That dairy delight that tantalized taste buds over the centuries does not come as just another food item but as an experience. Every country across the globe flaunts its wide array of unique cheeses, prepared with passion, tradition, and terroir. For the ardent cheese aficionado, a journey to such cheese heavens is simply a must. Here are seven of the most riveting places in the world for cheese lovers:
Normandy, France: The Cradle of Creamy Cheese
Stretching along the northern coast of France, Normandy satisfies its lush pastures with a rich heritage in dairying and thus is a haven for lovers of cheese. This region is famous for giving the world some iconic cheeses like Camembert, Brie, and Livarot.
- Camembert: This creamy, soft cheese with its white rind—so typical of Normandy. Stop by the village of Camembert to visit the Cheese Museum, done in the form of a giant Camembert, and taste the local delicacy.
- Brie: Yet another soft, creamy cheese, though milder in comparison with Camembert, is Brie. The town of Meaux is famous for its Brie de Meaux, a particularly exquisite variety.
- Livarot: This washed-rind cheese is much stronger and smells more pungently than Camembert and Brie.
The Netherlands: A Gouda Experience
For most, cheese and the Netherlands go hand in hand, and the Gouda market is not to be missed by any cheese lover. The busy marketplace will introduce you to a whole of Dutch cheeses—creamy, mild, old, sharp.
- Gouda: This delicious cheese comes in a variety of ages from young and mild to old and sharp. Enjoy with bread or crackers, or use in savory dishes.
- Edam: This Dutch cheese is usually round and comes in red wax. It has only a mild, slightly nutty flavor.
- Cheese Markets: While Gouda is one of the most famous places for buying cheese, make sure to visit other cheese markets within the Netherlands, such as Alkmaar and Hoorn, up close.
Italy: A Cheesy Symphony
The Country of hundreds of regional cheese specialties that spotlight its vast culinary diversity.
- Parmigiano Reggiano: A hard, granular cheese that forms one of the pillars of Italian cuisine. Aged at least 12 months, it has a rich and nutty flavor.
- Gorgonzola: This creamy, pungent blue-veined cheese with a complex taste.
- Mozzarella di Bufala Campana: Fresh creamy cheese, obtained from buffalo milk, is the star of the authentic pizza Margherita.
Switzerland: The Land of Holes
Switzerland produces a wide range of Alpine cheeses, which come with characteristic holes. Much of it is produced in picture-postcard mountain areas where cows graze on lush pastures.
- Gruyère: Mild with a nutty flavor and good melting texture—great in fondue.
- Appenzeller: It has a very strong smell and taste due to herbs used in its production.
- Emmental: This is another classic, well-known cheese from Switzerland. Emmental is easily identified by its large holes and mild flavor with a hint of sweetness.
Spain: Strong and Full of Flavor
Spanish cheeses are quite strong and full of flavor, rather a marked contrast to the tamer cheeses available from other countries.
- Manchego: A hard sheep’s milk cheese with a flavor best described as only slightly salty.
- Idiazabal: This is another sheep’s milk cheese, also smoked, and with the same characteristic smoky flavoring.
- Cabrales: This blue-veined cheese, made from cow’s, sheep’s, and goat’s milk, is strong
England: Land of Cheddar
England originates the cheddar cheese, which is a hard type that seems to crumble into small lumps when grated. It is high in fat but very strong and sharp in taste. Cheddar cheese comes from the county of Somerset, and no cheese fan’s visit would be complete without a tour of the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company.
- Cheddar: This is an archetypal cheese ranging from mild and creamy to sharp and mature in different ages.
- Stilton: A blue-veined cheese with a rich creamy texture, and a taste of complexity.
- Double Gloucester: A firm, cheddar-like cheese with a slightly sweet flavor.
United States: A Melting Pot of Cheese
America, the land of the free and the home of the brave is a melting pot of cultures, and that stretches to include its cheese scene as well.
- Wisconsin Cheddar: Renowned for its quality and taste, this type of cheddar certainly stands out among American cuisine.
- Monterey Jack: Mild and versatile cheese, perfect for melting, that provides a key component to a great many Mexican-inspired dishes.
- Blue Cheese: Some of the fine blue cheeses made in America include Roquefort and Gorgonzola types.
Beyond Tasting
Go to cheese festivals, and markets, and explore new varieties. Pair cheese with wine, beer, or whatever drink complements the taste best. But more than anything else, indulge in the taste and enjoy the journey of discovering some of the finest cheeses in the world.
