Cheese Etiquette in France

Jul 07 2025

The first thing many people learn when they visit France is that cheese is taken very seriously. And with good reason. After all, the region produces some of the most famous and highest quality cheeses in the world. Cheese is a part of everyday life in France and is engrained in the culture and cuisine of the country. So, it is important to learn the basics of how cheese is served, talked about, presented and eaten to ensure you don’t slip up and out yourself as a cheese novice, or worse still, someone who doesn’t appreciate cheese at all.
And that brings us to the golden rule, never admit you don’t like cheese. You will quickly learn that you are amongst dedicated cheese worshippers, and while it might be deemed disrespectful to acknowledge you don’t like cheese in their company, we are confident you will quickly change your mind. So just avoid that confrontation altogether and wait for the inevitable to happen. These tips on French cheese etiquette cover situations where you are both presenting the cheese as a host and when you are eating cheese as a guest.
When? – Cheese is typically served as a course of its own, after the main meal and before a dessert. It can be served as an aperitif at casual gatherings where there is no formal meal but is rarely eaten in a sandwich or as a snack.
What order? - If you are eating cheese on a cheeseboard, you should start with the mildest cheese and work upwards in intensity, ending with a blue cheese. Always end with a blue cheese. The stronger cheeses leave an aftertaste and an impression on the taste buds, which will affect the taste of the milder and more delicate cheeses, and that’s a tragedy you want to avoid.
Which cheeses? – If you are presenting the cheeseboard, you should present a variety of cheese types, with a minimum of three different cheeses. So you need maybe a mild cheese, a soft cheese and a blue cheese. You can add and duplicate types from there but should always have an odd number of different cheeses. Don’t ask me why, it’s just the done thing.
What pairings? – Do some research here and find out what works best with the cheeses you are offering. Try and go for ‘all-rounder’ pairings that work with a few different cheeses and try to offer a variety. So you can go for types of bread (not crackers, never crackers in France), nuts, fruit and pickles. And of course, wine. Offer small sized pairings so as not to overpower the cheese. The pairings are a sideshow here, a vehicle for the cheese that is ultimately the star of the show.
How to cut - Cheese should be cut according to the shape of the sample you have. Circular cheese should be sliced from the middle like a cake. Cheese in a thin wedge should be placed on its side and cut across from the rind downwards. Cylindrical cheese should be cut in parallel discs, while soft cheese should be cut from the outside to the middle. In most cases cheese ranges in taste and texture as you reach the middle, so the essence of slicing it up correctly is to ensure people can taste this range and experience the difference.
How not to cut – As a host, don’t slice the cheese up yourself, present it as a whole cheese and let people cut their own slices. Also, it is considered very rude to cut a slice of the middle of a cheese and take all this for yourself. This is the best bit.
How to present – Take the cheese out of the fridge about an hour before you present it to be eaten. The taste and aroma of cheese is released as it reaches room temperature, so time it for the optimum experience.
To rind or not to rind? - There are no strict rules about eating the rind, some are very pleasant, others less so. It is purely subjective and most are perfectly okay to eat.
The ultimate DON’T – Finally, never comment about cheese having an unpleasant odour. This is impolite to the host, and, let’s face it, to the French cheese industry and its centuries of tradition. People will view such a comment as ignorance and will think it demonstrates your lack of taste and knowledge.
So now you know how to serve, present and comment about cheese, so you should take the next step and order some. At Sodiaal UK we supply the best quality French cheeses to cafes and restaurants all over the UK, so check out our range and order today.

cheese etiquette in France

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