Bushra Griffith
Honey and cheese is a match made in heaven. The intense sweetness of honey mellows out the strong flavour of cheese. Brie, triple cremes, blue cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano, cheddar, and goat cheese are all delicious with a drizzle of honey. For a more mature and intense flavour, try La Tur, Selles-sur-Cher, or Gorgonzola Dolce with honey. If you're feeling adventurous, try pairing your honey with a strong blue cheese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hard cheeses | Cheddar, Pecorino, Comte, Fiore Sardo, Isle of Mull |
| Blue cheeses | Blue cheese, Roquefort, Stilton, Gorgonzola |
| Tangy, acidic cheeses | Feta, goat's cheese |
| Aged cheeses | Parmigiano-Reggiano, sharp cheddar |
| Triple cremes | Brie |
| Sheep's milk cheeses | With orange blossom honey |
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What You'll Learn
Brie and triple cream cheeses
When choosing a honey to pair with Brie or triple cream cheeses, consider the flavour profile of the honey. While most grocery store honeys will have a mild and pleasant flavour, they may not have the complexity to stand up to the cheese. For a more memorable pairing, seek out honeys with distinctive flavour profiles, such as orange blossom, lavender, or clover. These honeys will add a unique twist to your cheese and honey combination.
If you're feeling adventurous, try experimenting with different types of honey to find the perfect match for your Brie or triple cream cheese. Chestnut honey, for example, has a bitter flavour that can stand up to stronger cheeses. Alternatively, you could explore regional pairings, matching honeys and cheeses from the same region. For instance, orange blossom honey, which is commonly found in the Middle East and North Africa, pairs well with sheep's milk cheeses that are prevalent in those regions.
When serving Brie or triple cream cheese with honey, consider the time of day and the intensity of the cheese. During the day, opt for a slightly more mature and intense flavoured cheese, such as La Tur, Selles-sur-Cher, or Gorgonzola Dolce. In the evening, you may want to bring out the "big-hitters", especially if the cheese course is the last course of the meal. Strong flavoured cheeses like Roquefort, Stilton, or Comte will stand up to the sweetness of the honey and create a heavenly pairing.
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Blue cheese
There are many varieties of blue cheese, including Roquefort, Stilton, Gorgonzola, and Fiore Sardo. Each variety has its own unique flavour and texture, depending on the type of milk used, the ageing process, and the specific mould culture.
When pairing blue cheese with honey, it is essential to consider the intensity of the honey's sweetness. A mild, pleasant honey from a grocery store will add a subtle touch of sweetness to the cheese. However, for a more complex flavour profile, consider a gourmet honey named after flowers, such as orange blossom, lavender, or clover. These honeys often have unique flavour notes that can complement the sharpness of blue cheese.
To elevate your cheese and honey pairing, consider adding a few simple garnishes. Nuts, such as walnuts or pecans, can provide a crunchy texture and a subtle earthy flavour. Fresh or dried fruits, like figs or apricots, can also enhance the sweetness of the honey and create a delightful contrast with the salty blue cheese.
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Parmigiano-Reggiano and other aged cheeses
The sweetness of the honey will mellow out the strong flavour of the cheese. You could also try a more complex honey, like orange blossom, lavender, or clover, which you can find at a gourmet store or farmer's market.
If you're looking for a daytime snack, try a slightly more mature and intense flavoured cheese, like La Tur, Selles-sur-Cher, or Gorgonzola Dolce, with a drizzle of honey.
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Harder cheeses, like Pecorino or cheddar
When choosing a honey to pair with harder cheeses, it is also worth considering the region. For example, orange blossom honey is a Middle Eastern, North African flavour that goes well with sheep's milk cheeses, which are prevalent in that region. Chestnut honey has a very distinctive flavour profile and needs a cheese that can hold its own against its bitterness, such as Roquefort or Gorgonzola.
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Fresh goat cheese and other tangy, acidic cheeses
Fresh goat's cheese and other tangy, acidic cheeses like feta are a great match for honey. The sweetness of the honey subdues the tanginess of the cheese, creating a beautiful flavour.
When choosing a honey to pair with these cheeses, it's best to opt for a complex, memorable honey with a distinctive flavour profile. Look for honey named after flowers, such as orange blossom, lavender, and clover. These honeys often have regional flavour profiles that can be matched with the cheese. For example, orange blossom honey tends to be a Middle Eastern or Northern African flavour that goes well with sheep's milk cheeses. Chestnut honey, on the other hand, has a bitter flavour that needs a strong cheese to stand up to it, such as Roquefort or Gorgonzola.
If you're looking for a more intense flavour experience, try pairing your cheese and honey with a garnish of nuts. This adds a crunchy texture and a savoury note to the sweet and tangy combination. You can also experiment with different types of honey, such as runny or set honey, to find your preferred consistency and flavour.
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Frequently asked questions
Brie, triple cremes, blue cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano, sharp cheddar, and goat cheese all go well with honey.
Scottish Heather Honey, orange blossom honey, and chestnut honey are all good options.
Try pairing blue cheese with Scottish Heather Honey, or a sheep's milk cheese with orange blossom honey.
