Curdbox

What's in the box: A themed box with three artisan cheeses, three specialty food pairings, tasting notes, a letter from the curator and a playlist.

Curdbox is a monthly cheese tasting subscription, not a cheese making kit. It does not send cultures, rennet or equipment. You get finished cheeses that are ready to eat. Each month brings three artisan cheeses and three specialty pairings around a theme, chosen by a cheesemonger the company says has 15 years in specialty food. Boxes also come with tasting notes, a letter from the curator and a playlist, so it feels more like a planned evening of tasting than a grocery delivery. Past themes include June in Japan, Vacationland, Georgia on My Mind and Into the Woods, so the selection seems to change a lot from month to month. The price is $89 per month with free shipping, and you can cancel anytime. That is a premium price for three cheeses, though the pairings and printed extras add some value. The company also points to Food & Wine naming it a best value cheese box. The site does not clearly state cheese weights, where the cheeses come from or how boxes stay cold in transit. Check those details before you subscribe, especially for summer deliveries. You can also send it as a gift or place a corporate order. If you want to learn about cheese by tasting it, Curdbox looks well organized. If you want to make cheese at home, look elsewhere.