It’s National Cheese Lover’s Day, the day we celebrate our love of this alimentary delight in all its myriad forms. By some accounts, over 1000 different cheeses grace our world, each with its own unique texture, flavor, and mouthfeel. One thing that all cheeses have in common is a phosphoprotein called casein and its derivative, casomorphins–morphine-like compounds which bind to the same brain receptors as narcotics and explain why we can’t get enough of this delectable, mouth-watering food. 

Cheese-lovers and cannabis-lovers share a passion for strong flavors and aromas and are blessed with a wide variety to choose from when it comes to their favorite cheeses and flower. These rich, sensory experiences come to us courtesy of terpenes, the organic compounds responsible for the unique smells and tastes of your favorite plants, flowers, and fruits. The terpene Linalool gives lavender its sweet and calm-inducing aroma, Limonene creates the olfactory experience when you peel an orange, and Myrcene fills your senses when you cut into a robust Stilton or a ripe Camembert. Terpenes work synergistically with their better-known sister compounds, cannabinoids like CBD and THC, and contribute to the myriad health benefits of the magical cannabis plant. Like your favorite fumé flower, artisan cheeses are rich with terpenes that come from free-range goats, sheep, or cows’ herbaceous diets. Pairing fumé with premium, grass-fed cheeses can further elevate your sensory experience while enhancing its medicinal benefits.

The culinary artists in our fumé test kitchen have dreamed up this otherworldly, terpene-rich cheese board–a perfect pairing for our Mango Kush King Cone with its top notes of mango fruit and other tropical delights. With Mango Kush, a long, slow pull yields an early high, producing a talkative and open vibe then arching into a relaxed euphoric state. You and your guests will feel happy, creative, and energized thanks to terpenes like Myrcene, b-Caryophyllene, and Limonene offered by this exclusive, hand-selected strain. 

Our cannabis culinary experts have provided opportunities for culinary creativity and invite you to get creative and make it your own! Think of your cheese board as an artist’s canvas that expresses the essence of you and the vibe you want to invite for your next social gathering.

This year as you celebrate your love of cheese, raise a flute of Mango Kush and enjoy! 

Cheeses: 

• Goat’s milk cheeses: we love cheeses like chevre or Humboldt Fog which, when grass-fed, offer a bountiful terpene profile that includes Limonene, a-Pinene, b-Caryophyllene, and Terpineol.
• Cow’s milk cheeses: a triple cream brie made with 100% raw milk offers terpene profiles that are as rich as the cheese itself. Research suggests that bovine gut microbes enhance the terpenes as the animal digests its nutritious, grass-fed diet, producing a profile that includes a-Pinene, b-Pinene, Limonene, Camphene, Sabinene, Myrcene, and delta-3-Carene. A semi-soft cow’s milk cheese like dill Havarti is another wonderful choice for those seeking a terpene-rich experience. Dill is known to contain Pinene, Terpinene, Limonene, Carvone, and various other terpenes.
• Sheep’s milk cheeses: cheeses like Pecorino Romano or Manchego when grass-fed offer similarly terpene-rich benefits along with textural contrast.

Crackers + Bread: 

• We are big fans of Raincoast Crisps that blend dried fruits and nuts. Pick your favorite flavor combination from Fig & Olive, Date & Almond, or Cranberry & Hazelnut.
• A warm, thinly sliced baguette is always a great addition to any cheeseboard.

Fruits:

• Fruits enhance the flavor of your favorite cheeses and bring a host of terpenes plus they are a great source of antioxidants that can protect cells from free radicals
• Berries: Wild strawberries add a-Pinene, b-Myrcene, a-Terpineol, and Phellandrene to the terpenes Linalool and Nerolidol found in their cultivated kin. Blueberries contain Cineole, Linalool, Cymene, Limonene, 1-Terpineol, and trans-Caryophyllene.
• Figs are a great source of Limonene and Linalool.
• Apples bring Terpineol, Farnesene, Nerolidol, Linalool, and b-Caryophyllene.
• Dried fruits like apricots, cranberries, and dates add concentrated flavors and pops of color to your cheeseboard.

Nuts:

• Pistachios are a rich source of Pinene
• Smoked almonds offer Phellandrene, Geraniol, Linalool, Farnesene, and Nerolidol.

Mustards + Honey + Fruit Preserves:

• Honey contains multiple terpenes which depend on the pollen the bees feed on. Linalool generally registers the highest concentration.
• Fruit preserves are a great addition to any cheese board as they bring sweetness to compliment savory cheeses and add color.
• Mustards are always a wonderful pairing for cheese. You can try mixing whole grain mustard with your favorite fruit preserve for sweet, yet spicy flavors.