1) The Fine Cheese Co Celery Crackers, £2.45 (01225 448748; www.finecheese.co.uk)
These light, crisp and flavoursome biscuits are the perfect match for a strong blue cheese. The combination had our testers in raptures
4/5
2) Ditty’s Smoked Oatcakes, £2.95 from Forman and Field (028-7946 8243 ; www.dittysbakery.com)
The flavour of these substantial oatcakes from Co Armagh divided opinion – some felt they were a touch too sweet, and others adored their nutty crunch. A milder cheese might be overwhelmed by them.
3/5
3) Cartwright & Butler Wafers for Cheese, £3 from John Lewis (01482 213446; www.cartwrightandbutler.co.uk)
Although these little morsels look rather insubstantial, they pack a rich, peppery punch. Beware – they’re prone to shattering.
3/5
4) Organic Spelt & Rye Biscuits, £2.99, Daylesford Organic (http://daylesfordorganic.com)
These seeded thins are tasty enough to nibble on their own but form an ideal savoury base for soft, tangy cheese
4/5
5) Stockan’s Thin Orkney Oatcakes, £6.60 for 12 packs (01856 850873; www.stockans.com)
The real deal, made from fine milled oats and no added sugar. They certainly got the thumbs up from the office oatcake connoisseur. One for traditionalists.
4/5
6) Traditional Perthshire Oatcakes, £1.50 (07926 194651; www.thehandmadeoatcakecompany.co.uk)
Nice crunch and a pleasing biscuity taste, but a little too thick. To be topped with thin slivers only.
2.5/5
We paired the biscuits we tasted with Stawley, an unpasteurised goats’-milk cheese from Somerset (£8.90 per 200g cheese), Appleby’s Cheshire (£13 per 500g piece) and Colston Basset Stilton (£23 for 1/8 of a 7.8kg cheese), all from Neal’s Yard Dairy (www.nealsyarddairy.co.uk). To order them, telephone 020-7500 7575 or visit www.nealsyarddairyshop.co.uk
* Follow Country life magazine on Twitter
