An impressive selection of cheeses — Photo courtesy of iStock / grafvision
For a seemingly ordinary grocery store, Trader Joe’s has a borderline cult following. And if you shop there, you understand why. The selection is carefully curated, the frozen foods are amazing, and the prices on everything from seafood to wine are astonishingly low.
If you want to create a cheese board on the cheap, there’s no better place to make your selection than Trader Joe’s. While you really can’t go wrong with any cheeses at TJ's, we’ve picked out the top five that should make it into your shopping cart.
Syrah Soaked Toscano
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There's something particularly mouthwatering about a cheese drenched in wine. This creamy Toscano cheese soaked in syrah is a hard cow’s milk cheese with the bite of a parmesan, and the creaminess of a cheddar. The wine adds a blackberry flavor that melts in perfectly with the nuttiness of the cheese. The rich, fruity flavor of the wine makes it a perfect pair for any pre-dinner cheese plate.
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Goat Milk Brie
Try this goat’s milk brie to change things up from the typical (cow’s milk) variety. It’s lighter, sweeter and tangier than its more traditional cousin. Don’t expect any mushroomy flavors typical of brie, but do expect to finish the entire wheel in one sitting. It pairs well with pears, rosé, and rosemary crackers, so it’s perfect for your summer cheese plate.
1,000 Day Aged Gouda
This gouda is a fan favorite – and for good reason. Aged for 1,000 days in the Dutch countryside, it boasts those beautiful crystals cheese lovers seek in a good gouda. Biting into a piece results in a hazelnut flavor explosion that ends surprisingly smoothly. The texture is super creamy and it will pair well with just about anything, but it goes particularly great with jams and cornichons.
Délice de Bourgogne
The French know what they’re doing in the cheese department, and this triple cream, soft-ripened cheese is no different. Délice de Bourgogne is essentially a fancier and more flavorful version of butter. It’ll melt in your mouth and convince you it should be eaten as dessert every night. This beauty pairs well with just about anything, from strawberries to garlicky chips. Or just grab a bottle of champagne and call it a night.
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Mountain Goblin
Mountain Goblin is a semi-soft cow's milk cheese made with microbial rennet, for all the vegetarians out there watching their rennet intake. This Swiss-made cheese is a bit of a surprising one. It starts out creamy, and denser than you think. Then bam! It hits you with some onion and mushroom flavors, almost like a brie, and you're hooked. It even has a little spice to keep you coming back for more.