Cheese's deep-rooted historical and cultural context has made it indispensable not only in cuisine but also in tourist attractions around the world. As a reflection of the growing global interest in local food cultures, cheese is increasingly coming to the fore as a unique tourism attraction. Covering the period from 1996 to 2023, this bibliometric visualization review explores the breadth and depth of academic research on cheese tourism experiences. A wide variety of aspects of cheese tourism research have been studied using extensive datasets from the reputable databases Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar. This analysis reveals how cheese tourism was an initial subject of academic interest in the late 1990s, and has evolved into a broad field of research by 2023. The growing literature covers a wide range of topics, from the rich and complex nature of cheesemaking processes to the economic impacts of cheese-based tourism in regional economies. This bibliometric review highlights that cheese is not just a food item, but also a cultural identity for some regions. In the research, themes such as the socio-cultural dynamics of cheese tourism, sustainability concerns in cheese production, the experiential dimensions of travel associated with cheese, and the economic potential and challenges of promoting cheese as a primary tourism attraction come to the fore. In addition, pioneering academics, institutions and journals that have shaped cheese tourism research over the years have also been identified. In conclusion, this bibliometric visualization review provides a broad look at the quarter-century evolution of cheese tourism research. By identifying key themes and influential contributors, this review serves as a key reference for future academic and practical work on cheese tourism.