Cheese Cartel

What's in the box: A selection of Over the Moon's own handcrafted cheeses, often paired with accompaniments such as fruit pastes, confits or jellies.

Cheese Cartel started as a New Zealand cheese club. Over the Moon Dairy bought it in March 2020 and now runs it as part of its own business rather than as a separate brand. Over the Moon is a cheesemaker in Putaruru, in the Waikato. It makes an unusually wide range of specialty cheeses from cow, goat, sheep and buffalo milk. The company says it has won more than 150 New Zealand and international medals. Recent winners include its Volcano buffalo milk cheese and a goat camembert. For subscription shoppers, the catch is that the website does not clearly offer a recurring cheese club. Instead you will find ready-made hampers, bundles and a build-your-own hamper option. With that option you choose cheeses and extras and the dairy sends them as a gift. There are also pantry items such as fruit pastes, confits and jellies. If you want a box that arrives automatically on a schedule, contact the company before ordering. Charcuterie is not a visible part of the current range. Expect cheese with sweet accompaniments rather than cured meats. Deliveries run on weekdays only, which matters for perishable gifts. Locals can taste before buying at the Putaruru factory and deli or at the Sunday Hamilton Farmers Market.