Why Is Every Cheese Board Either Bamboo Or Acacia?

If you were to make a sweeping generalization about the selection of cheese boards available after conducting a cursory Amazon search, you would say that the market is teeming with options. Whether labeled as a cheese board, a charcuterie platter or even a cutting board, there is no shortage of products. Most are complete with photographs of beautiful spreads, featuring cheeses, meats, fruit, and even wine:

Smirly Cheese Board and Knife Set: 16 x 13 x 2 Inch Wood Charcuterie Platter for Wine, Cheese, Meat — $65.99

Yet, take a closer look, and you will find they are all exactly the same. They may differ in shape (square or round) or in number of drawers, but otherwise you see the same basic type of cheese board over and over again—made of either bamboo or acacia wood. This means that they are all ugly.

In 2021, no one wants light wood. And here I am, struggling to find any that are walnut, cherry, or maple. I only found one that I like, and it was not easy to find. Made of American walnut, this one is solely presented as a cutting board, featuring no elaborate display of prosciutto or brie.

Round Wood Cutting Board by Virginia Boys Kitchens – 13.5 Inch American Walnut Cheese Serving Tray and Charcuterie Platter with Juice Drip Groove — $75

At some point, it seems, all of the kitchenware vendors on Amazon got together and made the decision that they were only going to make cheese boards out of acacia wood. This is not bad in and of itself; after all, acacia is relatively sturdy, and although not as cheap as bamboo, the price is obviously right. If you are truly looking for a cutting board, as opposed to something to display when you have company or take with you on a picnic, acacia is a good choice. As a smooth wood, it will not dent or splinter, and it is infinitely better for your knives than the plastic cutting boards in your parents’ kitchen. But when you spend a lot of time putting together a spread of cheese and meats, you want more than just hardiness, you want an appearance you can be proud of.

At some point, the acacia cartel figured this out, since if you specifically search for dark wood cutting boards, you still come up solely with acacia ones. It just so happens that they’ve been dyed brown. Of course they would only use the dye if it were food-safe, but still, seeing all the phonies out there makes you crave the real thing.

Large Round Charcuterie Board Set – Giftable 20-Piece Cheese Board and Knife Set – House Warming Present or Wedding & Engagement Platter – Acacia Wood & Slate Serving Tray for Meat, Wine & Cheese — $49.99

At $75, the Virginia Boys walnut cheese board might be a little pricier than the acacia ones. For high quality wood, sourced in the U.S.A, it is worth every penny.