6 Ontario Cheeses to Add to Your Next Cheese Board

Wooden charcuterie board with cheese fruit nuts and pretzels

We love cheese, and nothing brings us more pleasure than discovering delicious local cheeses in our own backyard! Ontario is a dynamic cheese producing region in Canada with countless award winning cheeses that often rival the best in the world. Below are our recommendations for top cheeses to try in Ontario, all of which you should add to your next cheese board!

Lindsay Bandaged Goat Cheddar Cheese

Mariposa Dairy - Lindsay, Ontario

One of the best cheeses in Ontario (and we've tasted a lot!) is Mariposa Dairy’s Lindsay bandaged goat cheddar. Hand-crafted in small batches using premium goat’s milk in the small town of Lindsay Ontario on Lenberg Farms, this tasty cheese is made in the traditional method of wrapping each cheddar wheel with cheesecloth, which helps to age and preserve the distinct flavour of the cheddar. If you're looking for a cheese that will keep you coming back for more, Lindsay cheddar is your wheel!

Niagara Gold

Upper Canada Cheese Company- Jordan, Ontario

Upper Canada Cheese is known in Ontario for its selection of fabulous cheeses, and the classic Niagara gold is perhaps the signature cheese of the region. A washed rind, semi-firm cheese created from recipes once used by Trappist Monks of the Loire Valley, it is both mild and sweet, and develops a pungent edge as it ages. Stop by the Upper Canada cheese boutique if you're passing by the Niagara region and be prepared to leave with more than one wedge.

St-Albert Cheese Curds

St-Albert Cheese Factory Coop - St-Albert, Ontario

You haven't had a fresh cheese curd until you hear and feel it squeak! Located in St-Albert, just a short drive outside of Ottawa, St-Albert Cheese Factory makes one of the best cheese curds around - a must for any authentic poutine. While cheese lovers flock for the curds, St-Albert's also has a great selection of other tasty cheeses, including popular cheddars from mild to extra old. If you visit the factory store in St-Albert, be sure to watch the cheese making action from a viewing area above the factory floor, and order a specialty poutine from the restaurant onsite. From the delectable squeak of the classic cheese curd, to the tang of the sharp old cheddars, you can't go wrong with any selection from St-Albert's.

Devil’s Rock Creamy Blue

Thornloe Cheese - Thornloe, Ontario

Making cheese in northern Ontario for over 71 years, Thornloe Cheese is a veteran in the cheese making game. Using old-fashioned artisan cheese making techniques, and the first verified grass-fed cheese in Canada, this Canadian-owned and farmer-owned company is a favourite among cheese aficionados. One of their signature cheeses is the famous Devils’ Rock creamy blue, named after the infamous rock cliff overlooking Lake Temiskaming. This mild Roquefort blue comes in a unique black pyramid shape is perfect for cheeseboards, salads, makes the perfect topping for burgers and is an unexpected and tangy addition to a grilled cheese sandwich.

Thunder Oak Medium Gouda

Thunder Oak Cheese Farm - Thunder Bay, Ontario

Located just south of off Thunder Bay in Scoble Township, Thunder Oak Cheese Farm is a family-owned cheese farm with cheese wheels in the blood! Original owners Jacob and Margaret Schep both came from cheese-making families, with Margaret’s mother being a World Champion cheese maker in Holland in 1975. In 2007 their children Walter and Martin Schep purchased the farm from their parents and continue the tradition of traditional Dutch cheese making, which you can see right on site! Known for their award-winning gouda, choose from the classic mild, medium, old and extra old goudas, or opt for a flavoured option like red pepper, cumin, sun-dried tomato, jalapeno or garden herb.

3-year Old Cheddar

Balderson Cheese - Balderson, Ontario

While they have one of the most well-known names in the cheese game, Balderson Cheese’s humble beginnings run deep. Over 140 years ago in the small town of Balderson, just a short drive from Perth in Lanark County, local dairy famers formed a dairy collective, pooled their excess milk production, and built a factory to produce cheddar cheese. This small factory grew over the years into the award-winning, well-known cheese company we all know today. Cheddars are the name of the game at Balderson and their premium aged cheddars are a must-try for any cheese connoisseur. One of our favourites is the 3-year old white cheddar, with a fully matured cheddar taste and a pleasant but not too intense sharpness. This cheese is perfect for a charcuterie board and pairs well with a nice full bodied red wine.