November 30, 2022
by Diana Rosen
The sweet edge of honey coupled with the tang of a ripe cheese is pleasure on the palate. One way to enjoy them both is with a cheese plate the traditional French alternative to dessert. Now that the choices of fine cheeses are widely available throughout the U.S., offering one to your guests is as simply as a stop at the local supermarket and a click to the Adagio Bees page.
We’re partial to both a few classics and a few newbies for a cheese flight to present to family or dinner guests or as an alternative to the afternoon tea table offerings.
Here are some of our favorites.
For blue, aged, or tangy cheeses
Blue cheese is considered ultra-tangy and strong, a perfect foil for honey; some classic blues are British Stilton, Gorgonzola, and Roquefort. Their assertiveness work well with
Sourwood,
Buckwheat (coming soon) or
Manuka honeys. Place a slice of cheese on a thick slice of fresh baguette, top with a line of honey and a walnut half: a piece of heaven.
For sharp cheeses
Sharp cheese from cheddar to Parmigiano-Reggiano or Spanish Manchego are perfect mates with
Sourwood or go wild with our signature
Bamboo honey to add a delicious complexity.
For soft cheeses
Soft creamy cheeses from Brie to triple crèmes are so receptive to our delicate
Tupelo raw honey you’ll wonder how you ever ate it alone before.
Goat cheese and Greek feta were made for a drizzle of
Blueberry honey. The subtlety and sweetness of the honey softens the tang yet creates a umami essence that is pure satisfaction. During fresh fig season, be sure to slice a few of the bulbous fruit in half, spread some goat cheese on top, and then broil until a light golden. Drizzle on the honey and enjoy!
How to Arrange a Cheese Plate
A cheese plate aka flight of cheese is generally a choice of three to six small quantities of each so as not to overpower the palate. The three principal items on the platter should be cheese, crackers or bread, and honey.
The ways of presentation are endless so we suggest the conventional first then you can experiment as you like: sliced fresh baguette, plain or toasted; water crackers or similarly unflavored ones to highlight the cheese and provide a solid foundation to build on and make the cheese neater to eat. You can, of course, leave off the cracker when eating a firm cheese.
Begin with your three selections of cheese wedges served along with sharp knives for each guest to slice how much or little they’d like or serve pre-cut small amounts. Consider ramekins or tiny saucers for one or two selections of honey and pair with your smallest spoons for an elegant style. If you’re eating family style without the need for a party-like presentation, our handy pump accessory for the jar is perfect: no drips or sticky spills!
Add other nibbles for an exciting savory/sweet taste experience: jams, chutneys, and/or nuts. Pecans, because of their inherent sweetness, goes with any cheese, especially the saltier versions. A sprinkling of raw or toasted almonds, walnuts or pistachios would be equally fantastic. Choose one or several nuts for variety.
Spanish Marcona almonds or Hawaiian Macadamia nuts are surprising additions to the cheese plate and their creamy texture and natural sweetness are lovely with sharp or tangy cheese. Consider blending our wonderful Star Thistle honey with Spanish Manchego or American White Cheddar and Marcona almonds or our
Matcha Whipped Honey with macadamias and a dollop of brie …yum!
To balance sweet and savory, top the honey with a kick or two of Sriracha or your favorite hot sauce; a tiny squeeze of lime or a few slivers of fresh garlic. Or, consider a dash of
ground ginger or
cinnamon. Better yet, stack a slice of baguette with a slice of White Cheddar and top with our
Cinnamon Whipped Honey. Yum!
Go Wild!
These are, of course, only suggested pairings and complements. Use those honeys and cheeses you love and enjoy sampling to determine what pleases you. First pair light to strong in both the honey and cheese so as not to tire the palate. Match strong cheeses with strong honeys. Even the “funkiest” of cheeses paired with the strongest honeys can be a game changer.
Another way to look at cheese and honey pairings is complement or contrast such as medium to mild honey with strong cheese or mild cheese with strong honey or, mix things up with abandon. Pairing our
Black Locust Honey with dab of ricotta and a sprinkle of toasted pine nuts can carry the pairing of honey and cheese to the next flavor level. P.S. It’s a great alternative for breakfast.
Tea is the Perfect Accompaniment!
Whether you’re presenting a flight of cheeses and honeys after dinner or for afternoon tea,
Adagio Teas are the best accompaniment.
Choosing a tea to go with scones, sandwiches, and sweets is slightly different than choosing teas for a cheese flight with its signature sweet/savory elements. We suggest experimenting with cleanly astringent, brisk, and light tea choices like our
Ceylon Sonata,
Spring Darjeeling, or
Matcha Genmaicha and your palate will say, “Yes!”
After some experimentation with honey and cheese pairings you may want to be more adventurous with teas. Like this new venture of cheese and honey pairings, it’s a delicious way to discover what sweet ‘n savory combinations you like and which tea complements them most. Happy experimenting!