Chances are that you or someone you know is a turophile. This common condition causes an itch that only cheese can scratch. Yes, we’re talking about about a love for cheese. For the curd craving, dairy devotees among us who find a good wedge nearly irresistible, we’ve got a list of fantastic cheese boxes and subscriptions for gift giving this holiday season.
Pennsylvania is home to many incredible dairy farms, creameries and cheesemakers, and we’ve rounded up ten PA cheese producers with clubs, subscriptions and specialty boxes for you to check out. Many of these businesses will ship cheese anywhere in the state (and beyond), so give them all a look!
Classic Cheese Club by Mediterra (Pittsburgh)
Mediterra is a popular Pittsburgh bakery with a few cafe locations and its own fromagerie, sourcing artisan American and European cheeses of all kinds. Members of its cheese club receive three eight-ounce selections each month, delivered with no shipping charges. The “classic” cheese club is Mediterra’s first and includes cow, sheep and goat cheeses. The packages also include detailed tasting notes and details on the creamery or farm source.
For gift-giving, you can set up a monthly auto charge, which is processed each month until you cancel it. Choose from local pickup at the Mt. Lebanon location, 292 Beverly Rd., Pittsburgh, for $58.50 per month (a 10% discount) or shipped to the recipient’s home on the second Monday of each month for $65 per month. You can decide how long to gift this special club and cancel when you’re ready. You can check out Mediterra’s locations and hours on its website.
Gift Boxes by Goat Rodeo (Pittsburgh)
Goat Rodeo offers a delightful assortment of gifts in its online store including its handcrafted, artisanal cheese products, cool merch and a few special gift boxes that are sure to please. These products ship anywhere in the U.S., so spread that Pennsylvania pride around! The Cheese Plate Assortment ($44) and Goat Rodeo Gift Box ($54) both feature four of its top cheeses including fresh chèvre (smooth and creamy), Hootenanny goat’s milk gouda (hickory and wildflower notes), Wild Rosemary mixed-milk cheese hand pressed with dried rosemary and EVOO and Cowboy Coffee (rick and nutty, mixed milk) along with creamy Goat Rodeo Caramels. With the gift box, you also get a soft, locally printed goat inspired bandana for rodeo-chic styling. The Full Goat Rodeo ($75) is the full package, treating the recipient to the four aforementioned cheeses, caramels and bandana plus Bamboozle (supple mixed milk, beer washed cheese) and More Cowbell (sweet and velvety) and an enameled steel campfire mug.
Customize your gift with a special, handwritten note for your recipient by mentioning it in your cart before payment. Orders received by midnight Monday are delivered by Friday of the same week. Note: there’s a $20 flat shipping rate for orders. Goat Rodeo Farm & Dairy is located in Allison Park and sold by purveyors across the Commonwealth; (412) 406-7336.
Six Month Cheese Subscription and Gift Baskets by Goot Essa (Howard)
This multi-family Amish-owned cheesemaking cooperative named for “good eating” offers handcrafted, farm fresh Euro-style cheeses in a six month subscription. Recipients get three cheeses per month, a special condiment and pairing guides for making the most of the selection. It’s $325 with an option for sending a gift message and customizing the months you’d like the sub to begin. You can also arrange to skip certain months by emailing Goot Essa.
You can also order gift baskets in assorted sizes with a variety of themes. Cheesemaker’s Christmas ($66.99) serves up to seven with sharp cheddar, Der Alpen Gruyére style, a blue and a goat milk cheese along with fruit preserve, raspberry beet spread, dipping mustards and artisan crackers. Taste of Pennsylvania ($112.99) serves up to ten with five cave-aged PA cheeses, five condiments, crackers, beef bologna and dry chorizo. Christmas Morning ($174.99) serves up to 11 with six of Goot Essa’s most popular cheeses with condiments and salami in a beautiful handwoven bread basket.
Goot Essa’s products ship to your door from it’s location at 351 Wise Rd., Howard; (800) 490-4387.
Gift Boxes by Clover Creek Cheese Cellar (Williamsburg)
Available for shipping or local pickup at a variety of central PA locations, the cheese boxes from Clover Creek Cheese Cellars make delectable holiday gifts. Try the Best Sellers Gift Box ($19.99) that includes Bruschedda with a tangy-sweet fusion of pickled basil and garlic, Wild Mushroom cheddar with chives and earthy mushrooms and Smoked Galen’s, a smoky, creamy gouda with notes of hickory. The Spicy and Spirited Gift Box ($19.99) includes three zesty wedges; Honduran Harvest is a fiery habanero cheddar, Grateful Ched is marinated in caramel-y barleywine and Winemaker’s Select manchego is marinated in Cabernet Sauvignon.
For creative culinary purposes, the Grilled Cheese Gift Box will change a cheese lover’s sandwich game for good. It has a velvety Raclette, a nutty gouda and a bold, sophisticated aged cheddar for exceptional grilled cheese making. The Gourmet Kitchen Gift Box expands the possibilities for a home chef with a tangy, rich manchego, gourmet cellar aged cheddar and a melt-in-your-mouth alpine cheese.
It’s $19.99 to ship, or you can arrange for local pickup without any added fees at the Clover Creek Farm Store, 5161 Clover Creek Rd., Williamsburg; (814) 515-9873, drop sites in Bellwood, Altoona East Freedom and Martinsburg or at the Boalsburg Farmers Market.
Gift Boxes by Kinfork (Madisonburg)
For those who believe cheddar is better, look no further than Kinfork. This farmer co-op in central PA offers 100% grass fed dairy products including a wide variety of cheddar cheeses. You can order them by the case or get a sampler box for trying out a bunch. The Kinfork Cheese Sampler Box ($57.99) includes six varieties of cheddar and the Kinfork Variety Cheese Box ($85.08) gets you two blocks of each. There’s medium and sharp and then savory options like onion and dill, garlic and parsley and maritime spice.
You can have the cheese shipped, or visit Kinfork at 4657 Brush Valley Rd., Madisonburg; (814) 349-5290.
Cheese of the Month Club, Samplers and Virtual Classes by Caputo Brothers Creamery (Spring Grove)
Cheesy gift options abound at Caputo Brothers Creamery, which produces fantastic handcrafted Italian cheeses in Spring Grove. Choose from a customizable cheese of the month club, samplers and online cheesemaking classes for the cheese lover in your life.
For monthly (or a one-time) cheese drops, choose the Cheese of the Month Club at one, three or six months or a full year ($20, $54, $102 and $192, respectively). The Caputo Brothers Creamery team will select a variety of different cheeses to enjoy. There’s a $10 flat monthly shipping fee and boxes go out the second Wednesday of each month. There’s even a downloadable welcome letter to orient your cheese recipient.
You can opt to gift a sampler, like the doubly-PA-proud Beer Cheese Sampler ($45) that includes special collabs with Tröegs Independent Brewing, like a Troegenator gouda and a creamy, semi-firm Perpetual IPA cheese. The Classico Cheese Sampler ($32.50) offers flagship products for the Italian cheese lover, including mozzarella, fior di pizza and fresh ricotta. And the Goud(a) to Go Sampler ($32.50) makes a super goud-a gift (sorry), with three types of this smoky, tasty style. Add your gift message in the order notes.
Or, give the gift of learning with an online cheesemaking class ($22.50 and $27.50), where students learn to make mozzarella, burrata or provolone from the comfort of home. Caputo Brothers Creamery ships nationally and is located at 245 North Main St., Spring Grove; (717)739-1091.
Cheese of the Month Gift Baskets and Cheesemaking Classes by Flint Hill Farm Education Center (Coopersburg)
Flint Hill Farm Education Center in Lehigh County is a non-profit farm with outreach and on-site programs aiming to connect the community with the farm. Funds from its products go towards helping Flint Hill remain sustainable. The cheese of the month club ($30 per month), available for pick up at the farm, allows you to choose how many months you’d like to gift the farm fresh cheese from two months through one year. Each month, recipients get three half-pound selections from aged and fresh cow and goat cheeses like manchego, cheddar and mozzarella, all made on the farm.
You can also gift a cheesemaking class (prices vary) for learning how to make chèvre and 30-minute mozzarella, cheddar cheese or hand stretched mozzarella. Purchase a gift certificate for the class, which is typically offered five times per year. The recipient can choose which day and time works best for them!
Cheeses and classes are all on site at 1922 Flint Hill Rd., Coopersburg; (610) 838-2928.
Gift Boxes by Calkins Creamery (Honesdale)
Available for shipping or farm store pickup, the Calkins Creamery gift boxes ($40 – $125) are a sure bet for pleasing a cheese lover in your life. This award-winning creamery in northeastern PA produces exceptional, nationally recognized farm fresh, raw milk cheeses in brie, cheddar, gouda, gruyere, havarti, montasio and tomme styles, plus quark and curd. Dip your toes with the Farmer Bill Gift Box ($40), featuring four cheese varieties and crackers, or go for gasps with The Big Cheese Gift Box ($125) that includes eight farmstead cheeses, honey, syrup, mustard, jam, crackers, beef sticks and chocolate for good measure. There are six boxes to choose from and get your gift just right.
The shipping process is simple and convenient, but if you’re anywhere near the little farm store (open every day but Sunday), it may be worth the trip over to shop around! Find Calkins Creamery at 288 Calkins Rd., Honesdale; (570) 729-8103.
Winter Artisan Cheese Subscription by Collective Creamery (SEPA)
Super duo Stefanie Angstadt of Valley Milkhouse and Sue Miller of Birchrun Hills Farm come together as Collective Creamery, a producer-led, curated artisan cheese subscription partnership that delights folks all over SEPA with exceptional cheese. The 2025 Winter Cheese Subscription ($196 or $49 per share) features four luscious, local wedges per month, available for pickup at 15 locations in Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties, the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia and New Jersey. There are four remaining pick-ups including one right before Christmas, so subscribe now and wrap the first batch with a bow!
Your cheese lover will savor Collective Creamery’s award winning, creative cheeses including fresh, mold ripened and aged products made with pasture-fed dairy. This subscription is not only a gateway into gourmet flavors but a way to support local dairy farmers and producers through the winter as part of an innovative “CSA” (cheese-supported agriculture).
For a one-and-done cheese gift, check out the gift boxes ($40 – $85) of Birchrun Hills Farm with themes like Game Day and Cheese Spreads Collection. Check out our cheese board how-to with Collective Creamery, and stay in the loop by following its Facebook and Instagram pages.
Maker’s Holiday Bundle by The Farmstead Table (Shoemakersville)
The Maker’s Holiday Bundle ($65) by The Farmstead Table makes a delectable holiday treat for your favorite cheese lover. The bundle includes a selection French blue wedge, two cows milk cheeses, and aged goat cheese and a fresh chèvre cup. You can leave a personalized message for the recipient in the checkout notes. They’ll love these handcrafted, artisanal cheeses, which ship for $15.
The Farmstead Table is located at 233 Main St., Rear Building, Shoemakersville; (949) 412-6299.
- Photos: Courtesy of the respective businesses
