If you want to make a big gesture this Valentine’s Day, ditch flowers in favor of dairy
Your valentine wants cheese. This isn’t an educated guess—it’s backed by data. Wisconsin Cheese conducted a study in which more than 60% of participants named cheese as their love language and wished their loved ones would give them cheese come Feb. 14.
Whether you want to surprise your beloved or treat yourself, we’ve rounded up specials from a few of our favorite cheese and butter businesses so that you can declare your love with artisanal panache.
Wisconsin Cheese’s Wedges of Love Cheese Box, $100
Wisconsin Cheese is selling a Wedges of Love set that arrives in a covert flower box with a set of cheese knives. Each cheese bouquet has nine wedges from makers all across Wisconsin, like Uplands Cheese’s Pleasant Ridge Reserve and Roelli Cheese Haus’ Dunbarton Blue. You can add a sweet personalized message fit for besties, family, or romantic partners. This thoughtful gift is a win-win for you and your Valentine since it’s meant to be shared.
Cheese Brothers’ Love is Cheesy Valentine’s Day Gift Basket, $69.95
Cheese Brothers dropped its own Wisconsin cheese gift basket that comes with Wisconsin-made jam and caramels in addition to its Honey Sriracha Gouda, Dill Havarti, Yodel, and Smoked Gouda.
Cabot’s Life Is Cheddar With You Gift Box, $36
Cabot’s gift box is the perfect gift for celebrating Valentine’s Day as well as National Cheddar Day, which falls on Feb. 13. This box contains four cheeses from its award-winning roster, each with a festive conversation heart-style label. At $9 a piece for each 8-ounce block of cheddar, this is one of the most economical offerings on our list.
Cowgirl Creamery’s Heart’s Desire, $28
This bloomy rind wheel is shaped like a heart, making it a stunning centerpiece on any Valentine’s Day cheese board. Pair with dark chocolate, raspberry preserves, and sparkling rosé, the maker says. If you want all the fixings pictured, order Cowgirl Creamery’s Goldbelly package here.
Saint Angel’s Triple Cream, $16.98
Pop champagne with a French triple cream. This stunner is made using Saint Angel’s signature ultrafiltration method. The result? One lavish bite, especially alongside fresh strawberries.
Boxcarr Handmade Cheese’s I ❤ U Box, $135
Heart-shaped cheeses, truffle-flavored cheeses, award-winning cheeses, oh my! Boxcarr Handmade Cheese’s Valentine’s Day box has everything your turophile is looking for in a present with a healthy dose of Southern charm. Just want the Cottonbell hearts instead? Tap here.
Crave Brothers’ Chocolate Mascarpone, $4
The ultimate treat at an unbeatable price, this chocolate mascarpone doubles as a dip for fruits or cookies for any Galentine’s Day gathering.
Murray’s Valentine’s Day Collection, $85
Murray’s collection includes Cowgirl Creamery’s Heart’s Desire, Marieke’s Truffle Gouda, and Gorgonzola Cremificato, plus several luxurious accompaniments such as chocolate amarena cherries. The New York cheese institution also offers a second option with double the amount of cheeses for $110.
State of Maine Cheese Company’s Waxed Cheddar Hearts, $35
Shop small and support Maine dairy when you purchase the State of Maine Cheese Company’s adorable cheddar hearts gift box, which boasts numerous 5-star reviews on Etsy. Like Murray’s, this maker has an option to upgrade for $30 more.
Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.’s Spread The Love Set, $48
If you or your valentine’s ideal meal is multiple apps, then the Point Reyes’ Spread the Love gift set will delight on date night. Included is the cheese company’s award-winning pimento dip; overall, this one’s top-notch for Netflix and chilling.
Lady & Larder’s Valentine Gift Basket, starts at $225
Lady & Larder’s Valentine’s Day gift basket comes in three sizes with gorgeous California-grown flowers and seasonal accoutrements ranging from jam to hand-dipped candlesticks. A bottle of wine or nonalcoholic apple juice can be tacked on for an additional fee. If you want to impress someone, there is no better choice. We like that all cheeses from Lady & Larder are domestic, too.
Cheese Grotto’s Cheese & Chocolate Pairing Gift Box, $100
Cheese and chocolate make great bedfellows, as this pairing gift box from Cheese Grotto suggests. Inside, you’ll find three award-winning artisanal cheeses: a clothbound cheddar, cow’s milk brie, and a natural rind table cheese. It arrives in a dapper blue present box complete with a bow. Order no later than Feb. 10.
Murray’s Spread the Love Butter Bundle, $85
Murray’s recommends gifting this butter bundle–which serves 8 to 10 people–to the avid home cook or food lover in your life.
Ploughgate Creamery’s Butter Lover 3 Month Subscription, $84
Vermont’s Ploughgate Creamery is renowned for its high quality small-batch cultured butters. Thanks to this three-month subscription, your Valentine’s Day gift will keep on giving. “Butter Lover subscribers will receive three different 8-ounce butters per month including Coarse Sea Salt, Vermont Maple, and a special flavor of the month,” according to the fine print on Ploughgate’s website.
Royal Guernsey Creamery’s Butter Gift Box, $45
This budget-friendly pick is full of three sticks of Wisconsin Grade-A butter–that’s 8 ounces each of salted, sweet, and savory flavors. Shipping is free for the continental United States. Potter’s Crackers are also included for snacking that’s as indulgent as it is delicious.
Alana Pedalino
Alana Pedalino serves as Managing Editor of culture. Her work has been featured in Bon Appétit, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and more. She loves to write, cook, and kayak. Find her bylines at alanapedalino.com.
