Updated on Oct. 02, 2024
A cheese of the month club that delivers straight to your door? It doesn't get much 'grater' than that! Choose from these options for every cheese lover.
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For some people, flowers are the way to their heart. For others, it’s baked goods like cookies. And for others still, it’s cheese. I’m in that last camp and, lucky for me, cheese is in the middle of a renaissance. The rise in popularity of cheese boards has prompted a mainstream appreciation for cheeses other than yellow cheddar and holey Swiss. There’s Manchego, Gruyere, Camembert, Stilton and so much more to explore. Yes, even the ooey-gooey and the ultra pungent deserve accolades.
One straightforward way to experience a smattering of cheeses—and on a consistent basis—is by subscribing to a cheese of the month club. There are more than a dozen out there, and although there’s no such thing as too much cheese (at least in my book), you’ll probably only want to sign up for one at a time.
According to Academy of Cheese writer Rachel Holding, cheese of the month clubs are a great way to discover or have regular access to artisanal cheeses that may only be available from specialist fine food retailers. Therefore, they make an excellent gift for dairy fiends.
“Because the vendor chooses the cheeses, the recipient will often get to explore new varieties they wouldn’t necessarily pick from their supermarket or general grocery store. In addition, most cheese club boxes will be accompanied by tasting notes or even a virtual tasting class to give the recipient the history of the cheese, information on the cheesemaker and even pairing suggestions,” she says.
This list identifies first-class clubs that will fit your specific requirements, whether you want to educate yourself on the beloved dairy product or support a small cheese-making business.
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When it comes to food of the month clubs, Murray’s reigns supreme for its cheese of the month club. Rather, its cheese of the month clubs. Our favorite is the Cheese Explorer’s Club. We love its bold, outside-the-box cheeses from domestic and global cheesemakers.
Sure, we’re here for the hunks of cheese (each box arrives with three), but you’ll also sometimes find extras, such as crackers, charcuterie and spreads. There are even fun facts and serving tips, so you can learn while you nibble. This subscription is straightforward in nature, but its exceptional content makes it stand out. No bells and whistles are needed for Murray’s and its cheeses to be the best.
“I got three herby Vermont Creamery Goat Cheeses in the first box of the month. The second month’s box had more variety: Murray’s Gemma Di Langa, Meredith Dairy Sheep and Goat Cheese and Alisios,” says Senior Editor Caroline Lubinsky of her three-month subscription.
At around $70 per month, it’s a bit on the pricey side. Some months also impress more than others, as Caroline notes. “The first box I received definitely wasn’t a good value. You could buy a single sleeve of that goat cheese for around $5 online, and three of those would only equal about $15. The second box was a better value. One cheese is around $17 on its own and another is $24, and I couldn’t find the third cheese for sale anywhere,” she says. This makes sense, as one inclusion in each box is a club-exclusive pick.
Shipping cheese isn’t an easy business, and throughout the three-month summertime subscription, Caroline never once encountered a spoiled package. “The cheese was sent in an insulated cardboard box with reusable ice packs. I did not have any issues with the cheese being damaged during delivery.”
Whether you’re gifting as a thoughtful multi-month surprise for your favorite cheese lover or setting up the subscription for yourself, expect Murray’s to wow you with its quality and customer service.
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Averaging 4.7 stars, the Harry & David Fruit and Cheese Club is an all-time subscription for foodies. In each box, one artisanal cheese and one seasonal fruit team up to tantalize taste buds and take grazing boards to the next level. Before you even place your order, you’ll know what’s in store—the contents of the next 12 boxes are outlined on the website.
They make so much sense, too! Cherries and Brie in July? Absolutely. Pears and blue cheese in December? Sign us up. Every intentional, seasonal selection is meant to pair together for a fair price. A yearlong subscription to this club costs hundreds—yes, hundreds!—less than some other clubs on this list, averaging out at less than $40 per month.
My March shipment came with six huge HoneyBells accompanied by an 8-ounce slab of Wood River Creamery cheddar gruyère. As someone notoriously picky about her oranges, I was super impressed with the quality of the produce. The HoneyBell citruses were big and juicy and offered just the right touch of sweetness. The cheddar gruyère was creamy and had a pleasant sharpness that contrasted well with the HoneyBells’ mild flavor.
While this club won’t win awards for offering rare or exotic cheeses, it’s the perfect way to try a variety of fun pairings with some of the finest produce available. As an added bonus, the portions are a phenomenal value—each box serves around six people.
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From sea to shining sea, there’s good cheese to eat. And no subscription makes that quite so clear as the Williams Sonoma 12 Months of U.S. Cheese subscription. The yearlong gift of the month service delivers American cheeses straight to your stoop. Over the course of 12 months, you’ll receive (and devour!) 39 cheeses, averaging about three types per box.
“This was a lovely gift experience,” notes Senior Shopping Editor, Katie Bandurski. “The way it was packaged really elevates the whole box. The box was in great shape, and the entire thing was lined with insulated material.”
Katie’s box included three large wedges of cheese from Beehive Cheese. While they were all Utah cheddars, each offered a distinct flavor profile. The only thing missing was a brochure, which Katie would have liked as she’s interested in each offering’s origin. That said, she was able to enjoy the process of creating her own tasting notes.
“Big John’s Cajun was a little more tender and had a delicious, slightly spicy flavor. Sea Hive had the most mild flavor. The honey notes were barely there, making it a very neutral pairing. Barely Buzzed had a really nutty, savory flavor. The espresso added some depth while the lavender added a slightly sweet, earthy note. All three varieties were nice and distinct. They each had varying flavor notes that were easy to tell apart.”
It’s an excellent value for people who want to see the very best that America has to offer. Plus, since each box’s inclusions are clearly laid out on the order page, you can secure any desired pairings ahead of time for parties or small plate dinners.
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Are you someone who wishes they could eat mac and cheese for every meal? With the Murray’s Mac and Cheese Club, you can! Each month brings with it a shipment of two 32-ounce frozen mac and cheese portions. One is always their famous, classic cheddar flavor. The other is a different flavor each month that’s exclusive to the club. Whenever you’re craving a hot comfort meal, simply pull the package from the freezer and pop it in the oven for an easy, cheesy experience.
“The packaging was very solid. The mac and cheese was packed in a large cardboard box with ice to keep it cold,” says Caroline. “I received both a regular and spinach and artichoke mac. The mac and cheese looked good right out of the box, and both were still nicely chilled from the ice. I was a little surprised to see that they were a bit smaller than I expected for the price, but they looked appetizing in the pans.”
While the packaging is more practical than it is pretty, this delicious subscription makes a fun gift for the right person. Caroline notes you could easily gift this to a college student or anyone recovering from an illness or injury. After all, nothing heals like a yummy and thoughtful care package!
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Cheese heads with a taste for exotic flavors don’t need to hop on a plane to sample something new. The Rare Cheese Club delivers three half-pound slabs of small-batch artisan cheeses right to your door every month. Each hand-cut cheese boasts eclectic flavors and rare ingredients, and many come from outside the U.S. The cheeses are accompanied by a newsletter detailing tasting notes, cheese profiles, cheesemaker histories and serving suggestions.
Product Tester Sheri Kaz was immediately impressed by the packaging, which kept all the cheeses insulated from the summer heat. “While the packaging isn’t particularly ‘gift-worthy,’ it’s more practical with a dry ice pack and insulation that can be recycled. I love that they included special envelopes to store each piece of cheese. Although it’s not the most beautiful package, what’s inside is absolutely delectable!”
Expect to enjoy incredible flavor profiles like the semi-soft Sennerkäse with Fenugreek, which hails from Germany and offers a slight sweetness, herbal and grassy notes, toasted grain flavors and slight salinity. Or, enjoy Little Lucy from Redhead Creamery, which pairs well with local, higher acid Minnesota wines like Edelweiss, Frontenac or St. Croix. Each comes in its own resealable package, so you can take your time enjoying each inclusion.
“I really love the reusable cheese bags that are provided in the package. Each bag is labeled, and the receiver can write additional information on it. I found these bags kept my cheese perfectly fresh and were a much better alternative to wrapping them in parchment or plastic wrap,” says Sheri.
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For those who enjoy their cheeses with an abundance of pairings, let us introduce the Platterful Charcuterie Kit. Sure, this isn’t your average cheese of the month club. But how could we resist including a month-to-month option that includes everything necessary for a gourmet spread?
Choose between a large box that feeds six to eight or a smaller box for up to four people. Deputy Shopping Editor Reina Galhea’s large box included three types of cheese, two meats, three dried fruits, two small packages of olives, two spreads, crackers, maple walnuts, corn nuts and two mini bowls with spatulas for serving. While a few items on the board weren’t winners (she noted that few folks touched the olives and she found some crackers broken on arrival), her party of four was overall impressed with the contents of the box.
“This is a great fit for someone who isn’t super picky about having the highest quality ingredients but rather wants an economical choice that still impresses with variety and solid flavor,” she says. Consider this a gift for folks who enjoy charcuterie as an experience but not exotic flavors in particular.
“The ingredients came in a compact box with an insulated compartment for the perishables. I picked up the box from my mail room within an hour of it getting delivered, and the cheeses were still cold, the ice pack still partially frozen. The nonperishable ingredients were also quite cool from being stored near the insulation pack.”
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For true turophiles (that’s a fancy way of saying “cheese lover”), an uncomplicated bite just won’t do. Sound like you? Take a page from Murray’s. Their Cheers to Cheese club is just as much style as it is substance.
Dive into three half-pounds of creamy, crunchy or even sweet cheese accompanied by nuts, jellies, jams or crackers. Each box arrives with a delightful dairy pick from on-staff cheesemongers alongside one irresistible pairing. Learn how something as simple as apricot jam or truffle oil changes a cheese’s flavor profile by reading the included inserts detailing the products and—of course—doing some tasting of your own.
“As someone who describes cheese snobbery as a crucial component of my personality, I’m skeptical about the quality of any mail-order cheese. But the moment I unwrapped these, I knew they’d be good,” says Reina.
“I received a blue, goat and Manchego cheese—all three were on the scale from good to great. The cheese snob in your life will be delighted by the quality of these cheeses. I was impressed by the depth of flavor and bold, distinctive notes in each one.”
Additionally, each comes with a recommendation for a wine pairing, turning your table into a bonafide tasting station. Gather up some friends for a flavorful party, or opt to enjoy the surprising pairings alone as self-care. However, it’s important to note that this box doesn’t come with its own alcohol pairings.
“I was under the impression I’d be receiving all items in the pairing in the box, but as it turns out, the beverage suggestion to go with the cheeses is just that—a suggestion, and not a particularly specific one,” says Reina. “The info card in the box simply said to pair with sangria, but sangria can be made of so many different ingredients! I was disappointed there wasn’t more specific info, a recipe to make their suggested type of sangria or, of course, any sangria itself. I would have much preferred that to the chorizo, which was billed as a bonus. The cheeses, however, impressed me. I’m looking forward to future months!”
First, consider the occasion. Cheese clubs come in a variety of forms and functions. While some offer only cheese, others take things a step further by pairing picks with fruit, wine, spreads and other accouterments. Those prepping for a party may appreciate something akin to charcuterie-in-a-box, whereas others searching for a fun gift might opt for something more simple.
Second, consider the recipient if the subscription is a gift. Adventurous folks might enjoy a box brimming with fragrant international picks. The simpler cheese fans among us probably prefer an option that offers milder, more recognizable flavors. This is an especially important consideration for cheese clubs, as they can be rather pricey.
“Let’s get things straight: Cheese clubs aren’t an economical way of buying cheese,” says Rachel. “The heritage and artisanal methods used to make the varieties of cheese on offer in most cheese clubs will often be more expensive than buying average grocery store cheeses. As such, you want to make sure you’re not receiving too much cheese or cheese varieties you don’t like. Make sure to check out the vendor’s terms for pausing or canceling deliveries and look for the ability to select or deselect specific types, eg. no blues or goats, raw milk or non-vegetarian cheeses.”
Rachel also notes that you’ll need to refrigerate cheese delivered by post upon receipt, so it is important to make sure you will be in when it is delivered or have a good neighbor to do it for you. Check that the contents are sufficiently chilled and the cheeses are suitably wrapped—preferably in wax wrap.
As Taste of Home’s Shopping Editor, I have covered everything from Pioneer Woman kitchen launches to the best pizza ovens. My expertise lies in product testing and exploring new flavors in food and drink. As a total cheesehead, I’ve enjoyed my fair share of fancy cheddar and Gouda. I also understand the importance of choosing an option that offers incredible value, impeccable shipping and—of course—delectable dairy!
We also talked to Rachel Holding, an Academy of Cheese writer. Rachel loves a good cheese and wine session. Her love of all cheeses, artisanal or otherwise, has grown from her early years of working on the cheese counter at Fortnum & Mason. She has a personal mission to taste as many cheeses as possible and to encourage this passion in others.
We identified the best cheese of the month clubs through thorough online research. We chose the subscriptions that stood out based on the variety and quality of the cheeses, the curation process, any edible additions and informational materials. Editors also took user reviews into account, and we noted those with many positive reviews. From there, we categorized them based on their differentiating factors so readers can easily select the club that best suits their interests and needs. We also tested and reviewed two clubs in our home kitchens.
If you love cheese and want to expand your tastes and maybe discover a few new favorite curds along the way, yes, a cheese club is absolutely worth it. Granted, your choice will depend on several factors, including your tastes, budget, availability, etc. Our testers were largely impressed and very much enjoyed their time trying out these cheeses, and they think you will, too. And if you’re still unsure, you can always check out customer testimonials.
Cheese clubs gain you access to a selection of artisanal cheeses, and oftentimes additional snack items, for up to a year. Subscription services send these curated collections of nibbles right to your front door. Some merchants employ cheesemongers to select the cheeses on a monthly basis; others outline the contents of each shipment in advance. Most boxes also include background information on cheeses and pairing ideas.
Yearlong subscriptions to a cheese of the month club vary in price. Those featured on this list range from $480 to $829 annually, so boxes average between $40 and $69 apiece. The price per box often decreases when you opt for a longer subscription.
