No other cheese comes in as many flavors as goat cheese. You don’t see a lot of blueberry Swiss out there, or herbed gorgonzola, or lavender cheddar. Sure, some cheeses get truffled and others include some spicy peppers, but goat cheese really runs the gamut. From sweet flavor to herbaceous to savory, goat cheese is a tangy canvas for a cheesemaker’s wildest dreams.
But not all flavored goat cheese works.
I gathered together 17 different flavored goat cheeses in order to find the best herbed goat cheese, the best sweet goat cheese, the best truffle goat cheese, and everything in between. I tried some flavors that I absolutely would have never thought twice about, and a few of those made it onto the list. Others that I would have thought would be no-brainers just didn’t have what it took.
I was looking for vibrant, noticeable flavors that tasted natural rather than artificial. But I still also wanted the goat cheese to taste like goat cheese (if you’re looking for the best plain goat cheese, we ranked that, too). I wanted tang and creaminess and that grassiness you get from a goat milk product.
Whether you’re looking for something herbaceous or something totally new, you’ll find it on this list of the best flavored goat cheese.
- Trader Joe’s Chevre with Fine Herbs
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If you like Alouette, give this savory, herbaceous cheese a try. It is rolled in a mix of parsley, dill, chives, tarragon, and basil, for an extremely herbaceous flavor. And the cheese itself is mildly tangy and creamy. I want this goat cheese on a burger—or, better yet, a lamb burger. Spread it on the bun for an elevated cheesy flavor.
Related: Best Trader Joe’s Cheese
Credit: Merc
- Laura Chenel Marinated Black Truffle
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Sold in a little bucket marinating in oil, this is the best truffle goat cheese you can buy without going into debt. The truffle flavor tastes high quality and strong. If you are a huge truffle fan (but not a truffle snob) you should try it. It would be quite a luxe addition to any cheese board or charcuterie plate.
Related: Best Cheese and Cracker Pairings
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Cypress Grove Purple Haze
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Flavored with lavender and fennel pollen, this elegant goat cheese tastes like a walk in a beautiful garden. But it doesn’t go too heavy on the floral flavors—it doesn’t taste like someone just dropped some fresh goat cheese in a dish of potpourri. Instead, it balances the savory flavor of goat cheese with a touch of florality. Spread it on tiny toasts and serve it with sparkling cocktails.
Related: Best Cheddar Cheese
Credit: Merc / Vons
- Laura Chenel Mango Habanero
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I can’t believe how good this new flavored goat cheese is. It’s so sweet and creamy. It tastes like mango lassi with a nice hit of fruity habanero heat on the end. I would spread this on wheat crackers or slather it onto strawberries. It’s so unique. Seek it out, ASAP.
Related: Best Swiss Cheese
Credit: Merc / Laura Chenel
- Laura Chenel Four Peppercorn
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Laura Chenel makes one of the best plain goat cheeses, and the best flavored goat cheese obviously starts with the best plain goat cheese. It’s deliciously tangy and wonderfully peppery. Not only is the flavor impeccable but it is also the most useful of all the goat cheese I tried. It would be incredible on toast with some avocado or smoked salmon for a lovely fancy brunch at home. Or it would be delightful on a cheese board.
Related: Best Cream Cheese
Credit: Merc / Kroger
Best Herby
Best Truffle
Best Floral
Best Sweet & Spicy
Best of the Best
Other goat cheeses we tasted: Primo Soft Goat Cheese Garlic & Herb, Emporium Selection Goat Cheese Cranberry Cinnamon, Emporium Selection Goat Cheese Blueberry Vanilla, Emporium Selection Goat Cheese Garlic & Herb, Boar’s Head Chevre Garlic & Herb, Montchevre Tomato Basil, Boar’s Head Chevre Orange blossom Honey, Montchevere Goat Cheese Honey, Emporium Selection Goat Cheese Honey, Trader Joe’s Chevre with Honey, Laura Chenel Marinated Thyme & Rosemary
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!