Best cheese brands in Australia

Best-rated cheese brand: Bega

It ain't easy being cheesy – unless of course you're Bega, which won this year's award for the best cheese brand. The best-rated brand for cheese texture and packaging, it also placed second for taste.

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The best cheese brands in Australia

• Top-rated cheese brand: Bega
• Best cheese brand for value for money: ALDI Westacre
• Best cheese brand for packaging: Bega
• Best-tasting cheese brand: Cracker Barrel
• Best cheese brand for texture: Bega

Top-rated cheese brand: Bega

Bega is the best cheese brand you can buy, according to Australian consumers. With a combined score of 8.46, this famous Aussie brand impressed cheese buyers with its taste, texture and value for money.

Bega Cheese was founded as a dairy co-operative in the Bega Valley of southern NSW in 1899. Bega has since grown into a major player in the Australian cheese market and exports its products to over 50 countries around the world. Browse the refrigerated aisle of your local supermarket and you'll come across Bega blocks, slices and grated cheese as well as cheese sticks and pre-cut cubes.

Other brands that scored highly include Cracker Barrel, Mainland and Great Ocean Road.

Best cheese brand for value for money: ALDI Westacre

If you're searching for the best bang for your buck when you buy cheese, Aussie consumers recommend ALDI Westacre. With a score of 4.56 out of 5, it takes the win as the best cheese brand for value for money.

Other top performers in this category were Coles with a score of 4.40 out of 5, Hillview with a score of 4.34 out of 5 and Bega with a score of 4.32 out of 5.

Available only at ALDI, Westacre cheese is a competitively priced alternative to the major brands. A gold medal winner at the 2020 Sydney Royal Cheese and Dairy Show, the brand's range of products includes cheese slices and a 500g colby cheese block.

Best cheese brand for packaging: Bega

Aussie consumers found plenty to like about Bega's range of cheese products, including their packaging. With a score of 4.52 out of 5, Bega takes the win here as the best cheese brand for packaging.

Other brands that ranked highly in this category are Cracker Barrel with a score of 4.48 out of 5, Coles with a score of 4.40 out of 5 and Mainland with a score of 4.36 out of 5.

With origins that date back to the late 19th century, Bega is an iconic Australian brand that was founded in the Bega Valley on the NSW south coast. The company's wide range of cheeses includes everything from snacks and Stringers for kids through to processed slices, grated cheese, pre-cut cubes, blocks and more.

Best-tasting cheese brand: Cracker Barrel

Boasting a score of 4.68 out of 5, Cracker Barrel was voted the best-tasting cheese brand by Aussie consumers. This was a closely fought category, however, with Cracker Barrel narrowly defeating Bega, which had a score of 4.66 out of 5. Great Ocean Road had a score of 4.60 out of 5, and Mainland and Coles both had a score of 4.48 out of 5.

Launched back in 1954, Cracker Barrel is a Kraft cheese brand. Originally designed to fit on a cracker, Cracker Barrel cheese now comes in a variety of shapes and tastes. The range includes blocks, slices, cracker cuts, sticks and spreadables, while the company also offers cheese pairing boards along with pre-packaged cheese bites matched with crackers or pretzels.

Best cheese brand for texture: Bega

Bega and Cracker Barrel actually earned the same score in this category (4.6 out of 5). However, because Bega had a higher overall rating from Aussie consumers, it takes the win as the best cheese brand for texture.

Other highly-rated cheese brands in this category include Mainland with a score of 4.52 out of 5 and Great Ocean Road with a score of 4.46 out of 5.

Founded in the southern NSW Bega Valley in 1899, Bega Cheese remains an Australian owned and made brand. Its product range includes peanut butter, Vegemite and salad dressings, not to mention an extensive variety of cheeses. From kids' cheese Stringers through to cheese slices, Tasty Bar-B-Cubes and Strong & Bitey, there's something to suit any taste.

Best rated cheese brand award breakdown

Data: Finder Retail Brand Survey, 2020, Kantar. Metric out of 5 stars unless indicated. Methodology and more info.

What types of cheese are available?

From mozzarella and camembert to cheddar and parmesan, there's a huge range of cheeses to choose from. All have different tastes and best uses, so you may need to do a little bit of research before you buy.

The most popular form of cheese in Australia is cheddar. Aside from the flavour listed on the label, the other simple way to distinguish between different cheddar cheeses is to check the form they're sold in. For example, you might want a block of cheese that you can slice and grate yourself, but you can also buy cheese slices, sticks, cubes and grated products.

Other differences in cheese include the following:

• Texture. Is the cheese soft, hard or semi-soft?
• Age. Cheese is aged to produce a more intense flavour.
• Flavour. You can check the label on cheddar cheese to see what sort of flavour it offers — mild, sharp or extra sharp, or perhaps tasty or extra tasty.
• Country of origin. This not only affects where a cheese comes from but also the methods used in its production.

What to consider when choosing cheese

There are a few important factors you need to consider when comparing cheeses.

• Serving style. You'll need to decide whether you want to buy a block or wheel, pre-cut slices or cubes, cheese sticks or grated cheese.
• Texture. Do you want a hard cheese like parmesan, a semi-soft cheese like havarti or a soft cheese like brie?
• Flavour. Check the label to find out whether a cheese offers a mild or more intense flavour.
• Age. Aged cheddar has a sharper flavour, so it may be your preferred option if you're looking for something with a bit more bite.
• How you'll eat it. Consider how you plan on eating the cheese. Will you be eating it on a cracker, melting it on a burger patty or pairing it with a specific wine?
• Nutritional content. If you're watching your weight, you may want to check the fat content, compare health star ratings or opt for a "light" cheese.
• Price. Cost may also be a factor in your decision, but this can vary widely depending on the type of cheese you choose and how it has been prepared. As a rough guide, if you're buying a 500g block of Tasty Cheese, you can generally expect to pay between $6 and $10.