Exploring The Complex World Of Cheeses: A Sensory Journey

what is cheese like

Cheese is a dairy product that comes in a variety of flavours, textures, and forms. It is made from milk (usually from cows, buffalo, goats, or sheep), and goes through a process of coagulation where milk proteins casein clump together. There are over a thousand types of cheese produced in various countries. Some cheeses have aromatic molds on the rind, the outer layer, or throughout.

Characteristics Values
Texture Springy, moist, crumbly, dry
Shape Block, clothbound
Color Cream, pumpkin orange
Flavor Tangy, citrus, salty, sour, gamy
Odor Strong, stinky, pungent
Form Fresh, aged
Origin Europe, Middle East
Type of Milk Cow, Goat, Sheep
Shape Holds its shape even when warm

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Goat milk is lower in fat with a lighter feel than other cheeses

Goat cheese is pretty much universally going to have a snowy white color. Alpine-style cheeses hail from across the European mountain chain with a small selection coming from Germany and Italy. The vast majority are produced in France and Switzerland. "Swiss Alpines get to be a little bolder as a general rule," Chubbuck says. "The French tend to be a little more nuanced and subtle. I describe the difference like California Chardonnay versus a Burgundian Chardonnay."

Cheese produced in Europe, where climates are cooler than the Middle East, required less salt for preservation. With less salt and acidity, the cheese became a suitable environment for useful microbes and molds, giving aged cheeses their respective flavors. Ancient Greek mythology credited Aristaeus with the discovery of cheese. Homer's Odyssey (8th century BCE) describes the monstrous Cyclops making and storing sheep's and goats' milk cheese (translation by Samuel Butler): "We soon reached his cave, but he was out shepherding, so we went inside and took stock of all that we could see."

The earliest cheeses were likely quite sour and salty, similar in texture to rustic cottage cheese or feta, a crumbly, flavorful Greek cheese. Cheddar: Cheddars are made using a variety of techniques, from block to more nuanced clothbound fermentation. The texture can range from slightly springy and somewhat moist to crumbly and dry. Color-wise, anything from cream to pumpkin orange goes.

Washed rind: Washed rind cheese tends to be the stinkiest and most pungent. The exterior varies in color from orange to pink, with a tacky or grainy texture on the outside and moisture-rich doughy to runny texture within. Sheep's and goat's milk are occasionally transformed into washed rind cheese, but cow's milk is far more common in well-known versions like Époisse, Taleggio, and Pont-l'Évêque, all recognized for their intense gamy aromas. "Washed rind's bark is louder than the bite," Chubbuck says. "The smell is really strong; the flavor is not usually as intense."

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Washed rind cheese tends to be the stinkiest and most pungent

Washed rind cheese is a type of cheese that tends to be the stinkiest and most pungent. The exterior of this type of cheese varies in color from orange to pink, with a tacky or grainy texture on the outside and a moisture-rich doughy to runny texture within. Washed rind cheese is made from sheep's and goat's milk, but cow's milk is far more common in well-known versions like Époisse, Taleggio, and Pont-l'Évêque. These cheeses are recognized for their intense gamy aromas.

The strong smell of washed rind cheese is due to the washing of the rind with a brine or a mold culture, which encourages the growth of aromatic bacteria. This process gives the cheese its characteristic strong, pungent flavor. The texture of washed rind cheese is able to hold its shape even when warm.

Washed rind cheese is a type of cheese that is often used in cuisine and is known for its strong, pungent flavor. It is a type of cheese that is often used in cuisine and is known for its strong, pungent flavor.

Washed rind cheese is a type of cheese that is often used in cuisine and is known for its strong, pungent flavor. It is a type of cheese that is often used in cuisine and is known for its strong, pungent flavor.

Washed rind cheese is a type of cheese that is often used in cuisine and is known for its strong, pungent flavor. It is a type of cheese that is often used in cuisine and is known for its strong, pungent flavor.

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Alpine-style cheeses hail from European mountain chains

Alpine-style cheeses hail from across the European mountain chain, with a small selection coming from Germany and Italy. The vast majority are produced in France and Switzerland.

Alpine-style cheeses are made using a variety of techniques, from block to more nuanced clothbound fermentation. The texture can range from slightly springy and somewhat moist to crumbly and dry.

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Cheddar texture can range from slightly springy to crumbly

Cheddar is a type of cheese that can have a variety of textures, from slightly springy and somewhat moist to crumbly and dry. The texture of Cheddar is dependent on the technique used to produce it, with block and clothbound fermentation being two of the most common methods.

The texture of Cheddar is also dependent on the type of milk used to produce it. Cow's milk is the most common type of milk used to produce Cheddar, but sheep's and goat's milk can also be used. The texture of Cheddar can range from slightly springy to crumbly depending on the type of milk used and the technique used to produce it.

The texture of Cheddar is also dependent on the age of the cheese. Young Cheddar is slightly springy and somewhat moist, while older Cheddar is crumbly and dry. The texture of Cheddar can also be affected by the temperature at which it is stored. Cold temperatures can cause Cheddar to become slightly springy, while warm temperatures can cause it to become crumbly.

The texture of Cheddar is also dependent on the type of rind that it has. Washed rind is a type of rind that is used to produce Cheddar and can cause the texture of Cheddar to become slightly springy or crumbly. The texture of Cheddar can also be affected by the type of mold that it has. Aromatic molds can cause the texture of Cheddar to become slightly springy or crumbly.

The texture of Cheddar can also be affected by the type of fat that it has. Goat milk is a type of milk that is lower in fat and can cause the texture of Cheddar to become slightly springy or crumbly. The texture of Cheddar can also be affected by the type of protein that it has. Casein is a type of protein that is used to produce Cheddar and can cause the texture of Cheddar to become slightly springy or crumbly.

The texture of Cheddar can also be affected by the type of salt that it has. Salt is a type of preservative that is used to produce Cheddar and can cause the texture of Cheddar to become slightly springy or crumbly. The texture of Cheddar can also be affected by the type of acidity that it has. Acidity is a type of preservative that is used to produce Cheddar and can cause the texture of Cheddar to become slightly springy or crumbly.

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Goat cheese is more prone to barnyard-y flavors

Goats are great at absorbing beta carotene, which gets converted into vitamin A in their milk, lending it a crisp, white hue. "Goat cheese is pretty much universally going to have a snowy white color," says Chubbuck.

Goats are great at absorbing beta carotene, which gets converted into vitamin A in their milk, lending it a crisp, white hue. "Goat cheese is pretty much universally going to have a snowy white color," says Chubbuck.

Goats are great at absorbing beta carotene, which gets converted into vitamin A in their milk, lending it a crisp, white hue. "Goat cheese is pretty much universally going to have a snowy white color," says Chubbuck.

Frequently asked questions

Cheese is a dairy product produced in a range of flavours, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk (usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats, or sheep).

Over a thousand types of cheese exist, produced in various countries.

The earliest cheeses were likely quite sour and salty, similar in texture to rustic cottage cheese or feta, a crumbly, flavorful Greek cheese.

Goat milk is lower in fat with a lighter feel than other cheeses. When it's formed into fresh styles, like chèvre, it takes on a tangy flavor, with bright lemon and citrus notes that turn more toward citrus pith with a bit of age.

Washed rind cheese tends to be the stinkiest and most pungent. The exterior varies in color from orange to pink, with a tacky or grainy texture on the outside and moisture-rich doughy to runny texture within.

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