Italian Cheeses: Used And Enjoyed Around The World

Italian cheeses account for a significant part of the country’s exports. Customers around the world appreciate this basic food. Most indigenous cultures have some form of cheese included in their diet. Italy’s choices in cheeses vary in texture and flavor. The cheeses from this Mediterranean country range from very soft, almost buttery cheeses to very firm dry cheeses. The taste also vary widely. Some taste buttery. Others are known for a nutty flavor. Seasonings such as garlic, peppers or onions add interest to otherwise simple cheese products.

Cheeses from Ewe’s Milk

Pecorino Romano cheeses can only come from the Sardinia and Lazio provinces of Italy. By law, the name is protected. Romanos are often used in cooking, but also can be good for a table cheese, due to the intense flavor. Romano cheese typically is aged for a minimum of 150 days to provide the typical tangy flavor.

A sheep cheese from Rome is named Cacio de Roma. This cheese is mild flavored, and combines tastes that are both salty and sweet. The salty taste is due to the processing that bathes the fresh cheeses in sea water. Cacio de Roma is not a hard cheese, but it is firmer than butter and might be described as pliable.

Goat’s Milk Cheese Options

Goat’s milk cheeses are a healthy alternative to dairy cheeses. If you are lactose intolerant, goat cheeses may be a good choice for you. Caprino is a locally produced cheese that comes in either fresh or seasoned versions. Fresh Caprino is soft and creamy in texture and is formed into round or cylindrical blocks. It sometimes is shipped immersed in olive oil or may be marketed in a paper wrapping. Seasoned Caprino is aged for 20-40 days and is seasoned with garlic, pepper and parsley. The rind can be either red or yellow.

Goat cheeses usually have a tart flavor. Those cheeses produced in Sardegna include a heated cheese product with a few small eyes and a light brown rind that is quite smooth. Sardegna cheeses are served as a follow up to a meal or may be grated on soups or pasta as a condiment.

Dairy Cows Cheese Selection

The Alta Badia cheese from Italy’s mountains have an unusual flavor and texture. The wheels of cheese are soaked in wine and contain seasonings such as garlic and black pepper. Wheels of 4 to 5 pounds are typical. The texture is somewhat soft and the flavor reminds you of garlic flavored sausage. This is a popular snack cheese.

Italian villages are the home of many fine cheeses. Formaggio di Bra is just one example of a simple table cheese from the village of the same name. Formaggio di Bra can be enjoyed as a snack with light wines, particularly red wines. This cheese comes in several different seasoned versions. It can be treated with wine. The cheese aging process can vary, giving alternative tastes and textures.

If you like cheese, you will appreciate the wide variety of Italian cheeses. These products are great for eating before, during or after each mail of the day. Spread paste cheeses on crackers or sprinkle dry cheese over popcorn. The range of textures and seasonings in cheeses make them an interesting way to enjoy cheese in your diet.

Want to find out more about Italian cheeses, then visit Jim Antonio’s site on how to choose the best Italian imports for your needs.

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