Ordering cheese by mail might sound strange. Cheese is fresh, has a strong aroma and needs to be kept at the right temperature. And yet it works beautifully. At Cheese In A Box, we ship cheese all across the Netherlands every day, and it arrives cool, fresh and in perfect condition. Here’s how we do it.
How does ordering cheese by mail work?
As soon as your order comes in, we cut the cheese fresh for you. Not a day earlier, not a week earlier. Cut fresh on the day of dispatch. Each piece is vacuum-sealed individually, then packed into an insulated box with a cooling element. This keeps the temperature stable during transit, even if the package is in transit for a full day.
We work with PostNL for delivery. Most orders arrive the next business day. You’ll receive a track & trace code so you know exactly when to expect the delivery.
Is cheese by mail actually fresh?
That’s the question we get most often. The answer is yes. The cheeses we ship are the same cheeses you’d find in a great cheese shop. We source them directly from cheesemakers and affineurs. Vacuum-sealing locks in the freshness without affecting the flavor.
Some cheeses are naturally long-lasting, like a well-aged Stolwijker Boerenkaas Pikant or a Manchego. Vacuum-sealed, these will keep for up to 3 to 4 weeks after you receive them. Soft cheeses like a Camembert Normand or an Époisses have a shorter shelf life, but they ship just fine as long as you enjoy them quickly.
How is the cheese packaged?
We use food-safe vacuum bags. The air is removed to prevent oxidation, so the cheese holds on to its flavor and texture. Everything is then placed in an insulated box with a chilled gel pack. The box is designed to keep its contents cold for at least 24 hours, even in warmer outdoor temperatures.
For larger orders, we add extra cooling elements and additional insulation. So there’s no need to worry about your cheese during transit, even in summer.
Cheese by mail vs. the cheese shop
A great cheese shop nearby is a wonderful thing. You can taste, ask questions and get to know the cheesemaker. But not everyone lives next to a specialty cheese shop, and the selection is often more limited than you’d like.
Ordering cheese by mail has a number of advantages:
- You get access to a much wider range, including specialty cheeses you won’t find in any supermarket
- You order whenever it suits you, including evenings and weekends
- Your cheese is cut fresh and packed immediately
- You can also sign up for a cheese subscription and automatically receive a selection of new cheeses every month
Just looking for something special as a one-off? Simply order fresh cheese individually and pick exactly what you want.
Tips for when your cheese arrives
Your cheese arrives chilled and vacuum-sealed. A few tips for the best experience:
- Unpack the box right away when it arrives. Put the cheeses straight in the fridge.
- Let the cheese come to room temperature before serving. Take hard cheeses out of the fridge 30 minutes before eating, soft cheeses an hour ahead.
- Store any opened cheese in cheese paper or an airtight container. You can also reuse the vacuum bags if you open them carefully.
- Received a soft cheese like an Époisses? Enjoy it within a few days for the best flavor.
Which cheeses are most popular for mail order?
Based on our orders, these are the cheeses customers choose most often:
- Stolwijker Boerenkaas Pikant – an artisanal farmhouse cheese with real character
- Manchego – the Spanish classic, long-lasting and perfect on a charcuterie and cheese board
- Grana Padano – the Italian hard cheese, ideal for cooking and grating
- Rotterdamsche Oude – a traditional Dutch cheese with a deep, rich flavor
- Geitenkaas Brokkel – for lovers of aged goat’s cheese
Want to know more about storing your cheese after it arrives? Read our tips on storing cheese.
