Trader Joe's is undoubtedly a cheese lover's heaven, with a selection standing up against all other grocers. However, with so many options, it can be hard to pick the best ones.

Thankfully, tips from a professional cheesemonger shared on TikTok can help. The first tip is to opt for cheeses that don’t contain much more than milk, enzymes, salt, and rennet.

Cheeses with minimal ingredients are usually high-quality, and choosing them also allows you to identify what qualities you like and avoid additives that affect taste and texture.

If you’re after classic cheeses, go for imports found in precut selections on the bottom tier of the chain’s refrigerated area, and watch for specific seals or stamps on the label.

In particular, look for AOP and IGP-labeled products, which are called Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in English, respectively.

AOP indicates the cheese is produced and has its ingredients grown in the same region. IGP means the cheese is made in a certain region, but the ingredients can be grown elsewhere.

If you want a true gruyère cheese, look for the red and black AOP label and ensure that the cheese has indeed been imported from Switzerland. The same goes for French cheeses.

Trader Joe's also has a sheep and goat's milk PDO feta cheese from Greece and an authentic Italian PDO Parmigiano Reggiano. Whatever your needs are, checking the labels is crucial.