Know your Cheese

LOVE CHEESE? Well, who doesn’t? The fact that different kinds of cheeses are made in different regions of the world explains it all!

So, today we have various cheese-making techniques, which have evolved with changing technology and consumer demand. There are also differences in the characteristics of different cheeses categorised on the basis of taste, color, aroma, flavor, texture, softness, mould content, gas holes as well as their shelf life.

If you love eating cheese, you ought to know about the types of cheeses. Visit Magsons to pick up the cheese of your choice!

Scroll down for details on various types of cheese.

1. Mozzarella
The origins of Mozzarella lie in Italy. Earlier, it was made using the milk of water buffalos reared in Italy and Bulgaria. Most of the Mozzarella cheeses available today, however, are made from cow’s milk.

The semi-soft Mozzarella is supposed to be consumed fresh, within a few hours of being made from pasteurized or unpasteurized cow or water buffalo milk. It isn’t difficult to make mozzarella at home. It is quite versatile and can be used in making salads, pizzas, meat and vegetable recipes.

2. Cheddar
Cheddar cheese is hard/firm cheese made from pasteurized cow’s milk. In the olden days, it was produced only in England; although it is manufactured and consumed all over the world today.

It has a crumbly texture when it is young, but is still largely smooth. As it ages, its texture gets sharper. It is typically available in the shape of a drum and its color ranges from white to pale yellow. Some Cheddar cheese batches may have orange color added to them, which may alter its color to yellowish-orange.

3. Emmental
Emmental is produced in the central districts of Switzerland from unpasteurized cow’s milk. It is hard in texture and a thin rind.

Emmental is usually paired and served with wine and fruits, thanks to its sweet aroma and fruity flavor. It also has a tinge of acidity to it. Compared to its other counterparts, there are bigger gas holes in this cheese. The formation of such holes during the fermentation process makes it one of the most difficult cheeses to be produced.

4. Gouda 
Pronounced ‘How-da’, this Dutch cheese is one of the most popular cheeses in the world. It has been named after the city of Gouda in the Netherlands. It is a rich, flavorful and semi-hard cheese which is made from cow’s milk, but some artisan variants use sheep’s or goat’s milk to manufacture cheeses that are going to be aged for a long time.

The different varieties of Gouda are classified on the basis of their age. Graskass is young, while Overjarig is extra-aged and full-flavored. Between the two are Jong, Jong belegen, Belegen, Extra belegen, and Oud. Boerenkaas is made from unpasteurized milk of cow’s grazing on the pastures of the Netherlands.

Young Goudas go well with beer, medium ones complement fruity wines, and mature Goudas are best paired with deeply flavored wines like Merlot and Shiraz. Gouda may be served sliced, cubed or melted, and can be used as table cheese or dessert cheese.

5. Parmigiano-Reggiano
This Italian cheese often gets confused with ‘Parmesan’ cheese. However, genuine Parmigiano–Reggiano is a protected cheese which can only be produced in Emilia-Romagna and Lombardia in Italy.

It is a hard, dry, flakey cheese, aged for a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 36. The great thing about it is its caramel-nutty flavor, and the crunch it offers with every bite. 
It tastes best when served grated over Italian salads, pastas and soups.

6. Feta
Feta is the most widely used of all Greek cheeses. It is protected by the European Union legislations and only cheeses which have been manufactured in Macedonia, Thessaly, Thrace, Central Mainland Greece, Lesvos and the Peloponnese can be called ‘feta.’

Feta is made from pasteurized or unpasteurized milk of goats and sheep which have grazed on pastures in the above-mentioned Grecian regions. The texture and the firmness of this cheese vary from region to region. It can also vary by age.

Feta has a tangy, salty flavor to it which can be reduced by washing it under water. It can be used in various Greek dishes such as Greek salad and spanakopita. It can also be used in pizzas and pies. It tastes wonderful when served with olive oil, roasted peppers and nuts. It can be paired with beer as well as certain wines.

7. Brie
Brie is the most famous French cheese. It is known to be the ‘queen of cheeses’ and used to be served as a tribute to the French kings. It is soft in texture and derives its name from the French region Brie, where its origins lie.

It is made from unpasteurized cow’s milk and is pale in color, with a trace of grey under the rind. It can taste different depending on the ingredients added during its production process.

It is a dessert cheese and tastes best when served at room temperature.

8. Parmesan
Parmesan cheese is one of the most commonly eaten cheeses over the world. It has a hard, crumbly texture and a fruity, nutty flavor. Its creation was inspired by the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese from Parma, Italy.

It is made from unpasteurized cow’s milk and is pale yellow in color. While it can be eaten on its own, it is also widely used in a grated form over soups, risottos, pizzas, pastas and other snacks.

9. Mascarpone

This is an Italian cheese made from pasteurized cow’s milk. Used in sweet as well as savory dishes, it is made by curdling milk cream with citric acid. This procedure leaves behind a rich buttery creamy cheese which forms the basis of Italian delicacies such as Tiramisu and several cheesecakes.

Mascarpone is also used to enhance the taste of the dish without disturbing the original flavor. It is also used to thicken puddings and creamy desserts, and can be served as it is with fruits.

10. Gruyere
This semi-soft cheese made from cow’s milk is named after a Swiss village.  Its hard texture is pitted with holes and has a brownish rind.

When eaten, you’ll experience a fruity flavor initially, only for an earthy and nutty taste to take over later. It is slightly grainy as well as dense.

Gruyere is often used in salads, pastas, soups and served with breads. It pairs well with beer as well as white wines.