Have You Had Your Cheese Today?

Throughout the world there are hundreds of different cheeses made. Cheese is a tasty and healthy food and with so much variety you can spend a great deal of time trying them all. Have you had your cheese today?

Cheese can be broken down into four main types. Soft cheeses like cream cheese, semi hard cheeses like Monterey jack, hard cheeses such as cheddar, and very hard cheeses like Romano

Cheeses from different parts of the world each have their own unique taste and texture. Many delis carry a good selection of different cheeses and they are definitely worth trying. Some are mouth watering from the very first bite; others take time to acquire a taste for. Some go great with wine, while others are delicious with crackers.

Baby Swiss is one of Switzerland’s most notable cheeses with a light creamy texture and tiny holes. It melts in your mouth and has a wonderfully nutty flavor. It is the mildest of all the Swiss cheeses and it’s perfect for a cheese and cracker tray or added to your favorite recipe.

Blue Cheese is actually a general term that is used to describe a variety of cheeses that come from Europe. Blue cheese has a very tangy flavor and a crumbly texture. It’s an excellent choice of cheeses served on whole grain crackers with port wine.

Brie is one of the oldest and most well known cheeses of the world originating around Paris in the 13th century. It has a mild tangy and fruity taste. It’s an excellent choice of cheeses to serve with fruit or with roast beef.

Camembert looks a lot like Brie and it’s one of the older cheeses as well. It originated in Normandy more than 300 years ago. It has a moderately tangy fruity taste and it’s an excellent choice to serve with a fruit platter.

Cheddar is probably one of the most common and popular cheeses and it is made all around the world although most originated in New England. Cheddar is actually naturally white which means all the orange cheddar you see is actually died that color

The great thing about cheddar is that it is available in a variety of tastes ranging from very mild to very sharp. Cheddar texture can be smooth or crumbly depending on its age.

Cheddar Cheese is an excellent choice for cooking, sandwiches, on cheese platters, or as a finger food snack.

Colby originated in America and was named after the town it came from. Colby texture is similar to cheddar cheese but it is moisture and softer. It has a mildly sweet flavor and it is as versatile as cheddar is making it perfect for cooking, sandwiches, cheese platter, or as a snack.

Feta originates from Greece although it is now also made in the US. The cheese has a salty taste with a crumbly texture and is an excellent choice for any type of Mediterranean or Greek dish, salad, or appetizer.

Gruyere is rich with a fruity nutty taste. It has a creamy yellow interior with a golden rind and it presents itself nicely. It’s perfect savored by itself, in a cheese platter, or for cooking.

Gouda originated in the Netherlands and it very easy to recognize because of the red exterior wax. The cheese is a creamy texture with a mild buttery flavor. If you purchase aged Gouda it will have a tangier taste. It is excellent enjoyed by itself, served with fruit, or on a cheese platter.

Monterey Jack is a light creamy textured cheese with a mild flavor. It’s a very versatile cheese because it melts so nicely making it perfect for open sandwiches, Mexican dishes, tacos, or any other cooking.

Mozzarella is another cheese that most of us are very familiar with. In fact today as much mozzarella is sold as cheddar, thanks to the pizza industry. Mozzarella has a light taste and a smooth texture and melts easily. It is an excellent choice for all types of Italian dishes, antipastos, casseroles, and of course pizza.

Parmesan is a hard dry cheese with a rich sharp taste. It is normally used graded and is a popular choice for a topper on Italian dishes like spaghetti or lasagna. Typically it is aged for about 14 months but the true Italian Parmesan is aged for 4 years.

Quark is a white cream cheese with a tangy taste, and it comes from Germany. It’s very versatile and it’s an excellent choice as a spread or on your favorite bagel.

Romano named after its city of origin Rome has a wide variety of tastes from mild to very sharp. It is used grated and is a perfect dish topper.

There are plenty of other cheeses to choose from. More than we could ever tell you about. Cheese is healthy nutritious food and its uses are only limited by your imagination. So have you had your cheese today?

Deon Melchior is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit ArticleClick.com. Article Click is a free content article directory. This means that as a publisher you may reprint the articles that are included in our site, as long as the article is unedited and the author box is included with it's live hyperlinks.