Reasons To Talk To A Cheese Expert Before Buying

Buying cheese can be as simple or complicated as you choose to make it. If you already know what you like, then you may not think you need the help of a cheese expert. Despite this, they can still help you find a new cheese to try or help you learn more about your favorites. Cheese novices will notice lots of benefits from talking to cheese experts, and that is why most cheese retailers have them on hand. Even online retailers will either have an expert on hand to chat with online or include detailed information in their product descriptions. This description will include all the information a cheese expert would give you in store so you can get the same benefits.

Help For Specific Situations

Perhaps the time that a cheese expert will be the most helpful is when you are looking for cheese for a specific situation. Maybe you have a wine that you really want to pair with cheese. Or maybe you need to know which cheese goes best with a particular meat. You might even have guests coming over who you truly want to impress with a unique cheese. No matter the situation, a cheesemonger should be able to suggest a few options or at least a general category of cheeses that would work in your situation.

Narrowing Down Choices

For those who are unfamiliar with cheese, it can be incredibly daunting to try to pick the right one. This is particularly true when you are shopping at a specialty retailer as they tend to have an incredibly wide selection of cheeses you haven’t heard of. Instead of randomly picking the right one, you can talk to a cheese expert and ask for advice. Just be warned that most will not have one favorite cheese; they will have several depending on the type of flavor or texture you want.

Picking Pairings

Similar to their ability to help you in a particular situation, cheesemongers can also be incredibly useful when coming up with pairings. When you select the cheese you want, simply ask for pairing suggestions. They should be able to offer ideal wine, beer, meat, or even fruit to serve with your cheese.

Learning About The Cheese

Finally, cheese experts can help you learn a great deal about your cheese. Instead of simply picking one because you like it, you can know everything about it. Learn about its origin, history, texture, flavor, milk source, and even which cheeses are similar. You will come out of every conversation with a cheese expert smarter than you were before.