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How to make a cheese board and tasting experience

Making the perfect cheese board can elevate a festive gathering into a memorable get-together. It all starts with the perfect cheese board: a selection of quality cheeses and delicious pairings. But why stop there? With the addition of a few sensorial elements, you can create a tasting experience – a culinary event your guests will savour.

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Preparation: how to choose the board, cheeses and pairings

Choose a beautiful board

The board's material sets the stage, so take your time before you pick. Wood, slate, and ceramic all look good but create different atmospheres, so it is up to you to decide what fits your event. No matter what material you choose, make sure that the board is big enough to fit all your cheeses and pairings without being too crowded. For a harmonious look, consider choosing matching serving plates and bowls.

Pick the perfect cheeses and pairings

Someone said good food is like art on a plate and the perfect cheese board is no different. Creating your artwork starts with choosing a variety of cheeses that your guests will enjoy and that look great together. Think about including different types of cheese that vary in texture, flavour and strength. There are several types of cheese – cream cheese, hard cheese and mould cheeses ranging from subtle brie to a stronger blue mould cheese.

Our professional chef and food scientist have chosen these cheeses and pairings for our featured cheese board. The foods are selected for their varied taste notes, textures and hues. Together they make a range of tasting bites that are sure to wow your guests.

Arrange Castello® Danablu  Blue Cheese on a spoon with fresh fig and thyme.

Danablu Blue Cheese leaps to the fore with its characteristic salty, somewhat robust, and umami-rich flavour. Those notes are joined by the natural sweetness of the fresh figs, adding a mild, honey-like note that counters the sharpness of the cheese. The addition of fresh thyme balances the flavour profile, ensuring neither the sweetness of the figs nor the saltiness of the cheese overwhelm.

Present our Castello® Gouda  Cheese on a cracker with cranberries, caramelised almonds, and thyme.

Gouda Cheese has a mild but slightly nutty flavour and is firm yet smooth in texture. When combined with caramelised almonds, the caramel and nutty undertones of the cheese are heightened, while the texture of the bite is gifted a crispy addition. Both pair well with the slightly tart cranberries, which add freshness and balance the flavours. Lastly, the herbal note of fresh thyme marries the flavour profile, making the combination delicate.

Castello® Aged Havarti Cheese works perfectly on a cracker with orange marmalade, caramelised almonds, and fresh rosemary.

The nutty undertone of the cheese makes a striking contrast to the fresh yet sweet notes of the orange marmalade. The pairing of caramelised almonds adds a sweet, crunchy texture, and enhances the nuttiness of the cheese. Fresh rosemary balances the bite profile with its slightly bitter and aromatic notes that marry the contrasting taste profiles.

Enjoy Castello® Creamy Havarti Cheese on a cracker with fig marmalade, fresh fig, and thyme.

Your tastebuds will pick up the unmistakable character of the Havarti, with its delightful combination of richness and depth. Next comes a subtle touch of sweetness from the fresh fig and marmalade, adding a delicate contrast to the boldness of the cheese. The thyme adds nuance with its gentle herbal notes. For an alternative to the fig marmalade, try caramelised onions for their natural sweetness and savoury richness.

Cut the cheese into various shapes and sizes

Wondering how to cut the cheese for a cheese board? Cut the cheeses into a range of formats for visual and tactile interest: small dice, slices, and wedges. Serve some cheese as large wedges and remember to include a cheese knife.

The amount of cheese per person for a cheese board depends on how many different cheeses and pairings you intend to serve, and the occasion in which you will serve them. Our general recommendations for cheese servings (per person): Snack: 25-50g. Dessert: 50-75g. Lunch: 75-125g. Dinner: 250g.

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Tips for how to arrange the cheese board

A cheese board can be arranged in many different ways, so in this section, we present some tips to make yours look just as good as it tastes. We promise it is easier than you might think to make a cheese board that is both a feast for the eyes and mouth.

Place the cheeses first

Start by placing the cheeses on your board, assigning a portion of the board to each variety of cheese. Place your cheeses around the board in order of strength. So, imagining your board is a clock face, place the Creamy Havarti Cheese at 2 o’clock, Gouda Cheese at 6 o’clock, the Aged Havarti Cheese at 10 o’clock, and the Danablu Blue Cheese in the centre. This creates a sense of order, heightening visual interest, expectation, and flavour perception. Additionally, directing your guests to taste in this sequence will allow their palates to fully appreciate the subtle flavours of each cheese before moving on to a more intense variety.

Organise pairings to match your bites

Now place natural pairings and pre-prepared tasing bites beside each cheese, within its portion of the board. This will nudge your guests to start with your recommended pairing combinations. Try to leave space around your items to avoid overcrowding your board and overwhelming your guests. When you find the right balance, the board will look full and inviting.

Make final decorative touches

Finish the board with fresh herbs or edible flowers. Rosemary or thyme gift the board their fresh green colours and calming aromas, while extra colour can be introduced with edible flowers. Tying one or two larger cheese wedges with yarn or narrow ribbon can also make for an elegant detail.

Timing is crucial

To get the best flavours from your cheese, serve it at room temperature and for no longer than three hours. Aim to serve the board about 30 minutes after taking the cheese from the fridge. The fats in cheese contract when cold, making the flavours they hold harder to taste.

How to create your sensorial experience

Let’s now look at the simple yet powerful elements you can introduce to build a sensorial experience around your cheese board. A memorable way to entertain your guests this festive season. 

Connect through scent

Aromas are intimately linked to taste, with 80-90 % of our taste perception being down to smell. As well as the fresh herbs on your cheese board, add scented candles to the space. They will calm and relax your guests, readying them to be in the moment.

Don’t overlook light

Light is proven to affect our mood, level of comfort, and expectation of food. Avoid harsh, bright artificial light, which can make diners uncomfortable. Instead, opt for soft low lightning to complement your scented candles. Though softy light is preferred, keep your cheese board adequately lit. Colour perception affects taste. Hide the colour of the food and you might reduce your guests’ enjoyment.

Create the right soundtrack

Choosing the right soundscape for your tasting experience can elevate your guests’ perception of taste and enjoyment. Music speed can also influence how fast we eat, so choose music with a calm and moderate tempo. This will relax your guests and calm the mind, heighten focus, and elevate our flavour experience.

Host the experience

The final ingredient is you. Be the captain of your journey through taste. Guide your guests, describing where the cheeses are from, how they are made, or what flavour characteristics your guests should expect. You could create a list of your favourite cheese and pairing combinations. And as your guests indulge, get them to share the experience of each bite. This will focus their attention and create a deeper connection with the food.

Tasting experiences like this begin with the perfect cheese board. And this year, you can nudge your loved ones to make one by gifting them a Christmas tasting box.

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