The Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks To Pair With Cheese

There are many non-alcoholic drinks that can be paired with cheese. The most common non-alcoholic drink to pair with cheese is cider, specifically sparkling cider, as its bubbly taste helps to wash off the cheese flavour between bites. This works especially well with rich, fatty cheeses. Other drinks that can be paired with cheese include tea, coffee, juice, kombucha, and non-alcoholic sparkling drinks.

Tea

If you like your tea strong, a full-bodied black tea such as Darjeeling, Assam, Lapsang Souchong, or Yunnan can stand up to the creaminess of a goat cheese with honey. Black tea also pairs well with a light goat cheese, especially when honey is incorporated into the mix. The powerful, rich flavour of black tea intensifies the mild goat cheese.

If you prefer a milder tea, a low-tannin green tea would work well. The clean, refreshing aroma of green tea pairs beautifully with a sharp cheese like Manchego. The nutty, sometimes gamey notes of Manchego are mellowed by green tea. Be careful not to brew the tea for too long, as it may become bitter.

For a tea with a moderate amount of tannins, try oolong tea. Oolong tea is recommended by cheese professionals for its ability to hold its own against strong-flavoured cheeses.

If you're looking for a refreshing, fermented tea, try Pu'er, a variety from China's Yunnan Province. Pu'er is especially delicious with a savoury aged Gouda, as the tea balances out the cheese's "dusty, savory, butterscotchy quality."

Finally, for a unique tea experience, head to the Korean market for Yujacha, a concentrated marmalade syrup that is diluted with hot water and enjoyed after meals as a digestif. Yujacha pairs beautifully with a fresh chèvre or aged goat cheese, bringing out the yuzu fruit's notes of lemon, mandarin, bergamot, and conifer.

Cider

Most ciders are fruity and slightly sweet, which means they complement opposing notes, like those found in an earthy cheese. A sweet sparkling cider pairs well with blue cheese, creating an exciting flavour combination. You can also pair crisp cider with Camembert and Brie cheese. This pairing is good if you want similar flavours. Fresh Chèvre (goat cheese) and cider are suitable for a sweet and light pairing that can replace wine.

If you want to stick to the classic cider and cheese combination but are looking for a more adult spin, try adding a dash of herbal flavour. For example, you could add some lavender to your cider, which would pair well with a young goat gouda.

Coffee

Espresso, for example, has rich, chocolatey notes that would complement a creamy goat's cheese. The caramelised cheese Gjetost, with its thick, fudge-like texture and sweet flavour, would also be a good match for a dark espresso.

A slightly different, nutty Brazilian coffee blend would pair well with an aged gouda, which has a slight sweetness and crunchy lactate crystals that work well with the smoothness of the coffee.

If you take your coffee with cream and sugar, the added richness and sweetness will pair well with a soft, creamy cheese like Brillat-Savarin or Cowgirl Creamery's Mt. Tam. If you take your coffee black, a rich cheese will provide a similar effect.

Fruit juices

Apple Juice

Apple juice is a classic choice that pairs well with creamy and rich soft cheeses like Camembert and Brie. The crisp, sweet flavours of apple juice cut through the thickness of these gooey cheeses. You can also add a carbonated cider or sparkling pear juice to the apple juice for a more complex pairing that will further enhance the experience.

Grape Juice

Grape juice is another option that goes well with sharper cheeses like Manchego. The tart and sweet flavours of grape juice complement the grassy, herbal, and nutty notes of Manchego cheese. As with apple juice, you can add a carbonated beverage to grape juice for some bubbles and extra flavour.

Pear Juice

The sweet and crisp flavour of pear juice is another good match for creamy and rich cheeses like Camembert and Brie. It provides a similar pairing to apple juice but with a slightly different flavour profile.

Citrus Juices

Citrus juices, such as orange, lemon, or grapefruit, can also be paired with cheese. These juices tend to go well with stronger, saltier cheeses like feta or goat cheese. The acidity of the juice helps to cut through the richness of these cheeses.

Other Fruit Juices

You can also experiment with other fruit juices, such as cherry, pomegranate, or cranberry. These juices tend to have a tart or sweet flavour profile that can complement or contrast with different types of cheese. For example, pomegranate juice is recommended as a pairing for steak, so it could also work well with strong, mature cheeses.

Chocolate drinks

Chocolate and cheese are a time-honoured duo, so why not try them together in a non-alcoholic drink pairing? The key to a successful pairing is to either match or contrast the flavours in the cheese. For example, the salty and tangy notes of a blue cheese can be complemented by a thinner, American-style hot chocolate. Alternatively, a thicker, darker drinking chocolate can be paired with a fudgy blue cheese like Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese's Bay Blue, as the chocolate's depth makes for a long, lovely, lingering minty finish.

If you're looking for a chocolate drink to pair with a cheese other than blue cheese, you could try a classic hot chocolate. The sweetness of the drink will provide a pleasant contrast to the piquant flavours found in many cheeses. For a summer option, you could try reducing the water or milk content of a hot chocolate recipe to make a thicker, darker drinking chocolate, which can be served chilled or over ice.

If you're feeling adventurous, you could also try making your own chocolate drink at home and experimenting with different types of cheese. Why not try a white chocolate drink, a chocolate milkshake, or a golden milk turmeric hot chocolate?

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