Cheese and Honey Charcuterie: A Guide to Pairing

Discover the perfect pairing of cheese and honey for your next get-together! Elevate your charcuterie board with vegetarian presentations, delicious combinations, and tantalizing condiments. Sample each individually and together to find the perfect match. Start your journey towards finding the best honey for cheese today! Remember, the perfect charcuterie board includes a variety of foods such as nuts, cheese, fruit, cured meats, honey, crackers, veggies, spreads, dips, and sauces to offer your guests a wide array of choices.

How to Pair Cheese with Honey

Understanding the best honey and cheese pairings begins with understanding a bit more about the many different varietals that exist.

Good honey, like good wine, features intriguing layers of flavor and shifts in color, fragrance, thickness, and texture from varietal to varietal, telling the story of the flowers surrounding the hive and providing its nectar base.

All plants produce uniquely colored and flavored nectars and pollen, which impact the final aroma and taste of the resulting honey. Interestingly, there are now services that allow a beekeeper to break down the DNA of the various nectar sources in their honey, revealing the origins of the harvest.

Even without this, though, we know that our farm's honey is heavily influenced by black locust, clover, bee balm, lavender, and goldenrod (in the autumn), which form an intensely floral, slightly earthy final product.

Have fun taste testing when deciding on your honey with cheese pairings!

Observe each varietal and artisanal batch's color, aroma, and flavor. Honey color shifts with each harvest. Interestingly, it may be white, pale yellow, golden orange, light, dark amber, or brown.

Lighter honey has a milder flavor, and darker shades offer a more distinctive aroma and taste.

Our favorite artisanal honey includes local Wildflower, Oregon Blackberry, and Florida Orange Blossom, boasting sweet, floral notes that pair well with mild or soft cheeses. The Oregon Blackberry honey, in particular, has a crisp flavor profile that enhances the tanginess of various cheeses, making it a perfect addition to any cheese board.

Clover Honey is the "gold standard" it is light yellow-amber and boasts an earthy, floral scent that finishes with a sweet and caramel note. It is an excellent honey for cheese platters and charcuterie boards.

Sampling and Pairing Honey with Cheese is a Feast for the Senses

You can pour the sweet nectar that is honey on cheese — even “stinkier” varieties! Honey brings out the creaminess and natural flavor of cheese, complements the slightly salty flavor, and enhances the tasty tang of various types of cheese. Follow it with a nice crisp glass of wine, and experience incredible harmony in your mouth. It’s a great way to enjoy happy hour!

Indeed, creating natural beauty when designing a honey with cheese platter is not difficult. First, pick a beautiful marble block or live-edge wooden board. Choose the most beautiful organic produce and artisan roasted or raw nuts.

Find the perfect pinch pots to hold nuts, honey, olives, or fruit — before you know it, you've built a masterpiece.

Fun Honey and Cheese Pairings

• Blue cheese pairs perfectly with honey — you'll notice that the sweet notes mellow the intense flavor and fragrance of the cheese. We especially love it with our Blueberry Honey.
• Brie is lovely when drizzled with bamboo or buckwheat honey. Bake a wheel of brie with honey to caramelize the top and offer a gooey delight for your guests.

• Goat cheese and other tangy cheeses like feta benefit from a drizzle of Spring honey. Try different honey pairings and see what varietals you like the best. Pair honey with goat cheese to enhance its flavor and bring out a tasty tang.

• Ricotta is light enough for breakfast with a poached egg drizzled with a dash of spicy honey or served as a dessert paired with dried fruit or fresh berries and a sprinkle of cinnamon. On the savory side, try sliced, gently grilled zucchini painted with ricotta and sprinkled with chopped sun-dried tomato. Roll and drizzle with honey before serving.
• Hard cheeses like Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano and other aged hard cheeses, such as sharp cheddar, are delicious with a drizzle of honey. In this instance, cutting these cheeses into wedges and encouraging guests to dip them into honey may work better.

• Mild cheddar pairs wonderfully with clover honey, highlighting the tasty tang and smooth texture of the cheese. This combination is perfect for a balanced and delightful cheese board.

Serving Honey on Cheese

• Serve sliced toasted baguette or artisan crackers alongside your cheese platter, making it easier for your guests to eat.

• Drizzle honey on cheese before serving. Or serve a honey jar on the side to encourage guests to drizzle. Don’t forget to serve with cashews or spiced Marcona almonds to enhance the pairing experience. Including cured meats as an essential component of a charcuterie board adds variety and richness to your appetizers.

• And then there's wine. The right wine for these suggested pairings can complete this party, from sparkling rose champagne or Prosecco to sophisticated pinot noir and everything in between. Have fun with it.

   

At our Honey House, we sell raw honeycomb specifically for our customers looking for exciting ways to incorporate honey into their diet. Leaving the honeycomb whole is a great way to entertain guests. In addition, the comb is edible, so your guests can cut off a slice of honeycomb and top the cheese and cracker.

Are There Any General Guidelines for Pairing Cheese with Honey?

While there are no strict rules, here are some general guidelines to consider:

• Balance the flavors: Choose honey that complements the cheese without overpowering it. The goal is to enhance the cheese's taste, not mask it.
• Contrast flavors and textures: Pair creamy and mild cheeses with slightly tangy or floral honey to create a harmonious contrast. Pair stronger and more aged cheeses with robust and intense honey flavors.

• Experiment and explore: Taste different combinations to discover your personal preferences. Everyone’s palate is unique, so don’t be afraid to try unconventional pairings. Triple creams, such as Brie, pair exceptionally well with honey, enhancing the overall flavor experience with their creaminess.

  Remember, the joy of pairing cheese with honey lies in the exploration and finding combinations that delight your taste buds. Enjoy the journey of discovering new flavors!

Our Spring Honey is Outstanding and available in limited supply

Are There Any Other Foods That Go Well with Honey and Cheese Pairings?

Absolutely! While honey and cheese make a fantastic pairing on their own, you can enhance the experience by including other accompaniments. Here are a few suggestions:

• Nuts: Serve a variety of nuts such as walnuts, almonds, or pecans alongside the cheese with honey. The crunchy texture and nutty flavors add another layer of complexity to the combination.
• Fresh fruits: Include slices of ripe pears, crisp apples, or juicy grapes. The natural sweetness and juiciness of fruits can complement both the cheese and honey, creating a refreshing contrast.
• Crackers or bread: Provide a selection of plain or lightly flavored crackers, baguette slices, or artisanal bread. These act as a neutral base, allowing the cheese, honey, and other foods to shine.

These additional accompaniments can offer different textures and flavors, providing a well-rounded and satisfying cheese and honey tasting experience.

After you finish your charcuterie board, be sure to hydrate your lips sustainably with our Plastic-Free Honey Lip Balm!

Can You Recommend Specific Honey with Cheese Pairings?

Certainly! Here are a few cheese and honey pairing suggestions to get you started:

• Blue cheese with lavender honey: The bold and salty flavors of blue cheese are beautifully balanced by the floral and delicate sweetness of lavender honey.
• Brie with wildflower honey: The creamy and buttery texture of Brie pairs wonderfully with the light and floral notes of wildflower honey.
• Goat cheese with raw honeycomb: The tanginess of goat cheese is complemented by the natural sweetness and unique texture of raw honeycomb. Spread some goat cheese on a cracker, and top it with a piece of honeycomb for a delightful combination.

Any of these cheese pairings would make for a welcome addition to your table. And remember, honey and cheese are best enjoyed with friends and loved ones!