Frederic Melton
Humboldt Fog is a California original goat's milk cheese, produced by Cypress Grove Chevre in Humboldt County, California. It is a semi-soft, creamy, cakey, and gooey cheese with a distinct ribbon of edible vegetable ash in the centre. The cheese is defined by four distinct layers: its bloomy rind, oozy creamline, cake-like paste, and a thin layer of ash in the centre. But what does it taste like?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Texture | Creamy, cakey, gooey, crumbly, semi-soft |
| Taste | Tangy, earthy, sweet, mild |
| Colour | White centre, grey-blue ash, turns darker towards the rind |
| Pairings | Spicy hot pepper jam, honey, dried cherries, fig jam, candied walnuts, raw walnuts, fresh pears, raspberries |
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What You'll Learn
Flavour: Mildly tangy, with a sweet aftertaste
Humboldt Fog is a California original, made from goat's milk and produced by Cypress Grove Chevre in Humboldt County, California. It is named after the ocean fog that rolls into the land from Humboldt Bay.
Humboldt Fog is a semi-soft, creamy, cakey, and gooey cheese with a distinct ribbon of edible vegetable ash in the centre. It is defined by four distinct layers: its bloomy rind, oozy creamline, cake-like paste, and a thin layer of vegetable ash in the centre. The cheese ripens from the outside in, as the mould used to create its rind breaks down the proteins in the paste, giving it a gooey creamline.
The flavour of Humboldt Fog is mildly tangy, with a sweet aftertaste. The tanginess is characteristic of goat cheese, and the sweetness comes from the layer of ash, which balances out the tanginess. When the cheese is young, it has hints of citrus, and as it ages, the flavour becomes earthier.
Humboldt Fog is a versatile cheese that can be enjoyed on its own or paired with sweeter accompaniments like dried cherries, honey, fig jam, or candied walnuts to balance its tanginess. It can also be used in cooking, such as on pizzas, in pasta, or crumbled on salads.
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Texture: Smooth, semi-soft, crumbly
Humboldt Fog is a semi-soft goat's milk cheese with a unique texture that is both smooth and crumbly. Its creamy mouthfeel and smooth texture are a result of the quality of the goat's milk used in its production. The cheese's texture becomes more crumbly as it ages, but it remains soft enough to be spreadable even when mature.
The cheese is defined by four distinct layers: a bloomy rind, a gooey creamline, a cake-like paste, and a thin layer of vegetable ash in the centre. The ash layer adds beauty, flavour, and texture to the cheese, making it an outstanding choice for sharing with family and friends.
Humboldt Fog is an aged goat cheese produced by Cypress Grove Chevre in California. It is one of the first cheeses to popularise goat's milk among American cheese eaters and is known for its beautiful, distinctive appearance. The cheese's centre is parched white, turning slightly darker towards the rind, with a thin layer of vegetable ash running horizontally through it.
The cheese ripens from the outside in, with the creamline becoming larger over time as enzymes in the mould digest the milk protein. This dynamic texture adds to the complexity and allure of Humboldt Fog, making it a favourite among cheese enthusiasts.
Overall, the texture of Humboldt Fog is a delightful combination of smoothness and crumbleness, contributing to its reputation as one of America's best contributions to the cheese world.
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Appearance: Beautiful, like a wedding cake
The beauty of Humboldt Fog cheese is widely acknowledged. Its appearance is defined by four distinct layers: a bloomy rind, an oozy creamline, a cake-like paste, and a thin layer of vegetable ash in the centre. The ash in the middle is said to make it look like a wedding cake. The colour of the cheese varies from a parched white in the centre to a slightly darker tone towards the rind, with a thin layer of greyish-blue vegetable ash running horizontally through it. The ash on the edge of the cheese has a different texture from the interior, but it does not interfere with the overall texture of the cheese.
Humboldt Fog is a semi-soft goat's milk cheese, and its texture is described as crumbly, cakey, creamy, and gooey. Its smoothness is attributed to the quality of the goat's milk used in its production. As the cheese ages, its texture becomes more crumbly, and its flavour becomes earthier.
The cheese was first created in the early 1980s by American cheesemaking pioneer Mary Keehn, who was inspired by the fog that blankets the Humboldt County coastline in California. Keehn's creation has since become an iconic American cheese, widely copied and awarded.
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Accompaniments: Spicy pepper jam, honey, dried cherries, candied walnuts
Humboldt Fog is a creamy, cakey goat's milk cheese with a distinct ribbon of edible vegetable ash in the centre. It is a semi-soft, crumbly cheese with a creamy mouthfeel and a mild, tangy flavour. The tanginess is characteristic of goat's cheese and becomes more pronounced as the cheese matures.
Spicy pepper jam is a great accompaniment to Humboldt Fog, as the heat from the peppers can balance out the tanginess of the cheese. The spiciness of the jam can also help to enhance the sweetness of the cheese, especially if it is a mature Humboldt Fog with a deeper flavour profile.
Honey is another excellent choice to pair with Humboldt Fog. Its sweetness can help to temper the tanginess of the cheese, creating a delightful contrast of flavours. The honey can also enhance the sweetness of the cheese, especially when paired with a more mature Humboldt Fog.
Dried cherries are a fantastic option to accompany Humboldt Fog. Their sweet and tangy flavour can complement the cheese's tanginess, adding a burst of flavour. The cherries can also provide a contrasting texture to the creamy, crumbly cheese.
Candied walnuts are a wonderful addition to Humboldt Fog, especially when the cheese is mature. The sweet and crunchy walnuts can provide a delightful contrast to the creamy, tangy cheese. They can also add a depth of flavour and enhance the overall taste experience.
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Origin: Humboldt County, California
Humboldt Fog cheese is named after the ocean fog that rolls in from Humboldt Bay in Humboldt County, California. It was created by American cheesemaking pioneer Mary Keehn in the early 1980s. Keehn, who is credited with starting the American artisanal cheese movement of that decade, founded Cypress Grove, the company that produces Humboldt Fog, after acquiring her first two goats, Esmeralda and Hazel.
Located on the rural north coast of California, Cypress Grove uses goat’s milk to make soft-ripened cheeses blended with bold flavours. The company exports its products to over 40 countries around the world.
Humboldt Fog is a mold-ripened cheese made from high-quality goat’s milk from small, family-owned farms. It is a chevre-style, semi-soft cheese with a creamy smooth texture that is also chalky and crumbly, like a chevre. Its centre is parched white and turns slightly darker towards the rind. It has a thin layer of greyish-blue or blue vegetable ash that runs horizontally through the centre of the cheese.
Humboldt Fog is a beautiful and stunning cheese, resembling a wedding cake. It is also a highly awarded cheese, winning Best of Class, American Cheese Society in 1998, 2002, 2005, and 2019, and Best of California, California State Fair 2019.
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Frequently asked questions
Humboldt Fog is a goat's milk cheese with a creamy, cakey, and gooey texture. It has a tangy, earthy, and sweet flavour. When the cheese is young, it has hints of citrus.
Humboldt Fog is defined by four distinct layers: a bloomy rind, an oozy creamline, a cake-like paste, and a thin layer of vegetable ash in the centre. The ash in the centre of the cheese makes it look like a wedding cake.
Humboldt Fog is a mould-ripened cheese made from goat's milk. It ripens from the outside in, so underneath the skin is a runny cheese, followed by a soft goat cheese in the middle.
Humboldt Fog pairs well with dried cherries, honey, fig jam, candied walnuts, raw walnuts, fresh pears, and spicy hot pepper jam.
