Christmas tasting box – edible gifting

As the holiday season gets closer, picking the perfect gift can be both exciting and a bit overwhelming. Tired of buying unoriginal and seldomly savoured gifts? Make this Christmas special by creating an edible gift your friends and family will love.

The idea? Pick your favourite Castello cheese, add some carefully selected pairings, and create a Christmas tasting box – a gift that can be enjoyed as it is or as the centrepiece of a festive tasting experience. Find inspiration in our article on how to make a cheese board.

How to make a Christmas tasting box

Making a tasting box is easier than you might think. With just a little time and a few ingredients, you can create a gift that will feed your loved ones’ senses.

Step 1: Select the perfect box

Your choice of box will alter the look and feel of the gift and is central to the unboxing experience you want to create. We chose a wooden box (L: 31cm X W: 24cm X H: 6 cm) painted in warm, light grey. The neutral tone will make the food appear even more vibrant and temptingly mouthwatering.

Step 2: Arrange the cheese and pairings

Make sure you consider the preferences of the person you are giving the tasting box to. Do they prefer sweet or savoury? Do they like bolder or milder cheeses, or would they appreciate a mix to get the full experience? Use their preferences as your guide when selecting both cheeses and pairings. In the end, the best edible gift box is the one that feels personal and thoughtful, made just for them.

Still unsure what to choose? Our professional chef and a food scientist have collaborated to select the cheeses and pairings below based on their complementary flavour profiles, textures, and hues.

Cheeses to include:

• Castello® Extra Creamy Brie
• Castello® Tickler Extra Mature Cheddar Cheese
• Castello® Pineapple & Almond Cream Cheese Ring
• Castello® Creamy Blue

Arrange them neatly in your box, placing the Cheddar diagonally across one corner to create a sense of order and visual interest. We tied the Cheddar and Creamy White with ribbon for an aesthetic touch. You could also include the cheeses in their packaging, making it easier to store and eat later.

As for the pairings, we have added sugared cranberries, orange marmalade, roasted almonds, and crackers tied with a ribbon decorated with fresh thyme. If you think your loved one is likely to store the items, you could consider presenting them in sealable jars or other decorative airtight packagings.

If you want more suggestions for what to put in your Christmas tasting box, check out our cheese board recipe. It matches a selection of popular Castello® cheeses with different flavourful pairings.

Step 3: Elevate with exclusive wrapping

Wrapping is the final touch that will complete your edible gift and create a memorable first impression. Adding ribbons, or other seasonal touches, in your loved one’s favourite colour, will make the gift even more appealing.

To create our chosen style of gift wrapping, place the box diagonally in the centre of a piece of tulle or silk paper wrapping. You need ample amounts of spare wrapping around your box. Lift the wrapping from the corners and gather over the box, creating the look of a decorative pouch. Adjust the length to create a loose, ruffled aesthetic, and secure it with an elastic band. Tie a piece of ribbon into a bow around the elastic band and cut off excess wrapping above the ribbon to your desired length.

Your tasting box is now ready to be gifted to the ones you love. A Christmas gift that is rewarding, thoughtful, and memorable. Enjoy.