The Snack Social: a Sampling of Some Pretty Fabulous Private-Label Cheeses
By Patricia Racine
July 2026
I was brought up being taught that you get what you pay for, and—yes—my parents were right. I still have the backpack they paid way too much for when I was in eighth grade, and it may be a little ratty but can still be used forty years later. But I’m a believer in private-label food being as good as the name brand stuff; 70% of it is made by the same companies, so all you are doing is paying for a name and logo. In the cheese world, you can find some pretty amazing cheeses at discount prices out there. While I love the whole ritual of walking through the impressive front doors of Rubiner’s, tasting new cheeses and bringing home a beautifully wrapped tiny piece of $40 per pound exquisite cheese, I certainly can’t do it regularly. In the last few years, a certain no-frills German grocery store has been expanding in our area and they offer some very fancy cheeses at prices that you might think are clerical errors.
Not Your Average Cheddar & Parmesan is a hybrid cheese that starts out with the recognizable sharp tang of aged cheddar but finishes with Parmesan’s nutty sweetness for less than $5.00 per block.
1,000 Day Aged Gouda is considered boutique cheese due to the extra care and time that it takes to age it properly, but at Aldi it is priced at $4.50 for a half-pound piece. This cheese is crystalized, crumbly and virtually lactose free with a toasted caramel flavor profile.
Goat’s Milk Brie combines the creamy texture of traditional brie with the tang of chèvre, making it a bit funkier than its cow’s milk counterpart. This interesting twist on a classic is also less than $5.00.
Vintage Irish Cheddar is imported from Ireland, made from grass-fed cow’s milk and is beautifully sharp and slightly crumbly for about $4.00.
Double Gloucester with Onion and Chive is a naturally mellow semi-hard English cheese that melts onto burgers beautifully in addition to bringing a creamy, savory and herbaceous novelty to cheese boards for around $4.00.
Masquerade Mango is a white Stilton studded with mango and candied ginger and is my favorite Aldi find. This is considered a “dessert” cheese that balances sweet, spicy and tang in every bite. Whenever I see this at my Aldi, I bring home two because at just under $5.00 for an authentic PDO (protected designation of origin) cheese you can’t go wrong.
Caramelized Onion and Balsamic Cheddar is an English style cheddar blended with a balsamic onion chutney. This cheese checks all of the boxes, sharp, sweet, and acidic and would make the most amazing grilled cheese.
There are always interesting seasonal cheeses available that may look off the wall but are really quite yummy. Every time I go to Aldi, I spend quite a lot of time perusing the cheese section, and I always bring home at least three types. I know I have a problem. Last year’s weird find was a Wensleydale with Rhubarb and Gin that was very well received; honestly, if you see any fruited Wensleydale, pick it up. I promise you will like this cheese.
So, you really don’t need to blow your whole weekly grocery budget to get some great cheese. By trying private label cheeses like the ones at Aldi, you can enjoy the traditional craftsmanship of cheesemaking without the luxury markup. I do, however, suggest you visit Rubiner’s if you already haven’t; the shop is more of an experience than a shopping stop and they have the most beautifully curated collection of foods that I have ever seen. The other thing I do is have my parents bring me home cheese from Europe when they go over. For some reason, everything from Europe tastes better.
