We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.
The world of cheese is vast and complex, but learning about it provides an opportunity to excite your palate with new flavors and textures, elevate an entire meal, or make up the perfect snack. With the seemingly infinite varieties of cheese on the market, you may wonder where you should begin. Or maybe you want to branch out beyond the cheeses available in your local supermarket and try something unique and different.
Whether you simply want to receive a sampling of new cheeses every month or have everything on hand to assemble a beautiful cheeseboard for in-home entertainment, we have you covered. We rounded up some of the best cheese subscription boxes available nationwide, making it easy for you to start your journey into the world of cheese.
Best Cheese Subscription Boxes
- Best Overall: Murray’s
- Best for American Farmstead Cheese: Saxelby Cheesemongers
- Best for Blue and Cheddar Cheese: Rogue Creamery
- Best for Award-Winning Cheeses: Jasper Hill Farm
Best Overall : Murray’s
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Murrays-7057845f2b7745f5aee6798714371ec3.jpg)
Murray’s
Why We Chose It: Murray’s is our selection as best overall for being a decades-long trusted cheese retailer and wholesaler.
Extensive variety of high-quality artisanal cheeses
Selections range from classic and approachable to more esoteric
Monthly kits strike a good balance between being educational and fun
No customization option within each subscription plan
Renowned Manhattan-based cheese company Murray’s offers several monthly cheese clubs that deliver gourmet domestic and international cheeses right to your door. With five subscription types, there are options for new cheese lovers, lifelong cheese aficionados, and everyone in between. The Classic Cheese of the Month Club delivers three to four approachable classic cheeses. It's guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser and is perfect for gifts. For a more adventurous selection, opt for the Cheesemonger’s Picks Club, which includes three to four lesser-known cheeses handpicked by a Murray’s cheesemonger each month.
For those wanting to build a more extensive cheeseboard, the Perfect Pair or Cheese Board of the Month clubs offer accompaniments (crackers, preserves, chutney, charcuterie) along with a collection of one to three cheeses.
Each delivery includes an information card detailing the products’ origins and flavors, as well as beverage pairings for each. The Perfect Pair and Cheese Board clubs also include step-by-step instructions on cutting and serving and a complete guide for entertaining with cheese. Monthly prices for all clubs range from $63 to $113, with discounts available on longer subscription plans. Free overnight shipping is included with all subscriptions.
Best for American Farmstead Cheese : Saxelby Cheesemongers
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Saxelby-a1140347e6e84766927d645dcf1409b7.jpg)
Saxelby Cheesemongers
Why We Chose It: Saxelby Cheesemongers has been at the forefront of supporting American cheesemakers. On top of quality products, we like the simplicity of the monthly club options.
Supports sustainable American cheesemakers
Offers option to make special requests
Variety of subscription types
Limited information on what specific cheeses will be in each shipment
Founded as Manhattan’s first all-American cheese shop, Saxelby Cheesemongers now distributes its cheese online in addition to its wholesale business and retail market. With a mission to support sustainable, regenerative agriculture and American artisans, Saxelby Cheesemongers partners with cheesemakers around the country to curate a premier selection of domestic cheeses. Saxelby offers a variety of monthly cheese clubs for month to month, three-, six-, or 12-month subscriptions, including clubs that feature seasonal cheeses delivered quarterly and monthly clubs that pair cheese with chocolate.
Each shipment typically comes with a selection of three different kinds of cheese totaling 1.5 pounds in weight. For a truly decadent combo, the Monthly Cheese and Chocolate Club includes a total of 1.5 pounds of three different kinds of cheese and three bars of artisanal small-batch chocolate.
Prices for clubs range from $98 per month for a three-month subscription to $96 per month for a 12-month subscription, shipping included.
Best for Blue and Cheddar Cheese : Rogue Creamery
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Rogue_Creamery-bb32b600d34349bcb612306bc547fa5e.jpg)
Rogue Creamery
Why We Chose It: Rogue Creamery is a stand-out for its historical creamery and award-winning blue and cheddar cheeses. It is also one of the few certified organic cheese subscriptions.
Company was started in 1933
Award-winning cheeses, shipped directly from the creamery
Certified Organic, B-corp Certified
No monthly shipment option, just quarterly
No substitutions allowed
Operating since 1933, Rogue Creamery based in Southern Oregon produces internationally acclaimed certified organic blue and cheddar cheeses. In fact, its most well-known cheese, Rogue River Blue Cheese, earned the title of “Best Cheese in the World” at the 2019 World Cheese Awards in Italy. Rogue Creamery is also Oregon’s first B-corp Certified corporation, and it is committed to making a positive impact on the community and environment. To experience these award-winning cheeses firsthand, sign up for the Cheese Club and you will receive a curated selection of Rogue Creamery Cheeses every three months for a year.
Selections include unique varieties that aren’t typically sold in retail stores nationwide, such as seasonal and limited offerings. In addition to the cheese, each monthly box comes with different accompaniments such as tea, honeycomb, or crackers. The contents of each upcoming seasonal box are announced shortly before their release. Each box is reasonably priced at $79, including two-day shipping.
Best for Award-Winning Cheeses : Jasper Hill Farm
:fill(white):max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/JasperHillFarms-7699510888054ed6b7e57face7c502b2.png)
Jasper Hill Farm
Why We Chose It: Jasper Hill Farm is a working dairy farm with an on-site creamery in Vermont that produces award-winning cheeses.
Access to exclusive varieties of artisanal cheeses
Beautiful and thoughtful presentation
Gourmet complementary items
Shipping included
Only one membership type
Higher price point
Can’t spread out payments for automatic subscription
Jasper Hill Farm maintains a creamery and an underground aging facility in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. There, it ripens a collection of nearly 20 different cheeses made by six different regional family farms—including its own. Each cheese is made from a single herd of cows and aged until it is ripe. The company prides itself on producing cheeses that give “a taste of place,” which is representative of the terroir of this region.
The monthly Cheese Club includes an exclusive collection of at least three cheeses along with favorite pairings such as gourmet crackers, cheese tools, or other selected merchandise, all beautifully packaged with sustainable wood shavings in place of packing peanuts. Members of the cheese club will receive premier access to special release cheeses and limited availability items not otherwise available. Deliveries are shipped monthly for $100 each. Expedited shipping (one to two days) is included.
Final Verdict
Each cheese subscription comes with its own unique value, with some specializing in only a few types of cheese and others aggregating cheeses from around the world. Subscriptions can either come directly from the creamery or from a retail shop or wholesaler.
For those already familiar with the many varieties of cheese and who have developed preferences along the way, a more niche subscription such as one from Rogue Creamery is a great fit. People more interested in expanding their knowledge about all types of cheese would benefit from a general subscription that includes all varieties and styles plus some additional educational information. With this in mind, Saxelby Cheesemongers is a great way to support American creameries and Murray’s is our recommendation for an introduction to all things cheese.
Compare the Best Cheese Subscription Boxes
Company | Number of Cheese Club Options | Price per Box |
---|---|---|
Murray's Cheese Best Overall | 5 | Starting at $63 |
Saxelby Cheesemongers Best for American Farmstead Cheese | 2 | Starting at $100 |
Rogue Creamery Best for Blue and Cheddar Cheese | 1 | $79 |
Jasper Hill Farm Best for Award-Winning Cheeses | 1 | $110 |
FAQs
What Are the Primary Styles of Cheese?
There are many varieties and styles of cheese, including fresh unripened cheeses (e.g., ricotta cheese, cottage cheese), brined cheeses (e.g., feta, halloumi), soft-ripened, semi-soft (e.g., Havarti, Muenster), blue, natural rind, and washed rind, hard cheese (e.g., Parmesan and aged Gouda), and more. Each has its own distinct texture and flavor, which is also informed by the milk used to make it and the environment where it is produced and aged, otherwise known as its terroir.
Why Are Cheeses Aged and How Does Aging Affect the Flavor of Cheese?
With the exception of fresh cheeses, all other cheese is aged for anywhere from a few weeks to a few years. During the aging process, the cheese starts to break down and “ripen.” The longer a cheese is aged, the more intense and sharper the taste becomes. The water content of the cheese will also decrease with age, making the cheese harder and firmer in texture and saltier in flavor. Cheeses that lend themselves well to aging are gouda, parmesan, cheddar, and blue cheeses.
The Benefits of a Cheese Subscription Box
Monthly cheese clubs are ideal for those wanting to try new cheeses and learn more about the world of cheese. The subscriptions we highlighted offer high-quality artisanal cheeses, some of which are only available seasonally, in limited editions, or select retail locations. Many monthly cheese clubs give subscribers early access to these exclusive cheeses and product discounts. Subscriptions also come with detailed information on flavor profiles and pairings with tips for serving it for the best-tasting experience.
Methodology
After reviewing an extensive selection of monthly cheese subscriptions, we narrowed down this selection based on those offering nationwide delivery, a variety of cheese styles, and user-friendly supplemental information on tasting notes, pairings, storing and serving suggestions. Those that stood out are taking steps to make the cheese subscription more of an experience versus a cheese delivery.
For example, we picked Murray’s for its variety and quality but also for its fun and informative cards that come with each monthly box. We chose Saxelby Cheesemongers for its specialty in American cheeses and Rogue Creamery for its world-famous blue cheese and commitment to sustainable organic practices.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-104473207-61ea5b4a3fd84f4ab9d0c4e6c9ab32fb.jpg)
Derek Cooper Photography Inc / Getty Images