Trader Joe’s Is Now Carrying One of My Favorite Products for a Limited Time (And It’s a Bargain)

Some people marry into turkey trot 5k families, but I married into a ski family. I’d never been on skis until after I graduated college, and on my first day on the mountain after a half-day lesson, my then boyfriend (now husband) decided I was ready for a black diamond trail. Tears were involved, breakups were considered, and there began my love-hate relationship with skiing.

You see, I grew up a hockey player. Skiing wasn’t an option. Hockey season ate up all my free time during the winter and neither of my parents were much for the slopes. That said, since I can skate, I can sort of ski, but it’s certainly not pretty. Now that we have kids, skiing has become even more a part of our lives—both of my boys absolutely love to race down a mountain, and their skills at 8 and 4 have far surpassed mine at 40.

While I’ve reluctantly accepted my role as a ski mom, one thing about ski culture that I was definitely born for is the art of après-ski. I love a good cocktail and cheeseboard by the fire, even if I only made it down the mountain twice with an average of four falls per run. On one ski trip in Vermont a few years back, I was introduced to Tine Ski Queen Creamy Caramel Cheese, a magical dairy product that looks and tastes like caramel, but is actually a cheese made from a blend of goat and cow milk.

Why I Love Ski Queen Creamy Caramel Cheese

Ski Queen, also known as Gjetost, is a Brunost—a brown cheese from Norway. It’s made from whey, just like its sweet and creamy cousin ricotta, but instead of a loose texture, this breakfast-style cheese is firm and has a consistency similar to fudge or caramel. It tastes like caramel, too, thanks to how it’s made.

Whey, cream and milk are heated over many many hours, which gives the sugars in the milk a chance to get nutty and caramelize, sort of like when you make brown butter. The cheese is aged for no longer than 2 months, so while it has a deep caramel and butterscotch flavor, it also has a tinge of acidity that you might expect from a traditional goat cheese.

I typically pick this up only if we have a ski trip planned or if I’m entertaining over the holidays. I’ve only ever found it at fancy cheese shops, and while a little goes a long way, it can be pricey. So, imagine my surprise and delight when I spotted the iconic red packaging at my local Trader Joe’s when I was restocking my kids' cheese stick supply. For $5.99 a pop, you know I bought more than one.

How I Serve This Norwegian Cheese

In my opinion, Ski Queen is really best very thinly sliced. In fact, you can buy a special slicer, which looks a little like a truffle shaver, just for this cheese. I love it paired with green apples or grapes; the fruits' tartness works really well with the super-sweet caramel flavor.

Try upgrading your standard grilled cheese by adding a few slices, paired with a more savory cheese, to add unexpected sweetness. And if you really want to take your après-ski game to the next level, consider using it to make fondue.

Because of the unexpected flavor, this cheese can be a bit polarizing, but I love it. My husband is not a huge fan, which means more for me while he chases three kids down the mountain—proof I am the ultimate ski queen.

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