Cheese Bits of Riverbank, California, has captured our attention with its innovative line of Cheese Bits “bite size premium snacking cheeses.”

We love innovation, and Cheese Bits has it covered with three product lines, all under the umbrella of Mozzamini Cheese Bits.

The artisanal, all-natural, premium snacking cheeses are made with milk from local Northern California dairies.

Cheese Bits come in three versions: Pearls, Sticks, and Tots.

It’s not that there haven’t been mozzarella pearls (perlini), sticks, and tots (cielegeine, boconcini) out there.

But Mozzamini has expanded the flavor palette. In addition to the traditional Original (plain), there are:

 
And, a point of difference: They are made of scamorza, not mozzarella.

Both are made from from curds that are stretched (a.k.a. pasta filata). With scamorza, however, the curds are smaller so as to retain less moisture. Here’s more about it.

The product line is made from Northern California milk, and are gluten-free.

Imagine what fun you can have sprinkling them over foods to delight family and friends.

While all four flavors are available in Pearls, Sticks, and Tots, oday we focus on the Pearls because they are elegant and tasty fun.

They’re not exactly bite-size. Those would be the Sticks and Tots.

Rather, a few of these little pearls might count as a “bite.” So let us explain:
 
 
THE SIZES OF MOZZARELLA BALLS

We’re presenting this size comparison to explain the relative size of Mozzamini Pearls.

Growing up, we only knew of one size of mozzarella: the one-pound ball carried by our supermarket. But over time, U.S. cheesemakers and importers diversified the line.

The specific timeline for when different sizes of mozzarella balls were introduced is not be well-documented. Variations in size are often driven by culinary trends, consumer demands, regional preferences, and the creativity of artisanal cheese makers.

Over time, the range of sizes expanded. Today you can find a variety in upscale markets, Italian markets, and cheese specialty stores, including:

 
 
HOW TO USE MOZZAMINI PEARLS

Note that while these pearls, made of mozzarella, can be melted, the allure is as a garnish, offering added visual, flavor, and textural appeal.

For Breakfast

 
For Lunch & Dinner

You can marinate the plain pearls in EVOO, balsamic, and herbs to use as a garnish. Or use them, along with the flavored pearls, “as is.”

 
For Dessert

 
 
WASABI PEARLS: A NATIONAL AWARD WINNER

One of the four pearl flavors, Wasabi, was honored with a prestigious Silver Medal at the most recent American Cheese Society Judging and Competition (2023), arguably the most prestigious cheese events in the U.S.

There, panels of expert judges evaluated more than cheeses 1,400 entries in various categories, scoring them taste, texture, aesthetics, and overall excellence.

Wasabi Pearls was entered in the category of International-Style With Flavor Added – All Milks.

First prize in the category (Gold Medal) went to the cumin-flavored Gouda from Oakdale Cheese.

Second prize (the Silver Medal) was shared with Buholzer Brothers Dill Havarti from Klondike Cheese Co. and Cervelle de Canut, an American version of the French-inspired fresh goat cheese spread with shallots, chives, pepper and vinegar, made by Zingerman’s Creamery.
 
 
GET YOUR CHEESE BITS

> Check the store locator for retailers near you.
 
 
MORE TO DISCOVER
 
> The history of scamorza cheese.

> The history of mozzarella cheese.

> The history of cheese.

> The different types of cheese: a photo glossary.

[1] Start at breakfast with Strawberry or Original Pearls on your cereal, or any flavor on your eggs (all photos © Cheese Bits).

[2] Garnish breakfast eggs with Original, Wasabi, or Wood-Smoked Pearls.

[3] Pizza toast can be fun with browned Pearls of your flavor of choice.

[4] Ready for cocktails? How about crab canapés and Wood Smoked pearls.

[5] Sprinkle Pearls atop your favorite pasta.

[6] Pearls are packaged in plastic trays.

[7] Original Pearls.

CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON OUR HOME PAGE, THENIBBLE.COM.

[1] Sesame Mille Crêpes Cake (both photos © Lady M).

[2] Close-up on a slice.

Looking for gourmet inspiration to celebrate the Lunar New Year? Check out this deluxe Sesame Ti Kuan Yin Tea Mille Crêpes from Lady M.

Layers of delicate and nutty black sesame cream, paper-thin French crêpes, and floral Ti Kuan Yin oolong tea-infused whipped cream come together in this limited-edition Mille Crêpes cake.

Each cake is elegantly finished with a black sesame glaze and topped with roasted sesame seeds: a beautifuence of flavors to celebrate the New Year.

Tieguanyin or ti kuan yin is a variety of Chinese oolong tea that originated in the 19th century in Anxi, in Fujian province.

While this bit of information may not sync with a luscious, creamy cake, Tieguanyin tea is rich in antioxidants and has been shown to have numerous health benefits.

Studies have shown that tieguanyin tea can help improve heart health, lower cholesterol levels, and reduce cancer risk. The tea has also been shown to boost cognitive function and memory [source].

So, while you’re enjoying the cake, have a second piece. It may not boost your cognitive function, but it is irresistible.

The 2024 Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon, begins on February 10th and is observed through February 15th.

> Here’s more about the Lunar New Year.
 
 
> Get your cake here.

> The history of Mille Crêpes cake.

> The history of cake.

> The different types of cake: a photo glossary.

CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON OUR HOME PAGE, THENIBBLE.COM.

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon invites Bourbon lovers to partake of a special Valentine treat: a bottle of the acclaimed Kentucky Bourton along with a limited-edition four-piece chocolate collection of chocolates by prominent artisan chocolatier Compartes (photo #1).

Compartés chocolatier Jonathan Grahm teamed up with Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall to create unique chocolate designed to pair seamlessly with Double Oaked.

Handcrafted by a small team of chocolatiers in Los Angeles, each of the four ganache flavors complements the Double Oaked sweet aromatic flavor profile, starting with beautiful gold surface design.

Compartés x Woodford Reserve chocolates are handcrafted and include four unique flavors that accentuate specific characteristics of Double Oaked:

 
It’s a sophisticated—and might we say fun—way to pair chocolates with Bourbon.
 
 
GET YOUR COMPARTÉS x WOODFORD RESERVE SET 

The limited edition Compartés x Woodford Reserve Double Oaked bundle includes a 750ml of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and four-piece chocolate box.

Online, it is available for $87.94 exclusively on Reserve Bar. It’s also available at large and small retailers nationwide, and at Woodford Reserve Distillery.

> Get your Compartés x Woodford Valentine’s Day gift here.
 
 
Is It Bourbon with a B or a b? 

The Nibble capitalizes the word Bourbon because it’s a proper name.

Bourbon is the name of the county in Kentucky where it was first made, which in turn was named for the ruling dynasty of France.

Bourbon vanilla is named for them, too. After the French took possession of the island in the 17th century—where the vanilla pods grew—they named it Bourbon.

> National Bourbon Day is June 14th.

> National Chocolate Day is October 28th.
 
 
> What is Bourbon?

> The four top Bourbon cocktails.

> The history of Bourbon.

> The different types of whiskey.

[1] Woodford x Compartes, a memorable Bourbon-and-chocolate Valentine gift (photos #1 and #2 © Brown-Forman).

[2] A bottle of Woodford Reserve.

[3] Old Fashioned, one of the top Bourbon cocktails (photo © Adam Jaime | Unsplash).

CHECK OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING ON OUR HOME PAGE, THENIBBLE.COM.