Salt Spring Island Cheese

not only was the cheese superb (we bought 8), the jams we bought with it paired perfectly. highly recommend the basil (if you like a more mild flavour), the salmon (most popular), hot chilli (if you can handle the heat, and tapenade (if you like olives). but the BEST part was the goats and sheep (and chickens but they don’t do much. they were soooo friendly to the public and demanded pets! love love them. 100% would come back just for the pets.

Excellent fresh goat cheese, and free visits to see the goats and chickens and some viewing windows of the cheese factory. Really good gelato as well, and the store sells lots of other locally made products, such as tea, jam, and art from Salt Spring Island!

Salt Spring Island Cheese is an absolute gem. Seriously, the cheese here is to die for. Every bite is rich, creamy, and full of flavor. Whether you’re into soft, spreadable cheeses or firmer styles, you’ll find something here that totally hits the spot. The setting is equally lovely. The place is beautifully kept, with a peaceful, charming atmosphere that makes you want to linger. It’s the kind of spot that feels like a little slice of heaven tucked into Salt Spring. The only slight letdown is that the adorable goats roaming around aren’t actually the ones making the cheese; they’re just there for show. A staff member casually mentioned that, and while it doesn’t take away from the experience or the quality of the cheese, it does kind of poke a hole in the idyllic farm-to-cheese fantasy. Catch 22 the goats are actually in the mainland and the milk is shipped in Salt Spring and processed there. Still, 100% worth a visit and a taste. Or ten.

It's a very interesting place. The goat cheese is delicious, and the small outdoor stalls are seasonal. When we visited, we got to try some gelato. Besides that, the little goats there are also very cute.

I visited Salt Spring Island Cheese as part of the Salt Spring Island Hop On Hop Off Tour. For those seeking the finest cheese in British Columbia, this farm unquestionably stands out as a top contender. You can’t come to salt spring and not go to Salt Spring Island Cheese. This cheese is top-notch! As good as cheese gets. As we stepped through the door of the cheese farm shop, a wave of rich, comforting aroma enveloped me, instantly transporting me to a world of cheese heaven. The warmth and scent of aged cheeses filled the air! It was a moment of pure bliss, where the promise of savory delights danced tantalizingly in the air, inviting us to indulge in the farm's finest creations. The selection of cheeses was out of this world. Absolutely a go to world class cheese shop. This place is a cheese lover's heaven! Their cheeses are impressive—creamy, flavourful, and clearly made with care. You can taste the difference that small-batch craftsmanship makes. This place is the GOAT for their goat gelato! This goat gelato is a win and is worth the trip alone! It’s the smoothest, creamiest, most decadent, gelato! Their pizza was perfectly baked, with a crispy crust and a flavorful topping that made every bite a delight. The quality here is exceptional and you can taste the authenticity in every bite. The pizza was fresh, had flavorful toppings, and the perfect crust! The staff were welcoming and knowledgeable, which added to the charm of the visit. The cheese melts in your mouth, fills the palate and leaves you with lingering notes of cream and butter. The culinary offerings are a cheese lover's dream come true, showcasing a diverse range of flavors and textures. From creamy and mild varieties to more robust and tangy options, there's a goat cheese to suit every palate. The dedication to quality and the authentic flavors of their cheese make it a gastronomic delight that leaves a lasting impression. As visitors stroll through the farm, they can interact with the friendly goats, which adds an interactive element to the outing. Whether you're a cheese enthusiast, a family seeking a memorable day out, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of farm life, this gem of a place with its abundance of adorable goats and delectable goat cheese offerings promises an unforgettable experience that will warm your heart and tantalize your taste buds. Well worth going out of your way for, and a MUST GO for any cheese enthusiast! I wanted to repeat the whole visit as soon as we finished.

A short getaway to the gulf island, a small road just drive slowly incoming and outgoing car r driving in the same road! some drivers go for 40km 😂 but luckily us we drove slowly 🙂. Great cheese ROmelia !

My first time coming here, and had a good experience even though it was near closing time, staff were super friendly and tried goat cheese samples for the first time! Definitely recommend their best seller cheese the ruckles which is a creamy garlic herb blend! Got to see some baby goats too! Their popsicles were also very refreshing and tasty! Definitely recommend on a super hot day!

It wasn't busy when we visited, and they had a great setup for tasting before you purchase. I was able to try a few different kinds of cheese and found one I liked. They also carry spreads and jams produced on the island. I bought a cheese with chili and a mango spread—these two combinations go really well together, and my family enjoyed them. It's a cool spot to check out if you're visiting the island.

Delicious free samples of goat cheese and preserves. Cheesecake comes in a 0.5 cup mason jar. They have disposable wooden sporks, so next time I'd bring my own utensils.

Super cool to see how local cheese can be made! The milk comes from the goats on the farm so you feel good about your carbon footprint. There is a self guided tour to see how the cheese is made. The employees were friendly even though I got chirped a bit for describing the cheese as "straight fire"

This place has the best goat cheese I've ever had! As you come to this place, you see chickens running around all over, goats enjoying their life in the field, and staff making cheese through the glass window. You can try out various flavors of cheese with a topping of your choice. And goat milk Ice Cream is delicious! Must come place on Salt Spring Island! ヤギのミルクで作ったチーズのサンプルを食べることができます。色々な種類があって、どれもとても美味しいです。トッピングにフルーツジェリーやジャムをのせてくれるのですが、そのコンビネーションがまた美味しい。ヤギのミルクで作ったアイスクリームも食べてみましたがこれも最高～。牛のミルクよりも、ヤギのミルクの方が人の体には良いと聞きますが、確かにお腹にやさしく感じます。サルトスプリング島に来た時には必ず立ち寄りたいところです。

Excellent place to visit if you are touring through Salt Spring Island . There is a few curvy roads to take to get to this location and one is best to download a saved map on their google maps as there is not cellular connection all the way to this spot. They goat cheese is great and they have a full public display on the process and plenty of sampling's. Beautiful picnic areas overlooking the wondrous natural scenes of the farm. The pizzas are delicious with gluten free crust as an available choice . They are a smaller portioned pizzas for $15 but good food in the island does not come cheap. We also had the cheese Romelia which for $14 is a cheese dip with some Italian style bread strips . My kids ate it up like rabid wolves . The decor and setup is so nice here and very welcoming . Be mindful the driveway path fits only one car in one direction at time only so be prepared to pull to the side of another car is coming on the opposite direction as this place attracts quite a few visitors

Our absolute favorite Artisan visit on all of our trip to Salt Spring. What a perfect arrangement. Beautiful setting. Informative self-guidded tour. Visit with the animals. Delicious treats like goat milk ice cream, and pizzas. Wonderful garden seating area. Cheese tasting experience extraordinaire. We did it all. We spent maybe an hour and a half here when we thought we'd be in and out much quicker. The tasting is set up perfectly. All their cheeses are available to taste, paired with a vast assortment of preserves. We enjoyed everything immensely, and walked out with $110 worth of goods... which consisted of 6 cheeses (essentially buy 5, get 1 free) and 4 preserves / hot sauces. We've already opened the first cheese, goat cheese with olive tapenade, at a party we were at the evening we got home from the Island. It was the snacky hit of the evening.

Love love love! What a super fun place for anyone at any age. We were on the island over a long weekend in the summer and can't say enough good things. We started off with a short self guided tour of the goats and watching the workers make delicious cheeses. Next we lined up to purchase cheese as, again, it was long weekend with herds of people around. It was a pretty long and slow line - it looped around the inside of the store and to the door. The store is where you can purchase their cheeses and other SSI specialties, like jams, jellies, honey. My husband and I got to sample quite a bit they were offering with different pairings as the line was slow and the workers were VERY generous with their slices! Unfortunately for us there wasn't a lot available in terms of soft goat cheese. We ended up being able to get a truffle goat cheese that they dug up from the back, but if not for good timing there would have only been flower (plain goat cheese) and chilli left. We were there at 11am so a lot would have been completely sold out by the early afternoon. Needless to say we loved sampling and pairing that we got two jars of jam/jelly to take home with us, too. Next we lined up to get lunch! We got two pizzas to share and they were both divine. The dollops of goat cheese on top were so fresh tasting. Pizzas were around $10 each and filling as a personal size. We enjoyed the pizzas on their grounds overlooking the fields. Finished off lunch with lemon goat cheese ice cream which was fantastic too! I've never had goat cheese ice cream before anywhere else. I would definitely recommend the cheesery to anyone visiting the island for lunch, ice cream, samples, and cheese purchases. Although it's easy for us Vancouverites to find their cheese at home, it's cooler to know you're eating it fresh from the factory. Fun fact: Did you know SSIC makes around 1000 pieces of cheese a day with around two varieties? Me neither.

Some of the best fresh chevre I've had. Good, bright crisp flavors and incredibly creamy paste. We also sampled their aged and washed rind soft cheeses -- also very good. We live near Cowgirl Creamery in California, so we are spoiled, but this SSI cheese is a contender! We ended up buying a chunk of their semi-hard cheese to take on a hike. Nice farmy flavors and good amount of tang. Held up well through the afternoon until we devoured it with some local bread on a hike to the top of Mt Maxwell. It was so delicious, we got another chunk at the market the next day to take on our road trip back home. In addition to the great cheese, the farm and retail are excellent. The self-guided tour and being in the mix of the working hubbub was a special treat. Definitely a must-see and must-eat when visiting the island.

Came here via bike and though it is not very far from the Fulford ferry, it does have some hills to get there. However, it is soo well worth the grind! The variety of cheese, olives, balsamic vinegars, jams/marmalades, etc. were marvelous and everything was delicious!! The women giving samples were very pleasant and helpful with suggesting flavor pairings and as a result, I ended up buying so much more than anticipated and would not hesitate to do this again and again! There's also some ice cream outside, a cafe that sadly closed right before we got there for the day, and some delicious pie on the premise as well. Love it all and will definitely make this a regular stop and recommendation when it comes to visiting Salt Spring island!

Staff are very friendly, and the facility was super clean. The animals are well looked after. I live being able to sample and try something new. We came home with so much cheese and jam.

I fell in love with cheese here. The self guided tour started out with a whole bunch of adorable chickens in a coop, with beautiful feathers in a rainbow of different colours. Further in, there was a coop full of egg chickens running around. I don't know where the goats and sheep were though, the map said they had some! The cheese factory had windows and posters explaining what was going on through each step of the process. The retail store had the most amazon selection of basically every cheese, jam, jelly, chutney, and olive you could buy. They were quick to restock, as most of it got quickly devoured. Try the fresh cheese with the Meyer lemon lavender marmalade. It's awesome.

AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING! No really, if you haven't been here you got to go or else you'll miss out on great handmade products. Spectacular goat cheese (my absolute favourites are lemon and herb & garlic), jam, dried salmon, cookies, crab and salmon in cans, soap, good olives, crackers, chocolates, and a cafe right outside. Great coffee, juices, salads, cakes, and some hot dishes too. Great service and very cute spot. Adorable chickens and cows at the entrance.

You can't come to Salt Spring and NOT go to Salt Spring Island Cheese. That would be a total mistake on your part to miss out. I first came across them a few years ago at some of the local craft fairs in Vancouver. Great presentation and even better product. It was so much fun as a group of four to wander the grounds and peak in the windows to see how the cheeses are made. We met the goats and hung out in the herb garden. The store on site will be your undoing - trust me. With the free samples and the special "buy 3 and get something free" it's hard not to get carried away! There is a wide selection of items to choose from. From Cheese, crackers, jelly and jams, salts and on and on. The combinations they put together might make you raise an eyebrow thinking "Oh, really?" until you eat it. Then your reaction is "OOOOHHHH, Yes, that's great! Can I try...". I picked up my favourites: Pepper Chèvre, Truffle Chèvre, Ruckles and White Juliette. Grabbed some crackers and some sparkling wild rose petal jelly. Those last two items with the truffle are A-MA-ZING. While paying, we tried the goat ice cream. YUM. I know, sounds weird but it was good. Coffee smelled great and there were a number of people sitting around enjoying it. Piece of advice: We went when they first opened and I'm glad we did. After being there for an hour the place started to get really, really busy. Go early!

Loved this hot spot on Salt Spring! A definite must see! While driving in on the narrow road may be a bit harrowing it is worth it for the delicious cheese samples! There is also a cafe beside the cheese factory- I tried their cheesecake, it was delicious! We will be back and I will be a long distance customer!

Really cute little goat cheese factory in the forest on salt spring island. the cheeses and olives are excellent and they offer self-paced tours to see how the cheese and made and packaged. The highlight for me was the artisan pizzas they offer at their Cafe. We had the spicy ham and also the caramelized onion and fig. Both were superb, naturally showcasing their beautiful cheeses. Wash it down with the locally kambucha ice teas...yum!

Ever have that moment when you're doing your recycling that you think, "I just threw out 5 empty goats cheese containers... maybe it's time to seek help?" (Mom, if you're reading this you just figured out how long it's been since i've sorted my recycling... i'm sorry!) Yup. Me and Salt Spring Cheese - we like eachother. We like eachother SO much that I, being a responsible adult, totally thought 5 different types of goats cheese in a single woman's house was an acceptable life choice. It's not my fault, there was NO way I could choose just one! It's Yelper testing gosh darnit! White truffle, basil, lemon, olive, plain & peppercorn - goat cheese love at its finest. I always feel better when i'm eating something I know is made on-site so I appreciate this little place's open door policy that allows you to snoop behind the scenes of cheese making lore. Don't fret about the safety of the goats - not ALL the milk comes from the goats on-site! They outsource to meet demand. The store itself is quaint and lovely - a definite must visit when you happen to be on SSI. You can eat cheese, make faces at cute goats and be wary of the world domination chickens (I'm scared of birds guys, and these chickens - they are on a mission...I can see it in their eyes.) The tasting room - well, let's just say, don't go right after lunch because you WILL try everything in the place. At least once. And yes, the cheese is pricey but it's worth it. Smooth, tasty cheesey goodness. Partake!

Great stop for gluten-free, dairy-free crew! As a friend group with multiple allergies, this place had it all. Cool to learn about the goat cheese making process and see the goats. They served very generous portions of the tastings. It was my friend's engagement party so they even gave us a free cheese!

Lovely spot to stop by - great cheeses and snacks. But poor experience overall - but ruined by poor management and ownership. Island is blessed with some good days of sunshine but few spots on site to consume in the shade. I saw people struggling in the heat - but particularly the elderly who could have done with seats. What would it have taken to purchase more garden chairs and umbrellas? Also shocked to see the lines for one restroom on the property and denying visitors tap water ('we only have these..' - $+ bottled water). Think twice about visiting under these conditions - a nice family day out but your comfort and patience levels may be tested. There is a sense the owners are overwhelmed and are tight on investment to offer a good customer experience. They have invested in extending the car park so the volume of visitors can't be a surprise...

Straight up a 'negative' capitalistic enterprise. Goats are not local, they come from off island. Staff could not answer basic life questions about the life cycle of their animals (I suspect because if the truth were known we the public would not buy their product). These milking goats are kept in perpetual pregnancy through artificial (cross species insemination). A definite 'pass' for me....

A must stop for the cheese, olive, balsamic vinegar lovers. The samples they give are huge and delectable. There were more varieties than I had room to sample. They pair the cheese with different jams/marmalades. The jams/marmalades are exotic and off the charts delicious.

Whoaa.... There are a lot of fine, delicious, wonderfully handmade goat cheeses here. When you walk into the shop, there's a dozen varieties of goat cheese, jams, and jellies laid out for you to sample. The cheese isn't meant to be tasted by itself, there are recommended pairings with the locally made jams and jellies. My two favourites are the truffle goat cheese paired with champagne rose petal jelly and the lemon goat cheese with Meyer lemon marmalade. They even have postcards listing the suggested pairings. There's also a self-guided tour around the factory (you can actually see the white-suited workers processing, decorating, and packaging the cheeses through multiple windows) with signs explaining how the cheese is made. If you're a cheese connoisseur, you gotta come here!

Salt Spring Island Cheese Company offers a great array of truly delicious cheeses made from their own herd of goats. The pretty location on Salt Spring Island includes a view of the cheese-making process, as well as goats and chickens...when we visited families with children were having a delightful time exploring the wooded property. We had an even more delightful time tasting the gorgeous array of cheeses, including the lemon chevre/soft goat cheese (scrumptious! beautiful!). Wooden shelving sports a wide variety of house-made jams, salsas, and other condiments to take away and give as gifts, or perhaps even better, make that picnic lunch a memorable feast! The tastings are generous and the staff so knowledgeable - I wanted to repeat the whole visit as soon as we'd finished our register transaction!

A must visit when you're on Salt Spring. Amazing tasting room, and they've expanded to included a cafe. Everything I've tried is amazing. If you can find the goat milk ice cream go for the caramel toffee it is to die for.

What jack said! I agree, wonderful little place with amazing creamy cheeses.

So good. Pick the apples from the tree in the back too if they are in season. The goats were cute and the ram was hella scary looking. Cheese and pairings were phenomenal. Highly recommended if you're on the island.

This was our second time visiting and left with two kinds of cheese and the mango jelly. All were delicious and it was fun to sample and check out the farm.

It's a quaint little place that is ill-equipped to handle crowds. We arrived on a Saturday afternoon. Parking was nearly impossible. This should have been enough to leave but we really wanted to see what all the hype was about. Turns out, it was just hype. The super-tiny tasting room was absolutely packed. We were 8 people deep just to get in the door then had to shuffle slowly around the room. We passed olives, crackers, jams of all kinds and finally we got to the cheese - all three of them. Wow. One was very good (we bought it). The others... mehhh. I'm glad we stopped by but overall it was hugely overrated.

ughh It's soft goats cheese... not exactly difficult to produce, it's bang average... do yourself a favour and skip this...

Wow! This cheese is top notch. I wish I could have shipped some home, but they only ship to the west coast and as far south as San Fransisco. Their jam is quite amazing, as well. There is a lovely tasting spread inside where you can buy cheese. Outside there is a new little cafe that is somewhat new. I got a great pizza and it was ready pretty quick. They also have some outstanding buffalo milk ice cream- don't pass it up!

One not to miss on the island. There's the tasting room, where you can sample all of their cheeses, olives, and spreads. There's a lovely garden and tables where you can stop for a rest or a snack. And they've set up a little self guided tour around the barn and cheesery which is fun and educational. There are also chickens and goats to visit as well as a few resident dogs. I enjoyed a goat milk ice cream while resting in the garden and it was a highlight of my day. Don't miss it.

A cheese tasting room? Sign us up. We sampled and sampled and ended up with an arm full of cheesy delights.

This review is actually for their sport in the Victoria Public Market. They have some great cheeses, you just have decide which ones you want. They also have ice cream which was to die for! The lady who was working gave us an ice pack to keep our cheese cool while we wandered around. If you're looking for some good cheeses, a nice snack for a picnic or some good ice cream, this is the place!

I've seen their cheese throughout the year at various farmer's market. They do have the best Garlic goat cheese that I've ever tasted. I saw them at this year's Circle Craft fair. I didn't buy any cheese this time since I see them very often at Farmer's Market. I love the goat cheese with a really sour jam.

Great place to explore and take a break with a refreshing soda or hot pizza made with of course Salt Spring Island goat cheese! I ordered their salami, mushroom pizza with their tapenade cheese and it was crispy, spicy and gooey - exactly as it should be. Delicious. You can take a short tour around the perimeter of their productiom building and look at the workers making cheese. When finished, come around to the Fromage room and taste olives, cheeses, and jellies on offer.

Small but excellent little goat cheese factory and store. A pretty courtyard with tables for lounging, little goats running around, a view of the living-room sized cheese factory through windows, and excellent artistically presented chevre for tasting and eating. really, it doesn't get much better. i am honored to be the first to put this on yelp!

We went early before the crowds as I heard it can get really busy and it was from right when it opened. Unfortunately the animals were not in their pens so the kids could not enjoy them. But the self guided tour that have windows that allow you to see the process in action and the informative write ups that explain the process was interesting. Of course the best part of the tour is the tasting and Roxanna was a fantastic tour guide in regards to opening your tastebuds to the different cheeses and the combinations that can accompany them, for example the jams. So amazing. She single handily made the trip extra special. So the excellent and generous tasting was informative enough to make us splurge on our purchases because we got to taste pretty much everything! What a simple but great business practice. Now for the bad. We tried the outdoor cafe next door. There was practically no one there even though it was just before lunch and the staff did not even offer a hello or smile. Instead when I asked about the menu and information about the food, they seemed as if I was intruding on their space and work, which they seem to have very little to do. The waitress who delivered our pizzas placed them on the table without a word and looked like she hated being there. When we asked for extra plates, she seemed like we were asking for something that was not in her job description. The other waitress there was standing two feet from us with her back to us all the while we were eating and it was awkward to say the least as she gave us furtive glances as if we were spending too much time at the table. Not once did they say hello, speak a single word or showed any sign that the appreciated having guests. By 12:30pm there was still no one filling the tables. Maybe people already knew the pizzas were not up to the quality of the cheese shop. They used sparse amount of cheese even for a pizza although they touted that they used the cheese from the cheese shop. The crust was burned and bitter and fell apart as it was too dry. the toppings simply had very little taste. Basil pizza in town was amazing in comparison. Skip the outdoor cafe as it's simply too much $$ for what you get and if you don't appreciate cold service then steer clear away. Otherwise the cheese shop is solid. Their products are unique and quality is what everyone said it would be. So glad we made it on our last day.

Awesome cheeses and a nice place to stop on the way to Ruckle Provincial Park...favorites include the little round goat cheese with roasted garlic, and the "herb and garlic ruckles" - delicious little rounds of goat cheese in fragrant and delicious oil, with a terrific balance of herbs and garlic. Also great - the peppercorn cheese, the hot chile oil cheese, and pretty much whatever sounds good to you. I don't eat flowers but if I wanted to eat them, I'd eat them with this cheese.

Always a must stop when over on Salt Spring! Friendly staff and tons of samples to enjoy. We always tend to leave with more cheese than we need because it's all too good to choose from! Their little shop also had lots of olives, crackers, jams and treats to choose from as well, almost all locally sourced.

As good as cheese gets. Absolutely amazing for those special appys and always of a premium quality. Not the cheapest but all handmade with care and quality. Beautifully presented and goes well with preserves, crackers, and wine. I get my fill whenever I can. Try the Ruckles type!

Amazing cheese! At the farm you can sample everything they make. The cheese is so fresh. A bit pricy but worth it.

Definitely a must visit spot on the island. They have free samples of every single one of their awesome cheeses and olives. They also have a self-tour around their factory where you can learn and observe how the cheese is made and packaged, by hand. There is a lovely sitting area (outside the sample room) with a beautiful garden where you can relax, eat cheese or buy their yummy fruitsicles :) I bought the white truffle cheese and I LOVE it! I will bring all my friends and visit this place every single time I visit salt spring island! Highly recommended.