.

Truffle cheese and wine

Truffle cheese is a luxurious and decadent treat, with its rare and aromatic nature making it an expensive but indulgent delight. The rich umami flavour of black truffles, in particular, is a popular delicacy. When paired with cheese, truffles create an earthy, mushroomy flavour that complements a wide variety of cheeses.

Truffle Cheese Varieties

Truffles are often paired with a variety of cheeses, from gouda to pecorino and even oozy goat's cheese. Some popular truffle cheeses include:

• Truffle Gouda: A classic Dutch cheese that is elevated by the addition of mushroomy black truffle.
• White Truffle Moliterno: A sheep's milk cheese from Sardinia, featuring rare white truffles, making it an exceptionally indulgent treat.
• Truffle Cheddar: A combination of classic sharp cheddar with the rich, earthy aroma of black truffles.
• Truffle Brie: The creamy richness of traditional brie is enhanced by the earthy, luxurious notes of Italian black truffle.
• Truffle Raclette: A classic Swiss cheese with a twist, truffle raclette is perfect for melting and pairs well with potatoes, pasta, and even burgers.

Wine Pairings

When it comes to wine, truffle cheeses pair exceptionally well with Pinot Noirs that have earthy aromas. The earthiness of the wine complements the truffle's umami flavours, creating a well-rounded tasting experience. For a holiday starter, a truffle cheese platter can be paired with champagne or dry cider.

Truffle cheese and beer

The rich, earthy flavour of truffles is a luxurious addition to many types of cheeses. The umami taste of truffles is a perfect match for certain beers, whiskies, and wines.

Truffle Cheese

The most popular truffle cheeses are made from sheep's milk, gouda, pecorino, and goat's milk. The addition of truffles to these cheeses creates an earthy, nutty, and sweet flavour. The truffle aroma is pungent and aromatic, making it a unique and indulgent treat.

Beer Pairing

When pairing truffle cheese with beer, wheat beers are often a good choice. The crisp, refreshing taste of wheat beer can help to balance the earthy, rich flavour of the truffle cheese. The carbonation in wheat beer can also help to cleanse the palate, making it a good choice for stronger-tasting cheeses.

Other Pairings

For those who enjoy whisky, truffle cheese can be a great pairing. The strong, peaty flavours of whisky can complement the earthy notes of the truffle. For a cocktail pairing, a New York Sour, an Old Fashioned, or a Manhattan can also work well with truffle cheese.

When it comes to wine, a Pinot Noir with earthy aromas is a good choice to match the flavour of the truffle. A dry cider can also be a good pairing, especially with a truffle-infused gouda.

Truffle cheese and cocktails

Truffle cheese is a luxurious and decadent treat, with the rare and aromatic truffle adding an earthy intensity to the creamy richness of cheese. While wine, beer, and whisky are popular beverage pairings with truffle cheese, cocktails can also complement this indulgent delicacy.

New York Sour

The New York Sour is a classic cocktail known for its perfect balance of sweet, sour, and spirit. The combination of whiskey, lemon juice, and a float of red wine creates a complex flavor profile that pairs delightfully with the earthy notes of truffle cheese. The whiskey in the cocktail adds a sophisticated depth, while the lemon juice provides a refreshing acidity.

Old Fashioned

When it comes to cocktails, the Old Fashioned is a timeless classic. This cocktail, made with whiskey, bitters, sugar, and a twist of citrus, offers a nuanced and well-balanced flavor profile. The robust and earthy notes of truffle cheese are complemented by the warm spice and subtle sweetness of an Old Fashioned.

Manhattan

Another whiskey-based cocktail, the Manhattan, is a perfect match for truffle cheese. The combination of whiskey, sweet vermouth, bitters, and a brandied cherry creates a sophisticated and elegant drink. The savory and earthy flavors of the truffle cheese are enhanced by the sweet and spicy notes of the Manhattan.

Other Cocktail Options

While the above cocktails are excellent choices, there are also other cocktail options that can pair well with truffle cheese. Consider a cocktail that features aromatic bitters, such as an Amaro-based cocktail like a Negroni or an Aperol Spritz. The bitter and herbal notes in these cocktails can complement the earthy and savory characteristics of truffle cheese. Additionally, a Martini, with its crisp and clean flavors, can provide a refreshing contrast to the richness of truffle cheese.

In conclusion, when pairing cocktails with truffle cheese, look for drinks that have a balance of spirit, bitterness, and subtle sweetness. The earthy and savory notes of truffle cheese are elevated by the complex flavors found in these cocktails, creating a harmonious and indulgent tasting experience.

Truffle cheese and tea

The rich umami flavour of black truffles is a luxurious addition to many types of cheeses. Rare and aromatic, truffles are harvested near hazelnut trees in regions of France and Italy using special truffle-hunting dogs and pigs. Their elusive nature makes them expensive and hard to find, but their earthy, decadent, and trendy flavour makes them a popular ingredient.

Truffle Cheese

Truffle cheese is an indulgent, extravagant, and trendy treat. The strong, earthy, and pungent aroma of truffles is conveyed by the fat in cheese, which is why it works with such a wide variety of cheeses.

Some popular truffle cheeses include:

• Truffle Gouda – a Dutch classic, upgraded with the addition of mushroomy black truffle. Try it with a little truffle honey to make the flavour pop.
• Truffle Cheddar – a delightful marriage of classic sharp cheddar and the rich, earthy aroma of black truffles.
• Truffle Burrata – an Italian cheese, already extravagant, but pushed over the edge with the addition of black truffles. Cut into a ball of burrata and not only does the usual cream and mozzarella ooze out, but so does the aroma of black summer truffles.
• Truffle Raclette – an American raclette cheese studded with black truffles, a bit more crumbly than the original, but just as delicious.
• White Truffle Moliterno – a sheep's milk cheese from Sardinia, much more rare than its black truffle counterpart, making this an exceptionally indulgent treat. White truffles are introduced four months into its aging, imparting beautiful chocolate-coloured craggy veins.

Tea Pairings

Puerh tea is mentioned as a possible pairing with truffle cheese. However, there are many other teas that could complement the earthy, nutty, sweet, buttery, and garlicky flavours of truffle cheese.

Some tea pairings to consider:

• Oolong tea – a semi-oxidised tea with a complex flavour profile that can include sweet, nutty, fruity, and floral notes. The natural sweetness and nuttiness of oolong tea could complement the sweet, nutty, and buttery flavours found in truffle cheese.
• Genmaicha – a Japanese green tea blended with roasted brown rice. The toasty, nutty, and savoury flavours of genmaicha could pair well with the earthy and nutty flavours of truffle cheese.
• Lapsang Souchong – a smoked black tea with a strong, smoky flavour. The smoky and earthy flavours of Lapsang Souchong could enhance the earthy and nutty flavours of truffle cheese.
• Chamomile tea – a herbal tea made from the flowers and leaves of the chamomile plant. The sweet and floral notes of chamomile tea could provide an interesting contrast to the earthy and nutty flavours of truffle cheese.
• Mint tea – a herbal tea made from mint leaves, known for its refreshing and invigorating flavour. The cool and crisp flavour of mint tea could provide a refreshing contrast to the richness of truffle cheese.

When pairing tea with truffle cheese, consider the specific flavours of the cheese and choose a tea that will complement or contrast with those flavours. The key is to experiment and find the combinations that you enjoy the most.

Truffle cheese and food pairings

Truffle cheese is a luxurious and decadent treat, with rare truffles adding an earthy, umami flavour to a wide variety of cheeses. From silky to crumbly, mild to wild, there is a truffle cheese to suit all tastes.

Wine

Truffle cheese pairs well with wine, especially dry cider and champagne, which make for an excellent holiday starter. For a more specific pairing, a nice dry cider goes well with a luscious goat cheese masterpiece like Humboldt Fog, which is made in California by Cypress Grove. Sparkling Lambrusco is also a great choice, especially when paired with Marenchino Regal Al Tartufo, a raw sheep's milk cheese with just the right amount of black truffle. For those who prefer red wine, Pinot Noirs with earthy aromas are a good match for any truffle cheese.

Beer and Spirits

Wheat beers stand up to truffle cheese nicely, while whiskey and whisky are also good pairings.

Cocktails

For cocktails, New York Sours, Old Fashioneds, and Manhattans all pair delightfully with truffle cheeses.

Tea

For a non-alcoholic option, puerh tea is likely to pair well with truffled cheeses.

Frequently asked questions