Quick Answer: The best all-rounder: Sottocenere ($35/lb). Creamy and showy: Cypress Grove Truffle Tremor. On a budget: Trader Joe's Italian Truffle Cheese.
Our top picks
One truffle cheese makes a board feel like a splurge, and the good ones taste of truffle, not truffle oil.
All 6 picks
Prices are Murray's Cheese listings checked October 2026; counter prices vary.
Best overall
Sottocenere al Tartufo
- Milk
- Cow (Murray's sells it pasteurized)
- Age
- About 3 months
- From
- Veneto, Italy
Why it's here: Mild, creamy and flecked with black truffle, with a spiced-ash rind; Murray's calls it a good introduction and Janet Fletcher calls it a great melter.
Watch out: The ash rind is edible but gritty; trim it for guests who mind.
Why we picked it (sources)
Murray's lists $35 per pound (Murray’s); Janet Fletcher's notes (Janet Fletcher).
Best creamy
Cypress Grove Truffle Tremor
- Milk
- Goat
- Rind
- Bloomy
- Age
- 5 weeks
Why it's here: Lemony, cheesecake-like goat cheese with ribbons of black summer truffle: the showpiece of the list.
Watch out: Soft and pricey; buy it close to the party.
Why we picked it (sources)
Murray's lists $50 per pound (Murray’s).
Best firm
Pecorino Moliterno al Tartufo
- Milk
- Sheep
- Truffle
- Black truffle paste injected
- From
- Sardinia
Why it's here: A firm, buttery pecorino with ribbons of black truffle running through it; Fletcher suggests grating it over pasta too.
Watch out: Salty and strong; slice it thin.
Why we picked it (sources)
Murray's lists $45 per pound (Murray’s); Janet Fletcher (Janet Fletcher).
Best melter
Murray's Pecorino Tartufello
- Milk
- Sheep
- Style
- Mild, sweet, nutty
- Also at
- Kroger-family stores
Why it's here: Milder than Moliterno and good both on a board and in grilled cheese.
Watch out: Truffle flavor is gentle.
Why we picked it (sources)
Murray's lists $37 per pound (Murray’s).
Best budget
Trader Joe's Italian Truffle Cheese
- Style
- Young, mild, creamy
- Ranked
- 6 of 11 TJ cheeses (Tasting Table)
- Where
- Trader Joe's
Why it's here: Earthy and truffley without being pungent, for a fraction of specialty prices.
Watch out: Savory only; don't pair it with honey or jam.
Why we picked it (sources)
Tasting Table's Trader Joe's ranking (Tasting Table).
Best white truffle
Il Forteto Boschetto al Tartufo
- Milk
- Sheep and cow
- Truffle
- White
- From
- Tuscany
Why it's here: One of the few cheeses made with white truffle, with a more authentic truffle aroma than most.
Watch out: Hard to find outside specialty shops.
Why we picked it (sources)
Janet Fletcher's notes (Janet Fletcher).
How to serve truffle cheese
- One is enough: put a single truffle cheese next to milder ones so it stands out.
- Pair it with prosciutto, plain crackers, Marcona almonds and Champagne or Pinot Noir.
- Skip sweet pairings: honey and jam fight the truffle.
- Read the label: look for real truffle ("tartufo") pieces, not just truffle aroma or oil.
- How much: about 1 oz per person as one of three or four cheeses.
Building around it? See board ideas and the best cheap Champagne.
Truffle cheese questions
What is the best truffle cheese?
Sottocenere is the best all-rounder. Truffle Tremor is the creamy splurge, and Trader Joe's Italian Truffle Cheese is the budget pick.
Does truffle cheese have real truffles?
The good ones do: look for black or white truffle (tartufo) in the ingredients. Cheaper versions may use only truffle aroma.
What goes with truffle cheese?
Prosciutto, plain crackers, Marcona almonds, mushrooms and dry sparkling wine. Skip honey and jam.
Can you eat the rind on Sottocenere?
Yes. It's coated in spiced ash, which some people trim off.
How much truffle cheese per person?
About 1 oz per person when it's one of several cheeses.
How we picked these, and sources
No recent taste test ranks truffle cheeses head to head. We used Janet Fletcher's tasting notes, Murray's Cheese listings, and Tasting Table's Trader Joe's ranking. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Murray's Cheese: Sottocenere
- Murray's Cheese: Cypress Grove Truffle Tremor
- Murray's Cheese: Moliterno al Tartufo
- Murray's Cheese: Pecorino Tartufello
- Tasting Table: Trader Joe's cheeses, ranked
- Janet Fletcher: truffle cheese happy hour
More cheese: the best Stilton and the best Gorgonzola. Every guide is on our charcuterie buying guides page.
