Trader Joe’s Smoked English Cheddar Cheese with Spring Onion & Chive comes to us from the same supplier as our much-celebrated Cheddar Cheese with Caramelized Onions. From their dairy farm deep within the idyllic English countryside, they make this smoky, savory cheese by starting with a base of creamy farmouse Cheddar that’s been mixed with tasty, herbaceous bits of chive and onion. After the cheese is properly aged, they take the extra step of cold-smoking it over oak chips for several hours, resulting in a marvelous mix of rich flavors and smoky notes —precisely the kind of uniquely scrumptious profile you’d expect from a two-time Trader Joe’s Spotlight Cheese.

If you’ve never tried a smoked cheese before, you’re in for quite a revelation. Because each piece of this Smoked English Cheddar is cold-smoked, rather than flavored with artificial smoke, it develops a delightfully present (but never overpowering) smokiness that accents the creaminess of rustic English Cheddar perfectly. Combined with its spot-on herby notes, courtesy of a diligently-honed ratio of chives and onions, it makes an excellent addition to burgers, pizzas, and positively shines as the base for a smoky baked macaroni and cheese.