Introducing, The Best (And Most Expensive) Cheeses In the World

Cheese platters—what’s not to love? No patio lunch, beach picnic, or dinner party is complete without a heavenly board of cured meats, rich pâtés, scattering of grapes and strawberries, gourmet crackers and, of course, cheese.

Buttery brie, intense Roquefort, creamy camembert, sharp stilton, crumbly cheddar—the cheese options are endless.

Cheeseboards are becoming increasingly popular, inventive and extravagant. They also have quite the following. In fact, Instagram accounts are popping up as sources "for cheese plate inspiration". Two accounts, @thatcheeseplate and sister page @cheesebynumbers , are two such examples, with ‘Step-By-Step Cheese Plates + Illustrated Guides’ they've amassed close to 300k followers.

Cheese is no doubt delicious, and as the ultimate comfort food, it's been in heavy rotation lately. The tasty treat has been omnipresent in lockdowns worldwide, no more so than in France-- home to some of the finest cheeses—where cheese consumption has recently skyrocketed.

According to French media outlet Les Marches, sales of cow’s cheese rose by 9.4%, organic goats’ cheese jumped by a massive 32.2%, and organic sheep’s cheese rose by 5.5% in 2020.

Because we're equally obsessed, we decided to look into the finest cheeses the world has to offer. The more you know, right?

Keep reading to learn about five of the dreamiest, creamiest and most expensive cheeses that will have everyone clamouring at your next wine and cheese night or cosy lockdown lunch for two.

The Five Best (And Most Expensive) Cheeses

Pule

~ $770 per pound

At the top of every list is Pule, a cheese made from the milk of Balkan donkeys, native only to Serbia and Montenegro. Yes, you read that right: Balkan donkeys. This coveted crumbly white cheese has quite the price tag due to the time and resources required, also, given the fact that it is so rare, with the cheese not available commercially.

White Stilton Gold

~ $513 per pound

Hailing from Leicestershire, England, White Stilton Gold was dreamed up by Long Clawson Dairy. This soft cheese, a cousin of blue cheese, is made with flecks of actual gold and has limited production in only three UK counties: Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire.

Caciocavallo

~ $64 per pound

Caciocavallo is also known as "Horse Cheese," but it is actually made using the milk of a rare Italian cow breed called Pololica, which lactates only in May and June. The creamy cheese is produced in Southern Italy and is known for its unique pear shape.

Jersey Blue

~ $58 per pound

The award-winning Jersey Blue comes from Switzerland and is a relatively new cheese. First made in 2006, this cheese is a tapestry of blue, white and grey mould veins. Jersey Blue, made with raw milk, is buttery but sharpens as the cheese ages.

Epoisses de Bourgogne

~ $58 per pound

This luxurious French cheese, made in Bourgogne, is aged for a minimum of five years. Napoleon was allegedly a fan of the cheese, which dates back centuries and was originally made by monks. The pungent cheese is distinctive with a combination of sweet and salty flavours. Yum!