Bushra Griffith
Goat cheese is produced using goat milk, and it has a naturally tangier, fresher taste than cow's milk cheese. Goat cheese comes in several different types, each with its own unique characteristics and flavours. The most common goat cheese is the soft, unripened cheese generally known as chèvre, which is white, crumbly, and often used in salads. Other common types include fresh goat cheese, aged goat cheese, buche de chevre, and crottin de chavignol. Depending on the recipe, aged goat cheese can range from nutty and earthy to rich and buttery. Goat cheese is also available in blue goat cheese, brie goat cheese, cheddar goat cheese, and goat gouda.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common names | Chèvre, Goat Brie, Blue Goat Cheese, Drunken Goat, Goat Gouda, Chevrot, Sainte Maure, Rocamadour |
| Flavors | Tart, Tangy, Creamy, Earthy, Nutty, Sweet, Mild, Intense, Sharp, Buttery, Mushrooms, Citrusy, Fruity, Hazelnut, Herbs, Lemon |
| Texture | Crumbly, Creamy, Soft, Semi-firm, Firm, Aged, Pressed, Hard, Gooey, Silky, Buttery, Stinky, Fluffy, Velvety, Dense, Compact, Smooth, Spreadable |
| Other | Low in fat, lighter alternative to other cheeses, low lactose content, favored for its versatility |
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What You'll Learn
Goat cheese comes in fresh and aged varieties
Goat cheese, or chèvre in French, comes in a variety of flavors and textures, from crumbly to creamy, mild to tangy, and young to mature. The versatility of goat cheese is due to its relatively low lactose content, making it a suitable option for those with lactose intolerance.
Fresh goat cheese, also known as chèvre, is a creamy and spreadable cheese with a tangy, citrusy flavor. It is often used in salads, spreads, and as a base for other recipes. Good fresh goat cheese should be moist and creamy, without any graininess, and should have a clean, fresh taste. Unaged cheeses are more susceptible to faults, which can result in gluey, sour, and metallic flavors. However, when made well, fresh goat cheese offers a bright and clean flavor profile.
Aged goat cheese, on the other hand, is allowed to mature, developing more complex flavors. These cheeses can range from semi-soft to firm and crumbly, with a more intense and sharp taste compared to fresh varieties. The aging process affects the texture and flavor of the cheese, with aged goat cheese taking on a harder, drier, and crumbly consistency. The longer aging time also contributes to a higher price tag for aged goat cheese.
The flavor profile of aged goat cheese can vary depending on the recipe and the cheesemaker, ranging from nutty and earthy to rich and buttery. Blue goat cheese, for example, is made by mixing blue mold into the curds, resulting in a sharper, earthier, and more pungent flavor compared to cow's milk cheese. Brie goat cheese is known for its subtlety and refreshing taste, while Cheddar goat cheese offers a fruity twist to the traditional variety.
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Flavors range from nutty to earthy
Goat cheese is produced using goat milk and has a tangier and fresher taste than cow's milk cheese. The flavour of goat cheese varies from nutty to earthy, and there are several different types of goat cheese, each with its own unique characteristics.
Fresh goat cheese, commonly referred to as chèvre, is a creamy and spreadable cheese with a tangy, lemony, and slightly citrusy flavour. It is typically young, tangy, and mild in flavour. It is often used in salads, spreads, and as a base for other recipes. As it ages, the texture becomes crumbly while the flavour becomes creamier with hints of hazelnut and dried herbs.
Aged goat cheese is allowed to mature and develop more complex flavours. It can range from semi-soft to firm and crumbly, with a more intense and sharp taste compared to fresh varieties. The longer ageing time also tends to make the cheese pricier. The flavour can range from nutty and buttery to earthy and mushroomy, with hints of lemon.
There are also several other types of goat cheese with unique flavours. Blue goat cheese, for example, has a clean and sharp aroma with hints of earthy mushrooms. Goat Gouda, produced exclusively in Holland, is sweet and delicious with caramel overtones. Drunken Goat, a semi-firm variety made in Spain, is mild, smooth, and fruity as it is soaked in wine.
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It can be buttery, tangy, or tart
Goat cheese is produced using goat milk, and it comes in a variety of flavors and textures. The most common type of goat cheese is fresh goat cheese, also known as chèvre, which is typically young, tangy, and mild in flavor. It has a creamy texture and is often used in salads, spreads, and as a base for other recipes. The flavor of fresh goat cheese can be described as bright, clean, and mouthwateringly tangy, with subtle grassy notes or citrusy flavors.
Aged goat cheese, on the other hand, has a more complex flavor profile. As it matures, it develops a sharper, earthier, and more pungent taste compared to fresh varieties. Aged goat cheese can range from semi-soft to firm and crumbly in texture. Its flavor can be nutty and earthy, or rich and buttery, with hints of cooked milk and nut skins.
Goat cheese can also take on unique flavors depending on its coating or rind. For example, goat cheese coated in grape leaves, ash, or herbs will have hints of these flavors in its profile. Additionally, aged goat cheese with a natural or waxed rind will have a different flavor profile than those ripened with white mold, which are coated in a fluffy jacket similar to Brie or Camembert.
While some people may find the flavor of goat cheese too gamey or reminiscent of a "barnyard," this is due to the fatty acids in goat milk, which differ from those in cow's milk. However, there are many types of goat cheese with different flavor profiles, so those who don't enjoy one variety may prefer another. For example, the Spanish cheese Drunken Goat is a semi-firm variety that has been soaked in wine, giving it a mild, smooth, and fruity flavor.
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The texture varies from crumbly to creamy
Goat cheese, or chèvre, comes in a variety of textures, ranging from crumbly to creamy. Fresh goat cheese, or chèvre, is a soft, unripened cheese with a creamy and spreadable texture, often used in salads, spreads, and as a base for other recipes. Its flavour is tangy, lemony, and milky, with a bright and clean finish. As it ages, the texture of the cheese becomes more crumbly, while the flavour becomes creamier, with hints of hazelnut and dried herbs.
Aged goat cheese can range from semi-soft to firm and crumbly, with a more intense and sharp taste compared to fresh varieties. The longer goat cheese is aged, the more approachable it tends to be. Some aged goat cheeses are buttery and mellow, with hints of lemon, while others offer flavours of nut skins and cooked milk.
Buche de Chevre, a type of goat cheese originating from France, is shaped like a log or cylinder and is often coated with ash or herbs. It has a dense and compact texture with a strong and distinctive flavour. Another French goat cheese, Crottin de Chavignol, is a small, disc-shaped cheese with a wrinkled rind and a dry to mouldy texture depending on its age.
Goat cheese can also be used as a base for other flavours, such as Le Chèvre aux figues, where the sweetness of the fruit balances out the tangy flavour of the cheese. Drunken Goat, a semi-firm variety of goat cheese made in Spain, is soaked in wine, resulting in a mild, smooth, and fruity flavour.
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Goat cheese is also made in different countries/regions
Goat cheese is produced using goat milk, the milk of domestic goats, and is commonly used to make cultured dairy products, including cheese. Goat cheese is made in several countries and regions, each with its own unique varieties and production methods. Here are some examples:
France
In France, Chèvre is a traditional goat cheese with various flavours and textures, ranging from crumbly to creamy and mild to tangy. It can be white, coated with ash or herbs, or wrapped in grape leaves.
Spain
Spain produces Majorero, a goat cheese similar to Manchego, protected under European Law with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. Another Spanish variety is the semi-firm Drunken Goat cheese, which is soaked in wine, resulting in a mild, smooth, and fruity flavour.
Norway
Norway is known for producing Brunost or Geitost, a brown goat cheese with a sweet flavour profile.
Mexico
Mexico is renowned for its Añejo cheese, a firm, aged variety traditionally made from skimmed goat's milk. However, it is more commonly available made with skimmed cow's milk.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom, specifically England, offers several regional varieties of goat cheese. Somerset produces the goat milk cheese called Capricorn, while Cornwall has Gevrik, meaning "little goat" in Cornish, and Tesyn, a smoked goat's milk cheese. Wales also has its own goat milk cheese called Pantysgawn.
United States
The United States showcases domestic production with cheeses like Capricious, an aged goat's milk cheese from California, and Kunik, a blend of goat and Jersey cow milk made in New York.
Middle East
The Middle East has a diverse range of goat cheeses. Jordan and Syria are known for Djamid or Jameed, an unripened, hard cheese with a salt-encrusted rind. Jibneh Arabieh, a soft white cheese found across the region, is particularly popular in the Persian Gulf. Labneh is another popular variety consumed in Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, and other Middle Eastern countries.
These examples demonstrate the global reach and diverse nature of goat cheese production, with each region contributing its unique flavours, techniques, and traditions to the world of goat cheese.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, goat cheese comes in many different flavors.
Goat cheese flavors vary from tart, earthy, nutty, buttery, and citrusy to more pungent, "gamey" flavors. Some goat cheeses are soaked in wine, giving them a fruity flavor.
Yes, there are several different types of goat cheese, including fresh goat cheese, aged goat cheese, buche de chevre, and crottin de chavignol.
Fresh goat cheese is typically young, tangy, and mild in flavor, while aged goat cheese has a more intense and sharp taste.
Popular goat cheese flavors include Chèvre, Goat Brie, Blue Goat, and Drunken Goat.
