Cantal Cheese - Perfect At The End Of A Meal

Apr 01 2025

A good chef likes to build the suspense, and a meal with multiple courses will be viewed as a story in many parts, with the journey building to a magnificent crescendo and a sensory explosion. In French cuisine that would be a cheeseboard, and even if you are preparing a dinner party at home with friends and family, a cheeseboard is a way to subtly deliver quality in a simple way. For that you need reliable cheeses with a statement impact, and Cantal cheese is the perfect cheese for leaving a lasting impression at the end of a meal.
Described as similar to cheddar, and equally versatile, Cantal is cut and pressed multiple times before being left to develop its fully rounded flavour. A final pressing in a cloth-lined Mold precedes an aging process which can be between three to nine months, and which gives Cantal a distinctive aroma described as similar to sour cream.

A historic cheese with great versatility

Cantal is widely recognised as the oldest cheese in France, with an origin dating back to Roman times. So with 2000 years of tradition to uphold, it is no surprise that Cantal packs a consistency of quality that is impossible to ignore. As a semi-hard, pasteurised cow’s milk cheese Cantal is a deceptive beast. A rough rind, that is often described as a ‘crust’, is best discarded, but the firm texture of the cheese within belies a melt in the mouth quality to die-for.

With a strong aroma that grows sharper and more intense as it matures, Cantal has a balanced taste which is variously described as fruity, tangy and buttery. This all-round versatility makes Cantal a flexible cheese to use in various cooking disciplines, and also means it can be used on a biscuit as the perfect aperitif as guests arrive for a meal. But these qualities also make it a staple feature of many a French cheeseboard at the other extreme of the multi-course dining experience.

Why Cantal is ideal for a French cheeseboard

A French cheeseboard is designed as a showcase of quality and indulgence. It is a grand gesture where the host or chef can simply let the food do the talking and allow the natural ingredients to take centre stage. Ideally, a French cheeseboard should offer a range of different cheeses for different palates, so you should offer strong, mild and subtle cheeses, while also providing a balance of textures and pairing possibilities. And here is where Cantal can be described as the perfect cheese for a French cheeseboard, because it offers:

Texture – As a semi-hard cheese it balances against soft, crumbly and harder cheeses, but is still firm enough to maintain its shape at room temperature, to slice with a knife and to be eaten from the fingers without leaving a sticky residue.
Taste – Cantal has a good flavour profile which means it can be compared with stronger and milder cheeses and will be popular with most palates.
Pairings – This accommodating taste means Cantal can be paired with many different things, not least medium-bodied red and white wines, but also nuts, grapes and stoned fruits, such as peaches. Cantal is a robust cheese that couples-up with both savoury and sweet items, so a cheeseboard with plenty of pairing options should be a real crowd-pleaser.

Order Cantal cheese for your restaurant from Sodiaal today

A poet local to the Auvergne region where Cantal originates from once described it as ‘a peasant’s cheese’, which doesn’t do justice to its sophisticated flavours, and certainly isn’t something to use as a marketing slogan. But behind its rather blunt message is an acknowledgement that Cantal is a simple cheese that doesn’t need dressing up. Yes, it can be used in various recipes and dishes, but presented firmly, and simply, on a French cheeseboard at the end of a meal, is where it shines brightest.

To find out how you can order Cantal for your home or restaurant in the UK, by contact Sodiaal today.