It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but the festive season is also one of the busiest, making it easy to fall into the trap of leaving your gift shopping to the last minute. Choosing presents for all your loved ones can be surprisingly time-consuming, especially when you have at least one family member who never knows what they want.
No matter who you’re buying for, a foodie treat is often an easy choice, as it will almost always be well received. But if you want to make it feel a little more personal, Castello® is here to help. The brand is inviting you to stop searching for a gift and start creating one instead with its tantalising range of cheeses.
Feed their senses
A Castello® cheese tasting box is even more special than a traditional hamper or box of chocolates, as it’s curated by you. When your loved one opens it, they’ll find everything they need to create the ultimate festive cheeseboard – a delicious, immersive tasting experience that’s made to be shared.
All you need to do is arrange a few of their favourite cheeses in a gift box, alongside a selection of complementary fruit, nuts and chutneys, and you’ll have a beautiful, personalised gift that comes together in no time, without breaking the bank.
Not sure where to start? You only need three or four Castello® cheeses to fill a cheeseboard, so read on to discover some of the most popular varieties in the range and which flavour pairings work best with them.
Castello® Tickler Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese
Always a crowd-pleaser, cheddar is a reliable base for any cheeseboard. Typically matured for around 17 months, this one has a distinctively sweet yet sharp flavour and a remarkably crumbly texture.
When you bite into it, you’ll notice a slight crunch as the salt crystals pop on your tongue, followed by a rich smoothness as the cheese melts in your mouth. If you want to add it to your tasting box, consider including some fig marmalade or roasted almonds to pair with it, as the tanginess marries particularly well with sweet or nutty flavours.
Castello® Extra Creamy Brie Cheese
Brie is another popular choice, especially at Christmas, and this one takes the best qualities of a white mould cheese to new levels. Handcrafted in open vats using traditional methods, it has a thin, delicate rind and a luscious creamy centre with hints of plain yogurt and dark chocolate, followed by a mild aftertaste.
In terms of flavour pairings for your gift box, dried cranberries are always a safe bet if you want a classic festive combination. Alternatively, the natural sweetness and savoury richness of a caramelised onion chutney works beautifully with the creamy brie.
Castello® Creamy Blue Cheese
If your recipient is a blue cheese fan, you need to add this one to your line-up. Born from a desire to merge the best qualities of brie and blue cheese, it’s made with a high proportion of cream, resulting in a soft buttery texture and a milky taste with a touch of sharpness.
Pop it in your box with red grapes for the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. You could include some dark chocolate or butter-roasted walnuts as well, as these will offset its richness with a pleasing hint of bitterness.
Castello® Pineapple & Almond Cream Cheese Ring
Like any good cheeseboard, your tasting box will also benefit from a slightly more unique cheese – and this one is a brilliant choice. It’s a wonderfully soft cream cheese flavoured with juicy pineapple and wrapped in a coating of crushed almonds and candied papaya.
The tropical scents and flavours pair surprisingly well with sweet and juicy berries, such as blackberries and blueberries, while the creamy, crunchy texture is ideal for scooping onto a thin and crispy cracker. So, both would make great additions to your box.
Create your own Castello® cheese tasting box now
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