Indulge in Cheese Paradise: Top 5 Advent Calendars to Savor This Holiday Season

Counting Down the Days with Cheese

The holiday season is filled with beloved traditions, and for many, the daily opening of an advent calendar is a highlight. While chocolate has long dominated this festive countdown, a savory revolution has taken place. Cheese advent calendars have emerged as a wildly popular alternative for foodies, offering a daily sliver of cheesy delight. They provide a unique way to explore different types of cheese from around the world, turning the countdown to Christmas into a delicious tasting journey. Here are five noteworthy advent calendars that cater specifically to cheese lovers.

1. The Original Cheese Advent Calendar by So Wrong It's Nom

Often credited with starting the entire trend, the cheese advent calendar from food blogger Annem Hobson of So Wrong It’s Nom is a true original. After her initial DIY version went viral, she partnered with the renowned Norseland cheese specialists in the UK to bring her creation to the masses. This calendar is thoughtfully designed with a book-style fold-out package that not only looks festive but is also cleverly designed to be stored easily in the refrigerator, either flat or standing up like a book, which helps save precious holiday fridge space.

Inside, you’ll typically find 24 individually wrapped mini cheeses, featuring a variety of flavors and textures. The selection often includes beloved British classics and popular European styles. You can expect to find cheeses like a classic Jarlsberg, a tangy Applewood Smoked Cheddar, a creamy Ilchester Red Leicester, and the festive Wensleydale with Cranberries. Each cheese is a perfect single-serving portion, making it an ideal daily treat to enjoy on a cracker or on its own. The calendar also includes cheesy jokes and trivia behind each door, adding an extra layer of fun to the daily ritual.

2. Aldi Emporium Selection Advent Calendar

Known for its cult-like following and tendency to sell out almost immediately, the Aldi Emporium Selection Advent Calendar is a major player in the festive cheese game. Its popularity stems from its incredible value and surprisingly diverse selection of cheeses. Aldi has successfully positioned this calendar as an affordable luxury, allowing a broader audience to partake in the savory countdown without the premium price tag often associated with specialty food items. Shoppers eagerly anticipate its release date each year, often lining up to secure one.

The calendar typically features 24 imported mini cheeses, showcasing a range of European delights. The selection is carefully curated to offer a journey through different tastes and textures. In past years, enthusiasts have enjoyed varieties such as nutty Gouda from the Netherlands, sharp English Cheddar, creamy Edam, and robust Red Leicester. The portion sizes are just right for a daily tasting, encouraging you to pair them with different crackers, fruits, or even a sip of wine. For those new to the world of cheese advent calendars, the Aldi version is an excellent and accessible starting point.

3. The Ilchester Cheese Advent Calendar

For lovers of classic British cheese, the Ilchester Cheese Advent Calendar is a must-have. Ilchester is a celebrated cheese company based in Somerset, England, known for its high-quality and often blended cheeses. This calendar is a direct reflection of their expertise, offering a curated tour of some of Britain's most cherished cheese varieties. The packaging is festive and traditional, immediately evoking the spirit of a classic Christmas, and the brand's reputation ensures that the quality inside is top-notch.

Behind the 24 doors, you will find nine different types of cheese from the Ilchester family. This includes their famous Applewood Smoked Cheddar, which offers a delicate smoky flavor and smooth texture, and the iconic Ilchester Red Leicester, known for its slightly nutty taste. Other favorites often included are the Double Gloucester, a rich and buttery classic, and special festive blends like the Wensleydale with Cranberries or Gingerbread. This calendar is less about discovering obscure international cheeses and more about celebrating the rich, comforting flavors of British dairy craftsmanship.

4. The Murray's Cheese Advent Calendar

If you're looking for a truly gourmet experience, the Murray's Cheese Advent Calendar is the pinnacle of savory countdowns. Murray's Cheese, a legendary New York-based cheese shop, is renowned for its expertly curated selection of artisanal and international cheeses. Their advent calendar is a premium offering designed for the serious cheese connoisseur who appreciates complexity, quality, and the story behind each cheese. This is more than just a calendar; it's an educational tasting experience delivered to your door.

The Murray's calendar usually features a mix of hand-cut wedges of cheese, offering a more substantial tasting portion than the mini-discs found in other calendars. The selection is exquisite, often including a variety of milk types (cow, goat, sheep) and styles, from creamy bries and pungent blues to aged cheddars and nutty alpine cheeses. In previous editions, they have even included mini jars of jam or accompaniments on certain days to create perfect pairings. While it comes with a higher price tag, the quality of the artisanal products and the expertly curated journey make it a worthwhile indulgence for those passionate about cheese.

5. The Chuckling Cheese Company Advent Calendar

For those who enjoy a bit of novelty and fun with their food, The Chuckling Cheese Company offers an advent calendar that is packed with personality. This UK-based company is famous for its creative and often quirky flavored cheese truckles (small wax-coated wheels of cheese). Their advent calendar moves beyond traditional cheese types and dives headfirst into a world of unique and exciting flavor combinations, making each day a genuine surprise.

The calendar features 24 mini cheese truckles in a wide array of flavors. You might find yourself tasting a 'Pigs in Blankets' flavored cheddar one day, followed by a sweet 'Christmas Pudding' cheese the next. Other imaginative creations have included flavors like Caramelised Onion & Rioja, Botanist's Gin & Tonic, and even spicy options with jalapeño or habanero. This calendar is perfect for the adventurous eater or for families looking for a fun and interactive food experience during the holidays. It’s less about traditional cheese tasting and more about the joy of discovering bold and unexpected flavors.

The Rise of a Savory Tradition: How Cheese Advent Calendars Began

The concept of the advent calendar dates back to the 19th century, originating with German Lutherans who would mark the days of Advent leading up to Christmas with chalk lines or by lighting candles. The first printed advent calendar appeared in the early 1900s, and for decades, these calendars featured simple religious pictures or festive scenes behind each door. It wasn't until 1958 that chocolate was introduced, forever changing the tradition into the sweet treat-filled countdown we know today.

For a long time, chocolate remained the undisputed king of advent calendars. However, in the 2010s, a new trend emerged: the alternative advent calendar. Brands began filling calendars with everything from beauty products and craft beer to luxury teas and toys. This diversification opened the door for new ideas. The cheese advent calendar was born from the mind of a British food blogger, Annem Hobson, who was frustrated by the lack of savory options. In 2016, she created a homemade prototype, shared it online, and it immediately went viral. The overwhelming public response demonstrated a clear demand for a non-sweet alternative.

Hobson’s viral success caught the attention of major cheese producers, and by the following year, she had partnered with a manufacturer to produce the first commercially available cheese advent calendar. Its immediate sell-out success proved that cheese lovers everywhere were ready for a new way to celebrate the season. This single idea sparked a global trend, inspiring retailers from budget supermarkets to high-end delicatessens to create their own versions, solidifying the cheese advent calendar as a modern holiday staple.

Answering Your Cheesy Questions

How Do You Store a Cheese Advent Calendar?

Proper storage is absolutely critical for a cheese advent calendar to ensure the contents remain fresh and safe to eat throughout December. Unlike their shelf-stable chocolate counterparts, these calendars must be refrigerated from the moment you bring them home. Cheese is a dairy product that requires a consistent, cool temperature to prevent spoilage and maintain its intended flavor and texture.

Most cheese advent calendars are designed to fit into a standard refrigerator. The best place to store it is on a main shelf toward the back, where the temperature is most stable. Avoid storing it in the refrigerator door, as the temperature fluctuates every time the door is opened and closed. Once you open a door and remove a cheese, make sure the rest of the calendar remains sealed to protect the other portions from drying out. The individual cheeses are wax-sealed or plastic-wrapped for freshness, but keeping the main box closed provides an extra layer of protection.

What Can You Pair With Your Daily Cheese?

One of the greatest joys of a cheese advent calendar is the opportunity for daily pairings. While the small portion of cheese is delicious on its own, adding an accompaniment can elevate the tasting experience. The most classic pairing is, of course, crackers. Keep a variety on hand, such as plain water crackers, nutty whole-grain crackers, or herbed crisps, to complement different cheese styles.

Beyond crackers, consider creating a mini tasting board each day. Sweet accompaniments like a dab of fig jam, a drizzle of honey, or a slice of apple or pear can beautifully balance the saltiness of many cheeses. Savory pairings also work wonderfully; try a single olive, a Marcona almond, or a tiny slice of prosciutto or salami. Having a small collection of these items on hand allows you to experiment and discover new flavor combinations throughout the month.

For beverage pairings, the options are equally diverse. A crisp white wine like a Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with fresh goat cheeses, while a robust red wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon can stand up to an aged cheddar. A light-bodied beer or a festive cider can also be a delightful match. Don't be afraid to experiment to find what you enjoy most with each day's surprise.

Are Cheese Advent Calendars Worth the Cost?

The question of value is common, as cheese advent calendars often cost more than their chocolate equivalents. The worth of a cheese advent calendar ultimately depends on what you're looking for in a holiday experience. If you break down the cost per ounce of cheese, it may be more expensive than buying larger blocks of cheese at the grocery store. However, the value proposition isn't just about the quantity of cheese.

What you are paying for is the curation, variety, and experience. These calendars offer a guided tasting journey, introducing you to 24 different cheeses you might not otherwise have tried. Buying 24 individual artisanal cheeses would be far more costly and time-consuming. The calendar provides portion control and a delightful element of daily surprise and discovery. For foodies, cheese lovers, and those seeking a unique holiday tradition, the experience and convenience can easily justify the cost. It also makes for a fantastic and unique gift for the foodie in your life.

Conclusion

Cheese advent calendars have successfully carved out a niche as a beloved modern holiday tradition. They offer a delightful and savory departure from the classic chocolate countdown, inviting enthusiasts on a month-long journey of flavor discovery. Whether you prefer the accessible options from a supermarket, the classic stylings of a British cheesemaker, or the gourmet selections from an artisanal shop, there is a cheese advent calendar to suit every palate and budget. They represent more than just a daily treat; they are an experience, a conversation starter, and a truly delicious way to celebrate the festive season.