A cheese board, or cheese tray, is more than just a fancy name. The most popular type of cheese board usually has one or two neat pull-out compartments. These are for storing cheese knives and other paraphernalia. Either that, or it may also have grooved compartments for different cheeses or sides. A cheese board also makes the perfect gift, and smaller ones an outdoor companion. Some are easily affordable, or choose from premium grain woods, slate, or marble.
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Why Buy a Cheese Board?
Cheese, or at least good cheese, doesn’t come cheap in Japan. For some, that alone justifies a stage all to its own. However, for the connoisseur, contaminating tastes or flavors is not to be made light of. For this reason, a good cheese board needs to be made of a hard, non porous wood or material.
A hard and non porous surface cleans easily and thus flavors and molds will not remain. Also, you can prep your board before hand and leave in the fridge. A cheese board also adds great aesthetic value to a meal or romantic setting. In addition, they often store away easily together with any included utensils.
Types of Cheese Boards
Because of their aesthetic appeal, cheese boards come in all sorts of shapes and designs. The most basic could just be a dedicated hard wood board for cutting and serving cheese. However, most people appreciate boards that have compartmental grooves for things like crackers, nut, fruits, and other side snacks.
Usually, such a cheese board will have a slide-out tray the houses at least three different kinds of cheese knives. Cheese knives, and cheese knife sets can always be bought separately of course. Some cheese boards also come with a sommelier knife, a wine stopper, or ceramic bowls.
Good hard woods for a cheese board include teak, walnut, olive, acacia, oak, and cherry. Bamboo, apart from its aesthetic appeal, is more affordable and sustainable. Slate boards don’t have pull-out compartments, but some wood boards incorporate an inlaid slate cutting board. Slate boards can also be used to chalk the name of the cheeses in a surprisingly compatible relationship.
Cheese Board vs Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie is essentially the French cuisine art of arranging often cured meats such as sausages, bacon, ham, and salami. Other more French assortments include terrine ‘meatloaf’, similar galantine and stuffed ballotin, as well as slow-cooked confit. There are also sauces and pates on the side.
Because charcuterie can be arrange on any kind of board, slate, or tray, it often gets conflated with a cheese board. Charcuterie may also include a few selections of cheese, nuts, or fruits on the side. With a cheese board, one might presume cheese is the more dominant focus.
Best Affordable Value for a Cheese Board in Japan
For the typical person in Japan, a cheese board set going for less than ￥10 000 is more than likely the best average deal. Smirly Bamboo Wood Cheese Boards fit the bill, and this particularly model is well worth it. It can easily serve two people up to a party of four or more.
What’s Included – Smirly Cheese Board & Charcuterie Set
This Smirly cheese board set comes with two fully debatable side boards with magnetic seals. There are four different cheese utensils namely a pronged knife, a heart knife, a flat knife, and a cheese fork. They’re relatively good quality with ceramic white handles.
There are also three dipping bowls, but they are quite shallow and only hold about 4 teaspoons worth of condiment. The versatile grooved inlays come in half and full lengths.
The removeable slate plate is an excellent addition for charcuterie meats or even softer kinds of cheese. In addition, there’s the round fruit tray and it all comes together in a nice custom box for easy and concise storage. A nice extra is the handy and well-produced cheese board guide booklet.
What people like:
- Sturdy build
- Ceramic utensil handles
- Size versatility
- Quality boxing
- Customer service
What people don’t like:
- Shallow bowls
- Finishing not the best
- Slate plate not top quality
- Long term durability
If you’ve never had a cheese board before, and would like to try one out, Smirly cheese boards are a good choice. For the price, one can’t expect top class finishing nor premium durability. The main let down is the relative quality of the slate plate. Additionally, if exposed to too much water, the wood is prone to crack. It’s best to clean and dry quickly and store away.
Should I buy this? – If you want a versatile cheese board to try out, or one that you may only use occasionally, Smirly offers good enough value for the price. If you are looking for a quality gift or something for a wedding, we suggest you try a better quality alternative.
See other options for a Smirly Cheeseboard Set
More Great Cheese Boards to Buy in Japan
If you are looking for something more unique, a budget cheeseboard, or premium high quality, have a look at our full selection. Wood types include bamboo, acacia, oak, and mahogany.
Abell Charcuterie – A premium acacia wood cheese board
The main board is quite large at 430 mm by 330 mm (17″x13″) and it is also pretty heavy. The utensil handles are also made from Acacia wood. Additionally, the ceramic bowl nestings are quite large enough for various dry snacks.
The only draw back is the slate plate which can chip easily if you’re not careful. It’s recommended to rub in grape seed oil every so often to improve the grain texture and protect from cracking.
Should I buy this? – If you want a cheese board set and charcuterie that is guaranteed to last, this Abell is a good choice. It’s also an ideal gift for a special occasion. Just make sure the large size is what you want.
Toscana Concavo – A cheese board with a difference
Toscana is a well-appreciated name in Italian kitchenware. Their cheese boards are part of the Picnic Time brand. The top cutting board is Acacia wood and the rest in bamboo. It weighs 1.67 kg and the dimensions are 35 x 20 x 7.5 cm. The 3 porcelain identifiers come with a marker pen, however, there are no dipping bowls included.
Should I buy this? – These Toscana cheese board sets are good quality and come at a very reasonable price. The slightly concave design lends a sympathetic Japanese aesthetic and they are perfect for gifting.
Boltlink – A round cheese board with a complete knife set
This bamboo cheese board has a quality appearance for the price. The full knife set is a big plus and it includes a prolonged knife with holes, and a spreading knife.
On the other hand, it tends to tilt a little when fully opened and loaded with items. The surface also tends to scratch easily from cutting, so you need to be careful. It’s quite sizeable with a diameter of 330 mm (13″), but the utensils are comparatively smaller than expected.
Should I buy this? – For evenings alone or snacks with a couple of friends, this Boltlink cheese board may fit the bill. It not a perfect all rounder, but it can make a nice gift for a close friend and is affordable enough.
StarBlue – A small cheese board for lovers of oak
StarBlue is a simple, but convenient sized cheese board. It also comes with a two month money back satisfaction guarantee. The board is only 30.4 x 18.5 cm, so it’s not much bigger than a mid-sized notebook computer – and smaller than pictured!
The utensils are understandably a little small although functional. Unfortunately, there is no magnetic lock for the draw, but it’s otherwise well constructed for the price.
Should I buy this? – If you just want a small cheese board for light snacks or a couple of people, this StarBlue shouldn’t disappoint. It fits in a small space and isn’t too obtrusive.
Boska Party Cheese Set – A practical cheese board for basic necessities
Boska is famous for its premium design kitchen ware. This high quality European oak wood board incorporates a unique magnetic strip flip board. The stainless steel knives are a perfect fit for soft and medium cheeses, while the hard cheese knife is double edged.
Boska products are available in Japan through parallel import so availability is temperamental. It’s recommended to treat these high quality boards with a cutting board oil.
Should I buy this? – For the most part, the Boska name sells itself. What’s more, many products in their range of specialized kitchenware are not too expensive for the price. If you want just the basics and quality that lasts, these cheese boards are well worth the price.
Radiant Royals – A cheese board with a little pretention
Radiant Royals is another bamboo cheese board, but with a much smoother finish. The grain may be a little lighter than pictured. The set includes a sommelier knife, a wine pourer and stopper, 6 forks and 4 cheese identifiers.
Although higher quality, like many other bamboo cheese boards, this one is prone to cracking. For the overall price, the durability does not measure up to standard.
Should I buy this? – Initial impressions suggest a great product. The utensils are a good sell. However, issues of longer term durability don’t really warrant the price tag.
Captain Stag – A small cheese board for camping and picnics
Most cheese boards tend to be a little on the heavy side. For getting outdoors, this Captain Stag only weights 0.52kg. It’s made of bamboo but with a urethane coating for better protection from water and scratching. It swings open on a simple hinge and is imprinted with the a stag logo. The diameter is 19.5 cm.
Should I buy this? – Captain Stag is one of Japan’s premium outdoor companies. This quality cheese board can be a great addition to your outdoor paraphernalia. It’s only big enough for a couple of cheeses, but provides a nice cutting surface, and snaps closed with no draw to worry about.
If you’re interested in similar product, but higher quality and much the same weight, we recommend this Toscana. It’s made from Acacia wood and the price is about twice as much:
Tramontina – A mahogany board with a stone plate
Tramontina is one of Brazils best known names in quality kitchenware. The stone plate is perfect for cutting cheeses or arranging cold cuts. Made of beautiful African mahogany, these boards are 48 cm x 19 cm. They weight 2.4 kg.
Should I buy this? – If you’re looking for a more versatile cutting or serving board, these will also make quite a show piece for your table or kitchen. They should be lightly oiled for proper care.
Boska Slate Plate – A multifunctional charcuterie board
Most slate boards are generic products and tend to be only 0.5 cm thick. Poor quality means the board also flake easily. Apart form being a name you can trust, these Boska slate boards are also a little thicker at 8 mm. They a further 33 cm x 22.5 cm, so quite spacious.
Should I buy this? – A slate board is a good addition to any serious kitchen. They’re suitable for cheeses, meats, tapas, including soft or oily preparations. The color contrast is especially appealing.
