Cheese boards are always welcomed by guests. Luxury, rare cheese, even more so. These are the top five luxury cheeses to wow your dinner guests with.
Pule Cheese
From Serbia, this cheese is said to be one of the finest in the world. Made from donkey’s milk, it’s produced at a special farm where a small herd of Balkan donkeys is milked. Pule cheese has a delicate, soft texture and a mild, creamy flavor. It also has a slight sweetness and a buttery finish, thanks to the high fat content of donkey milk. Pule is traditionally aged in caves so it can develop a subtle earthy or nutty undertone. ($1,000 – $1,100 per pound)
La Bonde de Guérande
This cheese is handcrafted in the Loire Valley. The aging process is very meticulous, and only a limited quantity is produced. It’s made from cow’s milk and is often regarded for its distinct, luxurious texture and mild, buttery taste. It’s not overly salty or pungent, but its richness gives it a comforting, mild flavor that some liken to brie or camembert but with a more delicate profile. ($500 – $600 per pound)
Caciocavallo Podolico
Caciocavallo Podolico has a rich, deep, nutty flavor with savory undertones, which comes from the high-quality milk of the Podolica cows. The flavor is often compared to Parmigiano-Reggiano but with a distinct earthiness that is more robust and less sharp. When young, the cheese has a mildly tangy edge, but as it ages, the tanginess develops into more complex, buttery, and fruity notes. Some people also describe hints of spicy flavors.
White Stilton Gold
Like regular White Stilton, the base flavor is mild, creamy, and slightly tangy with a subtle sweetness. It doesn’t have the strong, sharp bite of blue Stilton but retains a creamy, crumbly texture. Many versions of White Stilton Gold feature dried fruit pieces like apricots, mango, or peach embedded in the cheese. The addition of edible gold flakes (often 22-karat gold) doesn’t affect the flavor itself but contributes to the visual appeal, making the cheese feel extra luxurious. ($400 per pound)
Moose Cheese (Älgmjölk)
Moose cheese is known for its mild, creamy flavor that is not overly sharp or strong. It is described as having a subtle, delicate taste with light dairy notes. The flavor is often described as rich, with a slight sweetness. The texture is typically creamy, with a smooth finish, making it a pleasant and mild cheese that can be eaten on its own or paired with a variety of accompaniments. It’s extremely rare, as there are only a few farms in Sweden that produce it. ($1,000 per pound)
