How to build the perfect Christmas cheese board with some black garlic magic!
This year, elevate your festive cheese board with the secret ingredient that'll have your guests asking "what IS that? Follow our step-by-step guide to create an unforgettable spread where umami-rich black garlic takes centre stage.
The Black Garlic Advantage
Black garlic's sweet, caramel-umami profile is the perfect, slightly unexpected companion to cheese. Its unique flavour bridges sweet and savoury, making it the showstopper on any festive board.
Three Ways to Use Black Garlic
Black Garlic Pickle
Best with: mature cheddar, manchego, roasted meats, or spooned beside blue cheese.
How to plate: Serve in a small jar or shallow bowl with a clean spoon. Encourage guests to try it with a crisp oatcake and mature cheese for maximum impact.
Black Garlic Paste
Best with: soft cheeses (brie, burrata), hard cheeses (aged cheddar), or spread onto crostini.
How to use: Warm a small spoonful and gently spread or drizzle across baked brie or camembert—the heat intensifies the umami magic.
Whole Peeled Black Garlic Cloves
Best with: blue cheese (Stilton) or creamy goat's cheese.
How to serve: Place 4–6 whole peeled cloves in a separate little dish. The soft, almost date-like texture offers an umami burst with every bite. Perfect popped on a cracker with cheese.
Cheese Selection
Now that you've got your star ingredient sorted, build around it with contrasting textures and strengths:
Soft-rind: Brie or Camembert (bakes beautifully with black garlic paste).
Semi-hard: Manchego or Comté (sliceable, nutty—perfect with black garlic pickle).
Hard: Mature Cheddar or aged Gouda (crumbly, savoury—pairs brilliantly with whole cloves).
Blue: Stilton or Roquefort (bold and creamy—enhanced by black garlic's sweetness).
Timing
Cheese tastes best at or near room temperature. Cold cheese masks flavour; letting it warm releases fats and the cheese's full character.
Hard cheeses: remove from the fridge 60 minutes before serving.
Soft, runny cheeses (brie, camembert): remove 90–120 minutes before.
Supporting Cast: Pairing Elements
Aim for contrasting sensations—sweet, acidic, crunchy, salty, fatty, and umami (hello, black garlic!):
Fruit: fresh grapes, sliced pear, pomegranate seeds, fig halves.
Crunch: oatcakes, water crackers, sliced baguette, roasted nuts.
Sweet: honey, jam (but black garlic delivers sweetness AND umami).
Acidic/savoury: pickles, chutneys, mustard.
Serving & Styling
Provide one knife per cheese.
Use separate spoons for relishes (especially your black garlic products!).
Choose boards with varied texture—wood or stone.
Layer small bowls for wet items so run-off doesn't ruin crackers.
Spread across two boards if you have many guests.
Space cheeses apart, cluster related items (fruit near soft cheese, nuts near blue), but keep colours balanced. Position your black garlic products where they're easily accessible—they're the heroes!
Ready to create cheese board magic?
Grab your black garlic essentials here.