If you have a foodie in the family – or it’s you – you know how passionate foodies can be about bold flavors, exciting and exotic ingredients, and new recipes. It’s pretty obvious that a food-related gift is the way to go to reach your favorite foodie’s heart. Here’s why gifting cheese making supplies is an awesome idea.
What’s To Love About Homemade Cheese
The mass-produced cheese sold in many stores is created in huge batches as quickly as possible. It lacks the tender care of artisanal cheese. Handmade, smaller batches of cheese are something special.
- Better ingredients: Foodies can contact local farmers to use organic milk from grass-fed cows for natural, non-GMO cheese
- Deeper flavors: Processing destroys many bacteria that give cheese its flavor. Artisanal varieties have more complex flavor notes.
- More fun: Foodies are hands-on all the way, so making cheese lets family members spend time together.
- Bigger reputation: Serving mouthwatering cheeses made by hand gives foodies bragging rights at parties.
Important Cheese Making Tools
What should you look for when shopping for cheese making essentials? Here are some basics needed by all cheese makers:
- Bacterial cultures
- Rennet – for creating curd
- Ladles and curd cutting tools
- Cheese moulds
- Cheese cloth
- Vats or large kettles
For pros into aged cheeses, great gifts include cheese presses and temperature control equipment.
Helpful Gift Tips
Knowing the person you’re shopping for makes a big difference. When picking out cheese making gifts, think about two factors: how much experience the recipient has, and how patient he or she is. Softer cheeses like brie and ricotta easier to work with for beginners than firmer, aged cheeses. Gouda takes about three months to ripen – but is totally worth it – so impatient foodies might prefer ricotta, brie or camembert, which are ready in a few days or weeks instead.
Call The Cheesemaker
For more incredible gift ideas and essential tips – like where to buy rennet and what kind is best for each variety – contact us at The Cheesemaker. We have tons of experience making cheese and we’re happy to share! Our starter kits contain everything cheese aficionados need to create mind-blowing cheeses with fresh ingredients.
