Cheese is one of the most versatile foods in the world. It can be enjoyed on its own, as part of a meal, or used in cooking. There are hundreds of different types of cheese and cheese varieties each with its own unique flavor and texture.
In this blog post, we will explore the most popular types of cheese, from hard cheeses like cheddar to soft cheeses like brie. We will also discuss the country of origin and how cheese is made and what makes them so special.
Whether you are a cheese lover or just curious about this delicious food, this blog post is for you. So sit back, relax, and learn about the different types of cheese.
Different Types of Cheese
Mozzarella
Mozzarella is a one of the most popular type of cheese varieties, It is a fresh cheese and low in fat content.
| Type | Semi soft |
| Country of Origin | Italy |
| Made from | milk of water buffalo |
| Mostly used for | Making pizza |
Mozzarella is always associated with pizza and the unique property of this stringy melting cheese makes it an ideal medium for topping on pizzas and other dishes.
It has a mild, milky flavor and a smooth, elastic texture. It is also a good source of protein and calcium.
Parmesan cheese
Parmesan cheese is a hard, dry, granular cheese with a sharp, nutty flavor. This is one of the oldest cheeses of Italy and is particularly used for cooking.
| Type | Hard Cheese |
| Country of Origin | Italy |
| Made from | Cow’s milk |
| Mostly used for | Cooking |
It is also the biggest of cheese and is aged for the duration of twelve months to two years. Parmesan cheese is commonly known as Parmigiano Reggiano made in Emilia Romagna.
The Cheese would be called as Grana Padano if it is made in Lombardy region. Parmesan cheese is made in large wheel shapes and it weighs around thirty kilos.
Ricotta
Ricotta is a soft creamy types of cheese made from the ewe’s milk. The unique thing about this cheese is that it is made from the whey that is low in fat content.
| Type | Soft |
| Country of Origin | Italy |
| Made from | Ewe's milk |
| Mostly used for | Stuffing for pastas and also commonly used for making Desserts |
Ricotta cheese is drained in special baskets and the marks of the baskets can be easily seen on the surface of the cheese.
Mascarpone
Mascarpone cheese is a soft, spreadable Italian cheese with a high fat content. It is often described as a sweet cream cheese, and has a slightly sweet and tart flavor.
| Type | Soft |
| Country of Origin | Lombardy region of Italy |
| Made from | Cow’s Milk |
| Mostly used for | preparing a famous Italian dessert called Tiramisu also used for stuffing for pastas. |
The Mascarpone cheese prepared by adding tartaric acid to warm milk and allowed to curdle. Then drained in cheesecloth and allowed to ripen for few days.
Mascarpone is most well-known as the key ingredient in Italian desserts like tiramisu and cannoli. However, it can also be used in savory dishes, such as pasta dishes and risottos.
Gorgonzola
Gorgonzola is a famous blue-veined cheese. This cheese is curdled with starter bacteria and penicillum glaucum, which are responsible for creating the traditional greenish blue streaks in the cheese.
| Type | Blue Cheese |
| Country of Origin | Piedmont and Lombard in Italy |
| Made from | Cow’s Milk |
| Mostly used for | Gorgonzola melts easily and it is thus commonly used in Cooking. |
Bocconcini
These are small bundled cheese prepared from the milk of water buffalo. It is a pasta filata cheese which means that it is prepared by dipping the curd cheese in warm salted water and then streched and folded to give smooth shapes.
| Type | Semi-soft |
| Country of Origin | Naples |
| Made from | Milk of water buffalo |
| Mostly used for | Salads, bruschetta and sandwiches. |
The Bocconcini types of Cheese also be coated in anglaise style and deep-fried and served as popular snacks.
Feta Cheese
Feta is an aged cheese. It has a granular texture and is used as table cheese or used in salads such as Greece salad.
| Type | Brined white cheese |
| Country of Origin | Greece |
| Made from | Goat’s or Sheep’s Milk |
| Mostly used for | Greek salad, used as stuffing for many baked pastries like spanakopita. |
The Feta cheese is salty in taste and should be used accordingly.
Camembert
Camembert is a moist, soft, creamy, surface-ripened cow’s milk cheese. It was first made in the late 18th century in Camembert, Normandy, in northwest France.
| Type | Soft white |
| Country of Origin | Camembert Village of Normandy, France |
| Made from | unpasteurized cow’s milk |
| Mostly used for | Commonly eaten pan fried as a hot hors d’oeouvre. |
This is one of the famous cheese of France and is an AOC.
Brie
Brie is like Camembert, the only difference is that Brie comes from Champagne region in France, whereas Camembert comes from Normandy.
| Type | Soft |
| Country of Origin | Champagne, France |
| Made from | Cow’s milk |
| Mostly used for | gratins, casseroles, sauces, grilled cheese sandwiches, and panini, or on pizzas and flatbreads. |
The whitish mouldy rind with slight ammonia flavour is edible. Brie is also available in large wheels.
Roquefort
Roquefort is a blue-veined types of cheese from France and is made from Sheep’s milk. It is one of the best known cheese in the world. Roquefort is also one of the cheeses with AOC (Appellation d’orgin controllata).
| Type | Blue |
| Country of Origin | France |
| Made from | Sheep’s Milk |
| Mostly used for | Salad topping and in dressings |
Roquefort cheese is white in colour with green moulds. It is slightly tangy cheese and commonly served on cheese platters.
Stilton Cheese
The Cheese is known for it’s characteristic strong smell and strong taste. Stilton Cheese is guarded by the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status and the cheese can also be called Stilton if it is made in Derby, Leicester or Nottingham.
| Type | Blue |
| Country of Origin | England |
| Made from | Cow’s milk |
| Mostly used for | Pastas, risottos and desserts |
This cow’s milk cheese is a soft and crumbly cheese and is usually aged for at least two or three months.
Cheddar Cheese
Cheddar cheese is the most popular types of cheese of England and is hard cheese with creamy to off white colour. It is made in the cheddar town of Somerset and hence the name.
| Type | Hard |
| Country of Origin | England |
| Made from | Cow’s milk |
| Mostly used for | Commonly used in cooking as it melts away easily. |
It is the one of the largest exported cheeses out of UK. The ageing time of this cheese could vary from three months to five years depending upon the texture and flavour required.
Danish Blue
This blue cheese from Denmark is made from cow’s milk and is often known as Danablu. Danish Blue cheese like other blue cheeses has a sharp and sour taste with salty flavour.
| Type | Blue |
| Country of Origin | Denmark |
| Made from | Cow’s milk |
| Mostly used for | Sandwich and Salads |
This cheese is ripened for two to three months, where it develops the typical blue to black mould.
Emmenthal
Emmenthal cheese is a Swiss cheese and is made from cow’s milk. It is easily recognized by the large holes. The gas produced is partially entrapped in the cheese and this causes formation of holes.
| Type | Hard |
| Country of Origin | Switzerland |
| Made from | Cow’s milk |
| Mostly used for | Cooking |
This cheese melts easily and hence a popular cheese for cooking.
Gruyere
Another delicious cheese from Switzerland, which also has holes though, they are much smaller.
| Type | Hard |
| Country of Origin | Switzerland |
| Made from | Cow’s milk |
| Mostly used for | It is considered a good cheese for baking, because of its distinctive but not overpowering taste. |
It is mild when young and Sharpen when older. Gruyere is a sharp cheese with a nutty aroma.
Edam
Named after the small part of Edam, north Amsterdam, it is a pressed, semi soft cheese.
| Type | Semi soft cheese |
| Country of origin | Netherlands |
| Made From | Goat’s milk |
| Mostly used for | Pasta, potato dishes, and baked egg casseroles |
Edam is coated in red wax, which makes it so distinctive and it sold young. Edam coated in black wax indicates that it is aged for four or ten months.
Gouda
Gouda cheese is a semi-hard cheese named after the city of Gouda in the Netherlands. It is one of the most popular cheeses in the world, and is known for its sweet, creamy flavor and smooth texture. Gouda is typically made from cow’s milk, and is aged for 1 month to 36 month.
| Type | Semi-hard cheese |
| Country of Origin | Netherlands |
| Made from | Cow’s milk |
| Mostly used for | snack or melted on sandwiches |
Cheese FAQ:
How many different types of cheese?
There are over 1,800 different types of cheese in the world. They can be classified in many different ways, but one of the most common ways is by texture.
Which is the most popular types of cheese in the world?
The most popular type of cheese in the world is Mozzarella. It is native to Southern Italy and is used in many Italian dishes, such as pizza, pasta, and salads. Mozzarella is also popular in other parts of the world, and it is often used in sandwiches, salads, and as a snack.
Other popular cheeses are Cheddar & Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Can all types of cheese are frozen?
No, not all types of cheese can be frozen. Hard and semi-hard cheeses with lower moisture and higher fat contents are best suited for freezing. Delicate, hand-crafted cheeses, processed varieties, and most soft cheeses are generally unsuited for this preservation method.
Which type of cheese best for pizza?
Mozzarella is the most popular cheese for pizza, and for good reason. It has a mild, milky flavor that goes well with most toppings, and it melts and stretches beautifully. However, in Market there are other cheeses that can be great on pizza, too.
Conclusion
We hope that this blog post has given you a better understanding of cheese and its many uses. We also hope that you have found some new cheeses to try.
As you continue to explore the world of cheese, remember to have fun and be creative. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to cheese, so experiment and find your own favorite combinations.